Local and General News.

Marlborough Express, Volume IV, Issue 207, 11 December 1869, Page 3

Local and General News.

We learn that a petition to the Provincial Council in favor of a Scab Act is being promoted by Sir David Monro and other station holders. Mr. Williamson, ex-Superintendent of Auckland, is mentioned as likely to be the new Post-master-General.

The Synod. —We were yesterday favored with a copy of the Nelson Examiner of Dec. 8, which contains Bishop Sutor’s address, and some few particulars of the proceedings. From these we extract as follows : —“ Moved by the Veu. Archdeacon Butt, seconded by the Rev F. L. Tudor, and carried unanimously, That the Standing Committee draw up a memorial to the effect that the Synod, being of opinion that all children should be instructed in the Holy Scriptures, earnestly and respectfully requests the honorable the Provincial Council of Marlborough toconsider the propriety of allowing the Scriptures to be read in the Government schools of that Province.” The Bishop announced that he had ordained the Rev. R D. Rusz and if arrangements could be made, he would, proceed to the Wairau. Want of spaca precludes our extracting more this week.

Too Late. —Received, a letter from Captain' Bythell, on Volunteers’ Capitation Money. Mr. Gillies is returned as Superintendent of Auckland, with a majority of 52 only. Accidents—During last week, whilst trying a new scutcher at Mr. Hathaway’s mill, a portion of the drum burst, and some of the fragments struck a man named Fisher on the arm with such force as to break it. Mails will be made up to-day for Nelson (Express overland) by Lewis, at 10.30 a.in. For Nelson and the North, by the Stormbird (which will bring in the English Mail), at 1 p.m. ; and for Wellington and the South, by the Phoebe, at 5 p.m. Meetings of the Sports Committee have been held this week, at which progress was made with the programme, which will be of an unusually attractive character. The—Blenheim Band—M—engaged for the occasion, and as subscriptions are flowing in, we trust the affair will be most successful. Two sons of Mr. Fulton had a narrow escape from drowning in the Omaka this week. One of the little fellows g»t out of his depth, and the other from the bank seized him by the hair and held him up with great difficulty, until Mr. Miller, attracted by their cries, came to their assistance, and rescued them both. Melbourne, Nov. 29.—The Flying Squadron was sighted off Cape Otway on Monday. A severe gale came on ; the fleet ran out to sea, and entered the harbor on Friday. The Governor and General Chute and staff went on bo ml the flagship on Saturday. Great preparations are being made for the cordial reception of the officers. A correspondent informs us that Te Kooti and Kereopa have left the bush, and are advancing into Hakaria’s country. They have been reported by Urewera and some West Taupo tribes to be in considerable force at Te Papa, one day’s journey from Tepuehanui, where our forces are concentrated. Col. .McDonnell is moving against them. Telegrams from Napier, dated Dec, 6, say : The West Taupo Hauhans, Kereopa, and the Uriweras have joined Te Kooti ; Hakaria is on his way ;Te Kooti is stdl at Tuhua Several fires have been seen towards Waikai\ moaua, and the presumption is that more Ureweras are proceeding to join Te Kooti. Colonel M'Dounell is expected to reach Tapuaeharuru to-night. On Thursday evening, whilst engaged in removing some goo Is from Mr. Meats’ residence in Maxwell Road, Mr Harry Pritchard’s horse shied, and started off, throwing him out of the cart with great force upon his head, while the cart narrowly missed going over him. He was immediately conveyed home, and we are glad to say is now recovering from the effects of the concussion Blenheim Literary Institute. —The umal monthly meeting of the Committee of the Literary Institute was held on Wednesday evening, when the treasurer’s and secretary’s reports proved the society to be in a healthy condition. Twenty-six new volumes were added to the library, and a Sub-Committee appointed to draw up the Annual Report, &c We would beg to direct the attention of our readers to an advertisement in another part of this paper. We understand that the Rev. Mr. Stoddard has arrived here from Wellington for the purpose of taking temporary