NEWS IN BRIEF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12269, 13 May 1903, Page 6

NEWS IN BRIEF.

ZEAfcAKDIA left for tfie South. The Taviuni is duo from the Eastern Pacific to-morrow. ~ , ~ ,„ . The Westport Times says that the bush around Charleston is swarming with pigeoas. Some of the more energetic of Brisbane anions are still endeavouring to establish a Labour Council. , The Napier Borough Council is applying to the Government for a loan of ,£-3000 for

sanitary purposes. , A Licensed Victuallers' Association has been formed at Napier. Mr. Frank Moeller, formerly of Wellington, has been elected P Arohdeacon Williams, of Te Ante, Hawke's Bay has sold the shorthorn bull calf Mount Waterloo HI. to Mr. A. Hunter, of Hawera. for 200 guineas. In consequence of the scarcity of feed and the increased price of dairy cattle, the Gisborne dairymen have raised the price of milk to 3£d a, quart. . To give an idea of the great interest taken in the Westport municipal elections it has been stated that every available vote on < the roll was recorded. Since the recent autumn show of the Hawke's Bav Agricultural and Pastoral Society there'has been an addition of 50 to the membership of the society. The Post and Telegraph Department expresses itself well satisfied with the results of the canvass made in 'Wellington last week for business for tho Pacific Cable. Pigeons are said to be very scarce in the Wairarapa this season. . Those that have been shot are in poor condition on account, presumably, of the scarcity of berries. The Sydney Labour Council is convening a big State Conference of union and political Labour league representatives to prepare a plan of campaign for the forthcoming general elections. The tender of Messrs. Mitchell and King, of Sydney,' has been accepted for the work of constructing the new buildings to be erected at Ngahauranga for the Wellington Meat Export Company. The balance-sheet of the Waimate branch of the Waitaki and Waimate Acclimatisation Society shows that there is a balance of £16 on the year's working, which brings up the credit balance to £127 16s. The Nelson Inland Communication League has set up an influential committee for the purpose of bringing under the notice of the Tourist Department the natural advantages and the scenery of the district. The Agricultural Museum, Wellington, has just received a fine collection of apples grown on the experimental station at Momohaki. There are in all 47 varieties. Casts of the apples will be token for the museum. The Tailors' Machiners' Union of Sydney, as a result of its case against the employers in the trade, has, succeeded in obtaining a minimum wage of £2 15s. The union asked for £3 sb, and the employers suggested £2 25s as a fair minimum. The work at the Seddonville State coal mine is progressing rapidly, and there is good reason for believing that the main tunnel to the face of coal will be completed in three or four months' time. Some 80 men are employed in connection with the works. It is stilted that a petition is being circulated in the Kaitangata district, Otago, asking the Government to take over the property of Messrs. Landels, near the lake, for the purpose of starting nl State coal mine. It is stated that there is good coal on the property. Many years have elapsed since such a good harvest has taken place in the northern district (writes the Ohristchurch Press correspondent). During the present season one threshing mill alone has threshed 80,000 bushels of grain around the Amberley and Omihi district.