NEWS IN BRIEF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9104, 12 July 1888, Page 6

NEWS IN BRIEF.

4 The Lyttelton Town Council: have ceased paying half-a-crown for each case of infectious disease reported to it. The results of the matches played by the Australian cricketers now in England are : Won nine, lost three, drawn three. The consumption of tea in New South Wales for the year 1887 is reported to be nearly eight ahd a half million pounds. The total claims made to the rabbit branch of the Sydney Lands Department for rabbit destruction amount to £191,351. - The Auckland shopkeepers who are in favour of early closing do not agree with Mr. Joyce's amendments in the Shop Hours Bill. •

There is now, on a moderate computation, from £500,000 to £600,000 worth of exportable wheat held in Melbourne and the country. ' '' ■ The Newcastle police recently surprised a party of nearly 200 persons who were witnessing a cock fight, and 16 game cocks were seized by them. The South Australian Parliament has resolved to adjourn from July 26 to August 7, to allow of both Houses attending the opening of the Melbourne Exhibition. It is said that a bed of mud oysters has been discovered near Napier. One of those favoured with samples says the oysters were the most delicious he ever tasted—far superior to the Auckland rock oysters. - The refusal of New South Wales to take part in the military display proposed to be held in connection with the Melbourne Exhibition divested the proposal of its federal character, and it has been abandoned.

Hat and cap carnivals are all the rage at the skating rinks throughout the colony. The Columbia rink is to be devoted to this amusing and inexpensive show next Monday evening, when £30 worth of prizes will be given away. Two brothers named Hammond, and another boy named Hedges were out shooting at Yarra, near ' Goulborne, when one jokingly presented his gun at Hedges. The charge exploded, and lodged in Hedges' lower jaw, completely shattering it. An experiment (says an Australian paper) is being made by Mr. Charles De Burgh with the view of ascertaining the desirability of introducing camels in the Thargomindah district, to convey loading from Bourke to Thargomindah and back. In the lock-up last evening there were four persons : Murray Hamilton and Albert Warren, for drunkenness; Mary Kenny, stealing a key, valued at 2s, the property of Dr. Bond; and a young man named John Wynn, for drunkenness, and creating a disturbance in the street.

A supposed Chinese leper, who was recently brought overland from Croydon, was brought up at the Cooktown Police Court recently, when medical evidence was given that the man was not, nor has he ever been, suffering from leprosy. He speaks good English, and appears to have been treated very harshly. .He was discharged. ...... The Eclipse Skating Rink, in the Onehunga Volunteer Hall, Was largely attended last night. Master Harrison, of Auckland, gave an exhibition of fancy skating,' then came a polo match, Auckland v. Onenunga, which resulted in favour of the visitors by one goal. The concluding event was a mile hoop race for a pair of skates, which was won by T. Wade.