BREVITIES.

Colonist, Volume XLVIII, Issue 11736, 19 September 1906, Page 4

BREVITIES.

The cost of the Commission of Inquiry into the Te A ute, College and Wanganui Uollegiate School Trusts was £1577 18s lOd.

During the two years ended July, 1906, the quantity of potatoes impoited into the colony was 8,089 tons upon which duty was paid amounting to £10,058 2s 9d.

The New Foundland Government ia putting a poll tax of £60 on Chinamen in order to prevent th^ir wholesale importation for mining work. British Columbia is imposing a £100 poll taxi

A nice line of Romny sheep, bred by Mr James Gait, of Mavis Bank Estate, Southland, were shipped by that gentleman the other day, in fulfilment of an order from the Commonwealth. They were disposed of at a high figure.

During last week three cases of scariet fever, one of enteric, one of diphtheria, and two of tuberculosis wee reported in Wellington.

The Cabinet has ratified all arrangements Mr Alfred Hill had made regarding the Exhibition or chestra, and the thirty instrumentalists have been communicated with to that effect.

A sporting team of "Globe trott ers" won the k Prix International ac the Ostend polo tournament last week. MrStrang, from New Zealand, was a member of the winning team.

"Patriotic" American employers are engaging 2500. Chinese coolies for work on the Panama Canal, and propose to import Hindoos tor work in British Columbia— presumably in the tinned salmon factories.

At a wedding ceremoiiy in the Miller's Flat Presbyterian Church last week the bridegroom and best man were attired in Highland costume, whilst the M'Leod tartan was conspicuous in the trimmings of the bride and bridesmaids' hats. Mr Bent, the Victorian Premier, says he ig too busy to take another referendum on the Bible in schools. Mr Tsung, a native pastor in Central China, refused offer of a salary of ten times as large as his missionary pittance, saying: "Matthew left the Customs to follow Christ ; do you think 1 am to leave Christ to follow the Customs?"

"While one of the Messrs O'Hara Bros, was ploughing on Cloverdale Farm, Otarua, recently he turned up quite a number of Maori curios, including adzes and other tools. The