THE Marlborough Express.

Marlborough Express, Volume XII, Issue 940, 28 July 1877, Page 5

THE Marlborough Express.

"Givb me the liberty to know, to utter, and to argue freely according to conscience, above all other liberties — Mn/roif. SATUKDAY, JULY 28, 1877. Both the Christchurch papers are very severe on Mr Moorhouse in critising Ma recent speech to bis constituents. The School Committee met last evening and kindly acceded to the request of the Debating Society to hold its meetings at the Girl's School. In Parliament on Tuesday last, in reply to Mr Stevens it was stated from the Government benches, that it was intended to introduce an amendment to the Eating Act of 1876. By last mail we received copies of the new Scab, Impounding, Charitable Institutions, and Mines' Bills. We have elsewhere given a precis of the first-named and most important measure. The Bank came in for a windfall on Wednesday, when a silly fellow who had got drunk took a £5 note from his wife, who had earned it in the capacity of nurse, and deliberately tore it to bits. ' The buildings and plant of the Canterbury Spinning and Weaving Company, now being wound up, were sold ;by auction on 19th July. The Hon. A. J. Peacock was the purchaser for the sum of £7000. Ministers have announced their intention to introduce a Bill dealing with the franchise of the Colony. In all probability this indicates " Universal Suffrage," as the franchise can scarcely be much lower than at present. It is understood that two very important Parliamentary papers, one on the Colonial Railways generally, and the other on Mr Passmore's railway management, are in course of preparation and will be presented to both Houses at an early date. Some settlers from Port Underwood, who came up on Thursday evening, report seeing two good-sized whales off the Wairau Bar, one of which thev passed at a very short distance. Pilot Bulliffe informed them that the whales had been seen for two or three days previously, and he expressed himself as greatly annoyed that there was not suitable boats and gear in the vicinity. Mr and Mrs George Cotterell had a very good house at their entertainment in Ewart's Hall last night. The front seats being quite full. They were assisted by a number of local amateurs, and Mrs Collins presided at the Pianoforte. The entertainment went swimmingly from beginning to end. A performance wifl take place in Renwicktown on Monday evening, and we recommend' our country friends not to miss the opportunity of enjoying this high class entertainment.

Th^re was a veiy good house at th Christy Minstrel Entertainment on Wednesday night, and the Band is likely to reap a substantial benefit. Some of the local jokea were very

gfcod, and there was great laughter when the audience were told that Blenheim sparks preferred to hang about Messrs Fell Bros, store rather than that of T. S. Wymond and Co, because there was only one Girlin' the latter and a Bushel in the former. The gymnastic performances, as also the whole entertainment, was very creditable. We understand the Blenheim Darkies will shortly visit Picton, when the Picton Brass Band Will receive a benefit.

; Objections to Votes. — The attention of the House has been called already to the question involved at the late Kevision Court held at Picton, and the very necessary alteration required -will very probably be made. On Tuesday last Mr Curtis asked the Minister of Justice, — "If the Government will introduce a Bill during the present session to amend the 25th section of the Regulation of Elections Act, 1866, so as to throw the onus of proof upon the Objector, instead of upon the person whose right to be upon the roll is objected^ to i To this Mr Whitaker replied that it is the intention of the Government to introduce a Bill during the session referring to the election laws, and among other subjects that referred to by thehon. member would receive attention andj consideration. This reminds us that we have not hitherto related the issue of Mr John Godfrey's appeal to the Supreme Court. It appears that the decision of the Court was that the name of Mr Robert Allan be struck off the roll, and instructions were issued to the Registration Officer accordingly. Then arose the question as to the fate of the other ten cases which Mr Godfrey suggested should be governed by jhe decision. It then transpired that only the one case had been referred to the Supreme Court, and consequently Mr Godfrey's exertions resulted in one name only being struck off the Roll.

