NEWS IN BRIEF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 7914, 5 April 1887, Page 6

NEWS IN BRIEF.

Sir Robert Stout in town. The equinoctial gales seem to have begun, A statue of the Queen is talked of in Chriatchurch. Complaints are numerous at the absence of newspapers at the Free Library. Volunteer inquiry will be resumed to-day; It seems to be dragging on very slowly. There was only one prisoner in the look-up last evening, a woman for drunkenness. Happy Cantabs! Yarmouth bloaters and Findon haddocks are on sale in Uhristchurch, Eden Terrace is to have its water supply : 227 voted for the proposal and only 4 against it,

A bush fire at Carterton on Sunday placed the town in danger, 'and caused much ilarm. Gilbert and Sullivan's opera, " The Mikado," is now being played at Christchurch. It is stated that the officers of the Ruseian warship Vestnik inspected the battery at Forbury. Tauranga is to be closed as a port of entry. Captain Best, the harbourmaster, goes to Rnssell. At Nelson the other day were played the final rounds of the Girls' College Tennis Club tournament. Wellington representative oricketers are practising hard for the forthcoming match with Auckland. The "alarm" orders for Good Friday are published. Guns, bugles, and firebells an hour before daybreak. Sir Julius Vogel's Women's Suffrage Bill was prepared two years ago. It places women on the same footing aa men. The grandest view of Auckland and neighbourhood is probably that from the high land at tbe back of Northcote. One speculator in the South invested £15,000 in laud, on the strength of the Otago central line being pushed on. The timber trade seems to be dormant at Onehunga. Two large mills used to do a large business, but both are now closed. One of the Bluff fishermen supposed to have been drowned, Thomas Morgan, has turned up. His mate, however, was lost. Dr. Reid, of Opotiki, has just thrashed out a crop of oats covering 13 acres with the handsome return of 6S bushels to the acre. The Canterbury Agricultural Association are agitating for removal of restrictions on the importation of sheep, cattle, and pigs. The Southland Times wants to know if Sir R. Stout, in his electioneering tour in the South Island, was travelling at the public expense. Attention is required by the city authorities to the unprotected coudition of the .'footpath alongside the Museum Buildings, .Princes-street. * The machinery, plant, etc., at the Onelranga Ironworks is being looked after. Evidently the purchasers intend commencing operations again. The Napier News says:—"The state of affairs in Tonga is expressible by ' Pull Devil, pull Baker,' but they're pulling the tamo tray in this case." Elleralie is going ahead. New villa residences are being erected here and there, and generally the place is assuming the proportions of a small town. There is apparently a considerable demand in the South Island for mangiao timber. Mr, James Bodell, of Tauranga, has at the present time several orders from Southern arms.

At Wellington yesterday, fireman John Rose, of the s.s. Kaikoura, smashed the nose of the second officer, and tried to kick the captain. He received three months' ment. Mr. Sydney Dando, for some time head of the Stores Department on the Auckland railway, has retired, his place being filled by Mr. Cahill, formerly chief clerk in the Stores Department at Dunedin. The examination for a senior foundation scholarship at the Auckland College and Grammar School is to bo held on Monday, the ISth instant, and following daye. Particulars will be found in our advertisement columns. A lot of navvies at Eketahuna were all taken ill lately after dinner, and sent thirty milea for a doctor, thinking they had all been poisoned. He rode thirty miles in the dark, and found that a packet of waehing powder had been uaed in a pudding instead of baking powder.