NEWS IN BRIEF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10084, 20 March 1896, Page 6

NEWS IN BRIEF.

Herald Summary. Richmond gone to the Islands. Steamer Rakaia in Calliope Dock. Mariposa from Sydney this evening. San Francisco mail leaves to-morrow. Mission yacht Southern Cross loaves for the Islands next week. There are at present 38 cases of typhoid fever in the Auckland Hospital. _ The estimated yield of maize in the Maolean district this season is 300,000 bags. The vital statistics of Melbourne show that since 1891 the city has lost 80,736 of its

population. Typhoid fever is very prevalent at) Dungog, there being seven cases under treatment at present. A mining speculator named Bond created & sensation in Melbourne by discharging & revolver in his bedroom at the Cathedral Hotel. At Christchurch on Saturday A. Simpson Was fined 5s and costs for obstructing an inspector under the Shops and Shop Assistants Act. A few days ago, a valuable horse, owned by Mr. Lar.dt. Jensen, was killed by a bull belonging to Mr. L. A. Mathiesoti, of Jlaharahara. A cyclist named L, A. Middows was severely injured at Sydney by a fall from his bicycle while training at the Agricultural Ground.

Two Parihaka natives have been injured by an explosion of dynamite, and have been placed in the New Plymouth hospital for treatment.

Some '2000 totara posts have just been floated down the Rangitikei rivor ab Hunterville, to Lower Rangitikei, a distance of 50 miles.

Two boys named Alfred McMillan and Thomas Sargent were drowned while bathing in the Duck River, ab Granville, New South Wales.

At the present time the average quality New Zealand cheese sells in Sydnoy at 2d per pound above the average New South Wales article. The Nelson hop crop this year is poor, and about one-third less than the previous year. Tho quality is good, and producers expect high prices, The subscription opened for Mrs. Dean did not reach £150, and from this Mrs. Dean has been paid a weekly sum for the maintenance of herself and child. The amount at the credit of depositors in the New South Wales Government. Savings Bank at the end of last year was £4,121,700, an increase of £457,7"5 over 1894. In consequence of representations as to the existence of sweating in Wellington, the Premier has instructed the Labour Department to make enquiries upon the subject. An accident happened on the We3tport Coal Company incline which will necessitate the stoppage of coal lowering for some days. Men will work night aud day to repair the damage. Quite a large number of speculative people from Greymouth have fairly rushed the I'aparoa Ranges during the last few days, and a " pegging off '' boom seems to have set in. According to the Medical Practitioners Act, the name of Dr. de Kenzie, who was recently convicted for a common assault at Christehureh, has to bo removed from the Medical Register. There is a rumour currant in Wellington that Mr. Martin Kennedy's chief reason for visiting England is to float a company with a capital of half a million to consolidate and run tho New Zealand breweries as one big concern.

At the North Canterbury Caledonian gathering the other day, a young man was running beside the competitor in a race, cheering on a friend, when he cannoned with a spectator and fell, dislocating his right elbow. The Dunedin Star publishes a statement that Miss Harriet M. Morrison has been relieved of her duties a* secretary of the Dunedin Tailoresses' Union, and that her books have been placed in the hands of auditor?.

The Wanganui River is now lower than it ha; been since lSSti. practically no rain having fallen up-river for some seven weeks. It is worthy of note that the steamers have no; missed a trip for twelve months until last week.

A Native Land Court will be held at Danevirke on the 9th of April, to dispose of the appeal? against Karaitiana's interest hi Tamaki. There will be another Court in May to define the Government interests in the Rakantatahi and other Nativo blocks recently purchased. The labour agent, Mr. Ferguson, has been instructed to send three competent carpenters to Avondale to day, to work at the new Auxiliary Asylum. Those who are already on his books, capable of roofing and doing other work on high roofs are requested to apply before 10 a.m. The Branch Hotel, Eltham, had a narrow escape of being burned down last week. lb seems that a chimney connected with the Sreplace in a sitting-room took fire, and shortly afterwards it was found that the woodwork in the passage of the second storey of the hotel was showing signs of being heated