LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

In the iinal of the Golf Championship at New Plymouth, Burns beat Bates, seven up, live to play.

At tho University Tournament Sports at Christenurch, Otago won the shield with 16 points, Canterbury 12, Wellington 6, Auckland 2.

The Presbyterian Church at Hast-

ings unanimously decided to send a call to the Rev. Donald Mclvor, of Herbert, Otago.

Mr T. H. Hamer, Under-Secretary of Mines, has been appointed an Executive Commissioner of the New Zealand Exhibition.

The balance-sheet ol the Police Provident Fund shows that the amount now in hand is £27,121, as compared with £24,875 three years ago. In a cricket match Nelson representatives versus Phoenix (Wellington), played at JNelson, the former won by .six wickets and five runs.

xiie statement made by the London papers that Major-General Babingtqn will remain in his present position till the end of tho year is incorrect. He will leave in October.

The Union Company's new turbine steamer for the Wellington-Lyttelton

ferry service will be 350 ft long, of working speed of eighteen knots, and probably about 3000 tons.

A Press Association message from Hamilton States that Mr Hursthouse, Chief Engineer of Roads, was taken to tho Waikato Hospital yesterday, suffering from gastric hemorrhage. James Robertson, a fireman employed in the Rise and Shine dredge at Dunedin, dropped dead aboard last night. He suffered from heart disease. Mr E. H. Penny, present Mayor, was the only candidate for1 the Blenheim Mayoral chair, and to-day was duly elected. This is Mr Penny's second year of office. Mr Charles E. Purchas, of the firm of Wynyard and Purchas, solicitors, died last night, at Auckland as the result of injuries sustained two years ago when riding to the hounds. Walter Maxwell, who has completed a sentence in West Australia for an offence under the Bankruptcy Act, has been arrested to answer similar charges in connection with a business failure at Cambridge, Auckland. A conference of representatives of the Painters' Unions throughout the colony opened at Wellington yesterday. The object of the gathering is to organise a federation for New Zealand.

George Brooks, 15 years old, died at the Dunedin hospital this morning as the result of a bullet wound in the abdomen. He was playing with a toy pistol with other boys, when it went off.

The Magistrate (Mr T. Scott-Smith, S.M.) to-day fined Joseph Mclsaacs, Blenheim, 2s each on two charges of failing to send children to school, and Richard Hope 2s in a similar charge in respect of one child. f^The Blenheim Garrison Band have iff.orwarded to the firm of Higham and Co., England, an order for £80 worth of instruments, to complete the set of that make. _ The Band will, upon their arrival, be in a position to commence, a junior band. Jr A general meeting of 'the members of the local branch of the Society of St. George has been convened for Friday evening next at the Literary Institute. Important business will be discussed, and it is desirable there should be a full attendance. An oil-launch race was held under a sealed handicap during the afternoon at Picton yesterday. The result was: Mr Fantham's Benares, first,* Love's Tuatea, second; and Scott's Shamrock, third. There was great excitement over the race. Scientists declare that the constant iise of enamel ware is the cause of the prevailing disease of appendicitis. The enamel cnips off the vessel, and in minute pieces gets mixed with the food, and causes the dreaded disease now so prevalent. The North Canterbury Saleyards Company, at a special meeting at Rangiora yesterday, decided to wind up, and accept the offer of the North Canterbury Stores Company for the freehold of the yards and the buildings of an amount sufficient to pay the amount of the mortgage, Bank overdraft, and costs of winding iip. The many friends of Mr and Mrs Fuller, of Picton, will regret to hear of the serious illness of their youngestdaughter (Flossie), who was taken ill at Seddon recently, where she was keeping house for her brother. She was brought home a week ago, and, yesterday being no better, was conveyed to the Picton Hospital for treatment.

