Local and General News.

Marlborough Express, Volume V, Issue 265, 17 December 1870, Page 5

Local and General News.

A. youth named Baillie has hanged Uself at Christchurch. Three racehorses, Mistletoe, Quicker, and Gamester, were landed safely at estport from the Murray on her last trap. There was no tidings of the arrival of 8 English mails, via California, at Nelson up 10 o’clock last evening. They were due at airland on the 4th. The Governor, accompanied by Oom,(We Stirling, will visit Otago in January, ■iy Bowen has postponed her visit till the ®mer. Thirty-seven Bead Board districts in ?go have applied for an acreage rate, and 'hy-five for a rate on their annual value. The open air meeting called by the 'j’tection League at Auckland was a complete 'bre. A resolution in favour of protection 18 negatived by a great majority. A- pew days ago, a sperm whale was Jj'Wn on the coast between Flaxbourne and which when tried out gave four tuns H besides a quantity of head matter. Whales Reported to be numerous on the East Coast of

We are informed that the Bishop of Nelson, accompanied by the Rev. Mr. Thorpe, purposes visiting Blenheim after the New Year. Sale of Station Propexity. — Mrs. Knyvett’s run, on the north bank of the Rakaia, Canterbury, has been sold for £9,000, the value for that being 9,000 sheep, and 18,000 acres of run, without any improvements except fencing. W E learn that the intention of the Foresters to hold a ball at the New Year has been abandoned for the present, and it is intended to have a dinner among the members in its stead. The following are the Estimates for the Province of Auckland for IS7I : Revenue, £116.281 ; for appropriation, £90,199, besides £26,081 for works under contract, salaries on the Gold Helds, works, &c. Mr Elbeck sent us this week, a copy of a very useful map of central Europe, got up by Letts’s and Co., London. It is accompanied by a packet of different colored dots, for marking the progress of the armies engaged in the war. It is very useful to those interested in the stirring events of the day. The Omaka Bridge has become so rotten as to be very dangerous. The stringers are so far gone that they will not hold nails driven into them to keep the flooring down, a fact any person may convince himself of on crossing. It is nearly a year since we called the attention of the Government to it, yet nothing has been done to remedy it. We are glad to learn that Messrs.

Howland and Co. have determined to resume operations at their flax-mill on Monday next, doubtless encouraged by the better news brought by the last mail of the advance in flax. Mr. Niinns has been appointed manager of the factory department, during the temporary absence of Mr. Howland.

Literary Institute.—Mr James Henderson of Grey mouth, lias, through Mr George Henderson, kindly made a present to the library of our Institute of six volumes of “ Cassell’s Popular Educator,” a gift equally handsome and useful. We learn also that several new works have been added this week, including Pickwick and a number of other works of Dickens, the Argosy, Pepy’s Diary, &c.

Singular Event. —An unusally severe storm occurred on Sunday afternoon last, which extended north as far as the Perry, and south beyond A waters, where at Richmond Brook the lightning struck a Hock of sheep out on the open paddock, whilst grazing within sight of the house. An examination, after the violence of the storm had abated, showed that live ewes and three lambs were dead in one place. We have not heard of any other accident resulting. A lunatic, recently sent from Picton to become an inmate of the asylum in Christchurch, leaped on shore from the deck of the steamer as she approached the wharf at Lyttelton, and made off. The mate of the vessel gave chase, and after some slight struggling, in the course of which the mate received a severe black eye, Die unfortunate man was recaptured, and sent through to Christchurch in charge of one of the warders of the asylum.

It may not he generally known that Dr Russell’s letters to the Time* describing the battle and capitulation of Se lan, were written in London. Knowing the uncertainty of the fieldpost, Ur Russell, as soon as the c qntulation was concluded, hurried over to London with his notes, and there wrote, or rather dictated, his letters. The wisdom of his decision was proved by the fact that these letters were published before a previous one, despatched by the field post a few days prior to the battle, was received in Loudon.

The Mahakipawa correspondent of the Pieton Preen has, we notice, replied in the current issue to our recent remarks on his former letter, respecting the rental of the Education Reserve at Mahakipawa going to pay the salaries of the Blenheim teachers. We regret to be compelled, by a pressure of other affairs on hand just now, to have to ask his patience awhile, but he may confidently rely on getting our rejoinder in due course.

