THE Marlborough Express. SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 1868.

Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 106, 7 March 1868, Page 3

THE Marlborough Express.

SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 1868.

“ Give me the liberty to know, to utter, and to prgue freely according to conscience, above all other liberties.” —Milton.

*** The Mails for England via Panama, will close at 915 this morning. A supplementary Mail via Suez, will also be made up at 4 - 30 p.m, to day, for transmission per the Airedale, which will call at Picton tomorrow.

, ■ 'We' understand that Mr. Strachan has resigned his seat in the Provirrcitd'Council for the district of Tua Marina.

■v Hops.— Mr. ‘ Dodson has commenced getting in his'crop of hops this week, and we are glad to hear that the yield is much greater than there was reason to expect after the late floods, which it was supposed would injure the plants. Pelorus Election. —Mr. R. V. Smith having retired from the contest, Mr. A. Houghton has been started by his friends in opposition to Mr. Levien. Parties are said to be pretty evenly balanced. The nomination is fixed for Thursday next, and the polling for Saturday the 14th inst.

The Cabal which was raised at Havelock, having for its object the removal or discharge of Sergeant Goodall, has been a failure, and this valuable and efficient public servant will be retained in his present position. A deputation waited upon His Honor the Superintendent at Havelock the other day, relative to this matter, who assured them that the report that he was to be removed had no foundation in fact^^r We may remind some of our readers that they are subjecting themselves to heavy penalties, and in some cases to a whipping, by shooting wild ducks before the season commences, which is on Ist April. The Act for the protection of animals is very stringent in its provisions, and any person found in possession of any “ native game,” as wild ducks, wood pigeons, &c., are to be considered to have shot them ; the onus of proof that they have not done so resting with the persons accused. Shooting on Sundays is prohibited at any time.

'■" Lecture. —On Wednesday evening last, the Rev. W. Lee delivered an extempore lecture at the Council Chamber, the subject being “An Evening with the Poets.” We are unable to give any idea of the matter itself, as other important topics largely occupy our space this week. The rev. gentleman urged that poetry had exercised very great influence in all ages, both for good and for evil. He repeated a number of selected pieces from Shakespeare (whose writings he considered had done harm), Wordsworth, Cowper, Southey, Burns, Longfellow, Hood, Tennyson, Mrs. Hemans, Miss Jewsbury, Miss Bowes, and others, evincing a most surprising memory. S. L. Muller, Esq., R.M., occupied the chair, and with the lecturer received a hearty vote of thanks. The hall was comfortably filled with a very respectable auditory, and the proceeds (amounting to £6 6s. 6d.) were devoted to the Wesleyan Sunday School Library. We have received the report of the Select Committee on the Establishment of Uniuersity Scholarships. The work contains the replies from above forty gentlemen in various parts of the colony, to a series of questions intended to elicit information on the subject. The only gentlemen in this province who was consulted is the JL JL Tetley, who says “ I warmly recommend the foundation of University Scholarships, for the purpose of sending boys from New Zealand schools to one or other of the Universities of Great Britain, preferring Oxford or Cambridge, and worth not less than £250 per annum. X am of opinion that any attempt to establish a New Zealand University at the present time would prove a failure. Having had no opportunity of informing myself respecting the present standard of attainments in the larger New Zealand schools, I do not attempt to answer the other questions of the series.” The major part of the others appears to be in favour of scholarships, and exhibitions to English Universities.

Flood at Waimea South.— We learn from Foxhill that there has been a very heavy flood in the Wai-i-ti; the rain having fallen steadily during the whole of Wednesday and the preceding day, the river rose to an extraordinary height. The breakwater at the spar foot-bridge stood it out bravely until dark on Wednesday evening, hurling the numerous large trees that came down, one after another, to the right or the left. About nine o’clock, however, it gave way, and lodged against the bridge, together with two very large birch trees, one of which was 90 feet long and of great thickness. This caused a wash under the logs, and of course removed the protection which the breakwater afforded, and which now became a source of danger to the bridge. Although the pressure was so enormous as to shift the centre pier bodily several feet lower down the stream, the bridge is still whole, and crossable either by passengers or horses, but of course in very ugly form, the shifting of the centre pier having caused a bend in the roadway, which is unsightly. This, however, can be repaired at a comparatively trifling expense. The breakwater, we are informed, was of hasty and faulty construction, and necessarily so, as funds were wanting, but the very severe trial to which the bridge has just been subjected, has proved most satisfactorily that the on which it was constructed is a correct one,— Mail.

The Wanganui Chronicle says it is reported that H. S. Harrison, Esq., the member for Wanganui, will resign his seat in the Assembly, to enable Air. Fox to be elected. We understand that the Hon; the Premier has acquiesced in the proposition made by Otago’s Superintendent, regarding a loan to repair the damage done to public works by the late disastrous floods.”— Post.

