NEWS IN BRIEF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 9011, 17 October 1892, Page 6

NEWS IN BRIEF.

£hb "mechanical mother" is responsible for bringing out a fine clutch of eighteen ostrich chicks at Whitford Park last week. ' The Ministerial paper at Napier complains that the Labour Bureau has been x*** tricked into sending a lot of loafers into ■ the district." . .* The people of Masterton are petitioning ' for more police protection, and are likely to have their wish gratified. Thefts are of daily occurrence, and the six policemen now in the town are not sufficient to cope with the vast amount of work. . A correspondent of the Southland Times reports that the farmers are busy sowing, and have been. favoured with the best of weather. There will be a greater area in grain this year than last, and so far the prospects are highly favourable. The Art Gallery annexe is now completed, and is left to season and air. A large number of pictures and framed engravings which have never seen the light yet, belonging to the Mackelvie Collection, will be placed in it as soon as it is possible to do so. Judge Ward created a small sensation amongst the members of the Salvation Army at Reofton, the other day, by stepping out of his hotel and putting a pound note in the hat. The local corps have now a very favourable opinion of the learned judge's judgment. The Brunner News of a recent date has • the following :—" It is reported that a . new reef has been found on the Minerva lease, Blackball, and that three shifts of men have gone up, the intention being to carry on work with vigour, the reef carrying excellent gold. The proprietors of the Waitara Freezing Works are having an artesian well sunk at the works for the purpose of obtaining a better water supply. An extra refrigerator is being fitted up, so that an increased output of frozen meat will be made this season from Waitara. A most successful trial has been made in the presence of the Victorian Minister of Agriculture and a number of gentlemen in- j terested in dairy inventions, of a steam I milking machine which answered the tests to which it was submitted admirably, and will milk 20 cows at once. Captain W. Jackson Barry, on his way to Christchurch, delivered one of his lectures to the inmates of Seacliff Asylum, and received an enthusiastic reception. Dr. Truby King kindly allowed the Asylum Band and lady pianist to play during the evening. Bouquets were thrown to the-captain, who also received a vote of thanks. In 1880 the goods imported to "Victoria were valued at £15,956,000, and the exports at £14,436.000. In ISS9 the imports had leapt to £24,402,000, and the exports had shrunk to £12,734,000, and it is. admitted that but for the fact that the Riverina district of New South Wales sends most of its wool away via Melbourne, the latter figures would have been much smaller. Mr. Justice Richmond, says the Wellington Post, strongly condemns the practice which has sprung up in Wellington of lending money on buildings about to be erected. His Honor, referring to the matter in the Bankruptcy Court, said it was a rotten kind of business to advance money in that way. The interesting ceremony of the renewal of baptismal vows took place at St. John the Baptist's Church, Parnell, last evening, and was very imposing. Each of the children held a lighted candle, and repeated the vows after Rev. Father Lenihan, who officiated. The children also sang and assisted the choir during the service. The general committee of the Wellington Agricultural and Pastoral Association consider it is desirable that all information possible in connection with the management and treatment of stock and sheep in general within the colony of New Zealand should be obtained, with a view to have all that is considered useful advice to settlers published in pamphlet form. The other day Mr. Gray, a well-known settler in the Sandon district, had the misfortune to have his granary burned down for the third time within three or four years. His losses have been over £1000, and his fellow-settlers intend to tactically exhibit their sympathy with im by presenting him with a new engine. The Palmerston North Standard says that a horse and trap went off the Gorge Road and were precipitated into the river below. The trap, which was loaded with goods, was smashed to pieces, and the horse was killed, a splintered end of one of the shafts having impaled the poor brute, entering at its neck and protruding frem the nostrils. The Marlborough Times states that one night recently the whole bay at Picton was apparently alive with herring or pilchard, when a school of porpoises appeared upon the scene in pursuit, driving the enormous shoals of fish up the lagoon and on to the beach. Upon the tide receding, tons of fish were lining the bay and lagoon, whilst unknown quantities were blown out of the harbour by the strong south-easter.