Local and General News.

Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 99, 1 February 1868, Page 3

Local and General News.

We understand that a supper and ball is to take place on Wednesday next at Mr. O’Sullivan’s, Waitohi Hotel. , A telegram from Captain Butt, dated yesterday at noon, stated that the-Alarm would sail at 5 o’clock last evening.

It is justly said of woman that she divides our sorrows atid doubles our joys. But she quadruples our expenses. ' ‘ The Falcon arrived on Sunday evening last from Wellington with the Panama mail. The Lyttelton arrived from Nelson yesterday forenoon. , _ j, ' *; Residevt Magistrates’ , Co ctrts.— A proclamation by the Governor, dated the 20th January, extends the jurisdiction of the Resident .Magistrates’ Courts in the district of ,M t flbprbugh to • j 11 ■* ’

/we are informed that the Cissy sailed finally on Tuesday last for London. \Tn. Bn rail!'of Waihopai. had a severe attdckX of paralysis in church on Sunday last, but we | are happy to state that he is fast approaching | convalescence again under Dr. Horne’s care. In pursuance of the provisions of the Public Revenues Act; the Governor has appointed S. L. V Muller, Esq., of Blenheim, and John Allen, Esq.,i of Picton, Paymasters for those districts respeo-/ tively. \ Volunteers.— The windy weather of Thursday afternoon prevented our going down to Amersfoot to see the shooting. We are informed that Sergeant Warner made fifty points, the highest number. \ /The body of Mr. Elay mixes was found partly J 'embedded in mud at noon on Sunday last in a j bend of the Opawa, near Mr. W. Robinson’s, j about 2 miles below where he attempted to I cross. A report of the inquest held on Monday I will be found elsewhere. Resident Magistrate’s Court.— Stephen Hockey was yesterday brought before S. L. Muller, Esq., RM., charged with drunkenness and assaulting his wife. Henry Aston was the same day charged by the police under the Vagrant Act as a person without visible means of support. Both the prisoners were committed to Picton gaol for two months with hard labor. Nelson News. —The Nelson anniversary is to lie kept up on Monday next, the 3rd inst., instead of to-day. Greyraouth has petitioned to be made a borough under the Municipal Corporation Act. The Wellington Board of Works have passed a resolution in favor of incorporation under the same Act, and Mr. Borlase has been entrusted to draw up the necessaiy petition. At a meeting of the Nelson Financial Reform League held last week. Sir David Monro read a very interesting paper on the “Effectsof the Provincial system on our Finance.” It is to be published by the Examiner shortly. Mr. Allen, an inhabitant of Charleston, was crossing the Totara river, and mistaking the ford, he and his horse were both washed out to sea. Attempted Suicide. —We understand that Robert Thomson of Renwicktown Road, made another rash attempt upon his life on Monday morning last. It is stated that he loaded a gun with percussion caps, which he fired into his mouth! Dr. Williams was quickly in attendance, and found the soft part of the roof of his mouth torn away, leaving a vacancy of considerable extent. Several of the caps, and some paper used for the charge still remain imbedded in the lower bone of the skull. The hemorrhage in the first instance was large, and the unfortunate man’s sufferings most intense, but on enquiry last evening we understand that he is improving,, and the delirium had subsided. /Mils Lordship Bishop Sutor preached at the Church of the Nativity on Sunday, both morning and evening. His text in the morning was from Galatians, 6th chap. 14th v. The congregation was not a large one, but listened very attentively while the Bishop expounded the doctrine of the cross. The sermon in the evening was upon Genesis sth chap, and 22nd v.-—“ And Enoch walked with God”—and brought the former subject to bear in a practical manner. - t During the service he announced that in future tficTiSoXlections would be taken up both morning and evening in support of the ministry, and services fj of the Church. The plan had been adopted in Nelson and elsewhere in the diocese, and had been found to work well, inasmuch as many persons attended the one service only.—On Monday, accompanied by the Rev. Mr. Butt, he proceeded to the Kaikouras, whence he is expected to return about the middle of next week. On Friday evening a tea meeting will be held ; and on Sunday morning and evening the Bishop will preach at Blenheim again, and in the afternoon, at-the ; : Bush. He preached at Spring Creek on Sunday afternoon last, to a very considerable congregation. ; The late Fires,—Some trifling inaccuracie” i having crept into our account of the late Mr. F. Williams’s residence, we have been sup-1 plied by him with some particulars relative thereto. Occurring as it did so recently before | our last publication, we had no opportunity of making enquiries. It seems that with respect to the rick-burning the lad got matches from the men’s cottage, and was seen snapping them in [ the joint of his knife, and it is supposed that he let one fall among the loose straw near the stacks. He was seen running from the stacks towards the house just as the fire was first perceived, and although told repeatedly to run and assist in carrying water, he refused for some time. He afterwards washed his trousers, and - spent the night eel-fishing. On being charged by his employer with the fire, he denied it, consequently his father was sent for, and Bartlett, his uncle, came down, bringing with him the lad’s sister to service. Ward holding the homes until his uncle left. As it was getting late, Mrs. Williams enquired of the other servants where the boy and girl were, remarking that as it was so late they must come at once or the tea would | be put away. About five minutes after Bartlett left Mrs. Williams ordered the girl to set the ! tea in the dining-room, providing for the boy and j girl at a side-table ; as they did not come in, she | sent the other girl after them, who found them still talking with their uncle at the stable-doors. They all came in together immediately. After pouring out their tea, and taking in a cup to Mr. Williams, who, being unwell, was in an adjacent room, Mrs. Williams returned, and had just seated herself, when she heard a rumbling noise which she thought was the wind rising; in a few seconds after, the flames burst through the wall near the ceiling. One ran to Mr. Williams'screaming the house was on fire. His first \ thought was for the two .youngest children, who ; were in bed at the time. So rapidly did thq/. flames spread that not one of them had time to 4 save even a hat It is the general belief, and in fact the only way Mr. Williams can account for the fire, that a spark.raust have been blown from the kitchen chimney, which was on fire about 5 p.m. the same evening, upon the shingles. Lastly the police did not make any examination, but simply came to see what it was intended to do with the boy. • A Powerful Dredging Machine.— The new dredging machine about to be employed in Sydney harbor will be capable of raising from 1,500 to 2,000 tons of silt daily. This immense quantity of stuff, which it is proposed to raise, J will be carried a few miles beyond the Heads, I and dropped into deep water. ' I ■ “-'skd? I

