NEWS IN BRIEF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15190, 2 January 1913, Page 6

NEWS IN BRIEF.

The barley crops in 'the Marlborough ."., district' are said to be exceptionally good this year. Nine men and a woman, arrested on ,\ minor, charges, occupied .the city police cells last night. . The steamer Akaroa had a narrow v escape from drifting onto:»: reef in the - harbour yesterday. ; The total number •' of departures from. Dannevirke since the holidays commenced , Was 1670 persons. '"-„', ~ _ • The congestion vat the tees was again noticeable during the rush for ferry steamers yesterday morning. - ; , Owing to poor' entries Nelson has post- . poned the band • contest, which it was intended to have held in February. Labour is still scarce in the South Island, and farms' are suffering through - the owners being' unable to secure men.;, : > ; , Seven British shipping firms are [reported '■■- to be contemplating entrance into the , New Zealand trade with the United a -Kingdom.In the course of tho various races held throughout the Dominion on Boxing j Day, . the sum put through the 1 totalisator was close upon £3.50,000.. A retired sea captain, 70 years of age, named Thomas McLean, was burned to " death in his cottage at Birkenhead early yesterday '/ morning. ' Adjoining stables were also destroyed, tho damage being , estimated at £2000. "' A Wellington resident, while enjoying an outing at Day's Bay last week, was relieved of £30 in "notes. 1 Light-fingered : ; ; gentry are said to be fairly numerous in Wellington just now. - '• ■■• The Waikato ' Co-operative Dairy Company paid suppliers of home-separated cream for the : month of November, 1909, the sum of £1504 ! 10s 4d; 1910, the sum of' : £5106 17s j 6d: 1911, the sum of £7755; 14s 5d ; 1912, the sum of £14,240 4s lid. A lady visitor recently sustained a severe scald at Whakairewarewa. Accompanied by two friends' she ventured oh thi» prohibited area in the vicinity of the Cham- • pagne pool, when her shoe broke through the : thin crust. The foot to above the ' ' ankle was badly : scalded,.;. but otherwise the; injury was not serious. "It is incredible," said the Coroner (Mr. T. Gresham), at an inquest held at the police station at :Birkenhead yesterday, refer to the faet^that: that office ■"""' was not connected : with the telephone bureau. "Have you never asked for ; . a :' telephone?'' inquired Mr. Gresham of the • constable. "I have asked for ;■ it," said the official. An eloquent gesture concluded .. his sentence. ■ •'",_. -