Local and General News.

Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 123, 27 June 1868, Page 3

Local and General News.

The Lyttelton arrived yesterday at noon from Nelson, with, cargo and passengers. Capt. Mclntyre,- ©f Wellington, has been appointed American Consul, at that port The ship Asterope, for Wellington, arrived at Gravesend on April 10th. The barque Ballarat sailed from London, for Nelson, on April 18 ; and the Henry Adderley, for Wellington, on April sbh. /'A Shoe-black has, this week, commenced in Blenheim, where he has taken up a position on Collie’s bridge. We fear, however, with but indifferent prospects of success, jf A parcel, containing medical papers, &c., was = lost out of Lewis’ trap on Wednesday evening. The finder will do an act of kindness by restoring them to Mr. Syms, druggist, Blenheim. The following ships were loading at London on May Ist :—The Norauside, for Nelson; the Excelsior, Asterope, and Polar Star, for Wellington. The members of the Committee chosen at the late public meeting connected with the Breach, visited the spot yesterday, but did not consider = that the proposed plan would answer to divert the water from the Opawa. District Courts. —The Wellington Independent states that it is the intention of the Government to abolish the sittings of the District Courts in the provinces of Marlborough, Wellington, and Hawke’s Bay, and to increase the jurisdiction of the Resident Magistrates to £IOO. The Rev. Mr. Sutar, of the Church of Scot- « land, arrived in town yesterday. Having engaged to officiate in Picton on Sunday next, he - will be prevented from ministering to the Blenheim congregation then, but it is to be hoped that his occasional services will be accorded to tjds congregation in present circumstances. ago Mr. John Robinson, and Otto Hasey discovered a whale stranded between the Bluffs and the Awatere river mouth. It is supposed to be a sperm, and is a very large one, but being partly imbedded in the sand, its length could not be ascertained. It is being cut up and the fat carted to Mr. T. Redwood’s for boiling down. We are requested to call attention to. the payment of the household rate, for the year ending 30th June, 1868, and for the payment of which the 15th of the present month was fixed. As the Board is entirely dependent on the payment of this rate, for the means of paying the schoolmaster’s salaries for the quarter, and as this rate is due for services already received by the community, we are sure that those householders who have not already done, so, will lose no time in paying it, and thereby enable the schoolteachers to receive their well-earned salaries.

The Falcon took her departure for Wellington on Thursday last.

The Amateur Concert, which has alrcaly been, alluded to in a previous number, ia fast progressing, and by oar columns to-day the public will learn what the programme is. it is pleasing to liud that a successful issue is likely to attend this undertaking, and we fool certain the public will aid by every means ia their power the accomplishment of this worthy object.

Mail Subsidies. —We are informed on good authority, that the Postmaster-General has given notice, both to the Panama and the New Zealand Steam Navigation Companies, that all the existing contracts for iuterproviuoial mail steam, services will terminate in September next. What effect this somewhat sweeping measure will have upon our system of postal communication in New Zealand, remains to be seen. Business in the North. —Our latest Auckland papers speak more hopefully than usual on commercial matters. Business is better. The demand for the goldfield has increased, and everything betokens a brisk spring trade The country settlers are everywhere active, pushing forward for next season’s crop. In Wangarei district, a flour mill is to be erected ; and we have reason to believe that other districts willfoliowtheexample. This must add to the prosperity of the country. The Papakura Association is likewise doing its best to stimulate the growth of wheat, and a project for erecting a flour mill for the use of the district, is being considered by the Association.

Auckland Gold Fiklds. —The last hews from the Thames, contains much which will gladden the hearts of our brethern in the Northern districts. New leaders are continually being discovered, and what is more satisfactory still, auriferous deposits of extraordinary richness are turning up in the quartz submi’ted to crushing process. The Herald's correspondent is sanguine on the future of the district, as one of the most reproductive gold bearing portions of these Islands, and great things are expected in tho spring. The Golden Cup claim, on the Waiotahi, has produced several specimens of golden stone during the last twenty-four hours, one of which is in the possession of Mr. Sextie, showing a surface of solid gold of the size and thickness of half a-crown. As a specimen it is said to bo a curiosity. — lndependent.

