NEWS IN BRIEF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8065, 5 October 1887, Page 6

NEWS IN BRIEF.

There are no fewer than 94 private bar* in Sydney, of which 18 are upstairs bare and 76 are on the ground floor. The A.S.N. Company's wharf and properties at Brisbane have been sold to the * A.U.S.N. Company for £95.000. The Dnnedin Evening Star reprinted Dr. Laishiey's article on the political situation, Under the heading, " What are the Issues ? ' The Choral Hall skating season does not close tili Wednesday, the 12th mat., on whioh evening the fancy dress ball is to take place. , _ r The sentence of death passed upon Mrs. Mephan in Victoria for the murder of her ' sister has been commuted to penal servitude for life. . . ... T. Hales, the premier jockey of the Australian colonies, was presented recently with a silver oigar<oase by His Exoellency the Governor. ' The result of the Auckland North eleotion appeared io the Lyttleton Times on the morning of the 27th ultimo as follows: Vaile, 793 ; Thompson, 743. The regular meeting of the Auokland Presbytery mi held yesterday morning, at ■/ St. Andrew's Chnrch. There was very little business of pablio interest. The residents of Norfolk Island are delighted at the proapeots of regular steam communication wbioh opens up a new epooh in the history of the island. A Fishermen's Association has now been formed in Sydney. It is intended that the association shall inolude in its membership all the fishermen of the colony. At the declaration of the poll at Nelson, Mr. Gibbs, one of the unsuccessful candidates, said that Mr. Levestam, who bad been ancocessful, " had been as fierce as a little book rat." We understand that at the end of the present University term Dr. Posnett and Professor Brown intend making a tour to Europe. They will be absent probably about six months. /•■ The instruction of the Devonport Naval Corps in torpedo praotice, which has been for some time interrupted by the recent disbandment of the company, will be resumed on Thursday next. Mr. John H.Moore, who for some years . past has been manager of the Martha Extended mine, Waihi, has resigned his position, and has received the appointment of manager of Mcßrinn's new find, the pro-, spector's lease at Hikntaia. In connection with the reward of £25,000

offered by the Government of New South Wales for an effectual method of extermi-

nating the rabbits, the offer will be extensively advertised in the leading English, American, and Continental papers. Two lad# were riding in Viotoria-atreet yesterday afternoon, and when opposite the City Hotel one of the boys was thrown heavily on to the roadway, through his horse shieing. The youngster recovered himself immediately, seemingly none the worse for his fall. Father J. J. Haggard, the Roman Catholio priest who was convicted at Bourke on 21st June, 1886, for the abdnotion of Louisa Eleanor Moxbam, a girl under 16 years of age, has petitioned the Privy Oounoil for leave to appeal on the questions of law raised at the trial.

The last stage of what volunteers term the Firth competition is now reached, and we understand that the 15 Martini-Henry rifles ■0 generously offered as prizes will be preRented by the donor on Friday evening next, at the Drill-shed. No doubt the volunteers and their friends will take this opportunity to give Mr, Firth a hearty welcome.