charge of the Wesleyan Church, in the place of the Rev R. L. i Vickers, resigned, until the regular period for i changing circuits, when it is likely that the Rev. . J. Rish worth will be located here. Mr. Rishworth is noted in the Wesleyan body as one of the most eminent ministers in this colony. We gather from the Nelson papers that much excitement exists in reference to the Wangipeka reefs. It appears that the men on the ground say they will hold it at all risks, and will not permit Mr Warden Broad to proceed with the suivey. On Monday, we understand, extra police assistance was despatched to the ground, and the surveys were then to be attempted. This subject suggests many topics of grave consideration, which possibly we may recur to in our next issue. Fire at Westport —A fire occurred st Westport on Dec. 4th, which broke out at Onslow’s, in Main-street, about 11 o’clock. It originated by the bursting of a kerosene lamp, and the estimated loss is from to £.'20,090. The places burnt out were—Dr. Rockatrow’s, Fraser’s store. Tramway Hotel, Pitt’s offices, Flemming and Murray’s drapery store, Golden Age Hotel (Onslow’s), Trimble’s Hotel, Horn’s, tobacconist. Sportsman’s Arms Hotel, Roberts and Simpson’s, White’s Duke of Edinburgh Hotel, Shulhoff’s, Southron’s Freeth and Grey’s, Falla. The Borough Council met on Thursday evening last. Present—Crs. Farmar (Chair), Robinson, Hutcheson, Taylor, and Nos worthy. The report of the Committee on Bomford’s Bank and Rigby’s drain were presented Reports of Mr. Nelson’s account, printing, and lease for Bomford’s Bank were adopted. The Town Clerk presented the Accounts duly audited. Payments were ordered for legal expenses incurred in bringing Act into opera ion, £8 2s. Bd. ; Legal expenses in appeal cases, £6 145.; Advance on High-street contract £37. Eire. —We regret to learn that the flax -mill 1 at Tua Marina, belonging to Messrs Powick and Burroughs, which had only just gat into proper working order, was destroyed by lire on Saturday last about 5 p.m. Owing to the exertions of the proprietors, and their neighbors, we are glad to state the engine, flax machine, and flax’were saved, the shed with part of the scutching machine only being destroyed. Messrs Powich and Burroughs, in a letter which we publish elsewhere, estimate thei l iss at £SO Prexs. [The fire is.supposed to have originated by the heating of the refuse scrapings of the flax.] Telegrams from Wanganui, dated Dec. 6th, say :—Wiritana, the ringleader of the Manawatu dissentients, was seized under a warrant on Saturday afternoon. The Hauhans were in the runanga house when Mr Buffer and the constables arrived. The women were ordered to leave, and the men prepared for resistance. The warrant was read, and the constable was ordered to handcuff Wiritana. Twenty Ngatipas rushed to the assistance of the constables. The struggle lasted for three quarters of an hour, and blows were freely exchanged. A Ngatiraukawa chief at last advised submission to the law. Wiritana was lodged in Wanganui gaol.

An extraordinary rich reef has been discovered at Ross, near Hokitika.

Cashmore’s saw-mill in the Big Bush near Napier has been burnt down.

The Hon. Mr. Fox has been lecturing on “ Strong Drink, and what it does for us” at Welling on to a large audience. Mr. Fox lias gone to the Upper Wanganui to meet the natives there, who have recently had an important meeting, and offer to take the field for the capture of Te Kooti.

A SHIPMENT of' 2U bales of scoured wool was sent from Hokitika to Melbourne a few days ago. This is the first wool sent from the West Coast scoured and fit for immediate sale, the skins being formerly sent just as they were. Mr. Ormond has gone to examine all the defence positions between Napier, Lake Taupo, and Tapihuma. Two boats are being built on the lake for the purpose of facilitating the obtaining supplies.

Poring the recent freshet in Connecticut, a reporter telegraphed to another at the scene of action, “ Send me full particulars of the flood.” The answer came Genesis.”

The practice of sweating and filing gold coins has been commence 1 in respect of the Australian coinage. Auckland papers caution their readers of several instances where portions of the precious metal have been abstracted by boring holes in the edge and re-tilling with lead.

