NEWS IN BRIEF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10074, 9 March 1896, Page 6

NEWS IN BRIEF.

Dtalac arrived from Islands. Tasmania for Sydney this evening. Southern Cross for Rarotonga on Thanday. Large number of visitors to the Rakm yesterday. American barque Nellie Brett) arrived from New York.

An English mail, via Suez will be sent to Sydney by the Tasmania this evening. It is reported ■ that certain parties are killing pheasants in the Ormondville district. The Westporb Coal Company's miners are just now enjoying the blessings of " full time." A number of spurious half-crowns are said to be in circulation in Wellington at present. The proposed expedition to prospect the unknown country in South Australia has fallen through. During the month of February 80,888 sheep were carried on tho Wellington Section of the railways. Tbo total value of imports at Sydney for the week ended February 22 was £181,661, Bed of exports £309,208. It is stated that the Cheviot settlors are having a good harvest, and that they ar6 Well satisfied at the prospects. Among the items given at the Liedertafel smoke concert was a clarionet and oboe duet by the Messrs. Jackson Bros. Steps sro being token to secure the erection of a bridge over the Murray River on the road from Albury to Wodonga. Owners of orchards in Dauevirke have lately had to put up with visits from youthful larrikins in quest of cheap fruit. It is reported that a very large area in the Riverina district will be placed under wheat during the forthcoming season. The mutilated and decomposed body of a taewly-born infant was found by tho water pelice in Sydney harbour the other morning. The Board of Governors of the Southland Boys' and Girls' High School have decided to include shorthand in the subjects of instruction. The West Australian Government is offering a bonus of £10 per ton during the next two years for tho local manufacture of cheese up to 20 tons. Whilst attempting to ford a flooded creek In the vicinity of Glen Innes a lad named Stanley Robinson was drawn under by the current and drowned.

A good deal of damage was done by bush fires at Maharahara, mostly in the way of loss of feed. At Matamau a mile of the sawmill tramway was burnt. A member of the Japanese Cabinet will shortly visit Australia, England, and America to obtain new blood for the improvement of the stock of Japanese horses. In linking a well in McLean-street, "VYoodville, on Tuesday, washdirt was fctruck at a depth of 24 feet, and when panned off by an experienced miner yielded several specks of gold. With a view of assisting the Otxgo University to procure and erect a cyanide plant, Cabinet has decided to pay at once the second half of tho £500 voted for the University last session. Three of the members of Mr. E. W. Dee's ■family, of Nelson, were poisoned through eating tinned sardines. Another young lady, a visitor, was also similarly affocted. All are happily now out of danger. The estimated expenditure of the New South Wales Fire Brigades' Board for the Durrentyear is £18,900, of which tho municipal councils, insurance companies, and Government each contribute £6300.

It is expected that within five months the line from Bclgrove towards Motupiko will be open to a point about 30 chains beyond the orris' Gully end of the tunnel, 26 miles 67 chains from the Nelson Station. A number of Tahoraite natives are leaving far \\ ainui, where they intend to spend gome time fishing. Their object is to provide food for a large gathering of Mormons, to be held at the pah at an early date, when about 600 are expected to be present. The present typhoid epidemic in Melbourne is the worst for years. The doctors attribute the outbreak to the condition of the water supply, which seems from some comments to be the dirtiest and most disgraceful that could be found anywhere in ii metropolitan city. During the passage of H.M.s. Lizard from Hobart to Sydney, while the ship was in Bass' Strait, an able seaman, Henry Ellis, was washed overboard from the jibboom, whilst plain sail was being made. The cry of "man overboard," and "away, lifeboat's crew," created a small excitement. The lifeboat was got away in the confused sea with commendable promptitude. The seaman was picked up very exhausted.