MISCELLANEOUS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1248, 30 January 1896, Page 34

MISCELLANEOUS.

For the recent teachers' and Civil Service examinations no less than 1300 candidates presented themselves, this being the record number for the Colony. Captain Cafranza, of the barque Lothair, came ashore on Saturday, says the Nelson Star, for the purpose of proceeding to Wellington to transact business in connection with the ship. This is in accordance with the authority given to the Health Officer by the Government. Owing to difficulties in the way he did not leave in the vVainui on the 21st, but will proceed by an Anchor liner. In the course of conversation we learnt that this was the last voyage which the captain would undertake, it being his intention to retire from sea life. He owns a line of steamers in the coastal trade of Chili and Peru, and attributes the misfortunes of the barque to the bad luck usually associated with last voyages. In beri-beri, as existing on board the barque Lothair, says the Star, the temperature of patients has not risen, and this would seem to prove beyond doubt that the disease is not highly infectious. Its pre-dispobing cause is bad ventilation and over-crowding, and it appears to spread only in an environment conducive to its propagation. The body of the Chinaman who died last week on the Lothair was towed five or six miles to sea, and there heavily weighted and committed to the deep. [The Government has decided that a clean bill of health be given the barque.] The Colonial Sugar Refining Company, Limited, have advanced the price of all qualities of sugar refined by the Company ten shillings per ton. In view of the statistical position in Queensland and other sugar-pro-ducing centres, it is thought probable that a further increase in value will take place before the opening of the next season. Local merchants have raised their quotations for Nos. 1, la, 2and 3 in sympathy with,the above rise.

Messrs Dwan Bros,, report having sold TJr Thomas Procter's interest in the Post Office Hotel, Foxton, to Mr Mortensen, well known in Danevirke.

At a special meeting of the Melrose Borough Council on the 21st, Councillor G. H. Baylis was elected as delegate to represent the Council at the conference to be heki to fix the weekly half-holiday. Under the amended Factoi-ies Act it has been decided that in small factories whore there are only one or two employees the fee to bo charged shall be only a nominal one of one shilling. A large topmast was seen by the captain of the Corinna on Wednesday about four miles south of Pencarrow in the track of vessels coming from Cape Campbell. A lot of loose planking was also seen by the Wakatipu off Terawhiti. This is probably wreckage from the Halcione or Grassmere, and captains of vessels should keep a sharp look-out. Large numbers of intending buyers took advantage of the holiday to visit Plimmerton, and inspect the building allotments which the Manawatu Railway Company have instructed Messrs Kennedy Macdonald and Co., Limited, to sell on the 4th February next. Throughout the day were to be seen parties with their plans carefully noting details of the various sections.

On and after Monday last exhibits consigned to public museums in the Colony, and marked " For exhibition at museum," are being carried on the Government railways free of charge. For the present it is understood that Constable Hutton will replace Constable O'Karrcll at Johnsonvillc, and after the end of this month Constable Forster will temporarily carry on the duties of Constable Lyster at Petonc. The tender of J. and A. Anderson, Christchurch (iM72B 10s), has been accepted for the iron piers and superstructure contract in connection with the Kopua viaduct, Napier section.

A warrant has been issued, says a Southorn paper, for the arrest of a young man, 2G years of age, who is alleged to havo committed bigamy at Balclutha. After a residence of three days in Gore he was married there, and it is alleged that on returning to Balclutha a week later he went through the marriage ceremony with another young woman.

The New Zealand Pharmacy Board now has its headquarters in Auckland. Mr Graves Aiekin has been elected president. For over a week now we have been experiencing a series of heavy gales (writes our Featherston correspondent), and acres and acres of grain have been threshed by the wind, causing many of the farmers serious loss.

The new Pharmacy Board of New Zealand at its first meeting at Auckland on the 15th inst. appointed Mr G. W. Wilton, chemist, Adelaide road, Deputy-Rogistrar for the Wellington district. Mr Geo. Mee, chemist, Lambton quay, is the Wellington member o£ the board.

The Education Board has accepted th 6 tender of Mr A. J. Rand for the erection of the new school at Eerhampore.