Owing to the increase of work in the direction of the eradication of rabbits and noxious weeds, it has been found necessary for the Stock Department to appoint Mr Ward as agent and inspector for the Awatere district, with his headquarters at Seddon. Mr H. Gee, who has been acting in that capacity throughput the whole district, will now confine his labors to the Wairau Valley. Why. feel so dull and lifeless when its your liver that's out of order. Take Tamer Juice. 7 The Hon. Uol. Pitt, Acting^Minister for Railways, returned to Christchurch from Hanmer yesterday, and will spend to-day in Ohristchurch. At Hanmer he inspected the stream from which it is proposed to draw water for the Hanrner Sanatorium. He confers to-day with the Exhibition Commissioners re "the railway siding at the Exhibition grounds, and with Mr Laurenson, M.H.R., re the Lyttelton tunnel rates. The New Zealand Rugby Union has received a further communication from the English Rugby Union on the question whether a. player injured during a game can be replaced "while the game is m progress. The English body state that there is nothing in the laws of the game to" prevent such a course, and leaves the matter to the discretion

of the New Zealand Union. The latter is notifying affiliated unipns of the English Union s opinion. ' ""

There is nothing to equal Witch's Oil for rheumatism, sciatica, lumbago, and all muscular pains. 3 A London correspondent writes that Mr S. Turner, F.R.G.S. ? the Welsh mountaineer, now on his way back from New Zealand, says in a letter to the London manager of his firm that he regards the ascent and traversing of Mount Cook as the great achievement of his life, He'hints at tlie possibility of letting it remain as his last mountaineering feat, and of falling back upon the less strenuous excitement of golf. Cough 1 Cough! Cough I Don't cough ; take Tussicura; stops the tickle at ouce. 8

Those of the rowers who could not return home by the excursion boat on Easter Monday loft by the Wainui yesterday mornjhg. One-boat only could not be accommodated, and was shipped by the Pateona last night. The growls are both loud and deep at the action of the launch owners, who

interfered with the rowing of the races by roughening the water, _ alaiost swamping one boat, and causing another to stop during thp race,.

Tussicura, for coughs and colds, has stood the test of time ; procurable all chemists and stores. 2

The Canterbury Caledonian Society offer a scholarship of £15, tenable for two years, for the children of Scottish parents (either side). The Governors of Canterbury College granted one year of free education for successful candidates. The examination will be: (1) Scottish history, 1560-1660, from' Scott's " Tales of a Grandfather"; (2) Scottish language or literature, including the life of Sir Walter Scott, two of his epics, and two of Buimn? larger poems.

For Bronchial Coughs and Cplds, Woods' Great Peppermint om'P> Is 6d and 2s 6d per bottle. *

An oil-launch race between A. Scott's Shamrock and H. McCormick's Thistle eventuated at Picton yesterday morning, and caused some little excitement. The Thistle was allowed one minute as a handicap, and arrived at the winning post seventeen seconds before the Shamrock. The race was round Mabel Island. Both launches arg built on the same lines, except that the Thistifc is slightly higher than the Shamrock, anfT boMx «ai;ry the same engine, 8 h.p. The race depended principally on the steering. Kirkcaldie and Stains, Ltd., are showing a£ f'be -agency, High Street, ! a splendid ass'ojcirranfc qf ladies' black caracule jacketf., both peaf and imitation, also some in smart'electric seal. These are all the newest shapes, and

range in price from 18s 6d to 10 guineas. "VV'e would certainly recommend all in search of a warm jacket to inspect theni;.1 Jl *

We remind our readers of the illustrated lectures the Rev. F. H.

Spencer is giving on his recent tour round tho world. His slides are on Fiji, on the Red Indians of NorthWest America, and India and Ceylon.

To-night he lectures in tho Presbyterian Hall at 7.30 p.m., to-morrow at Seddon, and on Friday at Marlboroughtown. Admission is by ticket, Is for adults and 6d and 3d for juveniles. On Sunday Mr Spencer pieaohes in the Church of the Nativity iv the morning, and in tho evening in the Presbyterian Church.

Have you a sore that won't heal; if so obtain Witch's Herbal Ointment; a mighty healer. 5.

At 9 o'clock this morning a light north-easterly wind was blowing at Blenheim; the barometer stood at 29.97, and tne thermometer at 62; the sky was overcast, and the river low. Westport, 68, was the highest temperature recorded, Blenheim and Gisborne. being next; Balclutha and Invercargill were the coldest places with the thermometer at 43. -Rain was falling at Cambridge, Tauranga, Taupo, Wanganui, Cape Egmont, Kaikoma, and Lyttelton. The sea at Cape Campbell was moderate, and at Kaikoura*<and Farewell Spit smooth.

