SERIOUS SHOOTING AFFRAY.
Napier, October 2. A telegram from Waipukurau reports a serious shooting affray there. A man named Sylvester shot at Mr Chalmers, Railway In spector, with a revolver, hut missed him. Chalmers closed on his assailant, and several men going to his aid, Sylvester was st cured and the revolver taken from him. He is now in custody.
A PLAGUE OF RATS.
Nelsok, October 3. A plague of rata has appeared at Colling wood. The Colonist correspondent writes that from West Wanganui to Capo Farewell country, bush, and beach are overrun with rata, which made their appearance suddenly. Hawks and gulls are preying upon the rodents, and some lads with a dog killed 4500. They are doing great mischief among the oat*, and rooting down to the potato seeds. It is stated that a person travelling to the south of West Wanganui met a drove of them, and cleared out to let them pass.
THE NATIVE LANDS ACTS AMENDMENT BILL.
Wairoa, October 3. At a well attended representative meeting held here last night to discuss Mr Locke’s Native Lands Acts Amendment Bill, the fol lowing resolution was unanimously passed : “Thatthis meeting is of opinion that the Native Lands Acts Amenlment Bill, intioduced by Mr Locke, M.H.R. for the East Coast district, now before the House, provides a remedy for many of the existing defects in the present native land legislation by offering greatly in creased facilities for the equitable subdivision of native lands, thereby promoting settlement ; and that, therefore, it is to the interest of the country that the measure should become law,”

FUNERAL OF FATHER FOREST.
