Local and General News.

Marlborough Express, Volume V, Issue 261, 19 November 1870, Page 3

Local and General News.

The Falcon arrived from Wellington last evening. An order in Council by the Governor, in the Gazette of November 11th, provides new rules and regulations for Volunteers and Cadets, The Governor has appointed Thoo. Kissling, Esq., to he Registrar of Deeds for the Province of Auckland. The Telegraph is to be extended to New Plymouth forthwith, ft only extends to Patea at present. The Masonic fraternity of England have contributed £70,000 sterling for the relief of the families of the German soldiers. I Intelligence has reached Christchurch I of the death of Mr Selfe, English agent for that Province. A. S. Duncan, Esq., of the Grove, has been gazetted as a Justice of the Peace for the Colony. A great storm has been excited in Wellington by the new assessment of the Corporation, which cost £l5O in preparation ! Nearly 300 appeals were lodged against it ! The Government of New South Wales propose to put on an income tax of 6d in the pound on all incomes exceeding £2OO, and take off the newspaper postage fee, among other important changes. Sittings of the District Court, for civil and criminal business, are appointed to be held periodically in the Province of Hawke’s Bay at Napier, Waipawa, and Gisborne. When will our turn come ? The Fire Brigade held their usual practice on Monday evening, when they practically demonstrated the usefulness of the engine, in case of tire, by drenching the outside of the Express Office, and adjacent buildings. The Assembly of South Australia has voted a £I,OOO bonus for the first hundred tons of tlax grown and manufactured in the Colony, the value of dressed flax to be not less than £3O per ton. Ouk readers will notice that the Borough Conncil have given the ratepayers the privilege of nominating the next Mayor of Blenheim. Nominations must be sent in to the Town Clerk, as for the election of Councillors, prior to four o’clock on Friday next. The election will be by ballot on the following Wednesday. / Many of the colonials at home gloomily prophesy that, if England is dragged into the war, several of the Colonies will refuse to suffer for a state of things in which they have no voice, and will demand separation ; and especial reference is made to the ominous threats on the point held out in recent despatches from the New Zealand Government.— Post. The Roads Act, 1870. —The Provincial Government have authorised Mr Johnson to print an octavo edition of the Roads and Education Acts, for sale to the several Boards and the public, uniform with the Impounding and Cattle Trespass Acts published at our office. It will be read}' for sale in a week or two, at the moderate charge of 6d each. Some two or three years ago a quantity of sand was thrown up at the junction of the Omaka and Opawa, which has gradually been getting worse ever since. The attention of the Government has been repeatedly called to the matter, but without effect. The expenditure of some £lO would be a great boon to the owners of vessels trading here, as they are compelled at times to lose da3 r s by grounding there. Now that the wool season has begun, it should be seen to at once. Mr Dodson held a sale at Yalleyfield, on Wednesday, of a large quantity of property belonging to the estate of Monro Bros., when excellent prices were obtained. The horses fetched from £26 to £33 each, and other things in the same proportion. The attendance was very numerous, and we learn opportunity was taken bj' some persons present to utilise the occasion by doing a little canvassing on behalf of Mr H. Redwood for the House of Representatives, in view of the coming elections. A. Contrast.— ln contradistinction with the open free-handed way in which (as shewn by our Extra of English news) the Americans are meeting us in the way of mails and steamer commuuication, is the following from the last European Mail : — “I know for a fact that strong efforts have, within a few days, been mad to bring the monstrous regulations in regard to the rates of Colonial postage before the authorities, but in vain... ..Well, perhaps the time will come when these things may be altered, but I am afraid it is afar off.” The Lyttelton Fire.—On Wednesday evening an entertainment of a varied kind was given in the Provincial Hall on behalf of the sufferers by the above fire, when, we regret to state, the audience was more select than numerous. The programme included a number of songs, &c., by several ladies and gentlemen of the neighborhood, interspersed with some pianoforte music, and a few readings. At the close, his Worship the Mayor returned thanks to those who had so laudably assisted the undertaking . The proceeds amounted to about £ll 10s.

