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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 7922, 14 April 1887, Page 5

Among those who have this week left Auckland for the Lake Country are Mr. McKerrow (Surveyor-General), and Mr. Percy Smith (Assistant Surveyor-General). It is their intention to visit the Lake Country for the purpose of noting the changes at Tarawera and Rotomahana, and also of determining on what road improvements are necessary. The falling of a monster aerolite caused quite a sensation in the western district of Victoria on Thursday afternoon, March 17. When it was first seen it had tho appearance in the air of a firebrand, which formed into a blood-red ball the size of the moon, and exploded with a loud report, sending perpendicularly earthwards a streak of fire wita the hissing of escaping steam as from au engine. When within 300 yards from the earth it disappeared, leaving only a cloud of crejiah smoke. This was followed by earth tremors and a rumbling sound as of the firing of heavy artillery. This occurred about three o'clock, and people in the large distriot over whioh the sight was visible, and the reports audible, were much alarmed, and cattle and sheep stood paralysed with fear. The Government Astronomer explains that there was nothing unusual in the phenomenon, excepting that the meteorite must have been of great size. It is an interesting cir- ■ cumstance that one of the largest meteors ever discovered was found many years ago embedded in the earth at Cranbourne, near ' Melbourne. It weighed 3£ tons, and resembled a mass of solid iron. It is a '. tradition that blacksmiths used a portion of ] it to make horseshoes. The stone, which is known as the Bruce meteorite, was sent to • the South Kensiugton Museum, where it is ', still on exhibition. At the Pukekohe West School on Tburs- ': day afternoon the teachers and children presented Mr. John Fisher (who is retiring from teaching) a very handsome and costly ; album and work-box in the presence of i several ladies and some members of the < School Committee. Miss Graham read an i address, and Master William Johns made i the presentation on behalf of the scholars. 1 Mrs. Fisher, in a very neat speech, told the < children that now the time had come for her ( to sever her connection with the sohooJ, she < felt sorry, but she hoped they would be < good children, and she would run in ccoa- 1 sionally and see how they were progressing, £ The children then sang a pretty little piece, < after which Mr. J. fl. Wright, chairman of i the looal School Committee, in a short but j impressive speech, urged the * children to learn all they possibly could while they had l the opportunity, as all places in the State s were attainable, and to emulate the examples c of great men who had risen from the ranks I and become the leaders of men. The singing | of "God Save the Queen," being ascom- f pliahed, the school was dismissed for the a holidays, again to reassemble on Monday, t the 18th iast.— Correspondent.] |C