Christmas is coming, and with it many pleasureablc engagements. We have announced for the Monday, .Sports at the Bush, and the Philharmonic concert in the evening. On the Tuesday the bretheru of the “mystic tie” will hold their customary banquet in honor of St. John’s Day. On the Monday following, the Sports Committee will produce an entertainment far in excess of any former year, in Seymour Square; and in the evening the Wairau Club will open their new theatre, which we may add is fast approaching completion. Gold discoveries are in fashion here again. On Thursday a sample of stone from the Homeward Bound Co.’s claim (better known for years as Greenlaw’s), on Criterion Creek, weighing fib., was crushed, and about 100 specks counted in the residue after washing. Considerable excitement ensued, and a number of transactions in shares took place at enhanced prices. It may be well to note the situation of the several companies’ grounds, which are. all situate between Quartz and Criterion Creeks. Beginning at the N.W., and coming in this direction, the first is the Marlborough, the next is the Golden Gate, then the Masonic, next which is the Sutherland, succeeded by the Blenheim, on the north side of which is the Homeward Bound.

The Blenheim Volunteer’s met at the Butts on Monday last, for the purpose of selecting representatives to attend at Picton on Thursday, when Messrs Mclvor and Warner made the highest scores. The shooting was only indifferent. The annual firing for District Representatives, to attend the Colonial Prize Firing at Auckland, took place at Picton on Thursday We are informed the scores were as follows : Private P. Martello, 43; Lieut. R. Laery, 41 ; Sergt. D. Guy, 40; Private E. Sutton,’ 35 ; Color-Sergt. T. Warner, 34; Private T. Freeland, 32 ; Capt. W. E. Dive, 30 ; Lieut. J. R. Sommerville, 30; Assist.-Surgeon, J. E. Weld, 26 ; Private F. Sutton, 21 ; Sergt. W. Whitehom, 17; Private Clinio, 15. Messrs. Martello, Laery, and Guy will therefore be the representatives to attend the Colonial Prize Firing at Auckland, in March next.

I Til k Wanganui Chronicle says that ; Colonel M ‘Donnell has left his home to earn his bread as a labourer on a surveyor’s staff’; but the Herald says the announcement bears the air of an untruth, as it is made the basis of an attack upon the Government. On the 21st of November, the river Hawkesbury was reported to have risen *26 feet. The Hunter had also overflowed its bank as also had the Clarence, and inundated all low. lying | country. Immense damage has been done to j the crops. I'he floods destroyed the horse-shoe j embankment which protected the low-lying pori tions of Maitland. A young girl was drowned. | The cutter Supply, Captain Billows, went on shore at Pencarrow Head on Monday night, and became lodged between two rocks. A very heavy sea was rolling and the wind was unusually high, so that getting her off was impossible. On Tuesday the decks began to lift with every swell of the sea, and that night the little vessel went to pieces, and came ashore in the shape of firewood for the Pencarrow lighthouse keeper the next morning .—lndependent. Some of our friends who are members of the Wairau Club called in the other day to suggest that as the profits of their performances are to be devoted to charitable purposes, a more desirable object for the one on New Years day could not be found than the pitiable condition of the Provincial Government officials at Wellington, which Province despite all it has had to say about “poor bankrupt Marlborough,” has been unable to pay its officials their salaries for the last four months. The idea is not a bad one, but we fear we shall not be able to raise enough to do them much good, poor fellows. In any case, we have thrown out the idea for ventilation. Lyttelton Fund.— We are requested to publish the following letter received by Messrs Carey and Johnson this week ;—“ Lyttelton Borough Council Office, 10th December, 1870. Messrs F. J. Carey and Samuel Johnson, Blenheim. Gentlemen,-—I- have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a letter this day from the Manager of the Bank of New Zealand, informing me that he yesterday received from you the sum of ten guineas, proceeds of entertainment held at Blenheim, in aid of the sufferers by the late disastrous fire ; which sum he had placed to the credit of the Belief Fund. On behalf of the Committee, permit me to express their thanks for the generous sympathy exhibited by the inhabitants of Blenheim. I have, &c., Hr. Lanangk, Town Clerk, Secretary of the Belief Committtee.”

