NEWS BY MAIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 July 1926, Page 4

NEWS BY MAIL.

VOTING FOR A VICAR

LpNDON, June 10. Following the ancient custom, the parish of AVinster, near Ala flock. Derbyshire, is to choose a successor to the Kev. AY- H. Nixon, its former vicar, by ballot. This custom is kept up to-day only in five parishes in Great Britain, one of the others being Elton, a parish adjoining AVinster. The living of AVinster Is in the gift of the freeholders. The parishioners have already heard three candidates preach, but the Church Council, of more than 70 members, lias decided that six shall he heard ,aiul to ask the opinion of the Bishop of Southwell before a ballot is taken.

AVinster lids about 80S.) people, mostly lead miners and agriculturists, and the yearly income of the living is about £3OO with residence.

DIAMOND FIELD FIND. JOHANNESBURG, June 10. A wave of excitement is passing over the AA’estern Transvall owing to the discovery of many diamonds on a fay m at El aiidsputte. The farm will be open for pegging on Thursday next, and a great rush seems probable. A. wood and iron township lias sprung up on the veld, and it now lias a population of 5,000 whites, while hundreds more are still tr ekking to the spot, whole families carrying their household goods with them. Many are passing the frosty nights under sacking stretched across sheets of corrugated iron. Some time ago tho owner of the farm found a diamond near a. cattle dip and engaged a geologist, who extracted 50 diamonds from a small hole. The owner offered his housekeeper a clOini, and she obtained gems worth £IOO from a very small hole.