NEWS IN BRIEF.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 59, 13 June 1874, Page 6

NEWS IN BRIEF.

A ieeling of anxiety is expressed by the ' Grey River Argus 'as to the capacity of the colony to absorb the new population at the rate at which it is arriving.

Tenders have been called for by the Government for the construction of ~ne hundred high-sided waggons for the railway- . The Key. Father MeG uinness met with an accident a few days since at Hokitika, fortunately without serious results A horse upon which the reverend gentleman was riding, slipped upon one of the culverts and fell on its side, Father McGuiuness being underneath, but with tho exception of a slight abrasion of tbe cheek, the reverend gentleman otherwise escaped unhurt. A child fell down a deep well at Lyttelton last woek, and the mother besought a v.an looking on to rescue if, but he not responding quickly she seized the well-rope, and descending, brought the child up in safety.

It is probable that Australia will send a rifle team to England to compete at Wimbledon.

A man, known by the name of Jack the Cook died during the week at the Dunstan Hospital from tbe effects of a kick from a horse •t Mount Ida Valley. The brother of the notorious Sullivan was recently arrested in Uew South Wales on a charge of burglary. A prisoner of the Grown, named Adams, who was at work at Lyttelton, making an excavation, was killed through a fall of earth. The first number of a new evening journal called ' The Globe,' published by the Frees Company, appeared at Lyttleton on the Ist instant.

The ' Hawke's Bay Times ' states that the number of Bcabby aheep at large on the Eaet Coaet belonging to Maoris amounts to over 20,000.

A freak of nature has been exhibited in the city during the week, in the shape of a sheep possessing six leggs and two heads. Bateman, who shot the French Commandant at New Caledonia, has been sentenced to ten years imprisonment. Arrangements are being made by the Auckland Steam Packet Company to run a steamer between Dunedin and Fiji. The totaJ revenue of Huwke's .Bay for the year 'amounted to £86,000

The Government • Gazette ' notifies the diabandment of the Dunedin Scottish Riflo "Volunteers.

Josh Billings', the American humorist, literary career t has been singular. Until he reached his forty-fifth year he had no more idea of writing for the newspapers than lie had of appy lying for the professorship of dead languages at Yale College. He now ranks as one of the funniest men at large. Messrs Hoe ond Co., of New York are building a printing machine for the London ' Daily Telegraph,' capable of printing 20,000 in the hour. The cost of the machine will be £17,000, and as the 'Telegraph ' has the largest circulation of any paper in the world, it purposes having ten such machines, so as to be able to supply 200,000 sheets •very 6ixty minutes. Sixteen thousand Hindoos have petitioned the Viceroy to double the excise duty on spirits. Out of 106 men who have attained mathematical honors at Cambridge, and 29 who distinguished themselves in law and history tripos, there were 46 boating men, 15 cricketers, 10 foot ball players, and 18 others who devoted themselves to other atbeletic sports.

There are 32,000 of the Ancient Order of Hibernians in Pennsylvania.

It is reported that the first 10,000 copies of Mr Foster's third volume of the " Life of Charles Dickens," wero sold in less than a week nfter it appeared. A Chinese newspaper is about being established in San Francisco. Several thousand different characters are mcluded in the Chinese fount, so that compositors must serve rather a lengthened apprenticeship before being proficient. The English rate of births is nearly double that of the French. The City Council of the Japanese Capital has passed an ordinance directing all children to be labelled with cheir parents' names and residences.

A letter from Christiania in Sweden, addressed to Melbourne, has to pass through from twenty to thirty post-offices, belonging to nine different Governments, speaking seven different languages.

The roost accurate map of the moon has just been completed at Athens. It is over two yards in diameter, and so marvellously done, that Che minutest parts may be examined by a lens without showing any defect c . The Japanese have so closely imitated the English, that even on their railways the porters are diessed with dark green corduroy. Ihe Siameee like the Chinese, wear their finger nails very long. The ladies have them sometimes tipped with silver.

There are in London 5671 auctioneers, and each of them paying a duty of £10, creates a total of £36,710. * The late Imperial Parliament existed 5 years and 48 days, during which period 54 members died, 23 resigned, 31 were unseated, 15 «ccej)ted office, 18 succeeded to peerages, 11 succeeded to Baronetcies, 8 received the honor of Knighthood, one member changed his constituency, 4 boroughs were disfranchised, and 135 new members elected.