Telegrams from Tauranga, of December 13th, in th a Examiner, say :— We congratulate you on tlic opening of tlie telegraph line to Tauranga.—The medical evidence shows that it was not a case of Asiatic cholera, as reported in Auckland.—W aikato advices report the King natives quiet, hut armed.—Moanarui and Te Hera are quarrelling ; their followers are armed, and a light is imminent.—The ship Timaru came across the burning wreck of the ship Malabar, 1,(500 miles from the Cape of Good Hope, and 1,(500 miles from St. Helena. Saw no signs of crew. —The City of Auckland, from Fiji, brought over 120 passengers, including five Wesleyan ministers. —Tlie Duke of Edinburgh leaves tonight in the steamer Luna, on a visit to Rotomahana. The Governor and suite accompany him. —Herr Jiandmanu gave a reading on Saturday night, under the patronage of the Prince.” Threatening. Auckland telegrams, 3rd December, say:—The names of two of the men and the women in the party which shot Todd have been ascertained : the parties are in Perougla Ranges, searching for Frizzel’s surveying party, whose escape to Alexandra they do not yet know of. Tlie Kiugites are reported to bo shy of coming to Alexandra. Government is instituting an official enquiry. Moore, schoolmaster at Rau Ran, lately became obnoxious to the Kiugites at Kawhai, who have warned him not to return to the Mission Station, or he will be shot. Te Kooti is in the neighbourhood of Opotiki, and threatening a raid. Two mounted troopers, with information, arrived at Tauranga on the Ist. Colonel Moule sent the Constabulary to Opotiki.

A very considerable amount of business is being done in shares in various companies in connection with the Wairau Goldlields, all waiting the arrival of the Sutherland Co.’s machinery to develop themselves. The Homeward Bound, and Blenheim appear just now to be the favorites, as much as £3O per share in the latter claim being paid within the last day or two; original value, £3 6s Sd. per share. Since the transaction noted, a call of £5 per share has been paid up, and testing operations are to be commenced forthwith. There are also the Golden Gate, Boyal Standard, Masonic, and a number of others, of which but little is heard. We wonder no one commences the business of sharebroker ; such a functionary is very much needed.

We have good authority for believing that the Assembly will bo dissolved immediately after the New Year; it is therefore time that those who feel an interest in the coming elections began to stir themselves in earnest. In the Wairau Mr Eyes is, so far, the only candidate who has publicly declared himself as such ; and although we have heard privately that Mr. H. Redwood was coming forward to contest the seat, we have no ground to go upon. If he or any other gentleman means business, it is time he made a public statement as to his political faith. The constituency will need something more than a name to guide them in their choice. At Picton, Captain Kenny is undoubtedly the favorite, although we have not heard that he has yet addressed the electors, or indicated his creed on any subject, beyond the bare announcement of his candidature ; while at Havelock and neighborhood Messrs. Douslin and Parker still divide the interest with him. Three candidates, of whom only one can be elected, makes the game somewhat perilous. One of the latter gentlemen ought to make up his mind to retire at once, unless they wish Captain Kenny to go in. We have no further news from Cheviot, but have private information which leads us to suppose that Mr. Ward can win if he chooses, and we trust he will. Since the above was in type, Mr H. Redwood has announced himself as a candidate for the Wairau. His address will be found in another column.

