NEWS IN BRIEF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9062, 24 May 1888, Page 6

NEWS IN BRIEF.

A fruiterer in Christchurch has opened ft small " zoo," which is proving very attractive A petition of insolvency has been filed by Samuel White, contractor, Hepburnstreet# Stl There was only one prisoner in the lockup last evening, a woman named Mary MitCftel Robertson, for drunkenness. The records of the Registrar-General's Department show that about 270,0001bs of of tobacco are grown in the colony annually. The reduction of freight on frozen meat to 3d is not yet confirmed. The Lyttelton Times says it has been reduced by gd to 1 to the la to Attorney-General the expenditure of New South Wales in 1887 was reduced by £1,500,000 as compared with that of 1880. In Southland a woman, while sweeping her kitchen, struck a dynamite cap with her broom. It exploded, and inflicted some ugly cuts about her eyes. A painfully sudden death occurred at Orange. A licensed publican named Angus, who had been drinking, became excited and quarrelsome and dropped down Periodical horse sales are to be held at the Thames. Should the result of the first sale prove satisfactory, a regular supply will be brought over from Cambridge, Waikato. ~ i% Mr. H. B. Lusk has received notification that he has passed the barristers' law examination. Messrs. Elliott and Sandemann have also been notified that they have passed the solicitors' law examination. The Hon. John Colton is described by Chief Justice Way as the Grand Old Man of South Australia. Like other great men —Lord Selborne, Lord Atherley, and Lord Cairnshe was a Sunday-school teacher. The number of lunatics in New South Wales is increasing. There were 2717 insane at the end of 1886, and 2821 at the close of ISS7, the increase thus being 104. The increase is greater than of ISS6 accordin"' to the growth of population. A few of Lieut.-Colonel Mahon's friends have formed a committee for the purpose of getting up a testimonial to that gentleman previous to his departure for Australia. Gentlemen willing to co-operate may communicate with Dr. McArthur, who acts as secretarv. ~ , . The '* Herd Laddie" has said that the next draughts champion might be found in New Zealand. The result is a draghtsplaying craze in Christchurch. _ Bits of cardboard are used to play on, while small boys chalk squares on the pavement and play with stones. Mr. W. H. Webbe last evening, at the Auckland School of Music, corner of Hobson and Cook streets, gave the first of a series of twenty lectures on music. The Hall was packed with an interested audience, and several persons were unable to gain admission for this reason. In a jubilant leader on the frozen meat trade, the Lyttelton Times says ' "Freezing not only gives us double the return that boiling-down does, but it gives that return in half the time. The prospect here opened up is absolutely dazzling. . . _ • At last the freezing industry is beginning to do what it was expected to do at the outset." The yacht Nautilus has been placed at the disposal of the committee of the Auckland Yacht Club by Mr. W. P. Featherstone, for use at their races today (the Queen's Birthday), and the club have issued about eight}' invitations. The races are to start at nine o'clock, and Mr. Featherstone will act as judge and starter. Tickets may be obtained from Mr. Reynolds, Queen-street Wharf, or from the secretary of the club !