Marlborough Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. MONDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1886.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1975, 4 October 1886, Page 2

Marlborough Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. MONDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1886.

A Glare.— There was a strong glar in the sky in the direction of Tua Marina about 8 o’clock on Saturday evening. We have not heard of any catastrophe and trust the fire was not of a serious nature. “ The Major” Retires. —The Wellington correspondent of the Auckland Herald gives currency to the rumor that Major AtkinßOn is likely to retire temporarily from active political life, owing to illness in his family.

Literary and Debating Society,— There will be a meeting of the Committee at 8 o’olock this evening, to receive the balance sheet and consider the disposal of the Society’s funds.

A Good Turn Out.—At the annual horse parade at New Plymouth there was a splendid turn out of the public, some hundreds attending—and one horse ! Not True.—lt will be remembered that some little time ago we published some very sensational telegrams about an alleged famine and wholesale deaths through starvation in Labrador. From our English files just received we gather that the whole story is regarded as a pure fabrication, absolutely without foundation.

Tarawera Eruption.—There waa a very good house at the Oddfellows’ Hall on Saturday night to witness the views, shown by Mr Robson, of the Lake scenery and the eruptions. The views were well painted and exhibited, and Mr Robson was a capitai lecturer. Horticultural Society.- The Committee of the Horticultural Society have fixed the date of the forthcoming show for the 18th November and have appointed a committee to arrange the preliminaries. Judges in the various classes have been appointed as follows : Pot Plants, Messrs J. Hornby and Higgs; Cut Flowers, Messrs Purser and Turnbull ; Boquet3, Mrs J. E. Hodson and Mrs T. Redwood ; Fruit and Vegetables, Messrs W. Litchfield and Skillon. Shearing.— At a semi-private meeting of shearers held on Saturday it was decided to stick out for 17a 6d for shearing. The runholderß, we understand, refuse to give more than 15s. At Saturday’s meeting it was mentioned that the runholders had been afforded an opportunity some time ago of coming to terms, the shearers, out of consideration of the low price ruling for wool, having offered to meet them half way. This offer was declined, and now that the price of wool has risen, the shearers think they should stick out for the 17a 6d. Bea’e’s •• gang” which we understand, has sheared at most of the big sheds for twenty yeirs past has refused to go out except at the price named. In Hawke’s Bay the •hearers are getting 20*. Shearing commences at Mr Chaytor’s to-day and at Flaxbourne on the 11th. Growing Oats on a Sheep’s Back, At the Addington yards on the 9th iDst, a remarkable illustration was seen of the thorough soaking given by the late rains, a thickly woolled fat crossbred wather presenting a rather curious appearance. The wool on its back was opened out (says the Lyttelton Times) and was found to contain a fine growth of oats, the seed of which had fallen on its back and sprouted there, owing to the wetnsss of the wool, to the length of about an inch. Dairy Factories. —The various dairy factories all over the Colony seem to be doing better just now. At Wanganui, the other day, the operations of the year showed a profit of a couple of hundred pounds odd, Down South at Wyndham a company with a nominal capital o L3OOO, of which only L 905 has been paid up, shows a clear profit of over 1400, allowing a dividend of 10 per cent per annum, besides paying up 10s per share on 640 unallotted shares to be issued to present shareholders. This was done after writing off one fifth on account of preliminary expenses and five per cent off the cost of building and plant, and the farmers reoeived fourpence per gallon for tbeir milk, i

Football.—A match Dasswood Pars v Waitohi’s was played at Picton on Saturday. The latter won by nine points to nil. The return match will be playe 1 next Saturday in Blenheim. A Rumored Strike.—lt is rumored that there is s me disagreement between the Dashwood Pass contractors and their men, and that if the demands of the latter are not agreed to during the week there will be a “ strike” next Saturday. Benefit of Advertising.—A fortnight ago a small article was lost on the Tua Marina road. The loss was advertised in the Times, and on | Saturday the article, a small brooch was returned.

Wellington Labor Market.—As showing the state of the labor market in Wellington at the present time. Mr. Howarth mentioned in the Magistrate’s Court on Thursday morning that in response to an advertisement for six hands the Wellington Woollen Company had received as many as 130 applications.

