NEWS IN BRIEF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12240, 8 April 1903, Page 6

NEWS IN BRIEF.

Rotokixo due from the Islands. H.M.s. Archer left for the Islands. Kauri gum continues to arrive in Auckland very freely. ' There are upwards of 150 raspberry plantations in the Motueka district, the largest being 25 acres. . Very heavy deliveries of gram have been made into the stores at Ashburton during the last few days. . Owing to the scarcity or pigs, the Cooperative Bacon Factory at Ballina, New South Wales, has closed. The Tapanui district people have decided to establish a cottage hospital, and have a fair prospect of success. At Kempsey, New South Wales, a youth, named Herbert Turnbull, suddenly fell dead in a field from heart apoplexy. The Sydney City Council has determined to strike a, "rate of Is 9d in the £ for 1903, a reduction of Id on last year's rate. A tramway from Mulgrave to Harvey Creek, Queensland, has been carried . out by day labour at a cost of £5500 under the estimated cost. The Broken Hill Council proposes to raise a loan of £10.000, which is to be devoted to paying off the overdraft and effecting town improvements. Some specimens of the " Gloria Muhdi" apple, grown in a Manawatu orchard, ranged from lib to 260z, and the fruit of one tree gave an average of 15oz per apple. The hop harvest in Tasmania has been good, despite heavy gales and ram in the Derwent Valley, the yield averaging about llcwt to the ' acre, "and in one instance 40cwt, The Cluth? Leader says that harvesting is in full swing in the. district, and that reapers and binders are at work in all directions. Some crops, however, are still quite green. The gratuity which the War Office has authorised the" Defence Department to pay to Australian nurses who took part in the South African war will amount to £37 10s to each nurse. A splendid specimen of a trout was presented recently to tho Christchurch branch of the Tourist Department. The fish was caught in the Ashburton River, and weighed 191b 2oz. A lifebuoy has been found on the beach about 20 .miles north of St. Lawrence, Queensland. The name upon it seems to begin with D, and the name of the port looks like Liverpool. According to the Balclutha Free Press, the out crops at Puerua are very patchy. In places the stalks have been badly " laid," {Mid the return is likely to be inferior to that of previous years. There were 40 cases of scarlet fever in Invercargill in March. The new fever ward to hold eight additional patients has just been finished. The epidemic is being successfully coped with. At the Arbitration Court in Christchurch, a witness stated in reply to a question that girls do not apply themselves seriously to their work until thev are past the age when they hope to get married. It is understood that Messrs. Howard Smith and Co., the well-known Australian shipowners, contemplate establishing a regular service of steamers between the Commonwealth and New Zealand. The Dannevirke Daily Press complains bitterly of the hold the Chinese traders are getting locally, and blames the thrifty housewives who patronise the Celestials for the sake of the penny to be saved. The late storm has left its mark on the Kakamii and liurow ranges, which are now topped with snow. The snow is low down for this season of the year,- indeed, in some places it fell on the low-lying land adjacent to the hills.