LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 314, 19 September 1888, Page 2

LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS.

The Colonial Secretary— The Hoh Mr Eli slop, who left for tho South on Monday, returns shortly to take up Ins permanent residence in Wellington.

Tub Season Messrs W, B, Grilling and Co and T. Sinale, of the Wairau Store, have fresh advertisements this morning intimating the arrival of shipments of Spring goods. A Chuck Upon* Fires.— At a conference of insurance companies held at Auckland it was resolved that in all cases of doubtful fires occurring throughout tho Colony, the buildings should be reinstated. The Weather.— Captain Edwin telegraphed at 4 p.m. yesterday “ Northeast to north and west gale within next 10 hours; glass fall again soon; and indications of rain.

To Footballers. —A meeting of footballers will he held this evening at eight o’clock at Mr Oklershaw’s shop, to rnako arrangements for celebrating tho close of the season.

Wesleyan Blue Ribbon Band of Hope. —The usual fortnightly meoting of this society was hold last night, the President, Mr Heyhoe, presiding. A pleasant hour s amuserut-nt was provided by music, songs, readings, addresses, etc. Volunteer Club.— The new Volunteer Club will bo opened on Wednesday, 10th October, by a smoko concert. Volunteer A. O. Tovey is Secretary to the Club committee, and he will be glad to receive the names of any volunteers billing to assist in carrying out the programme. The Tikes at Mahaicipawa worthy of note that our Monday’s issue reaches Cullcnville at noon same day. Arrangements are in progress whoroby our numerous subscribers there will bo in regular receipt- of our issue on the same day that it is published, a boon that will doubtless be greatly appreciated. Church of England Sunday School. A tea and entertainment takes place in the schoolroom of the Church this evening. An attractive programme of vocal and instrumental music, etc., has been prepared. The moderate charge of one shilling for adults and sixpence for juveniles should induco a large attendance.

A Handsome Banner. From our Wellington exchanges we learn that the banner which the ladios of that city intend presenting to tho St. Patrick's College Football Club will be made of blue and white (Club colors) satin, which has had to bo imported from Sydney. It will be mounted on a silver plated rod and trimmed with silver fringe. On one side a picture of St. Patrick's College will bo painted, and on the reverse the monogram of tho Club will bo worked. Government Inspection. —The Blenheim Rifles. Blenheim City Rifles and School Cadets paraded for inspection in Market Square last evening. Major Bail lie was inspecting officer. There was a very good muster of members of the two rifle companies, whiie there was a splendid turn-out of the Cadets, of which corps there were 50 rank and file present Major Baillio put the men through several battalion movements, after which tlmy were exercised in manual exercise by Ca.’it Rogers, and in sword and bayonet exercise by Capt Griffiths,

Imaginary. —We gave currency in our Monday’s is-ue to a statement—which ‘was so general both at Mahakipawa and llavclock that, its truth was accepted without question —that Gregg and party hud obtained 115 ounces of gold from their claim. From information received yesterday we how learn that there was about as'much truth in the statement as (hero was in the story of the thiee black crows The find was simply magnified by a “ century,” tho actual amount obtained being 14 ounce*.

Wairau Cricket Club. At flie annual meeting on Monday evening, the following gentlemen were elected a committee Messrs Barton, M'lvor, J. V. Lucas, Crump, Fisher, and F. Farmar. It was r<solved that the word “captain” he ex 'Hinged from rule 3, and that the Club be divided into two sections, A and B, Messrs Branson and Tovey to select the sections. For cup matches, teams will bo selected by a sub-committee to be appointed for the purpose. It was decided to open tho season on 29th inst with a scratch match, commencing at 2 o'clock, sides to he chosen by Messrs Branson and Tovey prior to their final selection for the two sections Votes ot thanks to the outgoing committee, the Secretary (.Mr Hillman) and the Chairman, terminated the proceedings.

Another Arrest. —About noon yesterday Constable STieary effected the arrest 0 v H m Georirc Grev, on a. warrant eha« n him with obtaining money bv fair" pretences. Grey was only relva seu irons the X'ieton Gaol ou Monday, after serving a sentence of fourteen day.-, for being illegally on the premises. It. appears that he represented to a man named Richard Webb that he (Grey) had a watch and chain which he had left at Fiddle's Givjsvcnor Hotel. Ho offered

them to Webb for 10s, and the latter decided R> take them. Grey gave I in; an order for tho watch and chain on the proprietor of tho hotel, but when Webb went to claim tho articles, ho found that he had been "sold.” lie accordingly roported tho matter to the police, with the result that G roy was arrested ou the charge. He will bo brought at the K.IL Court before Mr Alien this .morning.

