NEWS IN BRIEF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9129, 10 August 1888, Page 6

NEWS IN BRIEF.

A large partv has been formed in Wellington to go to the Mahakipawa diggings. The booking of seat? for the amateur performance of the " Mikado" at Christchurcb has been very large. The commercial outlook, so long overcast, is decidedly brightening, eays the Christen urch Press. An exchange thinks our education system would be a fit subject for a comic opera by I '■ -rt and Sullivan.

its ordinary tame rabbits when they go wiid do not increase to any extent. The dreaded species is the "silver-grey." The space which has been allotted to New Zealand at the Melbourne Exhibition is only 8000 square feet, including passages. A Mr. McLean preached a Gaelic sermon in Dunedin on a recent Sunday. " The preacher was quite at home with his good, fluent Gaelic." The electric lighting of Reefton is a great success. The motive force is supplied by a 120 horse-power turbine, of which only 60 horse-power is required. It is said that Mr. Bruce, the advocate of the bachelor tax, is to receive a testimonial from the Rangitikei spinsters in recognition of his efforts in their behalf. The Maoris of Matipahi (Bay of Plenty) are reported to be ploughing a large area of land this season. They work in their shirts alone, as they find trousers too hot. In the Otago Daily Times a correspondent writes:—"The commercial crisis we have gone through is over. The community is convalescent—weak, I admit, but distinctly round the corner."

A lad named William Charles Thorpe was kicked on the jaw by a horse at Ellerslie last Tuesday. The jaw was broken, and the boy was admitted to the Hospital yesterday for treatment. He is progressing favourably. The Adelaide (South Australian) Agricultural Society ha-< this year hit upon the following plan*for the destruction of sparrows : At the annual show, prizes of £3, £'2, and £ 1 will be offered to families exhibiting the largest quantities of sparrows' eggs. Similar prizes are offered for sparrows heads. An exchange says the Maoris at Maketu are wishing" that some European would erect a flax-mill there. They are willing to guarantee a regulax supply of the green leaf, and, as there is a large quantity of tiax growing on the Knituna and Waihi riverT there should be enough raw material to keep the mill going for many years. Wellington people are jubilant over the fact that their city will be electric lighted in a few months. " Wellington," says the Post, " will be in the van in Australasia in this matter. Before many months are past every street, lane, and alley in the city will be brilliantly illuminated from dark till dawn every night of the year." There were two cases of drunkenness in the Lock-up last evening, also a case of larceny against an old offender, Lawrence McDonald. The latter is charged with stealings lady's woollen petticoat, valued at 3s, the property of Mrs. Jane R. Cross, who keeps a ladies' emporium at the corner of Victoria and Albert streets.

A Napier paper is very severe on Mr. Goldie. and speaks of him as " this worthy." and "this man Goldie." The reason for the paper's wrath is Mr. Goldie's endeavours to prevent the " discontinuance of that rascally piece of extravagance, the 'Frisco mail service, which costs the country over £20,000 a-year, and only benefits a few Auckland merchants."

The Mahikipawa diggings, near Picton, are very difficult of access. It is said that the very dogs whine and howl at the difficulties of the road, and some of them refused to follow their masters any further. The sideling is steep and shingly, and a false step may probably mean death. There is no defined track up the gorge, and all "tucker" has to be "humped." Large returns are expected in the summer. The field is expected to last about two years. £6 was, according to the Thames Advertiser, the amount allowed by the Commissioners to get exhibits for Melbourne from the Thames goldfield. "We would like to know,"' says that paper. " how the of which Mr. Richardson spoke in the House, has been expended, for it is quite plain that if the other gold mining centres were as shabbily treated as the Thames that it is small wonder the New Zealand mining exhibits at the Exhibition are so poor."