NEWS IN BRIEF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14692, 29 May 1911, Page 8

NEWS IN BRIEF.

No less than 9193 workers' tickets were issued on the Wellington trams last month.

' The sailing vessels, the "Crocodile and Invercoe, which were ready to sail nearly three weeks ago, are still "stuck up" at Melbourne short of sailors.

One hundred and fifty ounces of gold were recovered from two bucketfuls of stone by the Francis Osmond tributers at Castlemaine (Victoria), last week.

An inquest was held at Gisborne on Saturday on the body of Percy Simmonds, a drover, who died whilst he was being brought to town from the back blocks for medical attention. A verdict of death from natural causes was returned.

Owing to tho approach of winter, work at the mines becomes more steady, and broken time the exception (writes our Huntlv correspondent). The supply of waggons is being well maintained. Monday's output of 1298 tons was a record for the Taupiri mines.

A motor 'bus service is to bo established In the Hutt (Wellington) district. A motor char-a-banc 'bus was landed from England on Friday to seat 20 people, and It will commence running, probably', today. The 'bus has been ordered by a syndicate of local residents interested in the progress of the valley.

In the opinion of a settlor of Wuihakeke, the weeping willow foliage is excellent food and medicine for cows. He states that, whenever they can get at the tree, it will be found that they will consume the leaves and tender blanches as far its they can reach. And he builds his theory on that.

The Ash burton County Council expended £1648 6h 3d in tho destruction of Rmall birds lor tho year 1910-11, ended March 31. ft has been decided to discontinue supplying poisoned grain to farmers, but the whole question will be reviewed at t Ixo Council's next, meeting, when some decision will bo arrived at as to whether the heads of small birds will be purchased this season.

" You have not in New Zealand tho extremes of wealth and poverty," said Mr. W. A. Redmond. M.P., one of the Home Rule delegates, at the civic reception in ■Christ-church last week ; "and walking along your street* I could not tell who was the wealthy man and who was the poor man. That if, a great tribute to the way you have managed your own affairs, anil, the way you have grown up in a new country."

It is rumoured in Picton that the Government intends to alter the route of the railway between Picton and Mount Pleasant, which will entirely do away with the viaduct and the steep grade to the Elevation. Tho scheme is to take the line from tho new wharf straight through Speed's Valley, and then by means of a tunnel through the hill. Such a deviation has been under the consideration of the Railway Department for I manjr^yean.