District Prizes. —The firing for these prizes by the Blenheim Sub-division is fixed for Monday next. Volunteers are requested to call at the office for ammunition before proceeding to the ground.

A Frexch paper thus traces the sensation of a reader of advertisements. The first advertisement he don’t see it. The second insertion he sees it but don’t read it. The third insertion he reads it. The fourth insertion he looks at the price. The fifth insertion he speaks of to his wife. The sixth insertion she is willing to buy. The seventh insertion he purchases.

We learn that Bishop Patteson, who has charge of the Alelanesian A'lission, will succeed Bishop Selwyn as Aletropolitau of New Zealand; and we should think it not unlikely that the Bev. Air. Codrington, formerly of Nelson, now engaged in the mission work with Bishop Patteson, may be raised to the episcopate as successor to the latter.

Bishop Pompalier embarked at Auckland on< board the French transport Che vert, for Europe] on a visit to the Holy See. Since his arrival in), Aucklrnd he has erected 4 Churches, 5 Presby j teries, and 4 Convents, 3 for the various branches ; of the Sisters of Mercy, and 1 for the Sisters of • the Holy Family, and has ordained 7 priests. - Numerous addresses were presented to his Lord- . ship, prior to his departure. Sir George Grey.— The Melbourne Argus, of the 12th instant, says : —“ We observe from the home papers that Sir George Grey has been appointed to his old government—that of the colony of the Cape of Good Hope.” The London correspondent of the same paper writes :—“ It is expected that Sir G. Grey, late Governor of New Zealand, will succeed Sir P. Wodehouse as Governor of the Cape. The latter is about to return home.”

The Dobson Monument.— The West Coast Times, of the 22nd, says : —“At the intersection] of Weld and Sewell-streets, Hokitika, several bulky-looking cases may be seen lying on the ground. These contain the several parts of the Dobson memorial obelisk, imported from Melbourne, and awaiting erection. We understand that the work will be completed in the course of a few days, when the capital of the county of Westland will be marked by its fiirst momumental stones,”

The following shocking tale comes to us from New South Wales : —“ A horrible case of neglect and inhumanity, says the Border Post, has recently occurred on the Berrima road, near Nattai, in the case of a poor child named Underwood, who had been scalded. No medical aid was called. The poor child was allowed to die without a person near it, and in its dying agony it actually bit off the first joint of the third finger, which was found in the bed.’,

The Criminal Sittings of the Supreme Court at Wellington, are fixed for Monday, 2nd March. The cases for trial up to the present are—Charles Augustus Rogers, perjury; Edwin Miller, horse stealing; Samuel Brennahan and James Stewart, stealing from a cart; Joseph Brown, perjury; James Morris, horse stealing; John Theophilus Boileau, false pretences; John Burke and Vaughan Teague, perjury; Edward Evans Morton, assaulting police ; Same, perjury. Qut of the eleven cases for trial, no less than five of the offences charged are for perjury. The Christchurch papers report the ship Motoaka’s arrival from London. She anchored off Lyttelton on the 11th February, having been eighty-six days tn the passage, which was pleasant but wanting in noteworthy events. Two large icebergs and a quantity of drift ice was passed on the 17th January, in latitude 43 South. No N.E. trades were experienced, and the line was not crossed until the thirtieth day out. She brought out forty saloon and eighty steerage passengers, and a large number of English birds, which were in thriving condition when landed.

Marvellous Fertility.— lt is to be hoped that the example set by the poor woman referred to in the following paragraph, from the Panama Star, will not become a common practice :—“ The wife of a retired soldier, living at Nun’s Hill, near Valparaiso, has recently brought forth six children at one birth, four boys and two girls, and is at present wonderfully well under the circumstances, suckling her children herself, and exhibiting a vigorous vitality. Unfortunately, of this liberal addition to a pre-existent family of eleven, three have died, the two girls and one of the boys.” Great Fire at Adelaide.— A telegram from Adelaide, dated February Bth, states :—•“ D. and W. Murray’s store, formerly Levi and Co.’s old stores, were almost totally destroyed by fire thia morning. The stock is stated to have been over A'60,000. The actual loss is not yet known, nor is the origin of the tire. It was insured in the Adelaide Marine and Fire Insurance Company for .£5500 ; Liverpool and London for .£SOOO ; Imperial, £5000; Lonpon and Lancashire for .£3000; Alliance for £3OOO ; Australasian, for £5000; Derwent and Tamar, £3000.” At the inquest a verdict was returned that it was accidental.