Our readers will observe a notice in this issue from the Education Board, calling upon the several Educational districts, with the exception of Blenheim, to elect local committees, to each of whom the Board will hand over the school buildings, and will pay over a sum equal, at least, to the amount of the household rate collected within tho district; and who shall have tho power to supplement that, by fixing the school fees at any figure they may think necessary. These committees will choose their own' Master, and fix and pay his salary, and all other expenses ; in fact, all the schools, except in the Blenheim district, will be private schools, receiving no assistance from the Education Board. The Board hope to be able to maintain the schools in the Blenheim district, as heretofore, without increasing the amount of the school fees, which cannot be done in a Government school under the Act. » Ivy Auguakds. —Tho Renwickfcowa correspondent of the Pictou Press, recently stated in that journal, “ that ho was informed by a man who had just passed through tho country where Ivy Auguarde shot himself after murdering German Charlie, and on passing the spot where he was interred, ha noticed a very strong smell in the air, and upon looking about, discovered the remains of.the poor murderer and suicide quite uncovered, tho water having washed away the few inches of earth that covered him, leaving his bones to bleach in tho open air 1” With reference to tho above, Mr. Thomas Carter requests us to give tho statement the most unqualified denial, as he recently visited the site himself, and found it quite undisturbed, especially by tho water, which had not risen within 15 feet of the site. The moralizing remarks upon “Christianity” and “ uncivilisation,” which followed the quotation above, might have been spared until the writer had received confirmation of tho story^”^i Ploughing Match, — In pursuance of a reaoco'uuciT of the Agricultural Association, the arrangements for the first match of the season were made by a local committee, in Suburban North, who selected a field adjoining the Black Horse, the ground, which is a piece of reclaimed swamp in such very close proximity to the mudflat as to entail serious fears for the welfare of the crabs, tested the mottle of the competing teams, as from imperfect working since its rescue from the anfcedeluviau state, the stiff subsoil has not as yet mixed with the upper crust, so as to form a homogeneous mass, and consequently the work hardly came up to our expectations of prize work. From tho known zeal of the projector of this meeting, a larger turn out of ploughs was anticipated than the five horse and two bullock teams which contested for the prizes. The absence of competition from the Waimea was not only a surprize bat a disappointment, especially whe.n the offer of suitable accommodation over night for distant teams had been made. This offer appears not to have been generally understood, which E to be regretted, as one of tho objects is to induce comparison of skill not only locally but generally. The day, though such as might have been expected for the season, was hardly a good sampie of Nelson weather, but the company seemed to enjoy themselves, and watched the progress of the match with apparent interest. In consequence of the known tenacity of the soil, the quantity allotted to each competitor was oue-third of an acre, the time being throe hours for horse and three hours and a-half for bullock teams. The trial of skill in striking out a straight furrow followed, and the match was over about 3 o’clock, when Messrs. A. Redwood, junr, C Stratford, and W. Harkknown experience in the matter, entered the ground, and after considerable perambulation of the battle field, awarded the Ist and 2nd prizes for wheel ploughs to J. Cleiny and T. Dodson respectively, for swing ploughs to W. Park and ii Anderson, and for single furrows to T. Dodson and J. Cleiny. A very plentiful and well cooked dinner followed, to which ample justice was done by numerous visitors, whose appointments, however, in town interfered with the prolongation, of the repast to the toast going period Colonist

A movement is on foot, for the formation of a Joint Stock Company for the erection of a Hour mill at Kaikonra.

A number of adventurers have left Geelong, Victoria, for the Fiji Islands, taking with them a large quantity of stores, &c. The coal lately discovered on Capt. Howell’s run in Southland, is being used on the railway there. The engineer reports most favorably as to its quality. The Bruce Herald says : —“Wo understand that the crops of grain in the Lake Waipori and Maungatua districts arc turning out very satisfactorily, both as regards quantity and quality.” Mr. Johnson, the late Manager of the Bank of New South Wales, and who recently reported a robbery at the bank, has been arrested for the robbery. The evidence is said to be very clear.

The Island of Motutapu, known as Graham’s Island, with its large stock of game, herds of deer, partridges, pheasants and quails, is in the market, and is expected to fall into the hands of Sir George Grey.

An advertisement appears in the Wellington papers stating that “ the celebrated racehorse, Miss Fidget, out of a thoroughbred mare, by Bay M iddleton, is to be rattled for, this evening, by 40 members, at £1 each.” The report that the 18th Regiment is likely to be removed from this colony to Australia is credited in Auckland. An Adelaide telegram says the 15th Regiment is to be removed from South Australia, and replaced by the 18th Royal Irish.— Post.

