NEW ZEALAND : GENERAL

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIV, Issue 17, 26 April 1906, Page 20

NEW ZEALAND : GENERAL

The census is to be taken on next Sunday. Tihe Man^a where Estate, of 5«00 acres, adjoining,Matamata, and the JMan^apoun Estate, ot 2500 acres, near 7'irau, Wai^ato,, 'will probalbly be ready for the ballot in August. A Government surveyor is at present subdividing Man^apoun into farms <,f from 200 to 400 acres. The following pupils fiom the Coanent of Mercy, Colomibo street, Christ chii'j\h, wcie successful at the recent practical examination of the As.-ociated Board of the Royal Academy ot Maisic and the Koyal College of Music, held on April 3 "—-\d\anced" — -\d\anced grade — Pianoforte, \ era -de la Cour (hcnors\ Ma! el Thomas, Kathleen Molloy. Higher school— \ lolin, Cyril White. Last week. ( (says the ' Oamaiu Mail ') there were some largb sales 'of wi cat l'cilly— ihe liig'jest for a long time— at full current rates for prime nulling;. Of the gram sold a fair proportion was Tupcan The price is pretty steady ot 3s now, and whether it keeps up will depend principally on the Home and Australian markets, The Superintendent of the Touiist Department received information on Saturday that there are over 3000/ A'isitors at Rotorua at the present time — an unusual number at such a late period of the season. As a consequence there is p preafc demand for accommodation, e\ery hotel and 'tioardino;' house being full. Government servants throughout the colony have received notice from the departments in which they are employed that they are n>t to en-age in music teaching. The action of the department (says the Southland Times ') is presumably due to the receipt .of information that Government servants have been supplementing their incomes m the way indicated. The indications at the petroleum Ivoue at Moturoa (says a Press Association telogiam) are very encouraging, and th,e manager has been pumping the bore clear of sand and oil, he ha\ing recently completed the sinking of a sixinch casing to the dupth of two thousand three hundred feet. The water, whiohi h?s been the principal difficulty in the past, is now effectively shut off, and it is expected that soon the bore will be completely cleaned out, and marketable oil will be flowing. A considerable quantity of gas is escaping in great quantities, and is being utilised to fir© the boiler used for driving ' the pumps. The manager is sanguinely confident of success. The nostal authorities (says the ' Otago Daily Times ') have been advised by the department in Wellington that, owing to uncertainty about the mails getting prompt despatch from San Francfsco, it is at present intended to send all mails for the United Kingdom and Continent of Ennape, etc., by the Gothic, leaving Wellington on Thursday next, the 26-th inst. The chief postmfajsfcer (is (also advised that the sailing of steamers from San Francisco has been temporarily suspended, and that the acting-secretary of the Postal Department has succeeded in diverting the moils which should have left San Francisco cm Thursday last, the 19th inst., by way of Vancouver. Advice was received on Monday iron*- Mr. T indsiTf \\\p mail ofptit a* 1^ Mr. T^min^oU, his q^si^+ppt, that they, were safe, ?nfl we«e returning to the colony with the mai's by way of Vancouver.

The farming community seem to take little interest in technical education in this district (.says the ' Timaru Herald'). Last year wool classing, though an excellent subject for a young farmer to have Knowledge of, and though taught by one of the best men in the district, was the worst attended clats at the Temuka technical school, and now, in response to a request for a class in practical blacksmith) ag, pupils were this year advertised for at Temuka, with the result that one pupil applied. A break has occurred in the Eastern Extension Com-* pany's cable, three hundred and thirty nine miles from Wakapuaka, which will probably take three weeks to repair. It is surmised that the interruption has been caused by a submarine disturbance. The occurrence (says the ' Southland Daily News'') emphasises the value of the Pacific Cable, the establishment of which was largely due to the advocacy of Sir. Joseph Ward. To be cut of! from communication with the outer world for three weeks would be a serious matter to the business community of New Zealand, to say nothing of the annoyance of having to wait for the Australian mail to obtain news of the world's happenings. Incidentially it may be mentioned that business on the Pacific line i& .racrcasing at a gratifying rate. Many people in different parts of New Zealand (writes a Well ngton correspondent) will learn with regTet of the unexpected death of Mrs. P. McGregor (nee Helen Moran), which took place at her residence, Hunten ille, on Wednesday, 11th "inst., from heart failure. Mrs. McGregor never fully recovered from the shock of the death o-f her sister,, Mi s Florence Moran, which occurred a few months ago, iafter a very short illness. She was a daughter of Mrs. James Moran, of Austin street, and sister of Miss Julia Moran, the well known Mohnisi, Mrs. P. J. Nclan (row cf. Sydney), Mrs. Geo. Craig, Messrs. P. J. and S. J. Moran w of Wellington. The remain^ were 'brought to Wellington and buried from her mother's residence. The Rev. Failher O'Fhea officiated at the funeral service in Buckle street church, and Rev. Father Moloney at the grave.— R.l. P. St. .Mary's Catholic Club (writes a Wanganui correspondent) will held their opening night, which takes the form of a smoke concert, in the Assembly Rooms on Tuesday evening, April 24. The president and executive have issutfd nearly 150 invitations, and fully 100 have already ner- ponded. The nun of the parish have •taL-en up this club very enthusiastically, and the Very Rev. Dean Grogan is giving it his fullest support and sympathy. The spiritual director is canvassing the district f o r support, and one and all are doing their best to make this badly needed society a great success. The ladies, under the presidency of Mrs. Hunt, are generously providing the refreshments at the smoke concert. The club has engaged Ma room in the Victoria Avenue for • a term of six months, ard it has obtained from some well-wishers tables, curtains, cards, games, lamp* periodicals, and Dickens' and Scott's works for the new rlub looms. Mr. E. de Runes has been appointed custodian 'of the cM>i a\nd Mr. Maurice* I.oJtus lihramn.