Local and General News.

Marlborough Express, Volume VI, Issue 298, 21 June 1871, Page 1

Local and General News.

The next English Mail will close here on Saturday, Bth July. The due date for the arrival at Auckland of the next English mail via San Francisco is Monday next, June 26.

A Series of Winter Evening Readings is to be commenced at the Literary Institute on Monday next. We notice that the Wairau Club announce their next performance for Thursday next week.

The Lyttelton from Nelson is coming up the river. Her departure for Nelson will be delayed in consequence of her late arrival until Friday. The Government have ordered some temporary repairs to the Omaka bridge, and are calling for tenders in another column for more permanent work to be done at it.

Wairau Agricultural Society.— An error in our list of the officers and committee in our last issue renders it necessary to repeat the names, namely—Mr H. Dodson, President; Mr W. Parker, Secretary ; Mr J. Connal, Treasurer ; and Messrs Storey, Paul, Joseph Redwood, Busch, F. Adams, Hathaway, 0. Eyles, J. M'Callum, P. M‘Rae, Graham, Macaulay, and 0. Redwood, Committee. Eclipse.— The eclipse of the sun named in our last took place on Sunday afternoon, the obscuration commencing at Ih. 54 min. 30 sec. p.m., and finished at 2h. 57 min. 30sec. Although the afternoon was cloudy several opportunities occurred for witnessing the event. The spots on the sun’s face were distinctly visible on one occasion when we caught a momentary glimpse through the opening clouds. Thanks to Mr Dobson, we were enabled to exhibit a diagx-am in our office -window showing the exact time when the event would occur, and the extent of the obscuration, to which we directed attention by means of the blackboard, which enabled many to notice the event. The late Canterbury papers contain long accounts of a nice little disagreement between the Superintendent, Executive, and Council Canterbury. For some months matters have not been going very smoothly between them, and have at last culminated in a petition from 21 members of the Council to his Honor Mr Rolleston. The petition commences as follows :—That your petitioners are informed and believe that your Honor has been advised by the members of your Executive Council to call the Provincial Council together at as early a date as practicable for the dispatch of business, and that your Honor has declined to act upon such advice. That your petitioners respectful and earnestly beg that your Honor wfll be pleased to re-consider your decision for the following reasons : [ Here follow eight reasons, which occupy a column in the Christchurch papers. His Honor’s reply is almost as lengthy, he says : —“lean see no reason now to alter the decision which I have already given. ” ] Borough Council. — The usual meeting took place on Tuesday evening, when all the Councillors were present except Crs Robinson and Sinclair. The business comprised the granting of leave to Mr Dempsey to repair his footpath, Messrs Bagge and Barleyman appointed assessors, and Messrs Dobson and Nos worthy auditors. The Mayor reported that the pound was being drained, &c. in accordance with the wish of the Council. Tenders for works in Nel-son-street by Nixon and Bright (£l2 13s) accepted, and E. Thomas for Waiter-street (24 chains at 3s lid). A new rate made at is in the £. Tenders to be called for repairing footpaths. Grove-road, between Murray’s and Opawa Bridge to have fascines laid down temporarily, with a coat of gravel, under the superintendence of the Mayor and Cr. Farmar. Applications for Inspector of Works at £2O per annum to be called for. Confirmation of the appointment of Miss A. M. Smith, of Nelson, as schoolmistress, who holds a first-class certificate of proficiency, out of eight applicants. A capitation fee to the mistress over the salary fixed. £202 5s was voted to the School Committee for the payment of arrears, &c. The details are unusuaßy lengthy and we are obliged to leave them over tillbaturday’s issue.