Fire at Takaka.— On the Ist instant, the house of Mr. H. Cook, of Takaka, was completely destroyed by fire. It broke out at four o'clock in the morning, and the inmates had only time to escape, not securing even their clothing. A young man lodging in the house likewise h.st all his clothes, together with about £2O in cash. The building was not insured, and is valued at about £ 150.— Colonist.

How Work cax be Doxe.—Getting up early, taking a bath, eating vigorously, saying “ No” to intruders resolutely, doing one tiring at a time, thinking over difficulties at odd moments, carefully changing the current of your thoughts before you go to bed, planning the work of the day in a quarter of an hour before you get up, playing with the children occasionally, and avoiding fools as much as possible ; that is the way to do a great deal of work.

Jhe MaxalaußHTEr Ca^e.—The three men, M‘Laughiaip O’Brien, and Sullivan, who are concerned in the death of Patrick Kirk, (who was killed during the late street disturbance at Charleston), were brought up from the West Coast in the John Penn, and arrived in Nelson on Sunday. The case, we believe, was to come on for hearing on Thursday last, at the Supreme Couit, when Mr. Conolly would defend the prisoners.

Strange Request —The Melbourne correspondent of the Otago Daily Times says A lad named Ling, New Zealand born [son of Mr. Ling, Wellington], who died a few days since at Emerald Hill, made, a few hours before his death, a most touching request, viz : “That he might be buried in a coffin with a glass front, and be borne to his grave by young girls.” The somewhat romantic wish was gratified.

The Effect of the Earthquakes at Chili. —Mr. Kilpatrick, a United States minister in Chili, says he saw several thousand mummies come out of the ground during last summers earthquakes. Several persons took the liberty of doubting it, and the minister, to convince them, has forwarded a specimen mummy to the Smithsonian Institute. He says that if necessary he will send a whole graveyard, provided someone else is kind enough to pay the expense. The following notice, which appears in a recent, Gazztte, explains itself ; —“The Government having received information from the Superintendent and Commissioner of Waste Lands at Nelson on the subject of the sale of certain sections of land at Wangapeka, in the Province of Nelson, does not now consider it on the whole conducive to the public interest to enforce the right of the Crown to the gold in such lands, and the circular letter issued in respect of the same on the Ist instant, is hereby cancelled as regards its application to the said lands.—W. Gisborne. A race meeting was to be held on the 3rd at the Waiau, Amuri, for the purpose of electing stewards and other officers usually connected with these affairs. Although the race day is not yet fixed, we believe it will be about the end of the year ; the “ last fixture” being in April was much too late, as most of the men had left the district. We trust Kaikoura will be better represented than on the last occasion. What has become of Mr. Evans’ beautiful little mare which performed so creditably some two years ago, notwithstanding her wretched condition ?—-Kaikoura Herald. A petition to the Superintendent of Nelson is being pretty generally signed in the Amuri, asking him to have the ninth and tenth clause of the Nelson Scab Act brought into force. By these sections of the Act the cleansing of sheep is made compulsory under heavy penalties. Hitherto the Act has been of a permissive nature, the owner of diseased sheep being merely prevented from travelling such sheep. Will there ever be a Scab Act in Marlborough ? I almost think not. Some sheepfarmers moot the question, but the majority are evidently in favor of the present regime. The frightful loss and deterioration in wool through this scourge is admitted, but the enormous expense of cleansing sheep is held by many to more than counterbalance the advantages of cleansing sheep in the first place, and keeping them free from disease in the second.—Kaikoura Herald.

Curious Incident. —ln January, 1862, the barque Lady Flora Hastings, Captain German, belonging to Mr. J. Wilson, Biiliter-street, London, from Moulmien, bound to Falmouth, with teak timber, founded in a cyclone, 1300 miles to the eastward of the Mauritius. The crew of the ill-fated ship were on the foremast for live days and nights, were taken off by the French ship Leoni and landed in the Mauritius. The desk (the only relic of the vessel ever since seen) of the Chief Officer, Mr. H. Hall, now of Nelson, was picked up by the American ship Samual Russell, after floating about nine weeks, taken to New York, and then sent to his friends in London, who forwarded it to him by the barque Hera, just arrived. It contains family portraits and letters in a very fair state of preservation.— Colonist.

