Local and General News.

Marlborough Express, Volume VI, Issue 294, 27 May 1871, Page 4

Local and General News.

/ We learn that a new telegraph station, is about to be opened at Kekerangu. Bkst quality potatoes are quoted at Oariiaru at £2 10s per ton. Again, on Saturday evening, a footpassenger fell into the Omaka river ; this time falling over the platform on Mr Dodson’s side of the bridge, and emerging on the opposite side. New Zealand Spirits.—During the year 1870, 39,727 gallons spirits distilled in the Colony were received into bonded warehoses. The meeting of the members of the Agricultural Society, is postponed to seven o’clock on Thursday evening next at James’ Hotel.

Cured mullet are being extensively sold in Auckland at Id per lb. ,o

Mr Cracroft Wilson proceeded to Eng' land by the Nevada for the benefit of bis health, which has been exceedingly delicate since lib late accident.

It is proposed to form a Meat Preserving Company in Wanganui. A co-operative bakery is also spoken of iu order to bring down the price of bread.

The erection of gas works is being proceeded with in port Chalmers, and it is expected that in a very short period the town will be lighted with gas.

The following sentence, “ John quickly extemporized five tow bags,” contains all the letters of the alphabet, and only four of them are used more than once.

' Mr Brannigan’s mind is reported as still 1 greatly disordered. The Government has had {to lay an information against him under the Act, and he has been committed to the / Dunedin Asylum. • Collapsed. —The last crushing at the Culliford battery resulted in not one particle of gold being obtained from twenty tons of quartz. In Nelson there was a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning.— Mail.

The only province in New Zealand in which duty upon opium has been paid in IS7I is Otago, where, for the quarter ending March, the customs revenue was enriched by the sum of .£’o4l, the duty being 20s per pound.

It is stated by the Grey River Argus that the changes recently made in the staff of the Hokitika Post Office are due to the discovery of irregularities on the part of one of the late officials in that department.

It is said that Messrs Brown and Ingles saw-millers, Grove, purpose using a locomotive steam engine, instead of horses as formerly, for drawing logs along the tramway to the mill.— Press.

We vegx-et to learn from a Daily Times telegram that Mr Morton, formerly Inspector of Police in Otago, and who resided in Lawrence, has been sent to Auckland from the Fijis for medical treatment, as he is suffering from mental depression. He was sent to the Lunatic Asylum. The celebrated ti-otting horse Bones, which won the Trotting Race at the last Hokitika races, died suddenly on Tuesday, on the farm of his owner, Mr Tom Harris. Bones will “ rattle his bones over the stones” no more.— Grey River Argus

Meteor. —A large and beautiful pale blue meteor, which emitted a number of yellow sparks or patches of flame, was observed here last Sunday evening, at about five minutes past six. It passed from S.E to N.W through the north-eastern heavens, at an altitude of about 45 degrees.- Press. An American paper gives the following receipt for going mad ; —Be an editor ; let the printer’s devil be waiting for copy ; sit down to write an article, and get a few sentences done ; then let an acquaintance drop in, and tell you gossips and stories of the town ; and let him sit, and sit, and sit. Very speedily you will be raving mad.

A magnificent banquet was given to Dr Deatherston on the 17th. at Wellington. Four hundred persons were present. Hie Superintendent, Mr Fitzherbert, presided, and presented an address. The Captain of the Nevada was also present. —-The Nevada was crowded with visitors all day, and sailed at five o’clock with twenty passengers for San Francisco, and was accompanied outside the harbor with steamers filled with excursionists.