Cricket.—A well-attended meeting of the admirers of this famous sport was held at Ewart’s last Monday, when the Blenheim Club was formally commenced by upwards of twenty names being put down as members. A preliminary meeting was held at the Ferry hotel on Saturday last, Mr J. F. Hathaway in the chair. The chairman made a few general remarks, expressing a deep interest in the object for which the meeting had been called. Mr P. i Rush then proposed that a cricket club be at once farmed under the title of the Bush and Spring Creek Cricket Club, which was seconded by Mr T. Dickens. Various resolutions were brought forward and adopted, when twentythree persons joined the club.

The Dog Show held at Christchurch last week was a great success. The entries were 97 in number. The Hon. Mr Vogel, as a candidate for the House of Representatives for Auckland City East, has delivered a very lengthy and voluminous speech, a copy of which, in pamphlet form, has been forwarded to us. It is replete with information, and although we cannot reproduce it, wo shall retain it for future extract and comment. At the last exhibition of the American Institute, there was seen an elliptic lock-stitch sewing machine, driven by a small electric engine, which might easily he put into a common hatbox. A series of eight magnets are set on the periphery of a circle, and around these revolve an armature of steel, which is continuously propelled by the magnetic action, and thus operates Che machinery that moves the needle. The current may he cut oft'entirely, or the speed of the needle graduated as may he desired. Steamboat Race. —We have been favored by Mr Pringle, purser of the s.s. Airedale, with the following account of a race between the steamers Phoebe and Airedale from the Manukau to Nelson on Saturday and Sunday last. The Phoebe, with English mail via California, left the Manukau at 11.24 on Saturday morning ; arrived at Taranaki at 1.10 a. m on Sunday ; left again at 1.45 a.m., and arrived off Nelson at 4.20 p.m. the same day. The Airedale left the Manukau at 12.20 p.ra on Saturday, and arrived at Taranaki at 1.15 a.m. on Sunday ; left Taranaki at 3.5 a.m. same day, and arrived off Nelson at 4.30 p.m. Immediately on arrival, each steamer lowered a boat, and a most exciting race took place as to which should the Telegraph-office first with the English news. The Airedale’s boat having reached the Boulder Bank, the crew ran across, and launching the lighthouse-keeper’s boat, pulled across the harbor, when the purser jumped into a cab, and delivered the Airedale’s mails and sent away telegrams of the English news a quarter of an hour before the Phoebe’s boat landed ; the latter having gone round by the entrance. Press. Art Uniox op London. —We have received a specimen print for the next year. It is a large engraving about 3ft Gin by 2ft Sin and admirable as a work of art. The subject is thus described:—“A Scripture-reader deprived of sight, her fingers rapidly traversing the raised leters in a bible, is imparting to those around her the truths which she herself has learned to appreciate. The subject has been ably treated by Mr Smith ; the countenance of the blind girl is earnest and impressive, while the effect of her teaching and enthusiasm upon the faces of the several members of the family by which she is surrounded, is excellently depicted. The aged grandfather and grandmother, deep in thought, —the sorrowful countenance of the young mother, the energetic appeal of the sister, are in strong contrast with the undecided expression on the countenance of the husband, wavering between the influence of a drunken associate and of the words of the reader.” Theengraving, the Council believe, will prove extremely popular, and acceptable to the subscribers, each of whom will receive a copy, besides a chance of a prize to the value of £l5O, and numerous others of minor value. The subscription is one guinea, and Mr Johnson, Express Office is the sole agent for Marlborough. The induction of the Rev. John Bannatyne to Picton took place on Sunday last in the Union Church, Picton. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. W. Sheriffs, of Blenheim, who preached an excellent sermon on the occasion. He afterwards spoke a few words in allusion to the charge which the Rev. Mr Bannatyne had taken upon himself, its duties, responsibilities, &c. ; and concluded by reminding the congregation that it had onerous duties also. The attendance was large. The soiree in connection with the above was held yesterday evening in the Government Buildings, and was a most c ecided success. We may safely say that we have never witnessed a more happy reunion of the inhabitants of Picton ; young and old alike enjoying themselves. The arrangements were capital ; the viands good, and abundant unto prodigality. Tea was followed by sports on the lawn outside; after which, the company returned to the hall, and were addressed by the Rev. W. Sheriffs and Messrs Henderson, Moore, Watson, Williams, Speed, and Dr Tripe ; the Rev. Mr Bannatyne in the chair. The members of the congregation took this opportunity to present their new pastor with a large and handsome Bible and a Psalm-book.— Press.