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New Zealand Mail, Issue 1417, 27 April 1899, Page 2

The excessive increase of Government servants in France is commented on editorially in a recent number of the Paris "Temps." In fifty years the population has increased only 10 per cent., while the number of Government employees has bee* increased 110 per cent., and their salaries 150 per cent. The colonies furnish places for many of these functionaries, there being 450 in French India. At a place named Yanaon there are 15, and not a single French colonist. One did settle there, but soon, to escape the vexations of the 15 officials, charged to protect him, he moved on to English territory. A contract was signed last week by a representative of a Clarence Kiver (N.S.W.) firm and the Westport Harbour Board for supplying £11,600 worth of ironbark piles and squared timber. The order will comprise about ten cargoes, and the contract provides for delivery in twelve months. The timber is intended for the constrction of a wharf from the lower end of the present crane wharf to the lagoon. This will mean, when completed (says the "Times"), a total length of 2251 feet of wharfage for coal-loading, which will be equipped with seven cranes designed specially for loading purposes. This wharf accommodation is supplemented with a merchandise wharf of 350 feet. A curious discovery was made on the sandy waste lying between Port Melbourne and Yarraville. Two men, while walking in this neighbourhood, noticed a human skull sticking out of the ground, and on clearing away the sand cam© across a portion of a thighbone. r ihe remains had the appearance of . : av.ng been in the ground a long time. i The quantity of sugar exporter from Queensland during this season to date is 126,151 toins, as compared witn 62,173 tons for the corresponding enod