Monday last was the day fixed for the sitting of the Petty Sessions Court, when there was but one case for hearing, but neither magistrates, plaintiff, defendant, or witnesses put in an appearance, and consequently the Court was adjourned for a month.

Volocipede lays three languages under contribution for its composition. The German furnishes “ viel,” much ; the English “boss,” well known in in its meaning ; and the French “ pied,” foot; from all of which it appears that velocipede is merely “ much-hoss-afoot.” The latest and most marvellous escape from death or life-long injury (says the Westport Times) was that of Patrick M'Enroe, who fell sixty feet down the prospectors’ pump shaft at the Shamrock Lead, Addison’s Flat, the Buller, and thereby sustained little or no injury. Resident Magistrate’s Court.— On Tuesday last S. L. Muller, Esq., R.M., sat to hear a case wherein Dr. Renwiek was the plaintiff, and George Newton was defendant. Mr. Nelson appeared for the plaintiff, and stated that the claim was for £6 due on a promissory note which had not been met when it matured in February last, together with interest, 9s. Hid., on the same. The money was a balance of the sum agreed to be paid for a horse. 0. F. R. Eyes proved the non-payment of the bill, and judgment was given for £6 9s. 11 LI., and £5 4s. CD its.

On Tuesday, the 2nd instant, between one and two o’clock, a melancholy occurrence took place at Burnham flax mills, Selwyn, Canterbury. A young man named Frederick Stone, about 26 years of age, while sto-ping over an exposed shaft with a bundle of fibre under his arm, was caught and whirled round the shaft, which was being driven at the rate of about 200 revolutions a minute. The body was wrapped round the shaft, which had to be literally uncoiled, the head smashing with fearful violence on the ground. One of the legs was torn from the hip joint, and the body otherwise dreadfully injured. Times.

News reached the township on Wednesday evening last that a woman named Clark was in the bush at the Boat Harbor out of her mind, with a baby in her arms, a girl, quite naked. She was armed with a pistol and a knife, and it M alleged that she was once in an asylum for some time. Several persons were out looking for Ifsr, but had been unsuccessful up to the 25th ; but as she was reported to have been seen on the morning of the day before by Mr. Monk’s eldest girl, it is very 7 probable that she will be in safe keeping. She was first seen on Thursday, the IStli instant. Mr. Constable Paap left for the Boar Harbor on Thursday morning with the view of trying to do something for her. —Kaikoura Herald.

Riot.—Telegrams from Charleston, dated November 17, say :—Yesterday morning at 6 o’clock, Peter Kirk, a native of Drogheda, was killed in a row. Two men, O'Brien and Cullen, the latter an Englishman, were lighting in the street A general rush was made, during the continuance of which Cullen, contrary to expectation, managed to escape unhurt, he being shoved through the windows of Forsyth and Masters store. The deceased, Kirk, who was a stalwart but very quiet man, was killed, it is supposed by a blow on the head from a stone. One man was most conspicuous in the crowd carrying a large stone in each hand, striking at everything, and everybody at random. He managed to escape and has not since been arrested. O’Brien and M'Laughein have been arrested. An inquest was commenced yesterday on the body of Kirk. Over thirty witnesses were examined and the inquest adjourned for a week, for further evidences. The low was not an election row.

