PASSING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1844, 25 March 1887, Page 21

The second of the series of London wool- sales has been opened, but no advance in prices has to ■be recorded. • However, it is satisfactory ihat the bidding was spirited, and that though prices for srsarfy tuerino Are scarcely maintained at the closing rates of the previous 'series, are firm at the price then realised.,. Wednesday was the anniversary of the landing of the pioneer settlers of Otago, andwasobr. served almost generally as a Holiday. The weather turned out- fine, and as a consequence" the town presented quite a deserted' appearance in the afternoon.. About 150 persons took advantage -of the. cheap fares to Oamaru: to visit the fete held at Mr John Read's Elderslie estate, and nearly 1000 visited Waihola. r fhe Dunedin Jockey Club's anniversary races were well patronised, and several picnics which had been arranged at convenient places accounted in some respect for the dull appearance of the city. • v: A proclamation in the Gazette/has made a change in the method of recruiting* for the police and permanent forces, and'it is, now provided^ that the Artillery, Engineers, and Torpedo Corps, with the exception of special artificers^ engineers, or electricians, shall be selected /from the Rifle Branch of the Permanent Militia. Appointments .to tha Permanent Militia, Rifle Branch, are to be exclusively given; to efficient. 1 volunteers "of not less than" one year's efficient, service, nor over 25 years of&gs, at the date of' their application. The Tapanui Licensing Bench at .an adjourned meeting refused the application .for the transfer from the official assignee to Mr /James Mair of the license for the Prince of Wales, Hotel, From the report of the meeting in the;Tapanui Courier,it is probable that, an application will be made for a mdndamus to compel the committee to issue the license. The Tuapeka Times reports that a lad named Sneddon met with a painful accident on Saturday. While working on top of; a- staok of hay at Manuka creek he overbalanced himself and fell on the prong of a fork; which penetrated his left lung. He was removed to .the Lawrence Hospital. -\ • The Presbyterian congregation, of Lohgbush, Southland district, Lave given a call to the Rev. Mr Dutton. <*--'■ The Presbyterian Assembly of New South Wales have agreed to the appointment of the Rev. J. D. Landels as missionary -to the New Hebrides. -• > ■? The lambing in the Tapanui district for the past season averaged about 65 per cent. ' The average of the clip shorn m the district was abouts|lbper sheep. ,'/■ Mr R. Hobbs, M.H.R., telegraphs, to the Auckland papers that the special, settlers at Herekino are dissatisfied with the Government for not fulfilling their promises"; ,:,S«me are: in want of food and have not. tasted meat for a week, and many will certainly starve if immediate relief is not forthcoming l. Mr Hobbs vouches for the truth of the statements, and says that the people's position cannot be exaggerated. Mr John Lundon has called a meeting of the gumdiggers at Papakura with a view to inducing them to join in a village settlement scheme. A-<. '£ *. The Government of New South Wales has been asked by the Secretary of J State Jtt. findertake the control and administration bl^rvoffolk Island. Sir H. Parkes regards it as a fatter requiring the gravest consideration. s- i . The first instalment of the Victorian"official agricultural statistics show thai;, the total-yield of wheat is 12,048,879 bushels Seam ,1,Q54,348a. of land, an average, of nearly 11| busKfis per acre, over two bushels a better average than last year. The whole quantity in excess of-lasV-year is, 2,878,341 bushels, though the 'area-;' ufitjer wheat'is 24,2<ffia, Jess, The'eurpluelyill pro-

,bablybebetweettffour, or r five n million busnels^. Oata ßhow4,3lo^3B ' bushels,. from ; 186,68,6a^ pr, an ayerag6>23,, bushels per, acre. ..JElotatoes, f|2B6 . tops, from 50,055 a., the average b«ing ; per^,acre. tt .Hay, ,478^97; jtonSj.ffom w, fiyerase of little over one ton per *rate. The areas and; auo the yields'of potatoes acjd hay ire'greater this year than were, ever before recorded. 4 , . „ „,..:•'.■.>./ '-" ■ The Blue Spur Band of Hope tfentewas held on JFenton^s' Hill, the property of Mt Clark,' 6h : Saturday"; and though the muster Was « not| bo large a^iisuUiit proved »thoroaghly enjoy* able.- ThdUßnal tJutdporJgainesiw«ra r iadulged; hi. ; illete^^y^wasetjppUed'by.the^ocietyi and this was'undeir the charge' of o Mrs Clark, who ßtrove to rdakeallfeeUt home. • >r- , 1^ 1^! ieH-Mrdlftp. Mbrrißbn'afreebold farm.ftt r 'Kurow on the 9thptox..» , , TbaßenlnaulafiqadßoJird invite tender* for road j ;formatloft. }„;, f M ... > w < « l: \ \ „.... r , » lr . t Dr.Speer.fliv«B, notice that. he intends leaving, Dudedin for Cihrißtobureh in tbe middle pf April.' "" . • A pubHi tVl«! of the Zealandift sheop dtjy ■Wil! UUplaoeWth*Donedln Earir Fair oti the 31»t iU»t. <> .- -. Mr JB.'B; Martin^nuouncea sales eerveson'the 2Bth*nd3oth prox, •.. . \ .-.„,.. - Meurs ;Donald,i?ei(i and,. Cq. will lellitud sheep atTahuna P«rk'on the3lst inst. J' I , '•• v ' '" Messrs Wriiht.Stepheriß'on, and Go. will celPitud [ Bheepimmediately-^ after the ram i fair at-Tahuna. Park on: the 3lst imt.r :,,'<* ,■? s <.:;.,i--L-i ~-u ...Tbe New Zealand Eef^gerating , Company invite tenders for the eupply of manuka charcoal. - ..- • Meisrs Carawell, White,' ' and" Co". Tiave '- several ' agricultural and dairy farms in Southland for Bale or to let. - ■ • - '',',' Attention it directed to the. announcement in con- , nection with the forthcoming ram and ewe .fair at TabunaPark. ' t-i " .. .' , ,J,'