Local and General News.

Marlborough Express, Volume VI, Issue 337, 4 November 1871, Page 5

Local and General News.

The Osprey is being thoroughly overhauled and repainted at Wellington, in readiness for the approaching wool season.

High Bke(a)i>. —In consequence of one of the bakers of Blenheim having retired for a few weeks to the sea-side, the rest of the trade have determined to raise the price of the 4lb loaf again to lOd, as wi 1 he seen by the advertisements in another column. The Tasmanian Hotel, Picton, was sold on Saturday last by Messrs N. Edwards & Co., to Colonel Western, for .£220. The lot included two sections of land, stables, outbuildings, &c. Two sections at Mount Pleasant fetched £l4, and others in Picton town £lO to .£44. Total, £45.

Histohv, it is often said refloats itself. The other week the Blenheim Inspector of Nuisances impounded the Mayor’s cow, and by the way he has tried to serve all the Crs. the same sauce. From one of our exchanges we lind that in Auckland the Mayor’s horse has been pounced upon by the police as an offender against the Municipal Police Act. Consequently his Worship will have to adjudicate upon a complaint laid against himself. Ploughing' Match. The ploughing match for £lO a side between Messrs 11. I’oskrii<'o and E. Langley at Gouland’s Ferry, advertised in our issue of (Saturday last, came off on Thursday, and the following is the judges report: —“ We consider the ploughing by Mr Eoskmye with one of Blythe’s ploughs to be very creditable, and have much pleasure in declaring him the winner. We would also recommend a few more of these ploughs being imported to this Province, as we consider them superior to any others now in use.” Signed— George Stokkv, Geo. Graham.

Whatever may be the state of the labor market in other Provinces, want of employment is certainly not very urgent in Marlborough, judging from the fact that Capt. Dalton’s call for tenders for two extensive jobs iu the shape of bush work, which have appeared in the columns of every paner published in the Province for several weeks past, have not met with a single response. Small as Marlborough is, there is room and work for a few immigrants yet---not of the soft-handed genteel class, hut men who are not afraid of hard work.

Waikau County Board.—On Saturday last, the collector, Mr John O’Sullivan, held a levee at our office for the purpose of receiving rates, and we verily believe he was the man most in demand that day. A large proportion of tho ratepayers have readily paid the demands against them, thus disproving the foul slander “ that the people of Marlborough would not tax themselves.” One day, however, is not enough time for all to come in, and in consequence of numerous persons who could not attend on Saturday and have since called to pay, the Board lias requested Mr O’Sullivan to attend for another day on Saturday next, Nov. 11.

Steam to Picton. —Wo are very glad to learn from a private telegram we received yesterday, that the N. Z. Steam Shipping Company has purchased the Phoebe, which will run on the same basis as the rest of the Company’s fleet. The arrangements during the next few days are —the Taranaki will leave Picton for Wellsngton on Wednesday next, returning to Picton on Thursday, and leaves Picton same night for Nelson and North. The Phoebe is due at Picton with the San Francisco mail on Friday next. The Wellington will leave Picton for Nelson on the evening of the loth November,

We understand that the General Assembly is expected to close the session about the end of next week.

Mr. Griffiths, Sharebroker, offers Sutherlands at 2s. (3d. ; Golden Crowns 155., or £6 per Jth ; Evening Stars £4 per Jth ; Morning Stars £5 per full 20th : Masonic J- 10 ; Golden Gate -t's ; Homewaid Bound £5. We learn that Mr Clark, of Picton, is making very extensive improvements and additions to the Eifleman property in Picton, with the view of opening it himself as a first-class hotel. When these are completed, he will relinquish the Ship Hotel to Mr James, of Blenheim.

Yesterday afternoon, Mr. Wemyss, the Provincial Secretary, received by telegraph, via Gallo, the intelligence of his fathers death, with instructions to return to Scotland as he is new the head of the -family. Marlborough will consequently lose the valuable aid of a gentleman who has long been most intimately associated wiih all the trials and triumphs of the Province, whose kindness and gentlemanly bearing will be long remembered, and In's services greatly missed.

Sutherland Gold Mixing Company.— A meeting of the shareholders of the above Company was held on Tuesday evening last at the Literary Institute, when it was resolved that the Company should proceed by making the calls as previously proposed, and that the works at the mi u should be pushed on without delay. We trust the affairs < f the company will now go on without farther hitch, and the business of the undertaking be vigorously prosecuted to a successful issue, as any recurrence of former unpleasantness is calculated to sap public confidence in that and similar investments. We have to add that Mr 'l'. M. Hnmtxreys has been appointed legal manager vice Mr W. Nosworthy resigned.

