NEWS IN BRIEF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11840, 18 December 1901, Page 6

NEWS IN BRIEF.

¥ avium left for Wellington. Mararoa left for the South. Hauroto and Ovalau arrived from the

Snow has fallen on the heights in the back country of Otago. , , . So far this year not a sing-a banlmp-cy has occurred in Westland. , A number of flocks of sheep in Hawke s Bar -re badly infected with lice. A scarcity of water is causmr the settlers on the Hatma Estate much anxiety. Green beetles are doing considerable injury to plums and peaches in the Opotiki amongst cattle in the fongaroa (Wairarapa) district is reported to be on the increase. A new stone road roller for the City Council is expected to arrive in Auckland about January 24, by the s.s. T:-i'oa. Fishing in the -Mataura with worm bait, Mr. D. F. Bremner hooked and _ landed a flounder 2,11b in weight, and 15m in length. About a dozen large trout and an eel were found on the banks ox the Manawatu a, few days ago, with their iieads blown ° An alarm of fire was rung out last night from the Grey-street- firebell, but on the brigade turning "out it was found to be a false 4 In 40 years the population of AustralIn 40 years the population of Australasia has increased fourfold, while the increase in serious crime lias only been onefourth. . , , The Gisborne Hospital Board propose to build an isolation ward, and has authorised the preparation of plans for a building to cost about £500. . f A miner named 1. Tyson had his leu thumb badly crushed yesterday morning, at Waihi, while at- work. Dr. Forbes dressed the injured hand. Plans for extending the GreymoutflHokitika railway to Ross are now being prepared, and the survey will be put in hand without delay. Hares are increasing rapidly in some parts of the Oamaru district, and along the borders of the hill country on the Tables are becoming a decided nuisance. An old Waipu identity. Mr. Alex. J. Finlayson, has departed this life at the age of 69 years. He leaves a widow, two daughters, and four sons to mourn their loss. ■ The settlers in the back-blocks commence | rabbit-poisoning about the second week in January. Their task this year will be an onerous one, says the Wairarapa limes. The Man swat u County Council has decided to erect a granary, at a cost oi £200, for the convenience of persons desiring to store grain or wool during the season. '! tie foundation stone of a garbage destructor was laid in Sydney the other day. The city has at last determined to do away with the tip where it at present deposits its rubbish. The death-rate among the kanakas in Northern Queensland is (according to Senator Fergnsoa) seven per thousand, among other aliens nine per thousand, and among whites 17 per thousand. There is one mile of railway in Australasia to every 195 square miles of. territory and to every 238 inhabitants. Compared with population Australasia is better served than even the United States and Canada. Equally rapid progress has been made in telegraphic construction. The distribution of prizes in connection with the Auckland Grammar School takes place in the Choral Hall to-morrow night. On Saturday the Grammar School Board will meet to award the Grammar School Foundation and Williamson scholarships, the examination for which commences today. Holidays will be observed in the Auckland banks for three days in Christmas •week, and two days in New Year week, the closing days next week being Wednesday. 25th, Thursday, 26th, and Friday, 27th, and in the following week the first and second days of January will be observed as holidays.

The Scotsmen* of Auckland who entertained General Sir Hector Macdonald on his visit to Auckland have a surplus of about £40 after paying all expenses. It has been proposed to give a children's cot to the Auckland Hospital, to be called the Sir Hector Macdonald cot. and probably this object will meet with the approval of the subscribers to the fund.