A Moa’s Feathsb.— Mr. R. C. Bruce, M.H.R, has shown the Rangitikei Advocate a feather, about twelve inches long, which was dug up from a depth of seven feet on the property of the Minister of Mines *in Otago. The feather, which in an excellent state of preservation, it is supposed to belong to a moa. If this should be correct, it will, we believe, be the first of the kind ever found since the advent of the white ra-e to New Zealand. Rabbits in Northern Australia.— Dmring a debate in the South Australian Assembly it was mentioned that the late drought in the far north had destroyed nearly all the rabbits, millions having perished, some from thirst and others through being poisoned by the tannin from the bark of the young mallee trees. Sunday Train.—At the conclusion of the service in the Presbyterian Church last night the Rev Mr Robb said he was sorry to see that an agitating was on foot for a Sunday train to run between Picton and Blenheim. He said the teodency of the present age was towards the desecration of the Lord’s Day, and he urged on his hearers the necessity of doing their utmost to prevent the adoption of anything thnt would make the Sabbath like a Continental Sunday. He hoped they would all sign a counter-petition against the Sunday train which would be shortly circulated. The Rev J. Crump, Wesleyan minister addressed a few words of similar purport to his congregation.

Comes up Smiling.—“Dagonet,” in the Londonßefevee, writing of Mr Gladstone’s dinner party to his companions in misfortune, writes : —“The Old Separator has this merit among his many others: he can take a beating and come up smiling when the sponge has been thrown up, and the ropes thrown down, and the stakes handed over. He fights like a champion when the rounds are on, but when, speaking in the language of the dear dead ‘Bell,’ both his peepers are closed and the bridge of his smeller is broken in, and his potato trap is all but destitute of ivories, aud bis bread-basket is a palpitating ma s of bruises, and his auricular kas been hammered half-a-dozen inches into his knowledge box, then the Grand Old Chicken, game to the last, crawls from his corner and gets away, putting as good a face upon the result of the encounter as the condition of his features will allow. Hospital and Charitable Aid Board.—The ordinary meeting of ths Board was held on Saturday. Present Messrs Ward (Chairman),Henderson, and Parker. A letter was read from the Premier’s office authorising the Board to take possession of the new Hospital Building, as soon as it is finished, and the adjacent premises. An application for relief from a person who had been living in the district until within the last month or two was referred to the Picton Board as the proper Board to afford relief. The Secretary reported that in bis opinion LIOO would be a sufficient sum to expend in furnishing the new hospital, in additiou to what could be taken lrom tke old building. Mr Henderson suggested that as Dr Cleghorn w»s due in a few days it was desirable that hia opinion as to furnishing the new hospital should be ascertained. Mr Parker reported that with the Secretary he had visited the hospital and he suggested that four old men (paupers) should not be allowed to occupy the same buihling as the patients in the new hospital. He though it would be advisable to erect a small cottage on the grounds to accommodate them, Ths Chairman suggested that this matter should also stand over till Dr Cleghorn’s arrival. Upon Mr Henderson’s motion it was resolved to allow Mrs Donnelly 6s per week, rent allowance, and rations and a half. Accounts to the amount of L 390 were passed for payment, and the Board adjourned. Marlborough A. and P. Society.—A meeting of the Marlborough A. and P. Society was held at the Club Hotel on Saturday. Present—Messrs Maoalister (in the chair), Goulier, Henderson, Ward ColemaD, Harding, Parker, and the Secretary. Some discusvion took place as to the particular classes to which several special prizes should be awarded, and it was resolved that the Secretary write to Mr Hyde re the cup presented by Messrs Holmes and Bell and that consideration of the details regarding the tea and coffee service presented by Messrs Holmes and Bel, on behalf of Mr Thomas, be held over until next meeting and that Mr Holmes be requested to be present. Mr Thos Harding stated that he would give a prize for the best shearing of one sheep by each competitor, the sheep to be in the long-woolled class, time for shearing 15 minutes, first prize LI, second prize 10s. A letter was received from Mr Dillon, of Leafield, stating that he would give a prize of L2 for the best shorn merino sheep: Conditions. No slieep to be badly cut—definition left to the judges —and no sheep to be cut in more than three places ; there must on no account be a double out of the fleece. Time not to exceed seven minutes, and that the Committee be allowed to divide the money into two sums so as to make a first and second prize, It was decided to make the first prize 30a and the second prize 10s. The meeting adjourned till next Saturday week at 3 p.m.

Cricket.— A preliminary meeting of delegates from Cricket Clubi was held at the Criterion Hotel on Saturday night, with a view to the formation of a Marlborough Cricket Associition. The following were preeeut :—Messrs F. B. Farmar and R. Winter (Wairau) ; Messrs Newth and K. B. M'lver (Blenh im) ; Messrs J. Hathaway and Perkins (Spring Creek) ; and Mr 8. P. M‘Nab (Havelock). Mr Winter was voted into the chair. A letter and telegram explaining the nonattendance of the Picon delegates were real. A copy of the rules of the Wellington Association was laid before the meeting. Considerable discussion took place as to whether a permanent Association should he formed for Marlborough, the clubs befog small and financially poor, and there being no central Association ground for Cup matches, &c ; or whether a committee from all the clubs should be formed temporarily for the purpose of bringing the Eogliah cricketers to Blenheim. It was resolve i to defer the decision of this ques’ion until Monday evening, when the Picton delegates will he able to attend, and in the meantime to cable to tne Melbourne agent cf Shaw’s team asking the terms for a two days’ match and the probable date. The meeting then adjourned, j