The Odd Fei lows and the Band —Our attention was yesterday directed l»y the Secretary of the Blenheim Band to an omission of which we had been guilty in our Tuesday evening’s issue. We forgot, to take out of the advertisement of the Gild Fellows’ fete a line saying that the Blenheim Brass Band would accompany the procession on Thursday next. We have now to state that those gentlemen have declined fulfilling their engagement because the Odd Fellows’ committee are not prepared to add “refreshments” to the modest, yet agreed upon, retaining fee of six guineas for an amateur band of eight or ten performers ; such demand being an afterthought a day or two after they were engaged, at their own price. As most of the gentlemen aforesaid are members of the Odd Fellows’ or the Foresters, or both—we trust this explanation will be taken as an apology for our neglect. As to the little difference in question we cannot help thinking that if the Band wanted refreshments, the best way would be to call for tenders for the sup] ly, as they did on Wednesday for their conveyance to Picton. Havelock Town Board. —At the first meeting of the Havelock Town Board, a uiniculty arose in electing a Chairman, the members being equally divided. They applied to the Superintendent, in accordance with the Act, hut not receiving a satisfactory reply, they have since met and decided upon a very sensible way of settling the matter. Messrs Cohen and Douslin were proposed at the first meeting, and it was in choosing one of these the Board divided. It has now been decided to place the matter in the hands of the ratepayers, all the members of the Board being candidates, and the one who polls the greatest number of votes to be the chairman. The poll is to take place by ballot on Monday next. — Pres*.

ill five Matc.h.— The half-yearly competition by the Pictou Volunteers for the Company's Challenge Cup ami other prizes took place yesterday at the Picton Butts. The weather was as favourable as could be desired, and the firing was on the whole better than on previous occasions. Private Gilchrist, after being the champion shot on two former occasions, has now to hand over the Cup to Private Philpotts, who made the handsome score of 51 points. The following is the score : —No. 1 Squad : Private Philpotts 51, Sergeant Young 40, Corporal Esson 44, Private Avis 37, Private Freeland 3 <? , Private 11. Bragg 35, Corporal Miller :P, Priv; te Brooke 34, Private Kart 33, Private Gilchrist 33, Private D. O’Sullivan 33, Sergeant Fuller 32, Private E. Neal 26, Private Huddleston 23, Private Thomas 16. No 2 Squad : Lieut. La cry 36, Private Climo 36, Sergeant M'Connick 35, Private Pone 34. Private Drake 34, Private Stephens 34, Private Pugh 32, Private Martel!a 31, Gapt. Bailhe 30, Private E. Hart 29, Private JDAliister 29, Private MTutosh 25, Private Gibbons 25, Private T. Neal 21, Private W. Freeth 6. The following is a list of the winners and prizes • Private Philpotts, Challenge Cup and I 10s; Sergeant Young, £1 10s; Corporal. Esson, £1 7s fid ; Private Avis, £1 ss; Lieut. Laery, 4' 1 2s 6d ; Private Freeland, £ 1 : Private Climo, 17s (id ; Private R. Bragg, 15s ; Sergeant M’Cormick, 12s fid ; Private Pope, 10s ; Private Drake, 5s ; Private Brooke, 3s ; Priv. Stephens, 2s. In the evening the competitors and their friends assembled at Pugh’s Bank Hotel, and had just sat down to an excellent dinner when we went to press. — Press. Part of a Maori.— Some enquiring scientific genius has just presented the Canterbury Museum with a portion of a Maori skclc ton." This will be a valuable acquisition ; and. if they want any more specimens of the same kind “ down South,” we can send them a shipload of perfect skeletons. There is no scarcity of the article up here, and we think it will be a very long time before Maori bones become as valuable as Moa bones. Wo know misanthropists who wish that time had come. We are natural. — Wanyanui Herald. Plans of Towns.—ln the House of Representatives, Mr Charles O’Neill has introduced a bill for regulating the plans of towns. The object of it is to prevent the construction of narrow streets in centres of population- We have only to look at our own city to see the wisdom of the measure. In England, where land is so valuable, there may have been some excuse for narrow' streets, but here, where land is vulgarly speaking “dirt cheap,” such a system seems perfectly inexcusable, — Evening Slav.

