NEWS IN BRIEF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9242, 20 December 1888, Page 6

NEWS IN BRIEF.

Racks are to be held at Kopu, Thames, on the 24th. ■ Allan's flour-mill at Timaru has been lit ■with the electric light. The installation ■was a great success. The Christchurch city council have rescinded tho motion prohibiting the fire engines going outside the city. W. Clark, "draper, Wellington, has filed a declaration of bankruptcy, His liabilities are said to be £15,000, the deficiency being about £1400. There were four prisoners in the lock-up for drunkenness last night,* and Joseph Morris for resisting Constable Clarke in the execution of his duty. Mr. Corfe, the retiring headmaster of Christ's College, Christchurch, was presented witfi a gold watch by the masters, and a silver egg boiler by the boys. At the annual meeting of tho First "Church in Dunedin the Rev. J. Gibb said that only nine of the congregation were driven away by the introduction of the

organ. The Christmas performance of "The Messiah" takes place in Wellington tonight (Thursday). Somo of thoso who are to sing solos are new to a Wellington audience. At a meeting of the Oamaru shareholders the Equitable Insurance Company, a motion in favour of the company going into liquidation for the purpose of winding up was carried. The Timaru wool sales were well attended by local and outside buyers. Trices so far show an average advance of Id on last season. Crossbred i≤ up half-bred, lOgd ; merino, 9|d. The annual luncheon, cooked and served by tho pupils of the cooking class at tho Girls' High School, Christchurch, was held on December 14. Tho guests included the members of the Board of Governors and the Professors.

William Everett Orel, an Opaki settler, had a narrow escape yesterday at the railway crossing. The cow-catcher of a passing train lifted his horse out of tho buggy ; but though the animal was fatally injured the driver escaped with a shaking. Mr. D. H. Brown, of Ashburton, Canterbury, who has lately been travelling in Australia, delivered a lecture in Ashburton a few days ago, in which he said that •' New Zealand, taking it all in all, was the best part of the whole creation of God." Slaughtering was recommenced at; the Belfast Frozen Meat works yesterday. Freezing will be begun to-day. Tho new refrigerator, capable of freezing 500 sheep per day, is nearly ready. The works will be able to put through ISOO sheep per day. In consequence of promiscuous visits having been inado to tho fortifications at Point Halswell by pleasure-seekers from "Wellington, "he rule "no admittance, except on business," is to be enforced by the Government, so far as tho fortifications are concerned.

Mr. John Dnfchie was installed Maj'or of Wellington yesterday. Referring to the finances he said thab the city had more than paid its way, though necessary works could only be provided by a small additional loan, which would mean imposing a rate of 3d in the pound. As showing the increase of settlement on Crown Lands in the Taranaki district, itmight 'oe stated that for the period from tne end of March last up to the present time ±2,700 acres of land have been disposed of by the Land Board. For former years the average was 10,000 acres. The Christchurch Angling Society held a ■competition yesterday. Jy. W. Hunt won •che prize for fly-fishing, with 30 fish, weighing 22£lbs. At Irwell, J. Coe won the prize for the heaviest basket taken by any legal means, with 9 fish, weighing 67$lbs, from the Selwyn. Coe gofi the heaviest fish, 101b loz.

The search party organised at first to proceed in search of Professor Brown consisted of Mr. Thomas Mackenzie, M.H.R., who i 3 said to be one of the most experienced bushmen in the colony ; Mr. M. Hoss (of the Daily Times staff), also a good bushmaa and mountaineer ; and Mr. Ernest Mitchell.