Westland County Council. —The Westland County Council and its Chairman (the PostmasterGeneral) do not seem to pull very well together. The Councillors have made the discovery that they have but little control over Westland affairs, and that their principal function is to advise and recommend, while the Chairman has all the power, and can, if he pleases, disregard any recommendations made. Some of the members have already shewn themselves jealous of the authority excercised by the Governor’s delegate, and the latter has stated that he almost regrets

having accepted the position. The Act ia he doubt very incomplete, and considerable altera, tions will in all probability have to be made; head session. Some of Mr. Hall’s recent speeches show pretty clearly that he looks upon himsel as the power in Westland, andr npon the.’Coiinei as little more than adebating chih.-^Sxaniiner,

We may direct the attention of our readers to an important decision in the Resident Magistrates Court on Wednesday last, and reported elsewhere, relative to the practice of giving and accepting orders.

A Mutual Improvement Society has been initiated this week. The second meeting is to be held at the Literary Institute on Thursday evening next. Persons desirous of joining this yer}' useful society may obtain all information from Hr. Morley.

Accoudi.no to the decision of the District Court on "'Tuesday last, there are no longer any legal wharfs in Blenheim, and all dues are abolished for the time being, as well as all arrears accruing since the passing of the Marine Act, 1867. The decision affects the Pieton wharfs in like manner

Cricket — At a committee meeting of the Blenheim Club, held on Thursday evening, Mr. J. T. Robinson reported that Mr. Seymour had waited upon him and stated that the Pictou Chib were willing to play the match, as proposed at the recent dinner, in Blenheim, at a date to be fixed by the Blenheim Club. After some consideration, Thursday, the 19th instant, was determined upon as the day on which the match should come off, and the Secretary was ordered to report accordingly.

A tune new store for the sale of drugs, &c., is to be opened “this day in Market-street by Mr. jSyms, late of Pieton. With Sbakespere, we would “throw physic to the dogs,” but as all our readers may not be disposed to coincide in such a course, it will be serviceable to inform them that we have now two establishments of the kind in Blenheim—Dr. Williams and Mr. Syms —where they can obtain such articles as are usually kept by apothecaries, of lirst-class quality and unrivalled cheapness.

The Lyttelton Times thus speaks of the bowling of the Hon. G. S. Lyttelton, whose score of 104 runs in a late cricket match at Christchurch we have already noticed : —Combined with good delivery and more than average pace, Mr. Lyttelton possesses the talent of altering his pitch at will so soon as he observes the batsman’s weakest point. And of his batting : —Possessing great length of reach, with perfect freedom of wrist, and playing with a straight bat, the Hon. G'. S. Lyttelton as a batsman of rare merit in this part of the world. Almost all his hits were forward, and nothing evinces power of defence better.

/ Opawa Bridge.—We have paid several visits (to the site of these works this week. Mr. Hau(wright is now making rapid progress with the [bridge, and our readers will be interested on [paying a visit to the place, to see this new and , ! novel structure. The lower chords are laid, the I upper ones well advanced, and considerable progress made with the trusses, which will probably !be completed today. A notice elsewhere states • that traffic will be stopped for four days, comi mencing on Friday next, for the purpose of re>»novmg the old bridge and planking the new one. fiot passengers will be able to cross at any time, is expected that the work will be completed fore the meeting of Council on the 17 th inst. Prospecting.—John Heard, the person who found the original prospect of gold in the Awatere, about eleven months ago, erroneously attributed to Mead, has forwarded a note which we print elsewhere. Ho called upon us the other day, and informed us that he was, in company with a mate, about to start up again, having full confidence as to the presence of auriferous deposits in that locality, and purposes to remain and prosecute a thorough search, having received promises of support from the neighboring stations. In case of success, he will take immediate steps to lay the same before the public through our means. He assures us that he has found in all about ounces of gold in the Avratere. may inform our Marlborough readers that Mr. Nelson, who has just been called to the bar joßSew Zealand, and who, as will be elsewhere, has been the first of the profession toj go circuit with His Honor the District Judge, islikely to take up his residence amongst us. Mr.: Nelson was entered at the Queen’s Inn, Dublin, in the year 1858, and was brought up under the immediate direction of the late Joseph Nelson, a distinguished Queen’s counsel and member of the Irish bar, and chairman of Quarter Sessions for the County Longford and Queen’s County. He brings introductions from some of the leading members of the Irish bar to those in judicial positions, and others in the colony. The Gustos Hotulorum of County Down, in his certificate to His Honor the Acting Chief Justice of New Zealand, thus speaks of Mr Nelson “Healso held the office of Under Sheriff for County Down for seven years, discharging the duties of that important office, not only to satisfaction of the several High Sheriffs under whom he had the honor of serving, but also to the Judges of assize, the legal profession, and the public (generally.” Mr. Nelson to this colony Ebout two years ago for his health, and has now (determined to remain in New Zealand. £ I District Court.—His Honor Judge Ward Eeld a sitting at Eases were adjudicated upon. Mellish v. Owen, E of i£2s 14s. fees due to Sheriff. Mr. Eonolly appeared as Counsel for plaintiff, and Edr. Nelson for defendant. Judgment was reEerved.' The other was an appeal against a deciEioh in the Warden’s Court, by M‘Bea and others. Bfr. Conolly appeared for respondents, and Mr. Kelson for appellants. Judgment was given for She respondents, the Judge seeing no good Kasbn why the decision of the Warden should E reversed. On Monday his Honor opened the Kriihinal Sittings in Blenheim, when the Queen B. Prondfoot was heard. Mr. Nelson appearing Kr the latter ; and considerable amusement was Bxcited by bis cross-examination of the informant Belfries," resulting in Proudfoot’s discharge. Bfeorge Morissey undefended, pleaded guilty to B cases of petty larceny, and was found guilty ■ •''fclomous assault upon a married woman. was sentenced to 3 years’ penal servitude, Hh Tuesday, the great wharfage question came Bn Mr.-Uonolly appearing as Counsel for the Haperiutendcnt, and Mr. Moffitt for Nath. Edand.Co. It ia a great pity however, that CMe was decided upon a mere quibble, iHtving the principle involved as much undecided