The Kate Tatiiam. —The steamer Mana arrived at Wellington on Monday night from Port Underwood. She left the Kate Tutbum beached at Port Underwood, who re she was taken nn to have her leakages stopped temporarily. It appears she got too high up, and some difficulty in getting her off is anticipated. The Mana will return to the barquontiin' on Thursday, when an effort will bo made to get her off and tow her to Wellington —N.Z. Times.

Havelock School. Tho committee met on Monday evening, 17th inst. Present : Messrs Vennimorc, Clark and Mills (in the chair). Mr Reynolds handed in a report showing that tho number on the roll had increased to 115, with an average attendance of 95. The Chairman explained that in reply to his telegram sent to tho Secretary of tho Education Board, Mr Robinson had sent him the following wire : “No instructions to repair blinds. I think Board will par committee's work, as in other places.” Acting on this, as it was impossible to carry on tho work of tho school without repairing the blinds, he as Chairman, had arranged to have tho necessary work done forthwith.—Resolved that tho action of the Chairman re tho school blinds be confirmed, and that the Education Board be again written to pointing out th it tho committee have no funds al their disposal to meet tho expense, and therefore trust they will vote an amount sufficient to pay for the contract. An account from Mr Card for 15s 3d was passed, and the committee adjourned till Monday, 15th October. - Havelock Correspondent.

The Wolseley Sheep Shearing Machine.—Mr W. E. P. Clouston, agent fo" this machine, who has announced for some time past that a public trial would take place in Marlborough at an early date, has received a letter from tho patentee, intimuting that it will he impossible to give an exhibition this year, for the reasonset forth in the following letter : —“ Dear Sb-, —Your wire of yesterday’s date dub reached me, and in reply I beg to state that it will be impossible for me to give an exhibition of shearing machines this year, owing to circumstances over which I have no control, and much to iny annoyance. I have here several machines, and everything except “ comb ” and “cutter.” those I have used being worn out ; and 1. have been unable to obtain a ftirtlmr supply though 1 have asked over and over a« r a'in, and without them I am quite unable to do anything. I have only jn*t been made aware of (lie reason myself. In February last the Company despatch d a representative Home to arrange with a manufacturer to make a largo supply of machines and combs and cutters. He placed the order with the firm, a Sheffield firm taking up the order for combs and cutters. Tho man had returned to Sydney and first con - sUnmeuts were expected to arrive in June. In May or June it was discovered that tho manufacturer had, I think, failed, or, at anyrate, gone out of business and had not transferred the order. The Company then cabled to tlm firm making tho machines to obtain samples and complete tho order, but the other refused to give them up, and it was only after much delay and great expense that tlm thing was satisfactorily arranged. Tho first shipment will only reach here by the middle of October, and then my hands and those of all my available men will be full fitting up sheds. I caunot accept any more' orders unless for sheds starting about or later than tho 20th November The reports of progress made in sheds in X AY. arc very favorable and satisfactory. The cords and cutters foe these had to be made in Sydney and Mobourno, and many orders had to he refused, as a sufficient supply could not be turned out.”

Readings.— On Saturday evening Mr Howard, from Picton, kindly gave one of his popular readings in the Town Hall, Havelock, for the benefit of the Parsonage Fund Account. Some of the ladies and gentlemen contributed music and singing between the readings, and, judging by the loud and frequent applause, tho entertainment was a most pleasing one. The encores were numerous and in each instance kindly responded to, while one of the selections rendered by the talented reader almost convulsed tho house with laughter. Owing to tho short notice given to tho public, many of tho settlers only heard of it when too lat.e, otherwise there would have been a much larger attendance. On Monday afternoon Mr Howard gave a lecture in tho School on the management and culture of till human voice. The subject was treated in a masterly and clever manner; many excellent hints were given as to the rules laid down by our best elocutionists for improving the voice, and those present wero shown how simple it was with a little practise to regulate tho breathing either when singing or speaking, The lecturer stated that a wise physician when emphasising the importance of always breathing through the nostrils, said that one of the most important things to observe was to “ keep your month shut,” and no doubt he was right, specially if we were in a temper. The cardinal points were : Learning to breathe properly, and standing in an upright easy position to give the lungs free play and expand the muscles. Nothing was better than a free application of cold water to the muscles of the throat for strengthening the vocal chords; and never oveitax the voice, it was far better to lower the register than to attempt the higher tones. At the conclusion of the address Mr Mills moved, and the Rev. 11. E. Eusor seconded, a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Howard for his ablo and instructive address, which was carried unanimously.

