NEWS AND NOTES.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 18 July 1901, Page 4

NEWS AND NOTES.

Detective Fitzgerald, of Christchurch, who did a good deal of work in connection with the Eyreton murders, bad been granted six months’ leave to commence immediately after the Royal visit, and had made all arrangements to leave with his family on a long sea voyage by the Papanui. He will now have to postpone his trip. The Westport Coal Company’s output for Juno amounted to 33,G55 tons 17cwt. The Hawkes Bay Cricket Associotion is making arrangements for the engagement of a professional coach for the coming season.

After a lapse of many years, the Auckland Harbour Board has erected a timeball for the port in a prominent place on top of the Board’s offices, Quay street West,

An Auckland dealer made a haul the other day. Ho bought over three hundred Venetian masts which uad been used in connection with the Royal decorations in the northern city for £4 10s. It would even pay him to sell them at firewood price.

The exports from Napier for the March quarter of the present year amounted to £452,105 as against £320,153 in the corresponding period ot 1900.

News has been received in Christchurch of the death in France early in May last of Father Chataigner, at the age of 80 years. The deceased was one of the original mission priests who came out here in the early days, and he was a co-labourer with the pioneers of Catholicism in Christchurch. Mr G. F. Tendall, organist and choirmaster of the Christchurch Cathedral, has decided to live up on the hills for a lengthened period, and lias therefore decided to give up his Cathedral work and devote himself to his lectures at Canterbury College.

The Dunedin master tailors have formed themselves into an association. It is expected that the Oamaru and Invercargill Associations will federate with the Dunedin body.

The first train load of coal from the Fortification Company’s pit, consisting of nine trucks, (about 50 tons) was brought up to Milton on Friday of last week, and daily trips are now being made to the mine.

A proclamation has been issued in Queensland requiring persons who cross the border from New South Wales to be medically examined. This action has been taken to protect Queensland against the introduction of smallpox.

The Colonial Treasurer of South Aus tralia declares that other States than Victoria should not share the expense of bringing penny postage into force in Vic toria, and ho denies that it is only new expenditure which the Federal Government wish to charge to the Commonwealth.

French temperance reformers are up in arms against M. Boos because, after experimenting with six pairs of guinea-pigs, he reported to the Academy that those animals which had a daily allowance of wine were better in regard to endurance, weight, strength, offspring, and length of life than the others who were deprived of alcohol. M. Dumas admits that wine is good in moderation, but declares that spirits are evil. The clergy of Nelson have written to the City Council asking that body to decline to sanction the holding of Sunday entertainments in future, when they are for the purpose of gain. The request was referred to a committee for consideration.

The survey of ihe ocean bottom for the cable to Japan and the Philippines has been completed (says the San Francisco Mining and Scientific Press), and RearAdmiral Bradford, head of the Hydrographic Bureau, announces his readiness to proceed with the laying of iho cable. About sixty miles east of the island of Guam an abyss was encountered, the deepest ever found, in which bottom was only reached when 31,615 ft of wire had been run out. This abyss, now named the Nero Deep, is, of course, avoided. At another place a high mountain range was discovered, through which it was necessary to find a pass. Sir Arthur Lawley, Governor, of West Australia who is an experienced South African sportsman, recommends the acclimatisation of the roan and sable deer, both animals being valuable. The N.S.W. State Treasurer has approved of a suggestion that residences should be provided for aged couples in receipt of old-age pensions, provided a small deduction, estimated at 3s per week, is made from the pensions. A plague of mice has infested a whole broadside of country along the Murrumbridge (N.S.W.), causing the greatest depredations. They overrun the houses, the stench being abominable, and have lately turned their attention to the wheat fields, where they have demolished the seed that has been sown. They live in burrows like rabbits*

Many of the dredgers, being disgusted with the slackness of time and idleness in the dredging industry, are leaving the district (says the Cromwell Argus), and are going to look for fresh fields of labour. An exchange states that butter made in an Auckland factory, run by a Chinese,on up-to-date lines, finds a demand in Ba 1clutha at Is a pound; while the very best local farmer’s product only realises lOd. In the New Plymouth Police Court the other day a prohibition order was issued •against a woman 78 years of age; the order to take effect in Taranaki and Egmont districts.