NEWS IN BRIEF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8535, 8 April 1891, Page 6

NEWS IN BRIEF.

In Victoria the complaints of "dull times " grow and multiply. A nugget weighing 320z 7dwts has been obtained at the Baton, Nelson. Woodville won the lawn tennis match played at Woodville againsb Wellington by 75 games to 61. Camels are coming largely into use in South Australia, and date palms are being planted in the interior. No less than 107 racing fixtures wero announced in a late Melbourne sporting paper, extending from 14th to 31st March. The Woodville Cheese Factory supply is now about 400 gallons. The factory will continue operations for another month at least. The meat export trade in Wellington continues to develop at a rapid rate. On one day recently the Gear Company put through 2300 sheep. Four samples of purple top mammoth turnips were recently exhibited at Ashburton, weighing respectively lTlbs, lSlbs, 191bs, and 331bs. In a speech at the opening of the session of the University of Otogo tho Chancellor (the Rev. Dr. Stuart} called Dr. Hocken " the Herodotus of New Zealand." Mr. John Thomson has been appointed lecturer on Applied Mechanics at the Otago University. He was formerly in charge of the Gisborno and New Plymouth harbour The additions which are being made to the Wellington Meat Export Company's works at Ngahauranga, when completed, will enable the company to slaughter 4000 sheep per day. The largest cargo of coal yet loaded in the colonies has left Sydney and Newcastle in the British-India steamship Mombassa, a new steamer, for Singapore. She took away 6400 tons of coals. Native pigeons are plentiful in the East Coast district this season, but they have some cutaneous disease amongst them resembling small fly-blows just under the skin, which keeps them very poor. The Wairarapa Observer states that: — The present system of railway management in regard to fares and freights must be acknowledged a thorough failure so far as country districts are concerned." Those who are getting up the concert by men and officers of the fleet for the benefit of the widow of one of the Orlando's men, have secured the Opera House. The concert will take place on Friday evening. Mr. J. A. Going (assistant colonial surpeon), in his annual medical report on the health of the inhabitants of the Falkland Islands, states that chronic indigestion among the adults is the bane of these Islands. Ab an inquest hekkupon tho remains of the old man named Roto, who was found dead in his bed-at Lower Tararu on Monday morning, the jury retured a verdict that deceased died from atrophy and general debility. At the annual meeting of the Royal Mill Company, Timaru, the report stated that the gross profit for the year was £17,000, and actual neb profit £6000, but this was reduced to £4000 by debits and bad debts from the previous year. A young man named John Kennedy was admitted to the Wellington Hospital a few days ago suffering from a severe injury to his spine and bodily bruises, caused by jumping off the train at Tawa Flat, on the Manawatu line, while in motion. A Rangitikei gentlemen, Mr. J. Harris, purchased 1000 half-bred two-tooth Lincolns ab Woodville recently at lis Id a head, and then considered he had made £100 on his bargain, comparing the prices with those prevailing in his own district. A boy named Lehoney was recently severely thrashed and expelled from the Mangatainoka school because he went bathing against the wish of the master. The father of the boy complained to the committee of the severity of the master, who was called upon to reinstate the boy. The Nelson line of the New Zealand /ailways is 23 miles long, cost £177,948, and has hitherto been nothing like a paying concern ; indeed, the latest return shows the receipts for January to have been £697, and the expenditure £804. Thus, it required an expenditure of £132 odd to jam £100. t There is a dispute as to exactly when the twentieth century will begin. A Pittsburg astronomer says it will begin on January 1, 1900. The first century does not end with the year 99, bub with the year 100 ; the second century, therefore, began with the year 101, and the twentieth century, as explained, will begin with the year 1901. An effort is being made in New South Wales to get a clause inserted in the proposed Amended Friendly Societies Act, enabling societies to sue members for one quarter's contributions. This step is taken to protect societies from members who join, pay only the entrance fee, and thus become entitled to medical attendance, bub afterwards neglect or refuse to contribute further to the funds.