The Rabbit Nuisance.— Tho Otago Daily Times states that at tho suggestion of Mr A. Dillon Bell, the representative of New Zealand at tho Intercolonial Rabbit Conference, ferrets, stoats and weasels, which arc largely employed in New Zealand to keep down tho rabbits, have been added to tho list of animals upon which experiments are to ho made with the disease proposed by M. Pasteur as a means of getting rid of rabbits. A shipment of ferrets from New Zealand to Sydney have been sent to the experimental depot.

A Nelsonite’s View of the Mahaxifawa. —The Mail publishes tho following extract from a well-known Nelson resident who has been for some weeks at Maha dpawa* Writing under date September 7, he says : “ When I returned on Frida) I found they had got over the wet work that is, getting up a tail race, and hid commenced washing the top =tuff w. th very indifferent results. Monday £,d Tuesday proved very much tho si. e. Wednesday we reached the bottom, ff-t----tit, under an ounce for ths day, hut on Thors lav wo picked from the loose cr ,-uher rotten slate bottom, with the re-alt J. A we obtained 17-23 lOlwts. Cue ..I ... •-.-ei-i-eu J«.z 17dwts, others l.Uwts and half ounce, d nvn to pin h-ads. The biggest nugget i- pm- g-U h-ff inacy oi ihe smaller ones ti'- a *-t cl quai.. in them. Thank goodness w* have now >btained enough gold to pay aff our m muses, with a prospect ;1 i' *’ ulon .oa work on good ground, and w- expect tc make up lee way. There i-> great excAeinont ii'.'W over the finding of Inc reef. I saw the 1-loz nugget, and have got g' rod reason to believe that a 20 .z nugget u as sjc >.•- the Maoris some distance up the creek from us, '

A Lift for Old Soldiers. — Tho following letter, of interest to old soldiers, appears in tho Hawke’s Bay Herald : “ Sir, an old soldier, being informed that he was ontbled to his p nAon at the age j of 50 im-tead of 00, wrote to the p. ush.ii 1 office in London, and received an answer j lhut all soldi- rs who enlisted before tho t 28rd J ul v. ISG4, and who have been disj charged for reductions or as invalids withI out permanent pensions, or with freo j discharges as an indulgence after 14 years’ service, and have in all cases badges of good conduct during 14 years in the army, are entitled to receive pensions at 50 years of ago instead of 60. the usual period, and should send in their claims ar once. If the Press of New Zealand and elsewhere will kindly give publicity to the above it I will ho of great corvioe to certain des rving old defenders of the British

Empire,” An Eccentric Sovereign. —A correspondent of the Fiji Times, writing from V, avail, under date August 9, tells the following extraordinary story:—“King George of Tonga is becoming less responsible for his actions every day r . About a month since ho tried his royal hands at hanging ; for, in a case of simple theft, ho put the constitution aside entirely, and acted as judge, jury and executioner. Tho case was this: A man stolo some kara ; lam not sure that it was not off tho King’s premises. The King heard that ho hadnot been, in his opinion, sufficiontly punished, and sent for him, put a rope round his nock, and hauled him up on tho nearest tree until his tocH only touched tho ground. The man soon got black in the face, and a few minutes would have finished him off. Fortunately for the man the bell for church commenced to ring, and the King of Tonga had to bo off and attend divine service As soon as his Majesty’s hack was turned, some of tho chiefs and people, knowing how utterly King George was in the wrong, took the man down, and when seen by some Europeans tho man’s tongue was still hanging from his mouth ; whether he ultimately recovered I know not.” The New Zealand Herald says one who is conversant with Tongan affairs denies the truth of the story, and advices from Tonga go to show that it is without foundation. Evicted in His Coffin.— An extraordinary eviction is reported from Cashel, County Tipperary. A tenant named Frank Dwyer refused to givo up possession of his house to the representatives of h;s late landlord, contending that the luff® r had left him in the house, together with a enttin, which he kept beside his bed in his room. Dwver barricaded his house