Queen’s Birthday.—To-day, being her Majesty’s Birthday, is to be observed as a general holiday. The usual competition for the Challenge Cup and other prizes by the Picton Company of Marlborough Rangers is announced to take place in the forenoon. In the evening the competitors and their friends will assemble at the Bank Hotel to partake of the good things provided by Host Pugh.— Press, May 24th. Wanganui telegrams of May 18 say : Heavy floods have washed away the approach of the Turakina bridge. All traffic is stopped.— A man named Morris was drowned while crossing the Kailwi stream. —A testimonial was presented last night to R. W. Woon, Esq., Native Magistrate.—The Bazaar in aid of the English Church yesterday and to-day was a great success. Mr W. Shaw, formerly Mayor of Hokitika, and proprietor of the West Coast Times in its most prosperous days, lately started a small paper in Honolulu ; but—“ There is a tide in the affairs of men, which taken at the flood,” so Shakespeare says, and he knew much of most things, “leads on to fortune.” Mr Shaw, it would appear, so far as regards Honolulu, had commenced at the ebb tide of fortune, and we regret to learn, has been compelled to succumb. The Hew Zealand Herald learns that the conduct of the notorious Plummer, and other of the prisoners in the Mount Eden Stocked, has been so bad of late that it has been found necessary to increase the force of guards, and an order has consequently gone up from the Superintendent for the employment of three additional warders. Of course, after the manner in which these prisoners have conducted themselves—smashing windows, and making frequent attempts at escape—no hope can be held out to them of any curtailment of sentence.

A Serious Flood. —We learn from a Hokitika contemporary that severe floods have occurred in the Okarito district. At Wanganui Rise a Mr Bell has been a very heavy sufferer, his house, boat, and crops, together with about 200 ft. of his ground, having been washed away. Mr Baker, of Waitaka, had his horse drowned. The Waitaka and Wateroa, formerly one river, have now two distinct outlets,, 300 yards apart. Mr Harris, the Okarito mailman, in endeavoring o cross on his way to Hokitika, was washed off his horse, and had a narrow escape from drowning. The punt on the Okarito river was also washed away, and large number of cattle and sheep were drowned. Altogether, this is the most disastrous flood that has occurred in this district for some time.

The editor of the Wahatip Mail was probably a little drowsy when he transcribed the following portion of a telegram relating to the late tragedy at Cavershani. The italics arc ours “ This so preyed on M'Phee’s mind, that on Monday he killed his daughter, aged four years, with a carving knife, almost severing her head from her body; and then cut, his own throat. She died yesterday. — Mail. , MWe were permitted this week to view a local work of art in the form of a very fine specimen of ornate penmanship, illuminated, and set out in a rich, but really tasteful manner with gold and colors, the work of Mr P. Flannagan of Blenheim. The subject was a testimonial presented by the inhabitants of Picton to Mr Duncan Guy on his promotion to Nelson, where he takes the post of Clerk to the Resident Magistrate’s Court, vacated by Mr Harley. / Peter Jansen, a well-known street preacher at Ballarat, was arraigned at the Ballarat East (Victoria) Police Court to answer the charge of neglecting to pay for the education of his children. He refused to tell the Bench Iris reason, as he was acting under the advice of the Spirit, whose confidence he could not betray. The Bench made an order on him for the payment of 4s weekly, expressing a hope that the Spirit would move him to make the payment regularly. The Wairau Gold-Fields. Some little stir has been excited in town this week iu mining shares. A sample of stone weighing 7 lbs was brought down from the Gcldeu Crown (Waltide’s Reef) and crushed, and its proceeds exhibited at Barry’s Hotel on Saturday last, consisting of several grains of large size. Although many expressed doubts as to the sample, yet it caused an enquiry, and we are credibly informed several part-shares have changed hands at the rate of £ls, .£''2s, and £'os per share. On Wednesday Mr Gorrie visited the claim, and brought do.wn a sample, which was crushed with care, and two colors was the result. Jumping a Claim at the Thames. — iThe Thames Advertiser of May 12th, says : ’“Some consternation was created among the {shareholders of the Central Italy yesterday, ‘(when the fact became known that the ground of the company was jumped by Mr E. Thomas and k party of men acting under his instructions. The circumstance is all the more singular as the ground is being actively worked, so that the plea of non-working could not be raised—besides, 1 the ground is held under lease by the company. We believe the jumpers intend to raise a pica as to some informality in the lease, said to have been discovered by two legal gentlemen in Auckland of singular acuteness.” Morris Again. The man Morris, charged with lunacy, was again brought up at the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning, and no sooner had he planted his foot fairly within the rostrum than he began to roll out an uninterrupted flow of invective against the sin of teetotalism, coupled with the name of the Hon. Mr Fox, the political Anti-Christ. Teetotalism was the bane of society, and his mission on earth was a founding of a true Christianity and the wiping out of all hypocrisy, in the furtherance of which object he had set his covenant on the doors of all religious edifices within reach. Mr Crawford supplied the peroration, “ Next time you appear here, Mr Morris, mad or not mad, you’ll go to gaol for a month.” Morris made aneffortto remonstrate, but, with something of method, judiciously subsided. — lndependent.

