TELEGRAPHIC BRIEFS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1891, 17 February 1888, Page 22

TELEGRAPHIC BRIEFS.

A Maori prophet (says an Auckland telegram of tho 9th) has predicted that there will be an eruption of Tarawera before the 10th inst. The Maketu Natives are laying in a 10-days' stock of provisions. Prayer services are held hourly amongst the tribes. The Rev. W .Morleywas presented at Christchurch with a purse of 157sovs, subscribed by friends throughout the colony, on his departure on 12 months' leave of absence for England after 24 years service in the Wesleyan Church in New Zealand. Whitney and Sons are enlarging their cartridge factory at Auckland to four times its present size. The new factory will turn out, if necessary, close on ] 00,000 rounds per week. New Zealand war medals have been issued to the following:— Trooper ßobfc. Thellwill, Poverty Bay Mounted Rifles ; Bugler James Spence, Hawke's Bay Military Settlers ; Private Boland Keate, Bradford, Colonial Defence Force; Constable Marshall Mulhollay, A.C. ; Sergeant John Cope, Militia ; Private Daniel Jack Burrowes, Tarauaki Rifle Volunteers; Private Thos. Henry Anderson, No. 3 Company Auckland Rifle Volunteers ; Private Thos. Wooster, No. 2 Company 2nd Waikato Regiment. The gross receipts on the New Zealand railways for the 10 months which ended on the 31st ult. exceeded those for the corresponding period of last year by £15,000, while the expenditure was less by £5000 ; consequently the net profit has been greater by £2.0,000. Most of the lines show a fair improvement, notably the HurunuiBluff (the mileage of which has now increased to 1013), but on the Picton-Blenhcim line the working expenses for 10 months swallowed up all the receipts and nearly £400 besides. It is said that since the beginning of the year 400,000 acres of busn have been destroyed by fire in the Mercury Bay district (Auckland), through the gumdiggers desiring to get the ground cleared to get at the gum. One bush, which contained 18,000,000 ft of timber, has been rendered practically worthless by the fire running through it. In getting the timber out some £200,000 would have been expended in labour ; whereas all the gum which will be obtained through " killing the goose " will not total ]over £6000~ Some of the settlers say that it would be far better to give the Puhipuhi forest as an endowment for the construction of the Kamo-Kawakawa railway rather than it should perish, as it probably will, by the medium of the gumdigger's firestick. At Auckland on Saturday last Charlotte M'Kail was fined 10:3 and costs for selling orange wine, and a like amount for disposing of pineapple wine without a license. The district aualysist stated that the former contained 28 per cent, and the latter 23 per cent, of alcohol. Tho fourth annual report of the Wellington Mpat Preserving Company shows a loss on the year's operation of £3958. It is intended to bring three resolutions before the shareholders : (1) To centralise the business ; (2) to confine the business to ordinary butchering; and (3) to liquidate the company. > Judge Broad has been appointed to act for the Chief Justice in the Compensation Court, Reftfton, on the 20fch to hear the claim Overend v. Inangahua County Council. As Mr Justice Johnston obtained leave of absence, on the ground of ill health, to the end of the present year, and Mr JuiJge Ward is acting for him, Mr Judge Broad is the sole district judge for 13 different courts in the Middlo Island. At a meeting of the Hospital and Charitable Aid BoarJ, Auckland, Dr Jyindsny wrote drawing attention to .i case of a lad of Yd, who had been admitted to the hospital with his arm mangled through its having been caught in a machine which he was working at tho Fibre Company's mill. The lad was too young to be at work, and the dootor urged that 'some inquiry should be

made into the question of the employment of such children in factories, and the danger incurred by them in working machinery. Dr Lindsay said that the cartridge factory at Mount Eden furnished the hospital with a large number of patients, who were with few exceptions little girls of 12 or 13 years of age ; their injuries being as a rule crushed fingers and thumbs, wounds sustained in working machinery for the manufacture of cartridges, and amputation had in some cases to be resorted to. The board decided to refer the matter to the inspector of police. A daring burglary was perpetrated on Monday at the residence of Lieutenant Archer, R.N., Auckland, which was entered in broad daylight whilst the occupants were at home, and the thief having seized a quantity of jewellery decamped, being alarmed by the sound of approaching footsteps. The jewellery was afterwards found thrown about in the grounds, the man evidently not caring to run the risk of itii being identified. Sir Julius Vogelleffc Wellington on a visit to Ohristchurch on Monday. It is understood Sir Julius will shortly visit Eugland and return about the end of August. At the annual meeting of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce the President's report showed a decrease in imports and an increase, in exports. The increase in the case of wool is very marked, being 24,000,0001b, or over 30 per cent, on the period of five years, although by a decline in price, the increase in value is only 10 per cent. The export of meats has risen from £211,362 in 1883 to £582,815 last year. As a contributory cause to the depression that has hung over the colony, the decrease in the exports of cereals, flour, &c. has largely assisted. The value in 1887 was less by £907,317 than in 1883. Mr Sidney Taiwhanga,M.H.R., has been again before the R.M. Court at Wellington to answer a summons for £38 preferred against him by the person with whom he had been lodging. The magistrate ordered Sidney to find the money or go to gaol for 14 days. Mr Taiwhanga intimated that he would accept the latter alternative. The reductions in the Defence department include eight officers and 50 men. The names of officers who have resigned or have been dispensed with are: Major-general Whitmore, Lieutenant-coloDel Boddain, Lieutenant-colonel Roberts, Majors Scannell and Gascoigne, Captains Oapel and Baker, and Dr Campbell. Reductions are still being made among the men, and the above reductions are independent of those effected in the Works department. In the Volunteer department seven instructors and commanding officers have been dispensed with, and the allowances of other commanding officers have beeu reduced. Tho school of musketry has been abolished, and the whole of the adjutants have been reduced by £50 per annum. The Canterbury Saleyards Company, which runs the Addington Cattle Market, has declared a dividend at the rate of 12 per cent, per annum.