against eviction. On the evictors appearing, Dwyer shouted that they could evict hi in out of the coffin ; that ho would go into the coffin, and they must put him nut, coffin and all. After some further parley, Dwyer agreed to give up possession, hut only on condition that ho should bo evicted whilst in the

coffin. '1 ho ley of the door was then thrown from the roof, and tho bailiff and police entered. They found Dwyer in tho coffin, wearing a tall silk hat, around which was twined an old white veil. Owing to the stairs being too narrow, the party had to lower the coffin, with its living inmate, through one of the windows. As the coffin descended, Dwyov loudly protested .against his illegal eviction, the large crowd assembled being oouvEed with laughter. As soon as the coffin reached Iho ground the hoys raised it up, and Dwyer, sitting upright, was carried round the town.

The “ White Pasha.” —Tnc steamer Voltaire arrived at Liverpool on July 2nd with Congo despatches dated May 27th, which gave further details concerning Stanley's camp, liis followers were suffering- from lack of fo.nl and maladies .arising from (he surrounding swamp. Reconnoitring parties which passed along Stanley’s route saw quantitUs of human bones, apparently remains of victims who had fallen in fights between Stanley’s followers and the niiives. Relief hud been reeciml for tho camp from Tippoo Till. Major Barttelot, believing tlm*. Stanlev is not; more than 500 miles beyond the camp in the direction of Khartoum, had struck his tents and pushed on to join him. According to despatches from London, dated July 14tli,'it is believed at the Foreign Office that the “ White Pasha ” is Henry M. Stanley, now in the province of B,uhr-el-Gazel, inarching on to Khartoum. It is stated that the Foreign Office had knowledge all along of Some such intention as this on Stanley’s part, and the real object of tho expedition at the last moment was not the relief of Emin, who needed no immediate aid, hut the relief of Luptou Bey, Slatin Bey, New'field, a Ct srman, and several other Europeans at Khartoum, whose terrible sufferings were made known at the time to the Government. Absolute secrecy as regards Stanley’s movements was necessary. A courier direct from Ombunnan, at Cairo, July 23rd, states that Abdullah proposed marching at once at the head of a heavy force to meet the White Pasha, w ho is still advancing, and who is now supposed to bo Emin Boy.

The Panama Canal. Dr Wilfred Nelson, who recently visited the Isthmus of Panama, was interviewed at Washington, 10th August, touching work on the canal. 110 reported a deploiable and discouraging condition of affairs. The statement of Baron de Lesseps, that the canal will ho opened in 189(5, is treated with open ridicule by the contractors in the mountains at Calaveras. On the 40foot excavation they aro moving into the cut at tho rate of eighteen inches per month, and to reach the level of the lock of tho canal they must go down another 180 feet. Tho whole enterprise, according to Dr Nelson, is a botch from end to end, having assumed the position of unblushing jobbery, colossal in its proportions. Two of the largest contractors lately stopped work, as the Canal Company had no money for them. De Lesseps, in stating that the canal will be opened in 1890, states what he knows to be impossible. To-day the fixed charge against the Company is over 10,000,000 dollars per annum, with perhaps a fifth of the vrork done, and on the surface at that. There is about 30,000,000d01s worth of machinery on the Isthmus, two-thirds of it useless and rusting. Many of the contractors have stopped work, and a number are suing for breach of contract.

A Good Housewife.— The good housoryifo, when she is giving her house its spring renovating, should bear in mind that the dear inmates of her house are more precious than many houses, and that their systems need cleansing by purifying tho blood, regulating the stomach and bowels to prevent and cure the diseases arising from spring malaria auci miasma, and she must know that there is nothing that will do it bo pel iectly and surely a Dr Soule’s America r Hop Bitters, the purest and best of medicines.—“ Concord N. H, Patriot.”

Holloway’s Pills.—The stomach and its troubles cause more discomfort and bring more unhappiness than is commonly supposed. The thousand ills that settle there may he prevented or dislodged, by the judicious use of these purifying Pills, which act as a sure, gentle, anti-acid aperient, without annoying the nerves of the most susceptible or irritating the most delicate organisation. Holloway’s Pills will bestow comfort and confer relie: on every headachy, dyspeptic, and si:kly sufferer, whose tortures make him a. Durden to himself and a bugbear to his friends. These Pills have long been the popular remedy for a weak stomach, for a disordered liver, or a paralysed digestion, which yield without difficulty to their regulating, purifying, and tonic qualities —-(Advt).