GENERAL SUMMARY.

Western Star, Issue 1300, 27 March 1897, Page 3

GENERAL SUMMARY.

Lord Salisbury has received from the Netherlands Govarnment £11,08:5 as payment of the award in the Costa Kica Packet case. The money has been handed to Sir Saul Samuel for transmission to Sydney. The oentenary of the birth of William the Great is being celebrated throughout Germany with great enthusiasm. An instance of a heavy wheat crop comes from the neighbouring county of Bruce. A well-known farmer had 100 acres in this cereal, and he fully expects, nay is even open to bet, that his yield will be not less than 70 bushels to the acre. Justice Williams has given another of his many eminently practical decisions. Ho has just ruled tb&t a returning officer in a local election must give his casting vote immediately an equality of votes is ascertained, and at do other time. A petition is in circulation in tr«re prnying for Government to resume part ot the Bdendale Estatr. At Auckland a Maori named Pehoheka was fined Is, without costs, for gambling in a railway' train. The Maon said he had lost. £9 to some-Europeans, and gave informstion to the polioe. So many thefts of bicycles have occurred lately-not only from the str.eie, but from iiUM»terior of buildings—hat yis believed Jpirganised gang is at work, who _BjßieXtioalij ship them a* ay to other ports and Aii^trslifi There is likely to be an embroglio over the Wellington suburbs licensing election, as the ballot pa: ers are not printed in strict alphabetical sequence. The Temperance party claim that this w>U specially affect them, as they have issued tickets properly printed aneVtbe effect will be misleading. A protest S'senVto the returning officer but; he » alleged to'bave taken no notice of it, and legal proceedings are threatened.