NEWS IN BRIEF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8533, 6 April 1891, Page 6

NEWS IN BRIEF.

Bishop Cowie preached at St. Mary's Cathedral last night. Sir Robert Stout has been advocating prohibition at Sydenham. The valuation of Christchurch is £193,195, or £1487 less than last year. Whooping cough is very prevalent in the South Hillend (Taringatura) district. The export of coal products for the week from Reefton amounted to 220S tons.

A Special Settlement Association under the new regulations is being formed at Hunterville.

We understand that Colonel Fraser will again contest the Aroha electorate, and as a Government supporter. An outbreak of fire occurred on board the small steamer Tam-o'-Shanter at Onehunga on Saturday night. The latest intelligence relating to Bishop Suter is that he continues to improve, but bis condition is still very critical. The Auckland Rowing Association races, which were to have been held on Saturday afternoon, were postponed for a week. A regular line of Chinese steamers has been established between Sydney, Japan, Hongkong, and the Straits' Settlement. Telegrams from New Plymouth state that a large number of visitors are still in town, who seem inclined to stay there over the week.

A monster eel, 221b in weight, was caught in the Wanganui river by a lad recently, and, after some trouble, was safely landed. A young man was charged at Tipton with attempting to commit suicide. His father said the accused was one of a family of 33 children.

The Rev. Father Grogan, of Napier, who is returning from a visit to Sydney, preached at the eleven o'clock mass and at vespers at St. Patrick's yesterday. Some burglars recently broke into a large establishment in Melbourne and decamped with a safe weighing -Ucwt. • It, however, contained nothing of value. In the absence of the incumbent at Taranaki the Rev. Charles Le Pier Heaslop, chaplain of the Cordelia, conducted the ■cervices at Epiphany Church yesterday. The greater number of children at school In Bengal belong to the Catholic Faith. The Indian Witness gives the Catholics 5383 out of a total school attendance of 8710.

During Friday night and Saturday very heavy downpours of rain occurred at intervals at the Thames, and about 400 logs came down the Kauaeranga River to the Kauri Company's booms.

There were in the lock-up last evening two persons on charges of drunkenness, and a lad named Middleton, arrested by Constable Haslett, for absconding from the Kohimarama Industrial School. *

The Greymouth prospecting operations at Blackball coal lease resulted in striking a coal seam of good coal. As it dips out, it can be worked level, the draining entailing no cost.. It is a large field.

A report from the engineers of the Waimats County Council say that a water supply for the Lower Otaio-Makikihi district is quite practicable, would cost about £4300, and would give water to 22,000 acres of land.

The Papal congregation of rites has decided not to canonise Columbus. A member of the congregation told a journalist of Home that Columbus was a perfect gentleman and an excellent Catholic, but not a saint.

The Wellington Board of Education, having suggested a conference of teachers with the Ministers and official head of the department, the Government will agree to the proposal if endorsed by the other Boards.

It is stated from Wellington that the Legislative Council Reform Bill, which the Government intend to introduce next session, will limit the term of office of new members of the Council to seven years.

The agents of the Picturesque Atlas notified their arrival at Kaiapoi recently by sending to each subscriber a circular setting forth the judgments obtained by the company against subscribers who refused to take delivery of the work.

The usual service under the auspices of the Young Men's Christian Association, was held in the City Hall last evening. There was a good attendance. Mr. Nimrno gave an interesting and earnest address. Mr. Whitelaw, lion, treasurer, occupied the chair.

The Wellington Education Board have tinder consideration a proposal to abolish the ordinary science lessons in school, and substitute therefor chemistry appropriate to manufacturing in town district?, and In country schools chemistry of agriculture.

The Oamaru Harbour Board endowment, iKematata station, was offered for sale on March 20, in two lots. Lot 1, G3,010 acres, wart sold to Mr. W. R. Cameron, at the upset, £1312. Lot 2, 5750 acres, was sold to the same gentleman at £170, or £51 above the upset.

The Gospel Temperance Mission held a meeting last evening on lie Queen-street Wharf. The choir, recently formed, rendered several selections, and in addition a quartette and duet were contributed. The speakers were Messrs. R. French, E. Hare, R. Souster, and C. H. Clemens.

At the inquest at Gisborne on Saturday on the bod}' of John Bonrke, late clerk and secretary to the Harbour Board, a verdict was returned of accidentally drowned whilst bathing, with a rider attached requesting the Harbour Board to declare it unsafe to bathe off the breakwater.

The New Zealand Tablet says: "The extreme Democratic party, not satisfied with free education for their children, are now endeavouring to compel the public to supply them with school-books at .the expense of said public. The next move, we snppose, will be in favour of free breakfasts for children, and then free luncheons and free dinners."

On. Sunday, March 22nd, the anniversary services of the Congregational Sabbath School took place, and on Monday, the 23rd, the annual treat and tea-party was held during the afternoon. The scholars were entertained in the field of Mr. Huband, by a committee of young men and ladies, when games of various kinds were got up, and various prizes were competed for, to the evident satisfaction of the children. The tea took place in the Congregational Church, which lad been carefully decorated for the occasion. About GO children, with their parents and friends sat down to an excellent tea, after which the public meeting was held. On this occasion the Maungaturoto Amateur Choral Society appeared in public for the first time, and during the evening rendered several musical pieces with much credit. The pastor, Rev. C. E. Davidson, presided, and after a short prayer and San key's hymn No. (>9 had been sung, called upon the Choral Society to sing " Ope the Door." The report of the secretary, Mr. F. Jameson, was a very encouraging one. It stated that during the year the attendance was flood, and is steadily increasing; that we had not to mourn the inroads of death in either teachers or scholars; that owing to increasing public work one of the superintendents, Mr. J. Hemphill, had felt obliged to resign his position,which Mr. H. F. Cullen is now tilling every Sabbath ; that Mr. W. Chad win, inn., for some time past secretary of the school, had felt obliged to resign his position, which is at present filled by Mr. F. Jameson ; that owing to the steady increase of scholars the school is pressingly in need of more teachers ; that the Sunday-school library is being used by many scholars, but that the librarian, Mr. W. E. Flower, would like to see the usefulness of the library extended. The report of the treasurer, Mr. W. M. Flower, was also of a very satisfactory character. It showed that the finances of the school were in a healthy state, that we had paid all liabilities, and had a balance in hand. After the adoption of the secretary's and treasurer's reports had been moved, seconded, and carried, the Choral Society rendered " Come Unto Me," after which Miss Kate Flower sang " Gates of the West." Mr. Cullen, the superintendent. distributed the Sabbath-school prizes, 'after which the Choral Society gave, " The Mountain Maid's Invitation," and Mr. F. Jameson sang "My Old Friend John." The Choral Society sang "The Hammer Song" and "O'er the Ice." Votes of thanks to the ladies who had provided the tea, to the young men's committee who had got up the afternoon's children's sports, and also to those who waited at the tea tables, were passed unanimously. The collections of Sunday and the sale of tickets for the tea ,-ind concert to those other than Sabbathschool scholars, realised £5 13s 2d.—[Maunga- _ turoto Correspondent.] ■ To Cuke Skin Diseases. — Sulpholine Lotion quickly drives away Eruptions, f Pimples, Blotches, Redness, Eczema, Acne, Disfigurements, Roughness and Scurf, etc., leaving a cleat- spotless Skin and beautiful Complexion. Sulpholine is a necessity for the Skin, especially in hot climates. Made in London. Sold everywhere. >V - "