The Rev. Mu Te Kooti.— A Wolliugtou papsr says : —The Rev. Mr To kooti, a native Wesleyan M inister, sat on the Beach yesterday in the I’ulico Court, during the trial of two Maoris charged with larceny, and appeared to take great interest in the matter at issue. Cruel Repoach.—Tin; Wellington Adrerthcr, of Saturday, lias this unkind hit at kelson ; —“According to the weather sheet, strong gales of wind arc blowing in every province except sleepy old Nelson. Probabilities. —A Loudon correspondent writes :—“ You will see England as well as Ireland without an .Established Church ; you may see England without a House of Lords, and without a monarchy. It is not unlikely that yin will see an Irish Parliament assembled in Dublin.” Hatches Bay Times. The s.s. Alpha.—This little vessel lias recently changed bauds, having been purchased by Messrs Brown and luylis and Mr A. 8. Duncan. of tins drove, for their private use between Picton and the Grove. She has had her machinery refitted, and is now in thorough seagoing condition. Press. The Butter Trade. — The sailing-down of hotter for exportation is now proceeding very vig riusiy in C niterlmry. In one large cooperate in (Ja.iistc lurch, the men arc working almost, night ami day, yet they have been unaUe t ' supply the number of butter casks ordered.— 'Pines. Ouu (Taapeka Tunes) Tcviot correspondent inform-! iis that the survey of the now celebrated 53,030 Mock has been commenced, T’.ie urveyors engag'd by Mr Clarke are perform! g the work for (i I an aero, so that, as shown in our leading article, he makes a profit in tin's item alone of £3,250. Tois is the all-engrossnig-topic of conversation in the Mount Bengal- district, and a monster petition is in course o : signature. Accident. —Wo rag'd to learn that a serious accident occurred ycterday io Mayor Morse who was rabbit shooting in the Wairoa George, when one of the party, not seeing, tired at a rabbit, and unfortunately lodged the shot, from a clistancoof about 30 yards, in the Major’s arm, chest, and face. Fora time lie was stunned, hgf v -i- iiet. i'A' a carriage and was being taken to the nearest Doctor's residence, when fortunately Dr Vicksrmau was met, who succeeded in extracting the shot. '.Vo arc glad to hear that up to a late hour last night he was doing very well, although iu Faring much pain. The Victorian Tariff.—The Australasian of the 2nd instant, says:—“We are already reaping the advantages of the new tariff. A few days since a gentleman arrived here from New Zealand with commissions to purchase goods for shipment to that colony to the extent of £IO,OOO to £15,030. He found, however, that the new duties greatly enhanced the prices of all goods winch he would have to buy | from open stocks, that he was unable to do any business, and left for Sydney by the Rangatira. The money which would have been left in Victoria, will go to enrich the sinter colony. This is Mr Berry’s idea of developing our resources. T K LEHR A Pi 111' B U NHLIXH. An E U gl IS! 1 paper, great at Court gossip, relates the following anecdote respecting a noble lady “who is young, beautiful, ami good.” During the Army Bill debate her noble hnsban 1, who is as proud and fond of her as lie should he, was just about ; to rise and deliver a violent attack upon some- | thing or somebodv, when a telegram was put into his hands. He read it, turned pale, and j quitted the House ; called a cab, drove to ! the Charing Cross station, and went to Dover, and was no more hear.l of until the next day, when he returned to his own home, and to his first (inquiry was told the Countess was in her own room He hastened to her, and a terrific row ensued, the exact words of which no one knows but themselves. At last, however, he burst out —“Then, what did you mean by your telegram?” “Mean! What I said, of course. Moat are you talking about?” “ Read it for yourself,” returned the still imanpeaaed husband. She did read : 1 lice with Mr to Dover straight. Dray for me,” For a moment she was start,led, but then burst into a hearty fit of laughter. “ More dreadful telegraph people. No woo ler you are out of your mind. I telegraphed simply ‘ I tea with Mrs , in Doverstreet. Stay f-»’ me.’ ” His lordship was so savage at the lau.di he had raised against himself, that he was at first, inclined to make a parliameut.iiA question of it, bat, listening to more udici ms adv'ce refrained. A Portland paper (the Western 'J lines) has a. serious grievance against the inhabitants of the town. Instead of buying their clothing from Portland tradesmen, they send to Melbourne, where they can get it better and cheaper. “For a long time.” says the iVesiern Times, “we have been afraid to trust ourselves to use our pen in reproof, less we should express ourselves too strongly—we were going to say t o savagely; but we can no longer resist the conviction of duty to the town we live in-—the community to which we belong.” Having got over the preliminary diliieulty, the journal discharges its duties to the town in the following style : —“To call it folly, ungenerous, and unjust, are weak terms : it is suicide, simply nothing else but suicide, ami the want of generosity, and injustice involved in self-slaughter are wrapped up in it ■ we will not say concealed, for they are too plainly discsrnahle and distinguishable. There was a ball last night at Mac’s Hotel—a Volunteer ball—and most sincerely do w» trust that it was a success. But what about the drapery, bought in Melbourne, paraded on the occasion to the admiring view of our local drapers, who, of ■ course, were pucjjcufc, in JiccorclaucG with oxpecration, and in virtue of the droppings, the : crumbs of business they get from the purchasers of their drapery.” There is even something J darker behind. * “Why, the very tickets and < programmes were done in Melbourne, although there are two printing olilces in the town, either J of which, we doubt not, could have done them— . yes, and well enough, and gladly enough.” On i this tiie Ari/ius remarks :—“This is very melon- I elioly or very absurd, according to the point < from which it is viewed, but at the same time it ' is clearly a consistent following out of protection principles. There is no reason why town should i not be • protected’ against town, as well as < nation against nation.” I

