News has been received of the death of Captain. Peebles, commanding the steamer Lincolnshire, which visited"New Zealand last year. He also commanded \ the sailing ship Otago, in. the Home trade with New Zealand. , Yesterday was the last day of the time granted by Lord Kitchener for the surrender of Boers still in the field., Thoaa who continue hostilities after wards will be permanently banished from South Africa. A London cablo states that the French force operating in the Western. Soudan drove Fateralla (son of the late Sultan Robah), with a large well-armed force, to Feka, in British territory. Probably he will be installed Emir, under Britistt protection. Notwithstanding that perpetual mo tion has been declared by authorities to be an impracticable attainment, Mr A N. Bourke, at present in Westport, insists- (says the Westport Times) that he has invented a machine that will solve the question. The Grey Harbour Board intend to send to America for a first-class dia mond-drill, capable of boring 1500 ft, and will proceed with boring the coun try between Brunner and Greymouth, where 1 geologists ..affirm that an un known seam of coal -exists. It having been reported that an alarming outbreak of typhoid fever had occurred among the natives at Petane, near Napier, Dr Pomare, Maori Health Officer, made a visit to the place; and ho reports that the trouble is nothing worse than the prevailing epidemic ot influenza. Dr Florence Keller, an American lady, who has come to this colony to settle, says she does admire the elegant com plexions of the New Zealand girls, but deplores their ugly feet and bad stylP of walking. The Maoriland girls, Dr Keller thinks, perhapß spoil their feet by wearing bad shoes. The Christchurch City Council has decided to ask the Government to ap point one local body there to control the proposed abattoirs. This action is taken because the other bodies had threat ened to start abattoirs of their own, and it was thought two institutions would be useless. Steps will bs taken by the municipal authorities to estab lish a public fish market m Christ church, and the site will bo selectee soon.
