The Christchurch Press says :—" A Lyttelton grocer the other day received through the post the following character istic epistle from one of his customers : ' Lyttelton, this is tu giv u notis that i as fild my shufel.' The language is some what foreign-looking iin its aspect, yet the creditor was no doubt able to under stand it without the aid of a dictionary. The publishers, Messrs Charles Watt & Co., of Melbourne, have forwarded us a copy of " The Australian Trado Review," published monthly ; being a trade pub lication is valuable to business men. The Reefton Herald says :—At a meet ing of persons interested in the produc tion of the diamond drill on this field, a resolution was passed, affirming the de sirability of a company being formed for the purchase and working of this appli ance, and a committee was appointed to give effect to the resolution. The Parliamentary correspon V'.nfc of the West Coast Times says:—Messrs Reeves, Reid, and Weston waited on the Minister of Mines, respecting the pur chase of more drill boring machines. They urged at least that three new machines should be purchased this year, and that a sum sufficient should be placed on the Supplementary Estimates. The Minister promised to place a sum suffici ent for the purpose, thus having four machines in the Colony. He said county councils would consult as to the size of machines before ordering the same. The Dispatch Foundry, Greymouth, made a loss during the past year. The business done during that period amounts to £3957 12s, as against the sum of £5543 (5s 2d done during the previous year. It is now proposed to sell the pro perty to the Government at less than cost price.
