NEWS IN BRIEF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11433, 25 July 1900, Page 6

NEWS IN BRIEF.

' v - A'' —- ■■ ■ ■" — \T^ Ovalatj arrived from Fiji. I 1 Whakatarie left London for Auckland. -. Star of Australia for the South this ingTarawera will be released from quarantine this afternoon. -; ' • , . ' : X, • A largo seal was captured by the Maoris on the beach at Opunako last week. After exhibiting it .in the local hall they took it down to the sea and liberated it.?- r ' In. the Bay of Plenty agricultural district the returns for last year show an increase of 5831 sheep, and about a fourth of that increase is in the Tauranga County. The Timarn Borough Council has decided to spend about £150 in making a portion of the park suitable for recreation purposes, including a cricket ground arid tennis court. The Nelson Evening Mail .states that Mr. W. Akersten, of the Port, has benefited by the death of a relative in the Old Country to the extent of about £2000 in cash and perty.It is reported (says the Timaru Herald) that a new kind of disease has made its appearance amongst horses in this district. It is decribed as inflammation of the brain, and one case has proved fatal. ■~,-. A petition drawn up on behalf of farmers in the Manawatu district, praying for reform in connection with valuations carried on throughout the district, is being steadily supported by those interested. In view of a possible rise in wheat a few Geraldine farmers have had their last year's crop threshed, but the majority, owing to the bad weather coming on, have decided to Jet theirs remain until the spring. . According to the Timaru Post, the Christchurch Meat Company intend to make a new departure at their Smithfield Works by commencing the slaughter of fat cattle. Ihe beef will be frozen for the Home market. It was mentioned at the Victoria College Council the other night that a sum of ove£3ooo had been spent in improving the grounds of Wellington College, all of which had been subscribed by the public or the old boys of the college. A large whale has been washed ashore on the Whangara beach, and secured by the natives, The latter state that it is 96ft long, 13fb high, and 14ft across the back, and they claim to have removed half-a-ton of whalebone from its jaws. It is the largest whale seen on the coast for many years. The sand pumping plant, which has been erected by the New Plymouth Harbour Board, is'not answering quite so satisfactorily as was expected. It is now considered that more suitable pipes will have to be put in in order to create the requisite vacuum, and more boiler power will, it is stated, be required. Considerable amusement was afforded onlookers at Tauranga on Thursday last, in seeing a cow, the property of the proprietor of the Star Hotel, when it could not get in at the yard gate, deliberately go through the side 'door of the hotel, pushing the swing doors of the lobby open in the most unconcerned manner. It is worthy of note that a number of persons now refuse to take the dirty notes issued by the banks, and carry gold instead. The licensee of one of the railway refreshment rooms states that for every note he changes for a traveller three tender gold. A year or so back it was an exceptional thing for people to offer gold. While working in the Aorangi Board drainage district, Mr. J. H. Anderson came across several moa bones at a depth of about 7ft in the peat. Four of the bones are in an excellent state of preservation, including two leg bones, the joints of which are about 4in or Bin across. A breast bone was also found, but unfortunately it broke while being handled. A young man had a narrow escape from drowning under the ice on Saltwater Creek, about ten o'clock on Thursday night (says the Timaru Herald). He broke through, and disappeared under the ice, so that his companions could not see him. Fortunately he found his feet on a shallow spot, and was able to lift up the ice above him and break through it. A young man, whose name could not be ascertained, was killed at the Southern No. 1 mine, at Rutherglen (Victoria). He was temporarily engaged trucking underground, and, when sitting on a returning truck, he put up his hand, and caught hold of the electric wire. He was thrown off, his head striking the rails, inflicting such injuries that his death resulted.