Shipping.—The following were on the berth at London on November 30th The Charlotte Ann for Nelson, and the Albion for Wellington. Marine Act.—By an order in Council, dated January Bth, the powers of the Governor, as contained in secs. 12, .13, 17, and 42, are conferred on the Superintendent of Marlborough and his successors in office. These sections refer to the appointment and dismissal of pilots. Powers are also given to the Collector of Customs at Blenheim under sec. 18 of the same Act, to exempt from pilotage such colonial trading vessels as to them may seem fit.

Electoral. —The on dit which we gave a few weeks ago'bas beenverified since. Mr. J. O’Sullivan has sent in his resignation as a member of the Provincial Council for the Felorus. Mr. Levion is likely to be his successor. Rumor says a further vacancy is imminent in a constituency between Blenheim and Piet on. In such case it is likely that Mr C. Redwood will be brought forward by his friends.

Land Revenue.—The account for November

last is as follows :—Receipts : Land sold, .£719 6s. 9d.; depasturing licenses, .£lo; assessments on stock, Jts4 Is.; deposit on runs, £8 ; total, £796 7s. 9d. Expenditure • Receiver’s salary, £4 3s. 4d.; deposits transferred to revenue on account of land purchases, £2O 125.; deposits for runs refunded, £ls ; total, £-39 15s. 4d. Balances available on November 30th, £BOI 11s. 5d.; in deposit, £671 145.; total in hand, £1,473 ss. sd. The Champion Ploughman of England Beaten by a Farmer’s Son.—The great Lincolnshire Ploughing Match for Spalding and Deeping Fen came off yesterday. Eight competitors entered the lists ; among them was the formidable crack man James Barker, sent by Messrs. Rausomes. A young Lincolnshire farmer, J.I; Ureasy, had pluck enough to put in au appearance, and with a Howard’s plough made such splendid work that the Ipswich champion was completely distanced. At the Great Somersetshire Meeting on the previous day, a local ploughman, W. Kingston, in the class Open to all England, also with a Bedford plough, carried off the silver cup. —Morning Star, Oct. 12. Marlborough Imports and Exports —A return for the September quarter has just been issued, from which we learn that the following is the value of the imports and exports at the several ports of this province. Wairau: —Imports : From United Kingdom, £2,074, and Victoria £856; total £2,930, being £1,680 m excess of the corresponding quarter of last year. Picton :—Imports : From United Kingdom £SO, New South Wales £ 161, Victoria £-’932 ; total £1,190, being £B4 less than the corresponding Seriod. The exports consisted of 257 ozs. gold ust, value £998, to New South Wales, 318 gls. fish oil, £65, and sheepskins, £l5O, to Victoria. Havelock lmports : Ni!. Exports : 26 ozs. gold, £99, to New South Wales. County of Westland. —The powers conferred under the Gold-fields Act, together with all other powers held hitherto by the Canterbury Government, have been revoked, and given to the hon. John Hall, “so long as hb shall remain a member of the Executive Council, and no longer.” It -<iKJWbe instructive to notice how many places the Postmaster-General holds already before becoming the “nominated Superintendent” of Westland. The case of Westland reminds one of the old story of King Log and King Stork. A perusal of the numerous orders in Council in a Gazette of the 20th inst., leads to the opinion ththl’.the chief difference between the county of Westland and the other provinces is one of name only. The first Council is to meet on Feb. 10th.