The Late Parisian News. —When Colonel Gorton, who arrived from Auckland, lately passed through Nelson, he observed the talk in the papers regarding the intelligence of the burning of a large part of Paris. Colonel Gorton explains that one of her Majesty’s vessels of war left Galle twelve hours after the mail steamer, had a beautiful and rapid passage to Sydney, bringing the additional news to that city, from which place it was taken to Auckland.—Colonist. Consumption Curable.—The European Mail for September gives an abstract of a paper presented to the Newcastle Medical Society, by Dr. .1, Murray, on “Snuff-taking, and its utility in preventing Bronchitis and Consumption.” The author says that “by titillating the lining membrane of the nostrils, snuff acts as a powerful derivative and counter-irritant, and its use will tend to preserve the more important and susceptible pulmonary mucous membrane from evil. The sneezing which succeeds the unaccustomed application of the errbine, or agitates even an old and seasoned nose, when a new titillant is tried, and the cough which is induced when, by chance, some of the lighter particles get into the throat, may be of some avail in effecting the elimination of albumenoid matter (the precursor of tubercle) from the lungs, ere it has had time to fill the air cells and minute bronchi, and coagulate, in like manner, as seasickness is believed to do.” The Sports Committee; for getting up Sports for the New Year, met at Ewart’s on Monday evening last, when last year’s programme with some slight alterations were adopted. An application from Mr Purkiss for liberty to erect a booth was received, and further such left to the Secretary and Chairman to deal with. Sundry other minor matters were also provided for. At the request of the Committee, the Secretary of the Blenheim Brass Band attended, to state that the Band would not attend the Sports for a less sum than £5 ss. The Committee stated that they considered the Band as belonging the town, and an institution supported by the public aid, therefore, the Band ought not to bargain for a full rate ; but was willing to guarantee £3 3s, and augment it to £5 ss, if the funds placed at their disposal by the public would admit. The Secretary stated that the Band was a private society, supported by its members, and not by the public, and that the instruments used by them were not public property, but purchased by their own money. Several of the Committee replied that they had contributed to the funds of the Band with the understanding that it was the town band, and one added that he had been .asked to become a trustee for the instruments, which he was well aware belonged to the Volunteers, and had been purchased by the ladies of Blenheim, who presented them to the town. After consulting his colleagues, the Secretary of the Band returned, and stated that they would not accept less than £5 ss, and had another engagement out of town at that rate. The Sports Committee then instructed the Secretary to request the Editor of the Express to insert the account of the proceedings in his next issue. The Committee met again on Tuesday on Seymour Square, and planned the further arrangements of the ground. The course for tilting &c., will bo circular, round the Square. That for the Steeple chase will start at the Grand Stand, near Mr. Tissiman’s School, over two leaps into Gharlesstreet, past Mr Taylor’s house, over two leaps more, into the south-east corner of the Square again, then across the small ditch in the bottom, and return up the north side over two leaps to the starting place. AYe have received the first number of a periodical to be continued monthly, under tin* title of the Church Messenger, for the Provinces of Nelson, Marlborough, and County of Westland North, forming the Diocese of Nelson. It is published apparently by the Synod, and as the introduction shows, with a view of letting the members of the Church of England know what is going on in the Diocese, and the progress of Church affairs generally. The Editor “hopes thereby tostimulate the sympathy and generosity of tlie members, to induce the strong to bear the burdens of the weak, and so fulfil the law of Christ. It is intended to insert original compositions and selections so as to fit it'Tor general circulation, and to make it in short a medium for imparting information as to special services, Sunday schools, lectures, &c. The price is Id monthly, and subscriptions are solicited. We may add that the work contains a brief record of the proceedings at the last meeting of the Synod, from which we take the following extract : “The Bishop announced that £250 had been placed at his disposal by the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge, for Church extension, in response to his appeal on behalf of All Saints, Nelson, Richmond, Collingwood, Awatere, and Amuri. Resolutions expressive of sympathy with the movement for revision of the authorisec translation of the Bible were- carried unanimously and ordered to he reported to the General Synod, A proposition to erect Blenheim into a Parish was negatived in consequence of the necessary conditions-in the application not having been complied with. ) A considerable loss to the Pension Fund was shown to' have been caused by the Burial Fee of five shillings not having been collected for some time past in the City of Nelson, while it is regularly paid in the country parishes, and forms a valuable item in the receipts of the Pension Board. .Among the miscellaneous matter is the following, which will interest many in this neighbourhood :—The Rev. Alexander Chalmers Sontar, of Glasgow University, a minister of the Established Kirk of Scotland, was admitted to Deacon’s Orders in the Church of England, by the Bishop of Nelson, at St.. Barnabas, Stoke. The Bishop recommends the use of the following words before the Litany is said : —“ It is desired that the prayers of the congregation may he humbly offered to Almighty Cod for the wounded and dying in the - . > war now raging in Europe, and for the speedy restoration to the Rations now at war of the blessing and gift of peace.” If the Editor- would -,, accept a hint from us, we would suggest that if • the size of page had been one-half the present, one, and the pages doubled, it would be an" improvement, rendering the work more portable, and better for reading. We wish the movement every success. Mr A. Dobson is the agent for Blenheim, and will be happy to .receivq subscriptions.

On the trial of an affiliation case in Charleston, Barker v. Patterson, the complainant swore that she was delivered of four children at a birth, the defendant being the father. She had previously had twins. The magistrate, after evidence, dismissed the complaint.

Ordination. —An ordination -was held at St. Barnabas, Stoke, on St. Andrew’s Day, when the Rev. Alexander Chalmers Soutar, of Glasgow University, of the Established Church of Scotland, was admitted to Deacon’s Orders in the Church of England by the Bishop of Nelson. The Bishop proposes to preach on the subject of the relation of the Presbyterian and Episcopal Churches, to-morrow, at All Saints in the morning and Christ-Church in the evening. —Examiner.

Otago Railways. —Dunedin telegrams of December 3rd, in the Post, say : —“ Mr Reid, the Provincial Secretary, moved a resolution empowering the Provincial Government to negociate for the construction of a railway from Invercargill to Mataura, on the following terms : The cost of coustruction not to exceed £IOO,OOO ; the expenditure each year to be contingent on the amount of the land sales in the district, at a minimum price of 20s per acre. The debate was adjourned. Mr Brunton, C.E., is appointed by the General Government to survey the line from Invercargill to Mataura, and Mr Millar, of Caversham, F.S.A., to survey the line from Waitaki to Moeraki, and to select a site for the Waitaki bridge.”