Mountain King Asthma Powder never fails to give relief in old and chronic cases. If suffering give it a trial at once. 4

Over 5000 people were carried on the local railway on Easter Monday, and every previous record in respect •to volume of traffic was eclipsed. Last New Year's Day held the previous record, and that was left completely in the shade.' The trains that left Blenheim were most interesting pictures of bustle and animation. Such long trains and such heavily laden trains were never seen here before. The car-

riages and trucks stretched from the old station to the new one and past it, dwarfing the new structure, and suggesting that it would not be long before Marlborough's population' will demand accommodation additional to that now, being provided.

.Headaches and' diziness quickly dispelled by taking Dr. Ensor's Tamer Juice; obtainable all cheimts and stores. 1

The third biennial moveable Committee of the New Zealand Branch of Oddfellows met at Nelson on Monday. The directors' report showed steady progress, and urged the amendment of the Friendly Societies Act in the direction of bringing it up to the Imperial Statute. A motion providing for the admission of a female to male lodges where no female branch exists was negatived. The election of officers resulted:—Grand Master, Mr Batchelor, Nelson; Deputy Grand Master, Mr James Marshall, Rangiora. It was resolved to meet in 1908 at New Plymouth. It was resolved that the annual levying to the central fund be 3d instead of 4d.

Woman's advice to woman—lf troubled with, constipation, headache, liver or kidney ailments, take lamer Juice. . _ The sub-enumerators-in connection with the census, to be taken on the night of 29th April, have commenced their work of distributing forms. Mr D. Nimmo-Scott, who has the Awa-tere-Flaxbourne district, and MrMcCormick, sub-enumerator for the bounds, have been at work during the past week, and to-day Mr J. O'feullivan will begin one division of the Borough; and Mr R. W. Dunn on Thursday in another ward. Mr_W. Armstrong, enumerator for the Wairau, has received from headquarters another consignment of circulars tor distribution, with the object of urging the importance of the occasion. For Colds in the Head and Influenza, Woods' Great Peppermint Cure, Is 6d and 2fc 6d per bottle.

Sunday last was a day of somewhat more than usual importance m the history of the Blenheim Methodist Church, as, besides being Easter Sunday, it was the occasion ot the Churcn Anniversary, and the first Sunday on which the Rev. G. W. J. Spence s successor, the Rev. C. Penney,, occupied his Blenheim pulpit. A lew simple but effective, decorations had been arranged by some of the l,adies, the pulpit being tastefully draped with ivy forming the ground for a white floral cross, and a table bearing several vases of white flowers being placed inside the Communion rail. Owing to the holidays, the choir was not as large as usual? "but, nevertheless, the large congregation joined heartily an the singing. Mr Penney took as his text "Who is this?" (Matt, xxi., 10), and, treated the subject as an Easter ser"itnon. &n the evening the congregation was still larger, and the preacher, taking as 'his*subject " Come unto me al1 ye that labour and' are heavy laden," delivered an anniversary discourse. The choir rendered an anthem in the evening with. much.taste, and we understand the special offerings for the day bring the total proceeds of the anniversary up to about £45. The child that just '■' feels bad'^and can't tell why, needs Steams' Wine, the matchless and ' delicious tonic for children, renewing appetite and aiding= digestion from the first dose. An Auckland telegram states that at the Avondale Mental Hospital a few days ago a female patient was about to be given a bath when the door bell rang violently. The attendant left the patient in charge of another patient, who had been helping the nurse. Unfortunately, the nurse, it is stated, lost her presence of mind, and did not lock up the tap for hot water. During her brief absence the second patient turned on the hqt water, and scalded the other patient. Evidently she observed that she had made a mistake, as she had turned off the hot water and turned on the cold, for the cold-water tap only was running into the bath when the nurse returned after answering the door. Dr. Beattie, * medical superintendent, ! was absent from Auckland, and Dr. McKelvey was in charge.1 He immediately rendered medical assistance. Next day the patient died. An inquest was heid, and a verdict of accidental death returned. The jury added a rider stating that ho blame was attached to anyone. , s

" A SHORT TREATISE ON CONSUMPTION."—This interesting and instructive pamphlet published in connection with SACCO, the marvellous "South African Consumptive Cure, will be posted to any address, in plain envelope, upon application to Charles Fletcher, Pharmacist, Sacco Agency, Willw Street, Wellington. *