Untitled

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9369, 20 May 1889, Page 12

A turnip grown by Mr. Tanner, of Judea, Tauranga, turned the scale at 291bs. The children attending St Thomas' Sun-day-school held their annual fete, on April 2*2 in the charming grounds abutting on Shoal Bay, Northcote. A good find of coal is reported at Young's farm, Lovell's Flat, Otago. The seam is over 20 feet thick. A syndicate is forming to work the find. Ac the annual meeting of the Social Reform Association, at Luuedin on Friday, the 10th May, it was stated that an invitation had been sent to Mr. H. George to visit the colony. The exports from Hawke's Bay this year will exceed a million sterling, showing an increase of over 30 per cent, on last year's returns. The chief increases are in wool, frozen meat, and timber. It is proposed in New Plymouth to start the manufacture of condensed milk. The plant, it is said, would cost £2000, and a company with a capital of £10,000 is talked of. The price proposed to be given to farmers for milk is 34d to -id per gallon. At a meeting at Christchurch on Wednesday, May 15, at which General Strange spoke, a branch of the Imperial Federation League was formed, with Mr. C. C. Bowen as president, and the Hon. W. Reeves, Messrs. John Studholine, and C. P. Hulbert vice-presidents. In a private letter received last mail from Sir Julius Vogel, he states he has forwarded to the Speaker of the House of Representatives his resignation as representative for Christchurch North. Sir Julius will nob return to the colony for a pear, and then not with the intention 9f re-entering politics. At a meeting of the Napier Land Board, the Commissioner said the revenue of the Board for fahe last year was £16,000. A total of 111,000 acres of land had been disposed of, being 40,000 more than last year. There was "hardly a piece of Crown land in the district, that had not been inquired for. On May 8 Mr. Edward Han lan, the celebrated sculler, arrived at Auckland by the s.s. Tarawera. What hi« movements in New Zealand may be are as yet undecided. He may return to America by the next outgoing mail boat, or he may stay a month or so while visiting some of the principal places in the colony. A fine stag, recently killed by Mr. W. H. Purvis, of the R.M. steamer lonic, in the Wairarapa district, on Mr. John Martin's run at Huruatangi, weighed <lcwt, and the head was adorned with eleven tines. The horns were as thick as a man's wrist, and the points of the tines had beautiful ivory tips. Mr. Purvis is taking the head, and all complete, home. On the 24th of April there was celebrated at Manurewa, the marriage of Miss Alice Scott, a young lady whose amiable disposition and accomplishments will cause quite a vacancy in the district, to Mr. H. J. Gentles, a well known Thames resident. The bridesmaids were Miss Arabella Scott and Miss Ellen E. Reve3, whilst the bridegroom was accompanied on the occasion by Mr. J. R. Childerhouse. From a private letter received in town from Mr. Campion, paymaster on H.M.s. Lizard, we learn that the total amount received by Captain Pelly, on behalf of the seaman Skelton, whose case excited a warm interest here, was £127 14s 3d. It is proposed to utilise part of this sum in purchasing an artificial leg for Skelton, which will, probably, be done by the Admiralty Medical Board in London, while the balance of the amount will be at Skelton's disposal In the Naval Savings' Bank. I am indebted to the Surveyor-General (says our Wellington correspondent) for the following return of lands taken up in the Auckland provincial district during the year ending 31st March, 18S9. The return shows a noticeable increase in the demand for land suitable for settlement. 25,635 acres were taken up by 289 selectors for cash ; 7300 acres were taken up by 65 selectors on deferred payment; 28,700 acres were taken up by 185 selectors under perpetual lease ; 1050 acres were taken up jby 11 selectors under the homestead system ; 11,180 acres were taken up under pastoral leases ; 16,385 acres were taken up by 7 selectors for small grazing rnns. The Independent Order of Good Templar Grand Lodge of New Zealand, lately sitting in Christchurch, was well attended. At the session on April 24 it was decided not to meet again for two years, bo abolish fees for dispensation, to initiate members on the night of proposal, and in the election of officers Brother T. W. Glover, Auckland, Mas elected Grand Chief; Brother A. N. Adams, Dunedin, Counsellor ; G. A. Duncan, Nelson, Grand Vice; Brother Cameron, Grand Secretary ; Brother Carr, Treaaurer; Brother Johnson, Wellington, Super intendent of Juveniles; Brother Spooner, Whangarei, Messenger; Brother Collins, iybtelton, Assistant Secretary. _ A tea and crowded meeting in the evening ended the day'p work.