Local and General News.

Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 150, 26 December 1868, Page 3

Local and General News.

The overland mail to Nelson closes at 10.30 a.m. on Monday next. A Gazette, dated Dec. 14, contains the appointment of Sabine Pasle}', Esq., of Kaikoura ; and William Whitehorn, Esq., of Havelock, Justices of the Peace for the Colony.

The nomination of. candidates for the vacant seat for the City of Nelson took place on the 18th inst. There were two candidates, Messrs. Shepherd and N. Edwards. The show of hands was gained by the former, when the latter.demanded a poll, which was to take place on Thursday last. ■ ■.. ■ . •. . " -

A notice elsewhere calls for the payment of the Education Bate for the,current year, ending June next. As it may not be- generally understood why a rate is so soon again being called for, we may remind readers that the rate has hitherto always been in. arrears when collected. The amounts resulting from this rate will be re-dis-tributed among the various school districts, except Blenheim and Big Bush, in proportion to the sum paid therein; and as the teachers’ salari s for the quarter are. now due, the local Commiftees will doubtless be glad of prompt paymen'.

Wash Your Wool. —We have received sever. 1 more samples of wool from various stations sin- e our last, all washed clear from dirt. We visit d Blarich Station on Monday last, where M'. Mcßae is sorting and hand-washing his woo ; , after shearing, a process which, we are sure, wi 1 remunerate those who practise it. We also viai ted Dumgree Station, arriving in time to see the last lot of lambs washed by hot water and the highpressure spout—which we misnamed a battery in our last. As we.purpose giving a'detailed description of the plant and process, we shall content ourselves by pronouncing the mechanical process as a capital contrivance for the purpose, and unfailing in the abject for which it. is intended. We learn that wool-washing is likelv to become general in the Awatere district.

All the men-of*warrviz:, Chfcrybdis, Blanche Rosario, and the Challenger,, (ho.urly expected), were to spend Christmas in Wellington. •

Mr. Bennett’s Accommodation-house at Ngaruwhakarou, Manawatu, was recently destroyed by fire. Nothing was saved ; loss, £500; cause unknown.:) . i< ; : 1

Chevallier, the distinguished artist, has been travelling through the Wellington province during the last month, and left the other day by the Alhambra en route to join the Galatea, at the express request of the Duke of Edinburgh., The s.s. Wellington landed 70 kegs Enfield ammunition at Napier, besides arms and accoutrements. She brought on to Wellington 150,000 rounds of Enfield ammunition, 20,000 rounds B.L. ammunition, 500 medium rifles, and a quantity of other stores. Wb are informed that in case of a dissolution, the Cheviot district will cease to be a quiet walkover for the election of a member for the Assembly, and that Mr. Ingles, of Kaikoura, who is deservedly popular, will contest the seat with Sir David Monro, on liberal principles. \ The notice of persons inclined to speculate is directed to Mr. Card’s Art Union, the particp-: lars of which appear elsewhere. Every ticket entitles the holder to a prize of some kind. Among them is a splendid musical-box ond other valuable articles. The tickets are five shillings each, and may be had of Mr. Symns, Blenheim. A singular phenomenon is reported to have occurred lately at East Melbourne. During the thunderstorm which took place there, a shower of worms, varying from two to two and a half inches in length, fell, and in one instance,, the windows were covered, and the yard filled with these unusual visitors. i

Specimens of the quartz found in the Kaitaki ranges, Taranaki, have been forwarded to Auckland for analysis. The result showed in five samples no trace of gold. In other three was a very ffaint trace, say 10 grains per ton. The prospecting party are, nevertheless, persevering in their search for the precious metal. The Provincial Secretary at Wellington, Mr, Halcombe, has received information by the Panama mail of the shipment per Wild Duck of the following game and birds 11 tame pheasants, 8 hares, 15 partridges, 100 starlings, 100 thrushes a id blackbirds, 84 skylarks, 50 hedge-sparrows, 7S robins and white-throats, 36 linnets, 36 chaffinches, and 84 sparrows. The practice-meetings of the Philharmonic Society, in connection with the forthcoming concert proceed with vigor and earnestness. At the rehearsal on Wednesday evening there was a good attendance, and the result gave great promise of success for the performance on January Ist. We publish the programme elsewhere. Fish Shoal.—On Saturday week last Oamaru was visited by large shoals of fish. Boats immediately put out to capture, them, and were very successful, as according to the local journal, one alone captured as many as 200 rock cod and about a dozen groper, of weights ranging from 80 to 2001bs. Sharks, also, are said to be very numerous at Oamaru at the present time. Speaking of a threat made by the chief Ngairo, the Mercury says in a postscript • —We hear that Ngairo, the leading chief in the district, and who stall expresses his wish that the valley will remain undisturbed,, has stated that if the stockade is proceeded, with at Masterton, he will also erect another,, as he considers: the proceedings of the <3overnment to be threatening him. ’ The Hon. A* P. Seymour, of Marlborough, who Fas taken up a run in the neighborhood of Taupe, has: written to his agent informing him that, owing to the barbarous atrocities recently' committed at Poverty Bay, he will not stock his run this Reason, Mr. Seymour had intended, if Ihik sad tragedy had not occurred, to commence running his flocks up from the South during last month and December. — Advertiser.,''. ] . Mr. Max. Alexander, once well and favorably known in every part of the Province, has -this week returned from Europe, and we understand purposes settling down among us in Blenleira as a jeweller, watch and clock maker, &c. Hehrings.with him a large! and splendid stock, which he intends displaying in his own premises adjoining the Express Pffice in the course of a . few weeks.

