Dr Borrows, who was soon in attendance, found that the skull had been fractured. The cause of the accident cannot be surmised ; and, if the lad's groans had not attracted attention, he would doubtless have remained lying on the floor until the following morning, for the lower flat was in complete dark ness at the time. — Star. The North Otago Times says : — ' ' The present may be called the most propitious season which the agriculturists of this district have experienced for many years. For some time back the work of the farm has gone apace and without interruption ; in fact, so suitable has the season been that a settler resident 19 years in this district informed us the other day that it absolutely left the farmer without a sub ject for grumbling — that is if the sparrow and the price of oats are left out of con sideration. — The exodus of unemployed from New Zealand recently caused by the extensive public works being carried out in New South Wales, is not without its effect on the Oamaru district, and in the outlying districts the number of swaggers and men looking for employment is not so great by half as it was this. time last year. There are, however, about town a considerable number of working men — men who would be to work glad if they had the opportunity— ont of employment, and these probably consist principally of men who have ties in the place and are there fore not able to seek such distant employ ment. The pushing on of the north mole contract may very likely reduce their ranks, which at present aeem to number between 40 and 50,"

Several Mormons left Auckland by the outgoing mail steamer. The work of constructing the Panama Canal has been lapidly advanced. The completion of the cut of the canal from the Atlantic to the Pacific has now been carried through. It is estimated that the work will be finished in about five or six years' time. A representative from England has visited New South Wales, and obtained. a number of local directors for a new Com pany forming in Scotland with a million capital for investment in freeholds and squatting properties. He returns to Eng land next mail. 