A somewhat uncommon case (particulars of which we glean from the Herald) has been decided by Mr Justice Ward at Timaru.Nixon v Gatnmie—Claim £JS 10s, for the value of a horse belonging to plaintiff, which died through unskilful shoeing by defendant, a blacksmith. It appears that the defendant’s man, Tate, pricked the horse in shoeing him, and although aware at the time he had done so, did not at once remove the nail, but allowed the horse to stand some time before he drew it. Afterwards he pulled out the nail and put a nail head in the hole, telling plaintiff he could take the horse to work without risk. Plaintiff worked the horse for a day and a-half, when he became so ill that a veterinary surgeon was called in to attend him ; the horse afterwards died. The evidence of the veterinary surgeon showed that death resulted from irritative fever, caused by the prick in the hoof. Mr Justice Ward, in giving his decision, said : —“ He considered that although a certain amount of neglect had been proved, that it was not enough to disentitle plaintiff to recover. Defendant seemed to think very little of pricking, and drawing blood from a horse ; for his information and that of farriers in general, he would state that thefactof ahorse being pricked is in itself prima facie evidence of carelessness, for which the farrier is liable. He considered plaintiff’s case to be made out, and should give judgment for the value of the horse. He was however, not disposed to put plaintiff’s value on the animal, but should give judgment for £26 Is (£25 being for the horse and £1 Is for the fee for attendance charged by the veterinary surgeon), and costs.”— Post. v'the Sutherland Gold-mining Co.— MTiere has been a rumor current in town during the week that the Sutherland Company had started crushing. There appears to be no foundation for this statement. The works are in a state drawing near to completion. A small cmantity of quartz has been brought down the Jfomway, but there are still some things required before it can be used permanently. No doubt everyone interested is anxious to learn results, but it must be remembered that the works are distant from town, and that in completing them under those circumstances there are many difficulties, and therefore the exact time cannot be calculated. As crushing has not commenced, we presume the shareholders will naturally desire that only formal business should be transacted at the half-yearly meeting on Monday next, and that an adjournment will then take place, so that the shareholders may have an opportunity of learning the position of the Company, which can hardly be done without a report of the result of crushing. To prevent any misconception in future, as the Legal Manager of the Company will receive an official report when the machinery starts, we are assured that with his usual courtesy he will furnish us the information, which shall then appear upon our black-board instanten/^

Accident at Nelson Races.—ln conscquedce of the slippery nature of the ground at the entrance to the Nelson race-course, on the 11th April, Mr Joseph Taylor, of Washington Valley, lost his footing, and slid on the ground and fell, breaking both bones of his left leg below the knee. Mr Taylor, who is well advanced in years, was conveyed to town and attended to. It may not be generally known that Mr Taylor was the discoverer of the Taylor river, when engaged with one of the early surveying parties in the Wairau. — Ntws.y' /W e have been requested to call the attention of the authorities to the great want there is of a policeman in Eenwicktown, disturbances having been very frequent in that locality of late. Our informant says that “last Monday night there was a general light in Douuybrook style, and skin and hair was dying in all directions. Next morning these disgraceful scones were renewed ; one pair, to use a Colonial expression, determined io ‘ have it out,’ aed amidst numerous bystanders were allowed to hack and knock each other about in a most brutal manner ; one man was so cut and lacerated that his face resembled a piece of raw beef.”-?* New*. /