—We have received information from a reliable rsource that a dissolution is still impending. The I,breach between the-Ministry and Sir George Bowen contines to widen,’and they are at variance. The latter is strongly prejudiced by c-ejferyone against Stafford, whose own friends are impressing him to dissolve. Indeed, considering .if&ultam’s’incompetency and universal unpopuilarity, such must-be the result, or the Ministry (Ta-constructed. ’ ! , * j Awatere Roads. A meeting of iholdera and managers was held at Templeton’s ago, when there was a very general attendance. After considerable discussion, dur-j ting-which it was that there, was no .iinj mediate, prospect of receiving the slightest aid ifrom the Provincial Government, it was proposed dhat a pro rata contribution should be levied fupqn all the properties in the district, on the basis ,of an acreage tax. ■ Another suggestion wasmadej that the contribution should be based on the muntber of bales of wool sent down. Ultimately ithe meeting separated ' without ’ adopting any definite course, owing to one or two persons who .declined to.contribute. V'' 1 - ; • . CrtTivATibN ' Census.— -His Excellency has been pleased to appoint James Balfour, Wemys.sj ’Esq., Superintendent. Collector for Marlborough, ! “ under the Census Act Amendment. Ac,t, 1§67. : • As many persons may wonder’what this appoirittment. may .mean, we mpjTdteplain that the'Act ~in question only comesifito operation in February i.next, when, and in the same month of each sue- . eoediug year, an account shalle.be taken of the t land in cultivation, and of the produce thereof, »jn each electoral throughout-the colony] We understand .that about 40 sub-collectors are vtd be appointed ihithis'.province, whose-business it will be to'.visit personally every station or holding: of cultivated land in their respective dis- -■ trials exceeding 1. acre in extent,, and'obtain such statement as required by the Act. Persons refusing to give the required information are liaMe-ito heavy penalties, as are collectors for - divulging any particulars so-obtained "‘V I ’. ‘ ! ; .T. r.i..u *-v

—The Otago-Witness says Retrenchment with a vengeance is being carried out in Victoria. No less than sixty men were dismissed from the Government Printing Establishment on the 31st October. Rabbits have increased to such an extent in Southland, that in the New River District the farmers complain of great damage to their crops from this cause, whole fields sometimes being ■destroyed-in the course of a night. Stuart and Co , of Wellington, must be regarded as worthy successors to the celebrated “George Robins” in the art and business of an auctioneer; and if the inhabitants of Blenheim do not feel a foot taller, on reading an advertisement which appears in the Independent of Dec. 12th, they must be immovable. After announcing that on December 21st their intention of selling some 500 sections in various parts of Blenheim, they continue as follows : —“ Thirty of these abut on the river, on which steamers and sailing vessels ply, and the Government have purchased a site for the Custom House in the centre of this frontage. The greatest portion of these and the remaining sections are situated in the highest part of the town, and they are well suited as sites for business premises or dwelling houses, while the soil being rich is adapted for gardens. Some of the rivers posess water power available for Brewing, Distilling, Felmongering, Boiling Down, and Wool Washing Establishments. Blenheim is the Capital of the Province of Marlborough, and it is fast rising into the importance which from its situation it is fitted to command. Steamers and sailing vessels go up the river within the boundaries of the town, where they load and discharge with facility and despatch. The large quantity of wool which comes down from the extensive sheep runs of the province is shipped here in lighters, which carry it to the London ships which load at Port Underwood—the natural harbor of the province, and one of finest ports in the colony. In the vicinity of the town are extensive Quartz Reefs, in which the Colonial Geologist reports the presence of Gold. Havelock is within thirty miles distance, and there is great reason to hope that the embryo Gold Fields there will shortly attract a large population to the province. There is a good and almost level road through to Picton, from whence there is frequent steam communication to every part of the colony, and when the proposed railway between the two towns is completed, the communication will be easy and rapid. Steamers make the passage to Wellington, the Capital of New Zealand, in a few hours.” The words we have put in italics are lined out in capital letters in the original. We regret to add that this eloquent appeal was fruitless, no sales being effected