.( Referring to the case of the castaways discovered on the Auckland Isles, which we published last week, the Examiner says ■“ Has the Government of New Zealand no duties resting upon it in respect of islands which are a part of its territory, and so often the scene of shipwreck and disaster ? We pointed out how admirably “adapted the Auckland Islands were fora penal settlement; and a removal from the various Provincial gaols of prisoners sentenced to long terms of.imprisonment, would' be an immense gain to all parts, of the colony. A commission has been, ‘appointed to consider the subject of a general penal settlement, and we sincerely hope the Auckland Islands may be selected for the purpose* in which case there would be a chance of the crews of vessels shipwrecked there hading auccour.” ■. • ■

Provincial Gazette. —A Gazette issued this, week contains proclamations relative to the Public- Reserves Management Act; limiting the boundaries of the Pelorus Goldfield to the Watersheds of the Wakamarina river and its tributaries; ihd Relative to the regulations for impounding cattle; notice of the sale of lands at Kaikoura, and an island near Hopai Bay, Pelorus Sound, on the 29th February; Notices relative to the Medical Practitioners Act; applications for pasture leases by J. C._ Chaytor atWaipapa, and G. i Mortimer at Kaituna Valley ; that Section 568, tbwn'df Pictbn, has been reserved as a site for a •public'slaughter-house ; decisions by the Waste i ■ ‘Lands Board in favour of Sir WlS.Forbes, Bart., r and E. C-’WyvUl; and that auctioneers’ licenses hkvnbeen granted to Mr. H. Dodson and Mr. P. Xawrence ; abstract of income and expenditure t f or the September quarter, and the Land Receiver’s account, fTa Pleasant Surprise.-—A man named'Coleman, says the'Dubbo Despatch, formerly a groom in the employ of Mr. J. E. Browning, of the Overland Hotel. Duhbo, received a very pleasant ° surprise on calling at the post-office last week. ‘He got two letters, one of: which informed him that the not very despicable sum of £4,000 had been bequeathed to ’him by a relative in England." 'The letters have been knocking about the • various post-offices of the colony during the past fourteen months, and it was by the merest chance in the world they at last reached the person for whom they were, intended. It appears Coleman, • when in Dubhq before, was known by another £ name. After a long absence he recently arrived h town, and in the course of .conversation told r Browning that his real name was Herbert Coleman. , Mr. B. (formerly postmaster here) immediately remembering that some English 'ft letters were lyingjih the office for a person named his quondam groom of the fact. thereupon called oh Mr. ,Hayes, and we ; sayrthril.the experienced' ;\ l! ' r was.a3 dehghriiU;aa it :wa».uhexpartoA .

Of all the eccentric methods of expressing loyalty ever brought to our notice, the following is the most extraordinary. Two young ladies in Melbourne have been seen parading Collinsstreet, got up regardless of expense, their heads encased, that is as much as the chignon allowed, in straw hats with blue ribands, on which the word Galatea in gilt letters of about one and a half inch was printed. Of course this novelty attracted considerable attention to the wearers, and some remarks were made upon the questionable taste displayed.— Poet. Melbourne. —In the import market business generally maintains a very quiet aspect. There has been no desire to speculate evinced by the larger dealers, and stock-taking is too near at hand to admit of many purchases being made even for trade purposes. In breadstuffs there are no sales whatever to report; and though we retain former quotations of Victorian flour—say £l6 10s. to £17 —the market is scarcely so firm. Good samples of wheat realise 6s. 9d. to 75., but there are few parcels offering.. The high prices realised of la*e for oats have had some effect in inducing holders to offer more freely at 4s. to 4s. 3d., though we have not heard of any transactions taking place.— Argue. Nelson Turf Club —At a meeting of the Turf Club, held on Tuesday afternoon, at the Trafalgar Hotel, it was resolved to hold the Annual Race Meeting, if possible, during the visit of the Duke of Edinburgh to Nelson, which may be expected to take place about the middle of April. It is the wish of the Club to increase the stakes so as to induce horses from other provinces to pay us a visit, and if the public wilL support the Club in its efforts, the ensuing mee£ ing may be rendered a most attractive one. The publication of the programme was deferred for another week, in order to ascertain what amount of support the public will be likely to give. It has been suggested that a steeple-chase might be made one of the attractions of the second day, as the race might be run almost in sight of the stand without interfering with/tne course ; and a good stake for a handicap dn the first day of the meeting would be pretty sure to bring together a large field of horses and impart life to the meeting. We hope" all parties will exert themselves to make the races a success. There can be little doubt that the Prince will honour Nelson with a visit, and being a lover of British sports, we know no way in which we can so well contribute to his enjoyment during the few days he may spend here, as in getting up a creditable race meeting.— Examiner .