NEWS AND NOTES.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1919, 19 April 1880, Page 2

NEWS AND NOTES.

The total area of the colony is upwards of. sixty-four million acres. Of this fourteen millions have been sold or disposed of in education or other reserves; sixteen millions in the North Island are still in possession of the Natives, or of Europeans who hold under a Native title; and thirty-four million acres remain for disposal. The Wellington Hospital is at present in so crowded a state that it if impossible to admit any more patients. Sufferers consequently are referred to the Relieving Officer, who finds considerable difficulty in accommodating the applicants. The only European country that equals our birth rate is Hungary, but the death rate in that country is three times that of New Zealand.

The Wellington Harbor Board has adjourned sine die, or, as one of its members forcibly expressed it, " until we have some money to go on with." A witness caused some surprise in the Wellington R.M. Court by refusing to sign her depositions. On being asked if she could not write, she replied that she could, but that fifteen years ago she had taken a vow never again to write her name. The magistrate asked her if she had any objection to affixing a cross. She said she had not, and this method of signature had to be employed. It would be interesting to know what were the reasons which induced the witness to make such an extraordinary vow. Mr George Darrell was not very successful in Adelaide with his Istest productions—- " Back from the Grave " and " The Forlorn Hope." It is said Mr Darrell talks about returning to New Zealand at an early date.

In an article on the annual statistics of the the colony the " Otago Daily Times" finds that to every 100 persons engsgad in producing there are 206 dependent, 6 ministering professionally, and 14 distributing. But there were besides dependent or. the community at large 2301 persons supported by charity, and 759 in prisons, making a further burden on the whole of the classes, whether producing or distributing. The Nelson City Council has reduced the price of gas for lighting purposes to 10s per 1000 feet. i.nd 7* Gd per 1000 feet for cooking and heating.

The " Manawatu Herald " understands that it is proposed to start a fund for the relief of those who were severely crippled by losses during the recent floods. At the Auckland gjsworks the gas is manufactured from Newcastle and Grey coal, mixed. The Melbourne Gasworks have discovered, by experiment, that Grey coal makes about four per cent, more gas than Newcastle, and is two candies better in illuminating power, and they are anxious to secure a regular supply. In England, on the other hand, it has been discovered, by experimental trial, that hogshead fuel, from New South Wales, mixed with the best English gas coal, increases the illuminating power of the gas by eight candles, while a charge of 50 per cent, gives a fiamo of unequalled brilliancy. The Manawatu County Council have received official notice of the discontinuance of the subsidy, and has passed a resolution protesting against the withdrawal of the subsidy. The Council has also written to the member for the district to use his utmost ability in support of their particular claims. Manhood suffrage appears likely to decrease, instead of increase, the names on the electoral roll at Napier—or, rather, owing to more efficient revision, the names under the new Jaw will ba :ewer than under the old. The late roll contained 1971 names. The new claims sent in to date number 317, bat 977 have been struck off as dead or disqualified, so that on the new roll the number will be 1294. The Wellington City Council have resolved to give up the management of the general Hospital, and thus save an annual expenditure of about £3OOO. A good deal of typhoid fever prevails, especially in one of the suburbs of Auckland. The fever ward of the hospital is also filled at present, several of the patients being passengers by the Earl Granville. A notice is gazetted that certain sections in the townships of Dromore, Bouth Rakaia, Hinds, Orari, Homdon, and Aylesbury, will shortly bo open for sale as village settlements in blocks of not mere than five acres, on deferred payments. The land is situated on reserves, and its disposal is authorised under the Land Act Amendment Act of last session. As showing the height of the floods near Foxton, the local "Herald" instances a case in which the body of a cow was found hun« up in a peach tree.