Tauranga telegrams of May 19 say : News from Auckland to last night.—The Thames difficulties are in the same uncertain state—the Hauhaus obstinate and resolute. Puckey and Kemp have returned unsuccessful. The King’s messenger had arrived to To Hira. Mackay engaged him in debate some hours, when covered with shame, ho decamped, leaving Mackay the conqueror. —Great feastings all over the Upper Thames.—Commisioner Clarke, accompanied by all the Tauranga chiefs, met the Hauhaus at Te Puna. A warm debate ensued about the telegraph. The Hauhaus expressed a wish to stop the works until the King’s assent had been obtained. Clarke and party spoke plainly, informing them that the land had been sold to Government years ago and the money spent. —The Tauranga chiefs are determined to allow no obstruction to the telegraph works.—

Yesterday, Harley who had previously been committed for trial for selling ammunition to the rebels, was again charged on fresh information. This makes three charges against him. Praise is due to Detective Doolan for diligence and success. The prisoner, who has a large family, was much affected in Court while declaring his innocence.

The Gourlays.—These old favorites gave one of their very tasteful and amusing entertainments, at the Wairau Theatre, on Monday evening, when they played a petite comedy, and the laughable extravaganza of “Little Mary,” interspersed with a number of comic and other songs. Mrs Gourlay sang and per-

med with her usual taste and skill, and each

member of the company were received on their entrance by loud plaudits, INIr Corbett presiding at the pianoforte. The audience was,

however, more select than numerous, owing partly to the want of publicity, and partly owing to the unsettled weather. On Thursday evening they performed again, when a very excellent programme was gone through, including the celebrated Indian Basket Illusion. On Friday night was exhibited the Diorama

of the overland Journey from England to India, Master Johnny delivering the lecture ; with “ Pickings from Waverley,” in which Mr Gourlay pourtrayed a number of the leading characters in Scott’s novels. On each occasion they had good audiences.

We are glad to notice that the Estimates as laid on the table of the Provincial Council by the Government contain the following items, the necessity for which will he conceded by everyone who has occasion to pass in that direction . “Repairs north end of Opawa bridge, £150; Viaduct south side Opawa bridge, £GOO.” Also, “ Wharf, Picton, £000,” which is very necessary. The other new items are an additional constable ; a boat shed for the Wairau river mouth, which is also greatly wanted ; Payments under the land-taking clauses of the Consolidation Act in respect of the Dash wood Pass and Ferry roads, the compensation for which amounts to £1,850; Repairs to wharf at the Ferry, £SO, is reinstated again, as it was not spent last year ; £25 for a fence to the Hospital; Dray road from the landing-place to Canvass Town, £SOO ; Bridle road south of Kahutura, £BOO ; Repairs to bridges, and refund under the proposed Scab Act remain blank, as they depend upon the result of the measures laid before the Council. It is worthy of notice that the sum for the support of lunatics and paupers, £SOO, is a considerable advance upon the sum voted in auy previous year.

