Untitled

New Zealand Mail, Issue 867, 12 October 1888, Page 30

The St Patrick’s College brass band afforded a large number of visitors a treat in the shape of a capitally arranged musical programme on Sunday afternoon. At 3 p.m. the band assembled outside tho College, and under their conductor, Mr S. Cimino, played a number of choice selections, all of which were much appreciated. t During the past week (says the Melbourne Argus) Sir James Hector with Mr Reginald Murray, Victorian Government geologist, has been engaged in making an inspection of the Gippsland coalfields. Sir James is satisfied that in many localities a good hard household bituminous coal is available, but a decided drawback is the thinness of the seams, which renders it a matter of some doubt whether they can be worked so profitably as to compete with the coal mines of New South Wales. There is no question, howaver, that in such an emergency as is caused by the recent strike in tho neighbouring colony the local coalfields cau be successfully utilised. Sii James has by no means completed hia investigations yet, and is not prepared to pronounce definitely upon what ho has seen.