NEW ZEALAND: GENERAL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 2, 8 January 1903, Page 18

NEW ZEALAND : GENERAL.

A survey has been completed of the land given by the Maoris at Korinth, 40 miles up the Wanganui river for a Maori industrial village. The Athenaeum and Public Library at Westport was totally destroyed by fire last week. 'Only a few books were saved. The loss is fully £500 over the insurance. Unprecedented prices (says the Winton ' Record ') are ruling for all kinds of stock, cattle and sheep being in special demand. Many buyers from Canterbury and other places have been searching the district for several weeks past. Writing under date November 28 the London correspondent of the 'Evening Star' reports that Mr. Arthur B O Brien (Guy's) has passed the first professional examination for the diploma of Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons. The Northern Steamship Company's Gairloch was wrecked on Monday morning at Oakura on the voyage from Onehiunga to Kawhia, Raglan, and Wanganui. There were no lives lost. The Irish Athletic Society of Southland is again to the fore with an excellent programme for St. Patrick's sports in March. The secretary (Mr T. P. Gilfedder) inlorms us that already indications are apparent of next sports meeting being an unqualified success. The ' Almanac 'of the diocese of Haitian d, a copy of which has just come to hand, is a book which is admirable in its outlines, being a comprehensive account of the past and present position of the see over which the venerable prelate, the Right Rev. Dr. Murray, rules. An outbreak of anthrax has occurred at Woodlands. Two cows died, and two are recovering. Mr. Gilruth ex]>ressod the opinion that the disease is due to Calcutta bones used as a fertiliser. This is the first time the d loaded disease has appeared in the South Island. It is feared that when the sheep are placed on turnips the mortality will be heavy. The Police Provident Fund, which has been in operation for three years, has a credit balance of £17 600 which is invested in the Public Trust Office at 3£ per cent. Pensions are now paid to 29 ex-members of the force, one widow, and three orphans The largest pensions are those of ex-Inspectors McGovern and Pendcr £240 each The interest earned during the past year is nearly sufficient to pay both of these pensions. The crops immediately south of Christchurch do not soom to h<i\e been injured by the recent heavy rains. Some of the wheat crops, according to local 'reports look in splendid condition, the ears being full and heavy and the straw vigorous and strong, so that there is evorv promise of a bountiful return at the coming har\est Jn the oat paddocks-, however, the rain has been responsible lor extensive damage. The railway traflic in Dunedin during the New Year holidays was \ery heavy. On the Ist inst. over 2100 passengers were taken to Puketeraki and Waikouaiti, in addition to which hundreds took tickets to Oamaru, Waitati, SeaclifT. etc The special trains to Christchurch and Tnvercargill on New Year's E\ c took 420 passengers On New Year's Day the traHic on the south line was also heavy, being considerably over a thousand, whilst as many more went as far as Port Chalmers, etc. As will be seen the authorities had their hands pretty full, and it is highly gratifying as well as complimentary to tho Department that the traffic was carried out without a single hitch or mishap of any kind.

We have to thank Messrs Mills, Dick and Co. for their ' Otago, Southland, and South Canterbury Almanac and Directory ' for the ourrent year. This publication maintains the high position which it has held for many years, and will be found an excellent book of reference for every class in the community. Among the contents are a garden and farm calendar, an article on the management of farm Btock, a chapter on poultry, and a commercial directory, in addition to the many other features which go to make up such publications. Altogether it is a handy and useful book, and will be found invaluable to the farmer and merchant, in fact to every householder in the districts for which it is itsned. That pest of the farmer, the Hessian fly (says the Oamaru ' Mail ') has made its appearance in" some wheat paddocks out Papakaio way, though, fortunately, no great damage has been done so far. A good proportion of the wheat grown in the plains is of the Tuscan variety, the stalk of which, being solid right up to the head is immune from the ravages of the fly. It will be remembered that last year the farmers in the same part of the district had to contend with grubs which invaded the wheat fields in millions, and literally eat their way through the crops, crossing the railway line in dense columns. The grain crops down Herbert way (says the Oamaru ' Mail ') are looking surprisingly well in the circumstances, though \ery late. They do not show nearly as much straw as would naturally be expected, after the wet season we have had ; indeed, one or two paddocks of oats alongside the railway line, are in ear on stalks not more than lft or 14in. high. Also, some splendid potato crops are to be seen, showing no trace whatever of frost, but. on the contrary. e\ery promise of a hea\y yield, for the plants htx\c not i un' to shores like roiup at the northern side of the town. There is cocksfoot and clover in profusion everywhere, and very heavy crops of the former are being harvested along the railway. The country looks magnificent. One of the most interesting of school annuals is the ' Xaverian,' issued by the pupils of Xavier College, Kew, Melbourne In addition to the usual record of schooi happenings and reports on the \anous athletic competitions which took place dining the year, there are se\eial original contributions in prose and verse which show that there is a good deal of latent talent among the hoys. which will, no doubt, be duly exercised later on when they commence the battle of life in real earnest The illustrations are excellent, and the printing and general get-up are highly creditable to all concerned in its production.