THE Marlborough Times. PUBLISHED DAILY. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14, 1882.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume IV, Issue 554, 14 June 1882, Page 2

THE Marlborough Times. PUBLISHED DAILY. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14, 1882.

In consequence of the inclement state of the weather the practice for the Catholic concert has been postponed till Friday noxt at 2 p.m. The Borough Council advertises its intention of striking a rate of Is in the pound for the fiuaneial year commencing on the Ist April, ISB2, arid terminating 31st March, ISS3, payable in one sum on the 31st August next. At the police court this'morning before J. M. Ilutchesou Esq., J.P;, Thomas Law appeared in answer to a charge of being drunk arid disorderly in the Supreme Court on the previous day. Defendant was cautioned and discharged. Mr John Kerr, of Nelson, is importing some thoroughbreds, to arrive in August next, including one celebrated trotting entire named Hambletonian. Ho is also bringing from America some native.birds and fish for the Nelson Acclimatisation Society.

A potato-digging match against time took place on Thursday (says the Christchurch Press) on the property of Mr AVild, at Papanui. The wager was that a man named Coombes could not dig half an acre of potatoes in r eight hours, the stakes being LSO a side. He won with four minutes to spare, having dug well and cleanly 73 bags of potatoes in. 7 ; hours 56 minutes. The contest created' considerable interest in Papanui. The weight of, the quantity dtig would be 6 tons 2 cwt.

T.ha Wellington corressondent of tha Lyttelton Times telegraphs “ Beerdrinkers will be glad to hear that the Colonial Treasurer gave Mr Seddon hopes that when the financial statement comes down it will be found- that the duty, simposed upon colonial beer ill the hard times has been removed.' Slight hopes were also held out by Mr Itolleston that nominated immigration will shortly be resumed.” The latter prognostication has since been confirmed by an answer given by Mr Rolleston.

AA r e are glad to observe that the conference held yesterday acted upon the suggestion we recently made and included the question of improving the navigation of the Opawain its deliberations. AVe .have no doubt that the deputation appointed will be able to bring matters much more forcibly under the attention- of Government than would be possible with oven the most ex-tensively-signed. petition. AA 7 e observe that the'couference avoided touching upon the question of our local railway, but it was probably felt that if the navigation of the Opawa is improved and a, Pieton Harbor Board established the line will be improved as a matter of course. At the Supreme Court this morning Mr John Mills was called to show cause why he should not be fined for non-attendance as a juror. Mr Mills stated that he had seen an advertisement in the Marlborough Times stating that the Court would not sit until Tuesday the 19th by which he had been misled. His Honor considered the excuse a valid one under the circumstances and would not enforce the penalty. Mr Sinclair asked for costs against the printer. His Honor said he had no jurisdiction in the matter. ' He also thought that Mr Milis was in fault, more especially as a local in the same paper drew attention to the actual day. Mr John Eden was called but Mrs Eden, who attended, stated that her husband was not at .home when notice was served, nor had he been at home since. .The fine was not enforced, Mr. Sinclair asked, that the recognisance of R., J‘. McNamara, a witness who did not appear yesterday when called, should .be estreated and His Honor made the necessary, order. The Court then adjourned.—AYs might, state that the mistake made by the printer arose through the word. “ thirteenth” being written almost exactly like “ nineteenth..

At a meeting of ratepayers in the Awatere Road District held in Mr Griffiths’ office this morning, Mr John T. Robinson was unanimously re-elected Auditor for the ensuing year.

Pea>ce Phillips, a schoolmaster, who was recently sentenced to imprisonment for bigamy, lias had his teacher’s certificate cancelled. AA r e should reccommend this amorous gentleman to try his luck in Utah as soon as his term expires.

A meeting of the Awatere Road Board was held this morning. Present —Messrs Chaytor (chairman), Richmond, Green and Mowat. Letters were received from Messrs J. gharp re exchange of road ; AV. Atkinson, jun., re road through Burtergill; J. E' Hodson, re Hospital grant; M. Dowling re tenders being postponed. It was resolved that a grant of LSO be made to the AVairau Hospital ; that the time for receiving tenders for the Upper Awatere road be extended to the next meeting : that Mr P. R. Mcßae be asked to convey to the Queen the extended line of road from the Jordan ford to the Camden, and upon his reply in the affirmative Mr Rogers be intructed to prepare conveyance ; that in accordance with clause 25 of the Public AA 7 orks Act, the Board deeming it expedient that the Upcot road referred to in the memorial should be taken, the same be signed by the Chairman. The following accounts were] passed for payment : —A. Dillon, Ll 4; J, Daly, L 9 2s ; Marlborough Times, LlO 2s 6d; Secretary and sundries, Ll 5 15s 6d ; Inspector of Works, L'2s; D. Henderson, LS 15s; Msllender Bros., L 25 ; A. T. Thompson, L 5 17s 7d ; sundries, L 4 19s; A. McMasters, L3O ; AA 7 airau Hospital, LSO.