A rather curious state of things exists at present with the Omaka Road Board. That august body met on the 12th June when they appointed a Returning Officer for the July elections. This was .all, so far so good, but on the 29th June the Local Elections Act came into force by Proclamation of the Governor and consequently the Act under which the Returning Officer was appointed was forthwith repealed. Section 6 of the Local Elections Act contemplates the appointment of a permanent Returning Officer ; such appointment being apparently a condition precedent to the holding of any election. This appointment has never been made, ■ and it is very questionable whether the newly elected members Messrs Redwood, Jackson, and Dr Home are legally entitled to their seats. This gives rise to another complication, as Mr Jackson signed (as one of the three members required by law) a notice calling the special meeting held yesterday for the election of Chairman and other business. If Mr Jackson is jnot entitled to his seat the meeting was not legally convened and all yesterday's proceedings—including the election of Mr O'Sullivan as Chairman — are void. This is not a matter 'of great importance, but the Board should settle the question at once by getting a legal opinion, r a s the collection of the rates may be interfered with, a result which not only the members of the Board but all the ratepayers willing to pay up would greatly deplore.

We have several times alluded to the necessity for an increased provision for the public safety, and we have no hesitation in stating that the time has arrived when some steps have become imperative. On Wednesday last advantage was taken of the absence of all the police on various duties by one man to get up a terrible row, in the heart of the town, who indulged in the pastime of woman beating, the repute of which event spread up country ; and by others to get drunk and expose themselves in the streets. One man lay for hours on the edge of the footpath in Grove Road, and another took possession of some premises and alarmed the inmates very considerably, refusing to vacate or allow the others to enter 'until some assistance was obtained. It appears that Inspector Emerson was at' Havelock on a tour of inspection, Constable O'Sullivan was absent on patrol duty, while Constable Cullen had gone home to his tea when the above row took place. There is no disguising the fact that more policemen are required here if the whole district extending over 35 square miles is to have ordinary care given to it. There ought to be police on duty night and day in Blenheim, and the beat ought to extend to the Opawa bridge on the one hand and to a point down Maxwell road in the other direction.

Private advices from London announce the arrival of the Waipawa, from Lyttelton.

The local paper reports that late fine weather has enabled farmers in the Rangitikei District to finish their ploughing and get ia their wheat, of which an unusual large breadth will be sown this season.

A farming correspondent of the Hawhes Bay Herald informs that journal that the amount of wheat that will be put in in Hawke's Bay this year will be about ten times that put in last year.

A friend of mine (says "^Egles") was met the other day by the manager of a local life assurance company, who inquired how he was. "Im very well, thank you," said my friend. But haven't you been unwell lately ?" "No ; I have not." " Nothing at all wrong, eh ?" "Nothing— never felt better in my life— but why are you so solicitous about me ?" "Well, you see," said this devoted secretary, "we've got £3,000 on your life, and I thought I'd just like to know how you were !"

The Guardian is responsible for the following :— An inquest was held at Nevis, in the Cromwell district, last week on the body of Ham Hung, a Chinese digger. The deceased and his brother resided in a hut together, and recently Ham showed symptoms of insanity. On the Ist instant, the brother went to visit some friends, and on returning a few days afterwards he found Ham banging to a rafter like a flitch of bacon. A verdict was returned that deceased committed suicide while of unsound mmd. He died intestate, but as he left no effects th«re will be nothing tojadminister.

The Scottish and New Zealand Investment Company announce that they have commenced business in the colony.

A Wellington correspondent to an Auckland paper writes : — " On dit that some of the higher officials enjoying high salaries are to have the offices they hold amalgamated."

In the Supreme Court, Wellington, last week the Post says his Honor Mr Justice Richmond drew attention to the fact that a case which had been reported in the Jurist and relied on as an authority, had been altogether misreported in that publication, and he had made up his mind to place no reliance on it in future as an authority on legal matters. He considered it altogetherj'absurd to depend upon the reports, unless supplied by a barrister or some other duly authorised capable person.

A number of independent electors were nicely sold afvPeatherston. They knew there was to be a free spread, but did not take the trouble to ascertain where. The News Letter relates that they found their way into one of the hotels, and seeing a long table loaded with dainties of all descriptions, they deliberately sat down and ate and drank of the best. Much to their astonishment they had to hand over 4s each before they left the room. The mistake caused a good deal of merriment when it became known.

