MISCELLANEOUS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1163, 15 June 1894, Page 30

MISCELLANEOUS.

Tho Postal Department has been advised that the R.M.S. Alameda, with tho English mails of the 19th May, left San Francisco on tho 31st May, duo date; and that the R.M.S. Mariposa, with the colonial mails of the 19th May, arrived at San Francisco on the 7th June, clue date. The following were tho tenders, all from Canterbury, which Avero received by the Public Works Department for tho erection of the court-houso at Little River: —A. Swanston, Christchurch, £320 15s 4d (accepted) ; J. Lewthwaite, .£340; J. Green, .£3OB Lis; J. Greig, £417 8s 7d ; G. R. Rankin, .£165 7s ; B. Bull, £503 Is (3d.

The annual balance-sheet of the Hawera Public Library shows a credit balance of c£lß. Mr W. GK White has been re-elected president, and tho other officers are : Vice-president, Mr W. E. Dive (re-elected); secretary, Mr A. Trimble (re-elected); treasurer, Mr Esse ; committee, Messrs J. Davidson, F. V. Lysaght, Martin and Finlay, and Dr Westenra. Messrs Zohrab and Co. report the salo of tho freehold of tho Waipuku Hotel, in the Taranaki district, to Mr D. J. McKay, lato of Hunterville.

Tho ceremony of opening the bridge oyer tho Tiraumea River at tho Napier crossing was performed in tho presence of a large number of settlors. Amongst tho visitors

was Sir P. A. Buckley, who attended on behalf of the Government. Mrs W. J. Saunders, at the request of Mr Hogg, M.H.R., christened the bridge " Tiraumea No. 1 " in champagne, amid loud cheering and a scene of great enthusiasm. The County Engineer and the contractor (Mr Dawson) were highly complimented on having constructed ono of the finest wooden bridges in New Zealand. In the evening there was a banquet in the public hall.

Telephone offices have been opened at Mangaonoho and Ohingaiti, in the Wanganui district, and at Ohau in tho Wellington district. The hours will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. A young woman who was the victim of a practical joke has been admitted to the Christchurch Hospital. She wa3 about to sit down, when her chair was pulled away by a younger member of the family, and she foil on to the floor. As the result of this trick she is now suffering from severe bruises and concussion of the spine.

"Medious" writes:—"As some discussion has been reported in the daily papers on the subject of the drowning of puppies, it may be of general interest if you will insert the following quotation from Foster's well-known book on Physiology, sth edition, p. 008:-—'While in the case of a fullgrown dog recovery from drowning is unusual after one minute and a half, a newborn puppy has been known to bear an immersion of as much as 50 minutes.' "

All tho railway lines which were obstructed through damage of one kind or another caused by the recent storm, have now been sufficiently cleared to admit of regular traffic being resumed. The Aoiangi bridge near Feilding, of which two spans were washed away last week, has been repaired, and was reopened yesterday week to traffic. On Wednesday the usual train services were resumed on the Foxton line, which was for some time under water in places, and also on the Mauricevillo - Eketahuna line, the rails there having been cleared. A great deal of noise has been made about the number of men out of work in the Wairarapa district. The following para^

graph sheds a lurid light on the question : it is from the Wairarapa Daily Times :—"A number of ' sundown ' swaggers, who take all they can get, and shudder at the mention of work, are 'doing' the Eketahuna district just now. Such men make matters worse for the genuine unemployed." A contract lias been let for the erection of a Foresters' Hall at Pahiatua. It is notified in the Gazette that extradition treaties have been entered into between Great Britain and Portugal, and Great Britain and tho Republic of Liberia.

The directors of the Gear Meat Company have declared an interim dividend at tho rate of 10 per cent, per annum for the past six months.

Eight tenders have been received for the erection of the Courthouse aud Post Office at Pahiatua. It is quite possible that some of the tenders may only be for one of the two buildings. The current number of the Mutual Provident Messenger, published quarterly by the Australian Mutual Provident Society, is to hand. The illustrations comprise a beautiful view near the city of Perth, Western Australia, and the branch oflico at Perth.

The following have been appointed rangers under the Animals Protection Acts, for tho Wellington District:—Messrs G. Snow, E. C. Farr, and W. E. Pearson.