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Colonist, Volume XX, Issue 2343, 31 January 1878, Page 3

'' C. H. M." will appear in our next. • High. School fob ■ Ladies.—-By the Tararua, I which arrived at the Bluff yeßterday,, were several passengers for this Colony, who came out in the Orient line steamer Lusituoia. Amongst them were five ladies, Sisters of Mercy, three of whom will take charge of the new high sohool for young ladies, shortly to be opened at St. Mary's.' They should arrive in Nelson about the sth February. Fbiendly Societies' Fete.—These popular sports promise to bo even more successful to-morrow than they have ever yet proved. . Year after year the number of persons attracted to the Botanical Gardens on the anniversary of the settlement has become larger and larger, and although it is impossible to say what the attendance may be this year, yet, bo far as one can judge, it promises to be a monster gathering; For some time past, a large number of competitors for the various events have been in training, and even their practice, since it has been on the ground where the final contests are to take place, has attiacted a considerable number of interested people. There are also other indications that more than usual interest is centered upon the sports. It will be seen by telegraphio noticel. appearing elsewhere that the Government has ordered the dosing of all publio offices for tbe day, and there is no doubt that the whole community will combine in making the holiday a general one. The programme of amusements is a very liberal one, and with fine weather, it will doubtlessly be gone through in such away as to afford general satisfaction. It will be seen by a notice in our advertising columns .that'Mr Stevenson, whose catering gave so much satisfaction last year, is again to provide lunch, tea," &c, in the large booth belonging to the Committee. Mr Stevensou's name is a sufficient guarantee that visitors will be enabled to obtain a good lunch, in a comfortable manner ; a thing not to be always depended upon at outdoor sports. Mr Stevenson also announces that a booth will be provided where gingerbeer and refreshments can be obtained in comfort, and where a rest can be had at the same time. The days proceedings will terminate with a ball at the Odd fellow's Hall, which, we are informed is likely to be largely attended. For the convenience of country people a time table has been arranged by the railway authorities, whioh will enable the spending of a long day in town, and for the residents of Motueka and Golden Bay, the Lady Barkly will make a special trip. Thk price paid for the Milton Pottery works (Otago) by Bishop Neville is stated at £14,000. The railway employees at Auckland had: a picnic on January 25th. They went to Pokeno, their train consisting of thirty-four carriages. Oidiuji.—The vine disease (known as oidium) has made its appearance in tho Thames district, Auckland. A Tempebancb bevitax is at present going on amongst the natives at Gisborne, on the East Coast of the North Island. They are petitioning for publio houses to be abolished in the'neighborhood of their settlement ■ Mb John Thomson, C.E., has been appointed engineer to the Patea Harbor Board at a salary of £500 per annum. Db Sombbville's raligious servioes were very largely attended in the Thames 'district. Satisfactory Yield.—At Reef ton 320 tons of quartz have' been crushed from the Just-in-Time claim, and yielded 1005 ounces, being at the rate of over three ounces to the ton.—ln the Vulcan claim a reef four feet thick, and carrying good gold has been struck. * A nsw evening paper is to be published at Hokitika on Maroh Ist, by Mr William Eiley. A holiday took place at Napier on January 25th, to celebrate the extension of the railway to Kopua. The firat train'comprised twenty-two carriages full of excursionists. A tblegbam from the Waikato states ,-—Takerei te Rau was buried on JJanuary 25th, at Hikurangi, 7ust previously the poungest daughter of Tawhiao, who had been adopted by the deceased, died suddenly, without previous illness. Hundreds are now at Hikurangi, and the tangi and feaiting will hare to be done over again. The Press has been informed, on apparently good authority, that on a station in the southern part of Canterbury the weight of wool obtained in the shearing of 32,000 merino sheep was equal-to an average of 91bs. per fleece. Gold Seeking!-.—Two men have prospected the Patea river for gold, but without success. Splendid patches of land suitable for settlement purposes were passed in several plapes. « . Land, near Levuka, Fiji, has lately realised asmuoh as £300 per acre, Steps have been taken to establish a State school atLeyuka, Fiji. Lost.—A telegram to the South Auttralian Advertiser from Pine Creek, dated on the 4th inst., says ; — " Two men have been lost in the bush for three days. One of them died from heat and thirst; the other, a man named Lorrenoe, reached the Shackle in an exhausted condition."

The circus business must be very profitable, when such a large outlay is required, aud can be paid for transportation from place to place. : The following appears in a Melbourne exchange:—"Wanted'tb charter a steam or sailing ship for a trip from Auckland, New Zealand, to Callao, South America to carry Cooper and Bailey's menagerie and circus, consisting of about one hundred tons of.freight, twenty horses, six elephants, six camels, nine ponies; fourteen cages, seven waggons, &c, &c. Must be competent to accomodate forty first-class cabin passengers, and. twenty steerage. Steamer must be fiom 700 to 1000 tons register, and ship from 1000 to 1500 tons,,----s The heat: at_,Walgett, N.B.W, is''sl'mbijt unparalleled. The mailman's horse dropped dead under him through heat and want of water, while the mailman himself nearly perished. The watercourses are completely dry. • , It is stated that some of, the recent cases of fish poisoning, which have arisen at Ballarat through eating English peroh taken in Wendouree, are attributable to the faot that noxious drugs are in uao to obtain the fish in some instances. At all events, a few days since a man called at a ohemist's, shop there and asked to be supplied with a quantity of coculus indious, whioh is much used by fish poachers in the Old Country.' He admitted that he wanted the drug for fish catching, and on being refused told the chemist it did not matter, as he had bought it, and could buy it again, elsewhere.