NEWS IN BRIEF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8456, 6 January 1891, Page 6

NEWS IN BRIEF.

Sylvia Park Stud dispersed. Mr. Henry Manders, former representative of Lake Wakatipu in Parliament, died suddenly yesterday morning. The Salvation Army in Melbourne gave a •dinner to 500 poor people in the Temperance Ball on Christmas night. During the past week the export of coal from Newcastle to foreign and intercolonial ports amounted to '28,455 tons. , The To A rob a News strongly urges that, In any new Government to be formed, Mr. Cadman should be Minister of Mines. An excellent monograph on Sir George Grey, describing his distinct peculiarities, written by " Gideon," appears in the last • number of the New Zealand Mail. The late rains have vastly improved the appearance of the pastures in North Canterbury already, and the prospects of winter feed in grass and turnips are good. The Mitchantila (Q.) artesian bore, which is the deepest in Australia, is now completed, the depth being 6262 feet. The flow of water is about 23,000 gallons per day. The trophy presented by Sir F. T. Sargood for rifle competition,amongst the Public School Cadet Corps of Australia in ISSB has been finally won by the Brisbane Grammar School corps. "Heartbeats" to the number of 225 partook of the breakfast provided by the Mayor of Sydney for "outcasts" at the Temperance Hotel on Christmas Eve. Provision had been made for 500. The directors of the Commercial Bank of Australasia have received nine tenders for the erection of their new banking premises in Collins-street, Melbourne, the lowest was that of Jas. Moore at £110,000. A chemist at Palmerston North, named Williams, was found dead in bed on Sunday. As he was known to be in the habit of taking morphia, it is supposed this had something to do with it. Well-founded rumours are in circulation that serious defalcations have occurred in connection with the Queensland Police Department. The authorities admit there is something wrong, but refuse definite information. Br. King, medical officer to the Costley Home, and Mrs. King have donated a valuable addition to the library of the Home in the shape of 11 strongly bound volumes of Chambers Journal for the use of the inmates. The leading Broken Hill silver minis, reached their highest nominal value on January IS, 1390, namely, £23,259,000, and their lowest value on September 6, namely, £14.505.500. The value on Christmas eve was £18,032,000. News from the manager of the Coreena No. 2 Artesian Bore, at Barcaldine, states that boring was continued to a depth of 804 feet, wh?n a tremendous supply of water was obtained, which is estimated at two million gallons per day. The tobacco crop in the southern districts of Queensland has been destroyed by a grub hitherto unknown, which consumes the young plants. Mr. Limb, the tobacco expert, suites it is impossible to cultivate the leaf successfully, and recommends wheat instead. No amalgamation is contemplated between the A.U.S.N. Company and Howard Smith and Sons. The co-operation to come into effect next month is merely a friendly arrangement to work the trade together between Sydney and Queensland. The question of the practicability of joining the Agricultural Department of Victoria with the Water Supply Department and the Forest Department with the Mines Department will shortly engage the attention of the Minister for Bands and Agriculture. Close observation of the locust plague in Victoria shows that the insects die immediately after eating tha leave* of the larkspur plant, and the question has arisen as to the desirability of farmers, vignerons, and orchardists sowing larkspur to protect their crops. It is understood, says the Lyttelton Times, that work will be provided for the unemployed at the Benley. Mr. W. P. Reeves, M.H.R.. has been in commnnication with the Premier upon the subject of providing additional facilities for transit' from Springfield to the Bealey, and Sir Harry has promised to see what can be I done.

A fire broke out yesterday morning in a seven-roomed dwelling and shops, occupied by Bryenson, butcher, at Linwood, Christchurch. It was totally destroyed. The insurances were £200 on the furniture and plant Commercial Union,, and the house £500 in the New Zealand Office, Very little furniture was saved. The origin is unknown.