NEWS AND NOTES.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 16 July 1901, Page 4

NEWS AND NOTES.

The Licensing Committee for Gisborne has ordered that Sorgt. Siddell’s fire escapes are to be fitted up at one of the local hotels.

Mr Massey thinks that “ in spite of the increase in the number of Ministers we are developing a system of Government by Royal Commission. ” The Government has, it is stated, let a contract for driving a shaft into Mount Egmont somewhere convenient for the purpose of obtaining a supply of stone, for which there is much urgent need for road metalling in the Taranaki district. A case of very pretty warm fur collarettes arrived by the s.s. Haupiri yesterday, which were bought cheap, and are now being offered at bargin prices, at Christopher Smith’s. —Anvr, A Boys’ Institute has been started at New Plymouth. A Taranaki branch of the New Zealand Vetetaus’ Association has been formed, with a membership of 25. A section of land in the main street in Gisborne was sold a few days ago at the rate of £9O per foot. That rabbits arc plentiful in at least one part of the district this season, and that only about seven miles from Invercargill, is evidenced (says the Southland Daily News) from the returns of a party of four, consisting of a settler and his three sons, who this month have received £47 for their catch. It is stated that their average monthly earnings since the opening of the season have exceeded £3O. The extreme Socialists in Dunedin are in a somewhat parlous state. At the annual mooting of the Fabian Society there were only three ladies and seven gentlemen present. It was agreed to make a levy to pay off arrears, and try during the next session to convert more of the Dunedin public to their way of thinking. It is notified (says the Post’s London correspondent) that the appointment of Lieutenant R. J. Spotwood Seddon, from the New Zealand Local Military Forces, to a Second Lieutenancy in the Royal Horse and Royal Field Artillery, which was notified in the Gazette of 19tb March last is cancelled. It is also notified that the appointment of Corporal G. P. Overton, from the Second New Zealand Contingent, to a Second Lieutenancy in the Northamptonshire Regiment, which was notified in the Gazette of 4th January last, is cancelled at his own request. Owing to the frost setting in, the rabbit market in the South has become very dull.

The Hawkes Bay Herald suggests that it would be a good and profitable tning for the colony to establish at Eotorua a Maori museum, in which the best obtainable native relics should be preserved. The road-making machine imported by the Hawkes Bay County Council is giving every satisfaction. It is capable of forming a roadway 85fc wide at a cost of 3s a chain, and it can also bo used in the construction of drains.

According to the Lake Waldtipu Mail, skating was in full swing at 'Queenstown last week, the healthful excercise being enjoyed by both young and old. Very little snow remained on the highest altitudes owing to the late raihs. Mr. Isaac Turner, of the French Pass, in company with Mr 0. Hope, has found a boat stranded on the West Coast of D’Urville Island, between Bottle Point and Now Harbour. The boat had the name Viking painted on it, and was very much damaged. There wore signs on the beach of another vessel, probably a punt, having gone to pieces thereabouts. The matter has been reported to the Collector of Customs at Nelson.

Messrs Morgan and Cable were the successful tenderers for the steel pon. toons for the Westland company; delivery at Dunedin to be four months from date of signing contract, and two months for erection at claim. It has been found that some of the pontoons on the West Coast built of timber were not altogether satisfactory, and the directors thought themselves fully justified in incurring the slightly heavier expense necessary to obtain pontoons that would give permanent satisfaction and last the life of the dredge without constant repairs.