NEWS IN BRIEF.

New Zealand Herald, 29 June 1914, Page 8

NEWS IN BRIEF.

A sevebe shock of earthquake was felt at IGreymontn at 9.35 a.m. yesterday.— (Press' Association.) Twelve males and pno female were the occupants of ths polico cells last' night. Forw most part they had been arrested oh charges of- drunkenness.

Tenders are being invited by the Postal Department, Wellington, for the conveyance of- mails Qnc-e every two months by steamer to and from the Chatham Islands. Owing to the disturbance caused by conversation among members during the meetings oI the -Wellington City Council, the Mayor .(Mr. J. P. Luke) has threatened to "name a councillor" unless proper order is preserved.

Steps are being taken to form a branch of the Farmers' Union for the combined districts of Hobsonvfflc, Waimarie, Riverlea, Brigham's Creek, and Paremoremo. A mectiDtr to initiate the branch will be hc-ld'at Waimarie on Thursday evening. The survivors of the 18th Royal Irish Regiment will celebrate the 51st anniversary of their landing in New Zealand by a reunion in Auckland on Saturday, July 4. Old members of the regiment are

expected from Napier, Wellington, and other places.

A resolution, urging the Government to. facilitate the construction and maintenance of main roads in the Auckland Province, was passed by the executive of the . Auckland Provincial Farmers' Union recently. It lias been acknowledged by the Prime Minister, who- states that he has submitted the union's communication to . the Minister for Public Works for con- , sideration.

f The -longest stretch of railway without ' a curve in the world was recently stated by an ' English magazine to be in New Zealand, "where there is a distance of 136 miles in a perfectly straight line." A V- \VeUin|ton reporter has ascertained that *' tlii» statement is inaccurate, as the longest etreteb of railway line without a curve ■ 'in-New Zealand is a section of 14 or 15 " miles between Mala and Mburton.