NEWS IN BRIEF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11198, 19 October 1899, Page 6

NEWS IN BRIEF.

iFP.nTO left for the Islands. Upolu from the South to-day. Talune left Sydney for Auckland. Ovalau arrived from the Eastern 1 acin® A new line of sailing vessels now runs to France irom New Caledonia. _ It is proposed to encourage the immigration of Finnlanders to Queensland. According to statistics just issued, the birth-rate for Australasia for 1898 was the lowest on record. The stipends of the Maori clergy are not equal to the pay of a day labourer, according to Archdeacon Clarke. Through a gun accident a boy, Jack \\ inter, was"shot dead by his brother recently at Gundary, New South Wales. With the exception of Melbourne all the leading cities of Australia show substantial additions to theii population since 1891. The New South Wales Railway Commis-; sioners intend to put a stop to smoking in railway carriages other than those set apart ] for the purpose. It is stated that the Broken Hill Proprietary mine, New South ales, has produced minerals worth 20 millions sterling, and has paid six millions in dividends. At a New South Wales Cabinet meeting the other day, the time limit for conversation on the telephone exchanges in both citv and suburbs was fixed at five minutes. H.M.s. Wallaroo, which has just returned to Sydney from an island cruise, carried out surveys of Hog's Harbour, Espiiito Santo. Potnannen Bay, Erromanga, in the Hebrides. The lunatic who escaped from the Avondale Asylum on Saturday is still at large. Mounted police have been out in the suburbs in search, but so far no trace of him has been lound.

Three deacons, the Revs. Kiriwi, T. Paetata, and Ruarangi, were admitted to priests' orders yesterday morning by the Most Rev. the Primate (Bishop Cawie). at an impressive service in St. Mary's Cathedral, Parncll.

As showing the extent to which the share fever has gut hold of the public in Otago, it may be mentioned that one of the stalls at a. 'bazaar in Dunedin was devoted to shares in the various claims, which were disposed of to purchasers. According to a report received by the West Australian Stock Department, cats let loose in the "south-east part of the colony have been killing rabbits in great numbers." At the same time, wild dogs have been killing the cats. The Sydney Evening News says that there is at present a kind of deadlock between the New South Wales and Queensland Governments in regard to tho border tick regulations. Should no satisfactory arrangement be come to shortly, it is probable that the importation of cuttle from Queensland will be stopped altogether. There were in the lockup last evening, three persons on charges of drunkenness, one of them, Frank Smith, is also charged with vagrancy ; Wm. James McCauley (arrested by Detective Miller), on a charge of stealing kauri gum. value £2 7s ; and Henry Thomas Spain, arrested by Constable Howell, of Huntly, on a charge of failing to support his three children.

Throughout the Poverty Bay district the lambing this season has been exceptionally good. On two of the largest coast stations percentages of 90 and 91 have been obtained. In one case this percentage was from a flock of 19.000 ewes, so that it will be understood the increase in the district for the season should be very substantial. A Napier bankrupt had a somewhat romantic tale to tell his creditors the other day. His father be said told him that there was property in America, which might fall into the hands of the family, and if it did bankrupt would be a millionaire. In 1891 news was received that the family had come into the estate in America, and bankrupt, on his own showing, "went the pace" on the strength of the windfall. He was not made a millionaire, however, as his share of the propertv only amounted to £9 14s, and when it reached him he found himself with liabilities amounting to £1800.