NEWS IN BRIEF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12695, 25 October 1904, Page 6

NEWS IN BRIEF.

&OTEA from Britain to-day. Westralia left for Sydney. Zealandia for the Sosith to-day. Grand Hotel at Rotorna destroyed by fire. Two black whales about 50 feet in length were seen off Cape Pillar (Tas.) the other

day. - » - The daily steamer service between Oneguxoga and New Plymouth commences on Sunday next. To-day is the anniversary of the charge of the bight Brigade at Balaclava during tho Crimean War. A Bill has been introduced in .the West Australian Legislative Assembly providing for a referendum on questions of a single chamber Legislature and household suffrage for the Legislative Council. The New Plymouth Borough Council the other night decided to accept, the tender of the Brush Electrical Engineering Company for the installation of the electric lighting svstem at a cost of £5453 3s lid. * The unusual sight of a flock of black swarm' caused great interest at Dargavflle the other morning. These graceful birds seldom come far up the Wairoa, and their Kiovements attracted much attention. On October 16 Doris Richardson, »e\>n years of ace, was so badly burned at Mecllow Bath .."{N.S.W.) that she succumbed to heir injuries inLithgow Hospital. She.was playing round a- fire, when her dress became ignited.' /The wheat crop in the Maranoa district (Q.) this; season promises to be a record. Forty-three thousand acres have been planted as a«pii-nst 31,000 acres year. Only a few years ago this district was wholly, devoted to gracing. " ; v "■'■: ";.'•".":■ " '■■■ ~'} , A Bill to regulate the -sale of coal and firewood has passed the second reading in the Victorian Legislative Assembly. The measure provides for the sal© of coal and firewood by exact weight and measurement, under certain penalties. Commenting* on the fact, that a number of members of the police fforce contemplate resigning in consequence of the '"curtailment of emoluments, the Queensland Home Secretary says that there are plenty of men willing to step "into their places. The death of Mrs. Middleton at Orange <N-S.W.), recently, recalls a bushranging exploit. Her husband was at one time a member of the police force, and, with Constable Hosie. captured Gardiner, the bushranger, the latter, however, escaping from their custody by shamming severe wounds. ■ The Toowoomba- (Q.) Chamber of Commerce h?s passed a resolution that duties levied by the Commonwealth on trade circulars, market reports, etc., is detrimental to the best interests of trade between the United Kingdom and Australia,t and respectfully requests that the Commonwealth Government reconsider the regulation with a view to its withdrawal. At a meeting of the council of the Congregational Union at Adelaide it was stated that the protest of the' Churches against the Sunday engagements on the programme for the Governor-General's visit was simply received by His Excellency. On hearing this one.minister remarked": "That is not good enough," and another hinted that the las., had not been heard of the matter. What is the. proper time to shear sheep jby machinery? One "of the members of the Canterbury Society for the .Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says that November is quite early enough, and quotes certain information he has received that two farmers in the. Kirweo district lost in the recent storm between two and three hundred sheep, which had only lately been shorn by ma-

cbinery. > ."•■. i '~.■ At an inquest held at Broken Hill regarding the death cf a young man named Arthur Isles, who died in the hospital, evidence was given thai deceased took part in a six-round preliminary spar at the theatre the previous night, when he 'was several times struck heavily about (ho face by his opponent. He was afterwards taken V ill, and died from the effects of a rupture' of a blood vessel on the brain. The jury returned an open verdict. • ' The following is the state of His Majesty's prison, Auckland, for the week ending October 22:—On remand, 7 males ; awaiting trial, 23 males, 2 females; sentenced to penal servitude for life, 2 males; sentenced to hard labour, 156 males, 16 females; sentenced to imprisonment, 1 male; received during the week, 31 males, 6 females; discharged, 33 males, 1 female: total in prison, 169 males, 13 females.