NEWS IN BRIEF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8785, 27 January 1892, Page 6

NEWS IN BRIEF.

It is magnificent weather, and an a uu danfe and early harvest is promised in Sout land. Joseph William Nelson, of Ruapekapek farmer, has filed a petition to be adjudicate a bankrupt. The Minister of Lands intends to rei troduce the Selectors 1 Land Revaluati< Bill next session. The total amount deducted from tl city valuation in Wellington for publ ectiools is £2500. An Institute of Journalists has bee established in Melbourne, which will pr< fcably absorb the Reporters' Association. It was Mr. T. Seaman, not Mr. 1 Steadman, who read the balance-sheet £ Epiphany Church meeting, he being th treasurer. 'The Premier addressed a meeting c Mosstown electors on Monday night, an> left by the mid-day train yesterday io Wellington. Mr. G. JDidebnry, Government Printer is at present in town. Ho has been grante< leave of absence for a short time, and Mil visit Rotorua. Sparrows are causing great damage to thi crops in South Canterbury. Harvest h general, and the yield on the drier land: promises to be good. We have received from Mr. H. Reei George, district agent of the Standard Accident Insurance Company of London, a copy of their calendar for 1592. According to the Napier Telegraph the condition of the flocks and feed prospects are so good that farmers reckon on clipping an extra pound of wool per head. Captain Falconer completed the blowup of the Lyttelton yesterday morning with two small charges. The smallest depth is now fourteen feet, and previously was only six feet. The New Zealand Times is satisfied after inquiry that Mr. McLean obtained his information re the property tax returns neither from the Department nor from Ministers. A little girl named Rose Irene Wilson, the fifteen-months-old daughter of a farmer at Southbridge, got hold of some Cooper's sheep dip powders, swallowed them, and died from the effects. The vine harvest has begun at Mildura. Immense quantities of grapes will be gathered this season. Some wine will be made, but most of the crops are to be converted into raisins and sultanas. The Picton Press says that energe efforts are about to be made by the sha holders of the Golden Gate Gold Mini Company to test the value of their grou at Cullen's Flat, Mahakipawa. During his tour throughout Cent Otago the Minister for Lands has be deputationised by numerous settlers have ssveral runs, the leases of which fall this year, cut up for small settlement. Major and Mrs. George leave for Sydn to-day by the s.s. Te Anau. After spen ing a few weeks in Victoria they conte plate paying a visit to China and Japa returning to Auckland about the beginni of September. A natural curiosity is seen in the Pol; ngna Valley. Over a narrow deep ravi a natural bridge has been formed by t roots of a tree, and, according to t • Woodville Examiner, a buggy could driven across it. The Rev. Mr. Mayers, who is escorting party of toys from Dr. Barnardo's Horn gave an address and entertainment, which the boys took part, at Wellingti on Monday night, the Earl of JVleath pr siding. There was a large attendance. At the City Court, Dunedin, the oth day, nominal penalties were imposed cases of jumping on trains while in motio In one case it was proved that a young lac fell between the last carriage and tl guard's van, escape from death being litt short of a miracle. A few daj's ago we (Nelson Evening Mai stated that some snakes had been seen by correspondent in Richmond. A gentlema residing in Richmond informed us o Saturday night, that to use an Irishisn the snakes were lizards. It is to be hope that the reptiles seen were lizards, and nc snakes, as the former are harmless. The first church in Sydney, kqown i " The Wattle and Dab Church," was opene on Sunday, August 25, 1793, and was bun down on October 1, 1795. The site was triangular piece of ground opposite the ol Australian Club in Bent-street, and th is still vacant. It was named St. Phillip after Governor Phillip, rather than after S Philip. Mr. Jellicoe was reproved in a practice manner for wasting the time of th Supreme Court at Wellington last week In reply to Mr. Jellicoe's demand for cost on a four days' trial, His Honor commente< very strongly upon the waste of time fo which Mr. Jellicoe was responsible, am declined to allow him more than one day' costs. The Taieri paper has been informed by i man who has been employed on the Otagi Central Railway works for some consider able time that after paying his expenses, al he could send to his wife was about 21s or 22 every week. To do this he had to liv< sparingly, for if any extravagance was in dulged in it was found impossible to forwarc that sum. The Hon. J. D. Ormond has, according t< a Napier paper, just done an act which evei iiis political opponents had to admit is ; generous one. One of his employes George Portas, had to have his foot ampu tated in consequence of an accident, anc Mr. Ormond has volunteered to pay off : mortgage of £230 that now exists on th< holding and house of Mr. Portas, and t< present the whole as a freehold to his em ploye. An estimate of the world's wheat crop foj 1891 was lately prepared for Beerbohm , : list, the fisrures for which, along with th< totals for three preceding years, are asi fol lows :— Estimate*' European Other T-ihil consump countries, countries. J o tal - tion. Qrs. Qr.s. Qrs. Qra. fBBS.. 162.456.000 108,100,1300 270,5.0<j,000 2CS,000.00( 1589.. 144,872,000 116,755,000 201,030,000 2«J9,750,0(»( 1590.. 163,550,000 103,030,000 267,1(30,000 270,rj00,0U( 1891 .. 137,950,000 131,350,000 269,300,000 272,250,00( It will thus be seen that in two years out oJ the past four the estimated crops have not come up to the estimated consumption. Wbat is spoken of as an extraordinary ' crop of wheat was raised 1.-.st season by an influential farmer in the province of Ontario, Canada. He writes as follows to a gentleman in England :—" On my farm I have just (September 24,1891) threshed the winter wheat, which, in a 25-acre field, has yielded more than 50 bushels to the acre. This is quite phenomenal, and was never grown on the land before. Everything this year is prospering in thie country, and I hear the North-west crops are far beyond the most sanguine expectations."