A petition praying that Hokitika may be constituted a Borough, under the provisions of the Municipal Corporations Act, has been sent to the Governor. A note appended states that the Hon. John Hall does not dissent to its prayer.

I John Sharp, Esq., has been appointed Regis- | trar of Deeds, Justice of Peace, and Resident I Magistrate, at Nelson, in the room of John S Poynter, Esq., (whose resignation has been ac--1 cepied), to take effect from the Ist July next.

“ Gone Away.” —Edward Evans Morton, who figured so conspicuously in the perjury cases recently tried here, was a passenger to Sydney by the Rnahine, and it is said took with him Charles Augustus Rodgers who was the principal witness in his behalf at the memorable trials. Independent.

Abolition of Office. —On Wednesday last, at the termination of the sitting of the Resident Magistrate’s Court at Raugitikei, Major Edwards informed those present that it was his last attendance there, owing to the General Government having intimated to him that his services would be dispensed with in that locality, and would no longer pay his salary.— lbid. Among the changes in the Ministry which will follow the appointment of Major Richardson to the office of Speaker of the Legislative Council, will be, we understand, the fulfillment of the office of Colonial Treasurer by the Hon. John Hall, by whom the duties attached to that office are at present being temporarily discharged. It is believed that this hon. gentleman will continue to hold the office of Postmaster-General and Telegraph Commissioner.— Post. We (Lyttelton Times ) have received from Lyttelton a specimen of fibre prepared from the ordinary native tussock grass. The green tissue surrounding the fibre has been removed by soaking the grass in water, and aftewards rubbing it. According to the sample before us, the fibre is fine and silky, and no doubt is capable of being worked up into many varieties of textile fabric. It would seem that we have in this despised tussock grass a material which cool 1 be converted into a grass cloth, similar to that exported so largely from India and China.

The Ownee of 18,000 Sheep Wanted.— A curious case has occurred in the Western District of Victoria, where 18,000 sheep infected with scab have been found by the sheep inspector running about Lake Condon. The inspector instituted proceedings against the supposed owner of the sheep, who, however, repudiated his ownership, the supposed reason being to avoid payment of the fine to which he would be liable. The consequence is that this large number of sheep are disowned on all sides, and the very troublesome question is raised as to what should be done with them.

Two questions that have been a good deal debated in our columns of late, are now practically disposed of, and in a manner, we believe, to afford satisfaction to the great majority of the people in the prouince. On Wednesday evening, the Council decided on re-appropriating the £12,000 formerly voted towards paying off our Provincial Debt; and yesterday morning, the Superintendent received a telegram from the Hon. John Hall, acting Colonial Treasurer, making inquiry concerning the maturity of the Nelson debentures, m order that the Government may make the necessary arrangements to pay them off. The matter to which we refer, is the sanction given by the Council yesterday to the construction of a Dry Dock in Nelson, and the voting of £IO,OOO with which to commence the work. — Examiner.

Importation of Birds. —The ship Gertrude, •which arrived in Wellington last week, brought out for the Nelson Acclimatization Society a large number of birds, but only about one-third of the number shipped have been landed here, and these were brought on from Wellington in the steamer Phoebe. The following is a list of the birds shipped :—72 blackbirds and thrushes, 40 starlings, 120 larks, 50 linnets, 50 chaffinches, 60 greenfinches, 16 pheasants—total, 378 birds. The greatest mortality was experienced by the larks and starlings, of the former there being only a solitary survivor, and of the starlings there remain but six. The shipment is altogether unsatisfactory, and was not by any means in accordance with the order sent home by the Secretary. Of larks, linnets, and finches of the kinds sent, we have already great numbers, as well as pheasants, which are now rapidly spreading throughout the province. The birds 'are placed for the present in a spacious aviary, and when they have recovered from the effects of the voyage, it will be for the society to conaider in what manner they shall be disposed of. — Examiner.

Gold from Collinowood. —The Collingwood diggings continue to afford a steady yield of gold, and few districts give larger returns for the number of persons engaged. We sec by the list of imports, that the Lady Barkly brought over 200 ounces yesterday.— Examiner.