NEWS IN BRIEF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8671, 14 September 1891, Page 6

NEWS IN BRIEF.

Ins coal export for the week from 1 Grey* mouth has been 2599 tons. In 1850 the allowance to the Mayor of Sydney was £600 a year. This year it is £1000. It is reported that the Hon. R. Seddon is likely to take up his residence in Palmorston North. Christopher Johnston has been fined £100 ab Melbourne, or six months in gaol, for smuggling cigars. Mr. W. G. Justin, of Wellington, has served a writ on Mr. C. J. Hazelden, patent officer, claiming £1000 for libel. The Evening Post thinks that the New Zealand voluntcors should be armed with Manlicher rifle and smokeless powder. It is proposed to establish a butter and bacon factory at Ormondville to be called the Bush Farmers' Co-operativo Association. : We learn by telegraph from Wellington that a strong committee has been appointed to arrange for a reception to Mr. Cox, the Home Rule candidate. The coal export from Westport for the week ended on Saturday was 4543 tons. Ten Union company's steamers were ab Westport on Saturday. The Sefton Dairy Factory has . declared a dividend of six per cent, for 8J months, during which period 30,6471bs of butter have been manufactured. Tho Academy of Fine Arts was opened ab Wellington on Saturday by the Chief Justice. Mr. Roynolds, of Dunedin, was awarded tho prizes for door panels. A gentleman who ha? lately travelled a good deal about the West Coasb states that all the towns from Foxton to New Plymouth seem to be more prosperous than for many years past.' A Queensland freezing company professes to have overcome the greatest drawback to the trade in frozen beef, namely, the washed appearance the meat assumes on thawing. The cure is to freeze with the hide on, and skin after thawing. Labour would appear to be scarce in the Tokomairiro district. The Bruce Herald , says that during the past day or two Mr. P. McGill, the well-known miller, wanted a dozen or so hands for working a threshing mill, but was unable to get them. After thirteen years' excellent service in the cause of temperance, the Temperance Herald has voluntarily relinquished the field in favour of the Prohibitionist, which ■will pursue a more aggressive policy under the direction of the Rev. L. M. Isitt.

The New Zealand Times states that there is every prospect of tho frozen rabbit business assuming large dimensions, and that ft representative of a London firm is on a special visit to the colony at the present time for tho purpose of developing this trade.

The Woodville Examiner has heard of a case in which bushfallers wno have been working on a job for months have lost the •whole amount due to them. . It is time the workman was given a lien on the results of his labour.

Mr. Gatton, secretary of the Terrace End Land Association, informs the Manawatu Standard that he has applied for 14,000 acres on behalf of 70 members, and also additional land for a township and necessary reserves. The Southland News, in an article on Antarctic exploration, argues that New Zealand ought to send an exploring party before any other community does so, and suggests that the 2d postal rate might be retained for another year to provide the necessary funds. A libel and slander action for £500 has been commenced in the Melbourne County Court by Miss Agnes Millar, of Port Melbourne, against John Scharples, a schoolmaster, and Miss Jessie Taggard, of the same place, for making statements imputing dishonesty and insobriety on the part of the plaintiff. Tho defence is justification and privilege. Fcr some time past (says the Lyttleton Times) great complaints have been made by importers respecting goods being abstracted from packages which arrive by the direct liners, and it would appear that consignees have no redress, owing to the rule of the company that no notice of pillaging can be acknowledged after the goods have left the railway sheds. I; A strange phenomena is reported from Milton. An old coalpit at l.ovell's Flat, which is full of water, has overflowed and formed a lagoon. No stream enters it. and it has no connection with any running water. Yet it swarms with cockabulli (native trout) and the fresh water crayfish. These fish have made a sudden appearance, and people are curious to know from whence they came. ___