NEWS IN BRIEF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11581, 20 February 1901, Page 6

NEWS IN BRIEF.

'Ash Wednesday. University Senate opens it.'? sittings tc day at Government .House. 8.1.M.5. Dalhousie left for Gisborne yes terday with the Indian troops. The Imperial troops were heartily fare welled yesterday by the citizens. A large consignment of grain arrived fron the South in the s.s. Hawea yesterday. The Hessian fly has made its appearand again amongst wheat crops at Masterton causing considerable damage. Troopship Britannic, conveying the Im perial troops, left for England, via Austra lian ports, shortly after noon yesterday. A valuable find of terra-cotta clay ha.' been made in the Awakino (Taranaki) dis trict. Limestone, so hard that it polishes like marble, also exists in the locality. Complaints have been made to the Har hour Board by the Auckland Fruit and Pro duce Association of the alleged practice ol certain persons using the sheds on the whari to store and retail fruit. It is stated by a member of the Highland Light Infantry '{according to the New Zealand Times) that after the contingent returns Home the regiment is to be clad in the kilt, and to have its title altered to " Glasgow's Own Highlanders." At the first meeting of the Harbour Board after the elections, which took place yesterday, Messrs. Arthur H. Nathan and Alfred Kiddwere nominated for the post of chairman for the ensuing term, and a vote resulted in Mr. Kidd being elected. The latest addition to the architectural wonders of Chicago is not a sky-scraper, but three warehouses, each 5200 ft in length. They are to be built on Chicago Heights, and when complete will form the greatest clearing and distributing point for freight in America. They will afford nearly 70C acres of floor space under roof, and their railway vards alone will have a capacity oi 5000 cars. It is interesting to note that the s.s. Britannic, which has brought the Imperial troops to New Zealand, has the distinction of having made more passages between England and New York than any other ship. She was built of iron 27 years ago, and has crossed the Atlantic 504 times. At one time she held the record for the fastest passage. She has only had the one set of boilers and engines since built. About midday on Wednesday last a fire broke out in a plantation situated about half-way between Dromore and Cbertsey, in Canterbury. The fire began close to the railway line, but Ganger Simpson and his railway men succeeded in subduing the flames, after a two hours' battle. But for their efforts if is extremely probable that a considerable extent of country— in crop—would have been devastated. An elderly well-dressed gentleman had a very narrow escape of meeting with a violent death at the Pukepapa station, Marton, on Friday si. He attempted to board the train while in motion, but missed the platform, and was dangling between two carriages. When lie was just falling a fellow passenger and the guard noticed him. and. after considerable difficulty, held him up till the train was brought to a standstill. An amateur geologist, while examining therock formations in the vicinity of Barton's Line, near Eketahuna, found embedded in the limestone a couple of shark's teeth, complete, and in an excellent state of preservation. Near by the teeth, and also .in the rock, some oyster shells were found. On the surface of this same formation native trees were crowing up to a height of a liindred feet. The sea is not now" within miles of the spot. The Dunedin Horticultural Society is issuing circulars for a conference of poniologists, viticulturists, and entomologists, to be held on May 21. at the time of the autumn agricultural show. Arrangements are being made with the Government or the Union Company to convey the delegates who may attend from all parts of the colonv. Papers are requested to be contributed bv the respective delegates, and they are likewise requested to bring fruit for a show.