NEWS IN BRIEF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8540, 14 April 1891, Page 6

NEWS IN BRIEF.

Gkey is 73 years to-daj. I Judge ConoHy left for New Plymouth yesterday by the s.s. Takapuna. The only occupant of the lockup last evening was a straggler from H.M.s. Orlando. In Calcutta early in February, 4000 beggars assembled outside a rich man's door for alms. The temperance societies of Ashburton held a. demonstration yesterday, which was very largely attended. Mr. Strack, of the Invercargill Central School, with 44 boys, camped out at Stewart Island for the holidays. It is suggested in Timaru to put the unemployed on to remove the shingle from the base of the breakwater. . Nearly 56 tons of butter were exported from the Taranaki breakwater during the fonr weeks ending March 2Sth. The average statement on the cargo of the ship Leading Wind is now completed by Mr. T. EL Ma bin, the adjuster. Mr. Theodore Wood, a labour democrat and a protectionist, is in the field for the vacant seat afc Newcastle, N.S.W. The New Zealand Times suggests that the first doctor who kills a patient through the use of tuberculine should be tried for manslaughter. A meeting of the supporters of Pastor Birch was held in the Academy of Music last night. It was resolved to request Mr. Birch to remain in Auckland. The native population between Hicks Bay and Marahea, the northern and southern boundaries of the Waiapu County, is estimated at '22-20. The Phornix Club, Wellington, passed through the season without defeat, and •won the Cup. No other club won more than two matches. A meeting of the Auckland Operative, House Painters' Union was held last night at the Pitt-street Baths. The business was of a private nature. The committee of the Napier Chamber of Commerce has approved of the action of the Melbourne Chamber re bills of lading, and resolved to send a proxy. Mr. Harkness, M.H.R., stated in a speech at New Plymouth recently that he had purchased a farm in Taranaki, aud intended residing upon it in the future. The Wellington Hospital returns for last month show that 122 patients were under treatment on 31st ultimo, as against 136 on ihe corresponding date last year. The railway men in Queensland have declined to join the strikers, and nearly the whole of tliem have declared their willingness to be sworn in as special constables. The Adelaide Hospital statistics show that the expenditure for last year amounted to £12,416; contribution?, £1960; fees, £552. The number of cases admitted was' 2026. Mr. Freeman has been appointed to take temporary charge of the New Zealand branch of Cook's Tourist Agency, filling the vacancy caused by the death of Mr. E. E. Bilbrough. It is stated that the petroleum experts at Kew Plymouth are satisfied with the present indications of strong natural gas at a depth of 800 feet, which is always a forerunner of oil. The wild dog nuisance appears to be one of the chronic*diiSculties of South Australian pastoralists, and without general and systematic action on their part it is likely to remain so. At the Dunedin Hospital yesterday morning Dr. Gordon McDonald experimented with Dr. Koch's tuberculine on a consumptive. He reports the usual reaction has been produced. The buro-essesof Wanganui have abolished the wards of that borough. Before an alteration of that kind can take place half the burgesses in each ward must petition the Governor to that effect.

Judging from utterances in the Post, the pupils in the Wellington schools do not pay what is called "quarter money." That paper expresses great surprise that the practice obtains in Auckland. Last year 465.151 sheep were introduced into So'uth Australia, mostly from New South Wales, as against 110,747 exported, xvhile the imports of cattle numbered 20,332, as against 3932 exported. The South Australian Inspector of Stock reports that the owners of small flocks are a largely increasing class, but the absence of variety in the pastures of small paddocke seems to be responsible for numerous losses of sheep. On Sunday morning, Mr. C. Redwood's malthouse, at Blenheim, was destroyed by fire caused by a spark from a chimney in the shingle roof. The house was insured for £500 in the National, wir.ch had reinsured half that sum with the London and Lancashire.

At Blenheim on Saturday, Mr. William tiehon, of Kelson Bros., addressed a large meeting of sheep farmers. At the close 01 his address guarantees amounting to 33,000 sheep for three years -were handed in. It is considered certain that the Messrs. Nelson will now establish works there. When one of the Oamaru census collectors -was on his rounds gathering in the returns a householder handed him his paper, remarking that he had filled in all details except poultry, and he asked the collector if he should put down under that heading a couple of roast fowls which were in the larder. A Wancanui paper say 3 :—" Roughly speaking, the whole of the grain, hay, and grass seed on this coast ha 3 been ruined. Thelosaeson potatoes are great, an* peas have done badly. This season has proved the heaviest loss farmers have ever experienced on this coast, and a severe blow to the labourers, who depend on harvest wages." A Christchurch telegram says -.—Three stags' heads which had been preserved by H Brown and offered for sale, were seized by the ranger of the Acclimatisation Society, who contended that they were eame Brown brought a suit for restitution, and the Resident Magistrate gave judgment in his favour for £24 and costs, to be reduced to £2 if the heads were returned in a week. He held the Society is altogether mistaken. A report to the Victorian Government on the snagging of the rivers of the colony states that large sums have been needlessly expended in improving the navigation of rivers in districts where the railways take ail the trade. On one section of a river on which £SOOO had been spent in snagging, only four steamers had ever been known to take advantage of the work, while on another the only vessel that had used the waters was the snagging boat itself. On the Gellibrand the Government have expended £300 for each settler's house, " In order that the settler may obtain his groceries with the minimum of trouble."