/ Mr. Redwood has again beaten the Victorians in a pigeon match. The Melbourne Weekly Times of November 6 refers to the affair as follows:—“Our local gunners do not seem inclined to let Mr. Redwood return to New Zealand without repeated endeavours for the honour of conquering so redoubtable a pigeon shot. In two consecutive matches with Mr. Greenwood, one of the best shots in Victoria, the results have been ties ; the last trial ending in 17 birds each being killed out of 21. In Thursday’s candidature of skill, Mr. Redwood was opposedbya well-known amateur of the trigger, Mr. Ash. The conditions were 20 birds each, to be divided out in three sef a-ate-tyles as follow : —First 6 birds a side, 21 yards rise, one barrel only : secondly, 6 birds each, 25 yards rise, both barrels (in this item a bird killed by the first barrel counts two, and by the second 1) ; thirdly, 8 birds each, placed 2 together in the trap, 21 yards rise, both barrels : 2nd Event : Mr. Redwood, 8 ; Mr. Ash, 5. 3rd Event : Mr. Ash, 7j; Mr. Redwood, 5. The total score, as above, is 18 to 17, leaving Mr. Redwood the winner by a single point. The bounds fixed were 80 yards, and there was no limit as to powder and shot.” /

Crossing Niagara. —The feat of crossing Niagara on a bicycle, announced as in contemplation some time ago, was accomplished on the 25th of August by I’rofessor Jenkins, in presence of a vast crowd. The machine used was*not by any means a velocipede, but an affair constructed on purpose. The wheels, three inches wide, are made heavy and of wood, without tires but in their places are grooves an inch and three quarters deep. The front wheel is 3ft. 2 in. and the hind wheel 2ft. lOin. in diameter. The connecting rods are iron, so also the balance-pole, which is Sft. long and tipped with 10-pound balls, and weighs 281 b. The whole thing, with the man thrown in, weighs 2981 b. The propelling power is a pinion cog-wheel made of brass, about 9 inches in diameter, which is made to gear to cogs which surround the front wheel at the bottom of the groove. After going out a little way to allow his photograph to be taken, the professor returned to the bank, and waited five minutes. Three pistol shots were then fired from the Canadian side, and it was a ‘go.’ The machine moved slowly forward, the rope swaying gently from side to side until be had passsed out about 50 feet, when another opportunity was given the artist, after which he crawled along at a snail’s pace in the middle of the abyss, where he raised and waved his hat, and received a faint cheer in response. From the centre to the American shore it was evidently hard work to propel the bicycle, but at last the edge of the cliff was reached, and then the welkin did ring with the applause of the people. The time occupied in passing over the rope was just 11 minutes.

Whirlwind. —On Sunday morning, shortly before eleven o’clock, a portion of the town of Nelson was visited by a violent cyclone, which fortunately, was brief in duration although violent in its action. The direction of the storm appeared to be from the Waimea apparently dividing at the entrance of Toi-Toi Valley, and passing in an easterly direction over the northern portion of the town, and in its course considerable damage was inflicted. At the outset its path was marked by levelled crops, small trees uprooted, and fencing scattered ; and when it reached the town windows were burst open or torn from their hinges in several houses. The greatest mischief occured about the centre of the town. The old stables at the back of Mr. Lane’s hotel, and the various contiguous buildings about the timber yard of Messrs. Curtis Brothers, were rendered complete wrecks, either toppled over, rent asunder, or bodily lifted from their place and smashed up. At Clapham Rise, two poplars and a willow tree were snapped oft’ at the roots ; and in Mr. Kingdon’s garden, another willow tree was actually twisted out of the ground. A cab on the Trafalgar-street stand, was whirled round more than once, and from a yard close by, a crate was whisked up too and broke a window situated twenty feet high. At Mr. Levien’s store, three shutters, although barred across firmly with the others, were forced outwards with such violence that the iron bar was bent, and the ends of the shutters stood on the ground. As it passed to the eastward its violence lessened and the trees again were the principal sufferers ; although we hear that in Brook-street, a cow belonging to Mrs. Polglase was killed by the blowing down of a shed. The steamer John Penn was caught in the bay, but fortunately, no damage was sustained. The whirlwind was observed at Richmond sweeping past some trees not far from Mr. Barnicoat’s residence, and bending the poplars like reeds Its influence was not felt at the port.— Colonist , 30th November. [This will have been the same hurricane which visited Blenheim on the 28th ult. about the same time.]