Disgusting Regularity.—The Day Dawn and Wyndham gold mine for which astute Victorians have unsucessf ully ma lc many tempting offers, has, it is cabled, been sold for £460,000 to a London syndicate. In all human probability this affair will prove a lasting and magnificent advertisement for North Queensland in London. So far, the Day Dawn and Wyndh m has yielded fortoightly dividends with disgusting regularity. Mr Mills has been drawing LIBCO every two weeks but one tires of everything. Hobse Pabade —The exhibition of stud horses, uudr-r the auspices of the Marlborough A. and P. Society, took place on Saturday last in Seymour Square. The attendance of the pablic was not nearly so numerous as io former years, nor did there appear to be the sune interest evinced by farmers in making comparisons which one would expect to see in a show of this kind. This was probabl f due to the fact that there was no new blood among the horses shown, and the general opinion seemed to be that the quality of stud horses io the Marlborough district has not advanced much during late years. In thoroughbreds Leos, Louis D‘Or, and Sir Tattoo were the only exhibits. Only «ne carriage horse wis shown, viz., the American trotting stallion Oakgrove. Duke of Hamilton, Garibaldi, and General Gordon were the only dranght horses shown and disappointment was expressed that Conqueror, the Otago horse advertised, was not on the ground. Mr John Ross who stands this horse here explains that the weather prevented him from shipping Conqueror, so as to enable him to be in time for the parade, but tha he will be over by Tuesday’s steamer and that farmers will have an opportunity of seeing the horse on Saturday next. The marshals on Saturday were Messrs Paul and Redwood. Mr J. B. Green offered the Duke of Hamilton by auction immediately after the parade bat faded to find a bidder for him.

Lower Wairac Rivebs Boai»d. — The ordinary meeting of this Board was held on Saturday, Present—Messrs A. J. Litchfield, R, W. Parker, C. Redwood. W. Sinclair, and W. Douslin. Mestss VV, Tindall and Go. wrote requesting extension of time for completing the bank on sec'ion 7, Omaka. —Accedod to, R»: solved—That tha necessary repairs to the bank at the tVaihopai be effected. Rosolved—That the extension af the Seymour embankment east and west be executed and that tenders be called for the work in two separete contracts. Resolved—That a loan of L2OOO be raised for the purpose of conservation of the Taylor and Opawa. Resolved —That Mr Dodson be informed that the Board lias no objection to his using the soil of the bank known as Bomford's bank to make repair* to his bank. Resolved —That tenders be called for the erection of the embankment on the Opawa river from Dod*on’s Road Robinson’s embankment, and that the Chairman and Messrs Parker and Redwood be a committee to consult with the Inspector as to the best method of erecting the embankment, Resolved—That tenders bs called for the remainder of the work at Dodson’s bank, to be let in three contrails. also for embanking the Opawa river in East Ward, to be let in three contracts. Resolved—That the bank on lection 37,Omaka, be repaired on condition that Mr Holmes pays one half the cost thereof. Resolved—That a special order be made at the next general meeting for the pupose of levying a rate of 5-8 of Id in the £ in Class I, and 5-16 of Id in Class 11, for the year 1886-87. Resolved —That a Bpecial order be made at the next general meeting for the purpose of levying a special rate of 1-8 of Id in Class 11, to provide interest and sinking fund, on a loan of L2OOO to be raised. Resolved—That the Omaka Road Board be paid L 25, instead cf LlO, previously voted, for the purposeof providing material for making and repairing ern bankments, anrl that Messrs Redwood and Litchfield be a sub-committee to purchase the same. Accounts were passed for payment as follows : —D. Jones LI Bs. J. Clark L2 12’, Mr Homssell L 3 4s, W. Tindall LI 4s, Renf ew L 8 13s 81, Bary Ll2 Is, Fell Bros L2 10s, Card and Rabone L2 7s 61, Furness and lloundy LI 1 13s 6 l, Compton Lll, Secretary L 7 15s 101, Gosling 14s, Collector Lll 7s 6d, Tindale and Co L 5. The Board then adjourned till Monday, October 18 at 8 p.m.

Spring & Summer Novelties.—We have received our Spring and Summer Goods, ex Ruapehu from London. All the latest fashions for the season in Millinery, Mantles, Feather.*, Flowers, Straws, .Dresses, Prints, Galateas, &c. We have also made special arrangements for Tailoring ; all orders executed on the shortest possible notice from the celebrated New Zealand Tweeds. Suits from 50s, Trousers from 16s, Boys and Youths at proportionate prices. An early aspection solicited.— Smalb & Hat