At the opening of Parliament considerable surprise was expressed at the absence of all the foreign consuls, who usually are so conspicuous on such occasions by their various uniforms and orders. We learn on enquiry, that no want of respect was intended to her Majesty or her representative, but the consuls - consider they were treated with a certain amount of discourtesy in nob receiving the usual official invitation to attend. Failing this usual courtesy being extended to them, they deemed it infra dig. to attend unasked, and accordingly absented themselves. — Post.

The Otago Guardian has a very strong leader, but fairly expressive of public opinion, re the Reid trial. It says that, viewed in any light, the treatment of the deceased was heartless, inhuman, and fiendish, and wherever and whenever the accused, but now acquitted, may go from this community, her memory will remainja thing of shame, and her name be a by-word and warning. At first, three of the jury were favorable to a conviction. One of these gave in at an early stage, but the other two remained obstinate till the Judge spoke of locking them up again. No verdict ever given here hasi caused such thorough dissatisfaction.

A letter, forwarded the other day from the Colonial Secretary's office, was adressed, "The Chairman of the Wairoa County Council Otago." After it had gone the round of Otago, Mr Vincent Pyke, as Chairman of the Vincent Pyke County, got hold of it aud kindly put the officials in the way of sending it to its proper destination here. His memorandum runs : " I have already directed, the atteution of P. o. 'clerks to the simple geographical fact that "V^airoa County is in the North Island. In thii case, the Colonial Secretary's clerks seem to be in fault." This information seems to have hurt some clerk's feelings, for this memo, was carefully inked over aud a word very much resembling "Bosh" scrawled across ; however as the - perpetrator of this awful deed kindly added "jTry North Island," a journey due North was tried, and hence its arrival at its intended destination. — Hawkes Bay Herald.

The Dunedin correspondent of the Post says :^-The hon. member for Wakatipu Mr Manders, had his passage to Wellington impeded in a very singular manner after taking a prominent part at the banquet on Saturday. The hon. member was about to sail from Port Chalmers for the House of Representatives yesterday morning, when he was confronted by a very determined-looking housekeeper. The lady in question had been diligent in accosting Port Chalmers people, and as often as persons addressed Bhook their heads, she would produce a photograph and exclaim, "That's Mrs Manders, and I'd like to find her." The hon. member, yielding to a kind of eloquence more vigorous than persuasive, suffered himself to be reluctantly reconducted ashore. To-day the housekeeper has been hunting about the precints of the Resident Magistrate's Court with a leg.il document in one hand and a portrait of the female object of her tender regard in the other. The member for Wakatipu has been hovering about the hall of justice with a long swallowtail, and a look of concern that would admirably become the chief mourner at a funeral. The pertinacious and indignant female is understood to be a discarded housekeeper, and she is sueina the honorable M.H.R. for a sum

of £40 for detaining her personal property. Some of the evidence was very amusing, and judgment was given in her favor for L7.

The Auckland Herald's special corres- ' pondent has given an interesting account of a visit to the New Zealand Fibre Company's Works at Northern Wairoa, in the Kaipara District. The works are situated on the right bank of the Kaihu, a tributary of the Wairoa. The company has leased 43,000 acres of land from Native owners, from which flax and firewood may be obtained. The capital at present invested is estimated at £30,000. The premises are most extensive, and machinery for working the flax from the leaf into the most varied forms of manufactured goods has been fixed, and the works, when in full operation, will engage about seventy hands. In the store room were seen fine samples of rope, clothes' lines, twine, marline, and paper, manufactured from machinery already in motion. Machinery for floorcloth w.eaving is ready to work. Two 12-horse power and several donkey engines have been fixed. The working manager is expected from England in a few months, when all the machinery will be set in motion and every description of flax goods manufactured. Workmen have been specially selected in England for the work. It is about five year3 since operations were first started, and though little profit has so far accrued, good results are expected when the works are in full swing. Travellers to the Kaipara district should not fail to pay a visit to the works. The establishment of industries in the colony as above deserve encouragement.

John Brown Again.— l have just been informed, uir!er the strictest 'reserve, tin); there was a "breeze" at Court the other day, which will affect the future arrangements of "the late Prince Consort's favorite, gillie." The moment he was knowu to he cliseugageil the iimafc tempting offers were showered upon him, but his motto is Aut Ccesar aut nulhis. He can well afford to withdraw gracefully into private life, and he will most probably do so.— Gourant's London Correspondent.