NEWS IN BRIEF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12856, 3 May 1905, Page 6

NEWS IN BRIEF.

'JleroiA left for South. Navua left for the Islands. Maura left for Wellington. Banffshire due from Australia. Land Commissioners in Auckland. Buildings to the valus of £38,706 were erected in Maaterton last year. In demolishing a portion of Parliament House, in Macquarrie-street, Sydney, to make way for the new library, it was found that much of the woodwork'was absolutely rotten through the ravages of white ants. At Whittlesea, Victoria, recently, a presentation was made to Mr. James Morris, who has sat continuously as a council for * 40 years, and was opposed at every election except the last. Mr. Morris is 90 years of age. At Muckatah, Victoria, an eight-year-old girl named Nunan met with a shocking accident. ' Her foot got caught in the cogwheels of a chaffcutter, and the toes were crushed to a pulp. The foot was amputated to the instep. A Christchiireh critic of the Education Department the other night expressed his opinion of the Government thus: "The Government seem to prescribe medicine for everybody, but they won't take it themselves. I think it should be forced down their throats." Hie Federal Comuiissioi' on Old Aye Pensions! concluded taking evidence in Sydney on Apri] 19. The members decided to visit .West Australia in quest of further information. A visit was at one period contemplated to Now Zealand, but the proposal has been abandoned. At a Grand Lodge session of lite independent Orde. of Good Templars at Gyi'npie, Queensland, a motion was carried deploring the reported continued flagrant defiance <d the Sunday-closing clauses ..I the Licensing Act, and the apparent apathy of the responsible authorities. It was stated >! the Kailway and Tiamway Conference yi Sydney that while in West Australia four-Sfths of one's pay is granted to employees injured in the discharge of their duties, an..' in Smith Australia two-thirds, in New So/lh Wales only half-pay is allowed. As the express* train from Sydti.y entered Emoru (Victoria) station on April 21, a cow. which .was near calving, strayed on tin- line, and was struck by the engine. The. cowwas c?it to pieces, but after the train Icf. a living calf, quite uninjured, was found between the platform and tho rails. A widow lined Miuotti, residing at J'an- . dolt, New South Wale--, was burnt to death mi 'April 21. • Her house, which was built • of wood, caught fire, and was soon demo) jshed. -;..' Mrs. Minotti Mas the only occupant • of the place at the time. j Her charred re mains wore found among the embers.