The Weight of Erudition.—Recently Cobb’s coach, having on board Mr Rolleston, the Superintendent of Canterbury, his Honor Mr Justice Ward, Mr R. H. Rhodes, and Mr Studholme, M.H.R., was about to leave Timaru for Temuka, when one of the horses, after a knowing glance at the gentlemen composing the party, refused to stir an inch. The affair is amusingly described by a coir spondent to the Timaru and Gladstone Gazette “ The brute was incorrigible however, and, as a last resource, the driver was obliged to unship his load, when his Honor seized one wheel, and Mr Rhodes, after spitting three times and rubbing his hands twice, s'eized another,the-Judge, in the mean time, having applied his whole force to the back of the coach, and Mr Studholme, who seems to be an adept at it, having seized a stick, which he used so unremittingly and dexterously upon the Horse, that the animal began to feel uneasy. The bystanders also closed in upon the coach, and with a good ‘ Rollo,’a bravo ‘Bobby,’ and well done the ‘ Judge,’ the brute began to move, and was soon off at full speed. The start was so sudden that each man lost his hold of the coach, and, in the height of their excitement, perhaps fearing they might be left behind, started after it at adashing pace, and a prettier race we have not seen for a long time. Mr Rhodes, having got the start, kept the lead, hotly pursued by his Honor, on whom Mr Studholme was fast making ground ; the Judge was also geting into wind, and coming up admirably, when the coachman, who had got his horse turned, met them and took them up again.” We learn that the Hon. Mr. Domett, Secretary for Crown Lands, is about to visit England, and has obtained leave of absence for that purpose,

Wairau County.—From an advertisement in another column it will be seen that copies of the valuation of property in the County of Wairau may be seen at the Land Office, Blenheim ; Mr Hathaway’s, Ferry; Mr MTver’s; llenwick ; and Mr Whayman’s, Wairau Valley.In order to avoid, if possible, any recourse to the Appeal Court, parties objecting to the valuation will be able to refer their respective cases to the Board, on a day to be appointed for that purpose.

Incendiarism in Canterbury. The Press of April, 13th states ; —■“ We learn that a very serious lire took place on Tuesday night, on the farm of Mr Charles Reid, West Melton; which has resulted in the total destruction of some £1,200 worth of grain. There is little doubt but that an incendiary has been at work; The stacks were built in two groups, so that the fire could scarcely have been communicated from the one to the other. The grain, wo believe, was insured for £10)00. We understand that a reward of £IOO has been offered for the discovery of the incendiary.”

A good story comes to us from tlid Waimca. The Warden’s Court at that place' boasts, of course, a Warden’s Clerk, amt the gentleman holding that position has an excellent opinion ot himself—so much so that ho got up a petition from the miners of that locality in favor of his being made a live Warden in the place of Mr Warden Sohaw. This little arrangement didn’t come off, and the W ardeu’s Clerk remained Warden’s Clerk still. But he had been in the habit of sitting “on the Bench ” —that is to say, in a place alongside the magisterial seat —and on the appearance of that moat excellent Magistrate, Mr Warden Price, the following colloquy is said to have occurred : —Warden, observing the Clerk sitting by his side? “Deaf me, h’—in. Have you been made a J.P, ?” Clerk : “ JSJ— o, Sir.” Warden : “Then please take your seat below there ” (pointing to the body of the Court below the Bench). Clerk : “ But there is no table !” Warden : “Then get a carpenter to make one immediately; or get a box—get a box, sir !” And the ambitious clerk; of course, subsided. The sequel, however, is better than the story. The following day, a brother of the offended clerk, who appears to have been in the Indian army in the capacity of a surgeon, called upon Mr Warden Price, and the scene that occurred is related to he as follows : “Brother—(presenting card): “Sir! I am Mr So-and-So, an officer in the Indian army ! You have insulted my brother, Sir !” Warden : “Dear me, h’ —in. I have also been an officer in the arm—Bailiff, turn this man out !” Mr Price’s motto is “ nemo me impune lacessit." A Painful Position to be in.— Wd ( Wairarapa Mercury April 29) have, in a previous issue, alluded to some reports that were current regarding the character of the Rev J. A. Cawdell, the Wesleyan Minister in Greytown. For any man to be charged with being a bigamist —openly living in adultery—with having married within the limits of consanguinity, is quite bad' enough, but when that person is a clergyman, professing to teach his congregation both by precept and example, it becomes ten times worse.It appears to be a rule of the Wesleyan Church, that if any charge is made against a probationer, ho is at once dismissed, without any opportunity being afforded him of clearing himself. Mr Cawdoll was a probationer in the "Wesleyan Church —a charge similar to that described was made against him and he is at once dismissed. Having been for about a year ministering in this dirtrict and, as we can testify, having endeared himself to his congregation by his zeal and earnestness, he took the opportunity of preaching farewell sermons to crowded audiences in Greytown and Carterton on Sunday last. [ A public meeting was afterwards held, at which Air Cawdell totally denied the charges made against him. He said

