NEWS IN BRIEF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12238, 6 April 1903, Page 6

NEWS IN BRIEF.

left for the South. Moura due from Fiji to-day. Alararoa arrived from Sydney. _ Waikare lor Sydney this evening. Tomoana arrived from London and Ausr Taking of evidence in electoral inquiry concluded. . , , The firebell at Masterton is to be rung by water power. -\ dairy farmer at Kougotea cleared for one month's milk from 21 cows a cheque for £35. ~ . ~ „ . \ settler who has resided on the Last Coast for the past 25 years, paid his first visit to Wellington recently. The Levels County Council has suspended all contract work for one month, to enable men to be available for farmers who are harvesting. A Shakespere Society is to be formed in Wellington, on the "model of a similar society which has been in existence for some rears in Dunedin. So heavy is the wheat crop throughout the Rangitikei district .that a reasonable average estimate would be 65 bushels per acre. ° This would indicate a record harvest. The Tuapeka Times says a local butcher had on view the other day a magnificent carcase of beefthat of a shorthorn bullock, which, when dresssed, weighed 11401b. The balance in hand of the Bluff Harbour Board increased from £1600 8s in January, 1902, to £4200 17s in December, 1902. The sinking fund amounts to £22,772 7s lid. Efforts are being made by the Government to complete the resumption of the Levels, Flaxbourne, and Mount Vernon estates, without having recourse to the Compensation Court. On Tuesday morning last early risers in Christchurch witnessed a white hoarfrost. It soon dissipated under the rays of the sun, but both fruit and flovers showed signs of a severe nip. A well-known Temuka farmer (according to the Leader) considers this year's crop the best South Canterbury has ever had. Not only are yields heavy and of good quality, but-prices tire high. It is stated by the Otago Daily Times that the week-end excursions to Queenstown have made a, considerable increase to the income of the people of that town bakers and butchers in particular. Seventeen prize fowls, comprising white Dorkings, burl' Orpingtons, and Minorcas, arrived by the Athenic last Wednesday from England. The birds are consigned to Mr. Saunders, editor of the Lyttelton Times. The first of the piles for the foundations of the new railway station at Dunedin was driven last Monday morning. The .piles are all being driven to solid i foundation, which varies from 20ft to 40ft. below the surface. The crops in the Waimate district are i so heavy that a good deal of extra carting is necessitated. In spite of this the yields are likely to prove very disappointing, owing to the bad weather which has been experienced of late. The settlers on the Forest Gate estate have approached the Government on the subject of an irrigation scheme for the j settlement. Levels will be taken and the i matter reported on by the engineers of j the Lands Department.- I A Pleasant Point farmer (says the I Timaru Post) has just disposed of the I whole of his crop of, wheat and oats (and j he has an extensive area of each cereal) at 4s for the wheat and 2s 8d for the oats, f.o.b. in both cases. The wheat is esti- ! mated to yield 50 bushels and the oats ' 60 bushels per acre. A thoroughbred colt purchased in England by Mr. 11. D. Buchanan arrived at I Wellington by the Athenic. The colt is j a bay, rising two years old, is by Thurles ; out of Duchess of Curraghmore, and was . bred in Ireland. Mr. Buchanan intends to use his importation for hunting purposes in the south. | The clearness of meat is having a disas- ! trous effect on retail butchering in Australia. Many butchers have been forced to j bankruptcy, while others have voluntarily | ( gone out- of business, as there is no money ; to be made at it. In Sydney and suburbs the number of butchers has been reduced j by nearly 30 per cent. i The Cattanach Cup, which was presented to the Dunedin Highlanders by Captain l Mcintosh, of the ill-fated Wairarapa, was l destroyed by fire, at Gore the other day. I It was worth 15 guineas'. The holder of I the trophy for the current year removed to Gore, where the house which he occupied was burned down. The Westport Times states that the New Zealand Collieries' two applications I for coal leases between Granity and Nga- j feawau have been withdrawn, 'the pro- I moters finding the Government condition ' of a deposit- of £1000 on each application ! too severe. The syndicate has been dis- ! solved and the business wound up. j That the coast towns and other cent-res ' of population in Queensland are swarming*", with unemployed, no one can deny (says ! i■'>!■ Brisbane Worker). And some idea "of I the enormous number of workless workers ■' in the country districts may be gathered ! from the fact that over 200 more men than were required applied for work at BarcaJdine Downs station when shearing Started the other week.