It is reported that the young Empress of China is dead. Last session with one exception—lß79 was the longest on record. The Freeman's Journal admits that the abolition of the Lords' veto most precede Home Rule. There will be no stock sale on Taesday next and the next sale will be held at Tinwald on Taesday November 13. In Europe, m the middle ages, no woman was allowed m church unless her face was covered with a veil. Mr August Busch has been appointed Government grader of dairy produce at Auckland, and dairy inspector for Auck land and Taranaki. The Engineer m Chief and Mr Napier Bell have gone to Westport to inspect the Mokihinui line with a view to purchase by Government. At Waimate on Thursday H. R. Parker and F. Parker were each fined £5 6s and 17s costs for not continuing to destroy rabbits on their land. Marlborough people complain that in stead of being able to ship their wool direct from Picton, the'.r exports go to swell the output of Wellington. Investigation has shown that timber is being used at a much greater rate m the world than it is being produced. All the more reason for the protection of forests. Mrs Austin ; a widow living at Welling ton, is a claimant to a fortune of sixty thousand pounds left by Abraham Aas tin, a banker of America. Legal action is being taken on her behalf. The Oamaru Mail says that there is reason to believe that true bituminous coal has been found on the East Coast of this Island m the neighborhood of Catlins River. An indication of the set of coastal cur rents was observed recently. About two months ago a lifebuoy waa lost overboard from the s.s. Mawhera near Rocks Point, It was picked up a few days ago on the Rangitikei beach. Mr J. W. McDougall, who has been connected with the HaioJce's Bay Herald staff for many years, has been appointed to the editorship of the Napier Daily Telegraph, rendered vacani through th 3 death of Mr Martin. The Directors of the New Zealand and River Plate Land Mortgage Agency Com pany, Limited, have received 85,000 proxies m favor of reforming the Company as against 45,000 for contraction of busi ness and gradual liquidation. 