he could and would obtain all necessary documents, to prove his innocence, but he must have time. If he were ablehe would go back to India, and fight the charge out there, but whatever he was he would send the evidence required to his friends in Grey town, and have it made public ; he could do no more. Mr Cawdell was presented with a purse of sovereigns from his congregation, who deeply sympathise with him.] The Census.— The following shows the' number of persons in Otago belonging to each religion and denomination : Church of England, 14,543 ; Homan Catholic Church, 0,485 ; Church of Scotland, Free Church of Scotland," Presbyterian Church of Otago and Southland, and other Presbyterians, 27,611 ; Wesleyan Methodists, 2,505 ; Primitive Methodists, 11 ; Methodists, 98 : Christian Methodists, 3 ; Calvinistic Methodists, 3 ; Congregational Independents, 944 ; Baptists, 1,213 ; Christian Baptists, 7 ; Society of Friends, 14 ; Moravians, 11 ; Christians, 203 ; Christian Brethren, 75 ; Christian Disciples, 73 ; Bible Christians, 16 ; Protestant Christians, 1 ; Christian Israelites, 10; Unsectarian Christians, 1 ; Christian Church, 2 ; Christians of no denomination, 8 ; Church of Christ, 225 ; Christadelphian, 45 ; Disciples of Jesus, 8 ; Church of God, 6 ; Delphian Brethren, 1 ; Jesus Christ, 1 ; Worship God, 2 ; Religion of the Bible, 1 ; High Church, 3; Evangelical Union, 10; Nonconformists, 10; Evangelists, 15; Brethren, 16 ; Plymouth Brethren, 22 ; Dissenters, 33 ; Calvinists, 9 ; Lutherans, 445 ; New Church, 1 ; Antipas, 12 ; Religion of Jesus, 8 ; Follower of the ’Lord Jesus, 1 ; Believer in the truth of the Bible, 1 ; The proper Religion, 5 ; Of no denomination, but a believer in the Bible, 1 ; No denomination, 11 ; Belonging to no sect, 1 ; None of man’s inventions up till this date, 1 ; Orthodox, 3 ; Promiscuous, 2 ; Not determined, 4 ; Predestinist, 1 ; Ge’hool, 1 ; P.R., 1 ; The Christian denomination as found in Scripture, and worship God in my house, 5; Any, 1 ; Colonist, 1 ; Latest Saints, 1 ; Progressive, 1 ; Uncertain, 1 ; It is not intended to bring them up in connection with any denomination, 4 ; Novist, 1 ; Unitarians, 36 ; Mormons, G ; Sande-

manian, 1 ; Banters, 4; Universalists, 5 ; Swedenborgian, 1 ; Secularist, 1 ; Irvingite, 1 ; Glassite, 1 ; Spiritualists, 21 ; Spiritualist Presbyterians, 6 ; Unitarian Spiritualists, 6 ; Evangelical Alliance of Germany, 1 ; Greek Church, 8; Protestant denominations not specified, 1,0.5? j Mussulman, 1 ; Hebrews, 288 ; Pagans, Chinese, Confucian, 2,566; Freethinkers, 14; None, 1C ; Atheists, 2'; Ariau, 1; Natural Religion, 2 ; Nothing, 1 ; Heathen, 1 ; LatPudinarian, 1 ] Not stated, or not known, 184; “Objects, 1 ' 1,592;—T0ta1, 60,578 ;