The Canterbury papers teem with particulars of the late disastrous floods in that province. In the Temuka district alone, the loss is estimated from £IOO,OOO to £150,000. The Westport Times says :—Rumors are prevalent that one of the parties at Mokihinui having sunk through the false bottom, have struck upon a lead of gold richer than anything that has yet been discovered on the West Coast. Mr. Fox. —The Independent , of the 22nd instant, says : —“ By private letters received yesterday evening, we learn with pleasure that Mr. Fox is rapidly recovering from the affects of the accident he recently received by the upsetting of a coach.” The Convict Sullivan. —Kelson saw the last of the convict Sullivan on Friday evening, when he was put on board the steamer Phoebe, to be conveyed to Dunedin. After the failure to get him away the preceding week, in the Otago, dressed as a gentleman, the authorities were more successful in getting Sullivan off by dressing him as a policeman, and putting a policeman in plain clothes to represent a prisoner. When Sullivan was landed at Wellington, on Saturday, to be kept safely in gaol until the Phoebe should sail South, he was recognized by persons on the wharf, and was loudly hooted.— Examiner. Painful Accident. —A very sad accident on Tuesday afternoon befel Mr. James Stewart, one of the proprietors of the Wellington Steam Saw Mills, at Te Aro. It seems the unfortunate young man was engaged in “packing” the saw, when a piece of wood, which he held in his hand, caught in the long teeth of the saw, which was in full play. In a moment his right hand was drawn down andhis forefinger completely severed, while a deep gash was cut across the rest of the fingers. Nor was this all. The wood which ho had been holding was broken, and one of the pieces striking the arm fractured it below the elbow. Assistance was at hand, and poor Mr. Stewart removed to the hospital, whore the fracture was set. It was also found on medical examination that the thumb and the three remaining fingers on the right hand were so terribly injured, that amputation of the whole was necessary. The operation was at once performed, and yesterday the unfortunate sufferer was doing well. Great sympathy is felt for Mr. Stewart, who has many friends and is much liked in town. — lndependent. Fearful Murder and Suicide. —One H—, a shoemaker, living at La Viliette, near Paris, has contrived, with the perverted ingenuity of a wholly bestial, but, perhaps, half-crazy mind, to inflict an entirely new species of anguish upon the woman who was miserable enough to be his wife. For a lengthened period he had been in the habit of beating and otherwise brutally maltreating the unfortunate wretch. The man was a drunkard ; his principal reproach against the partner of his home was that she refused him the means to procure drink ; and a few days since, in his endeavor to wring his booty from her by torture, he flung her to the ground, put his knee on her chest, essayed to strangle her, and then gouged one of her eyes out. He told her deliberately that he intended there and then to kill himself, and that she should be the spectatress of his death and ‘ shudder at his grimaces.’ He tied her hand and foot, gagged her, and, opening a knife, swore that if she dared to stir he would at once cut her throat. Next, he slowly and cooly proceeded to hang himself to a huge nail which he had driven into the wall, drinking while he was making hi-s preparations no less than fifteen glasses of rum. Then, standing face to face before the pinioned sufferer, he kicked away the stool beneath him, and was duly strangled, his victim be compelled, as in a hideous nightmare, helplessly to witness the convulsions of his limbs and the distortion of bis features At last the woman contrived to liberate herself from her bonds, and her shrieks brought up the neighbors and the police. The man was dead ; and there is some consolation to think that the miscreant should have been his own executioner, and inflicted on himself the fate he so richly deserved. The tale would appear almost too incredible for Dante ; but we find it in Le Droit, a grave legal journal, as trustworthy as the Old Bailey Sessions papers.— Mail.