Mr Nimino, of the Taiori, lias been offered £6OO for his well-known draught-stallion Emperor.

Colonial Museum.—Among the inter esting photographs at present exhibited at the Colonial Museum are views of the tramways at the Thames Goldfield, including the wire tramways (O’Neill and Simpson’s patent) on the Moa atairi and Hape Creeks, showing the simplicity and facility with which boxes containing nearly half a ton of quartz can be conveyed from the mountain tops round the bends and over the gullies to the fiats where the batteries are at work. There is also a line view of the Provincial Government buildings on the Thames.

The independent position taken up tins session by the Upper House has, we believe, given considerable umbrage to many members of the House of Representatives, and it is very far from unlikely that something approaching a dead lock may yet occur on some of the Government measures. There is a whisper about to the effect that if such take place, the Government intend to manufacture the requisite number of Peers to create a majority, and further, that supplies, so far as (anincil honorarium goes, well be cut off. Wo give rumors for what they are worth, but may say we believe there is at least some kind of foundation for them.-— Post. Many of our readers will remember that a man named Thomas Wooster was lately brought before the Resident Magistrate here, and remanded to Christchurch, having been arrested at Rangitikei, charged with larceny as a bailie at the Rakia, Canterbury. We perceive by the Lyttelton Times that the accused was discharged at once from custody on the hearing of the ease, and the prosecutor most severely reprimanded. An action for false imprisonment has been commenced, and as the prosecutor is a man of means, it is to be hoped substantial damages will be awarded.-— Advertiser. Apple Tree Blight. —Mr Lightbiuul, senior, of Nelson, has for several years treated the American blight by grafting an anti-blight tree, a species of winter apple, on a diseased one. Mr Lightbaud’s operations have been most successful The juice of the fresh graft after awhile permeate the whole of the diseased tree, transfusing as it wore a new life and fresh vigor into it. The aphides avoid infesting it, the leprous bark exfoliates, and a clean sound bark takes it place ; the tree continuing to hear two kind of fruit—that of its original stock as well as of the anti-blight graft. These, however, will no doubt in time merge their respective types or qualities the ouu with t’.m other. The Thames Advertiser says: — "The painful circumstances attending the committal on a charge of embezzlement of F. •!. limes, late I leputy-Assistant-Commissary-Gencral, stationed iu this Colony, which took place at the September session of the Supreme Court last year, are fresh in the recollection of our readers, and still no doubt, command the sympathy of those who kaev. him. Vest inlay a petition to his Excellency the Governor was in process of signature, setting forth the many excellent qualities of the prisoner, that his ‘conduct up to the time of conviction was irreproachable, upright, and without stain, and urging that sufiliTie it punishment has already been inliieted to satisfy the demands of justice.’ The term of the sentence was live years, and upwards of twelve months have now elapsed since its committal. The memorial is being largely and inliuentially signed. Amongst the names arc many whose business relations brought them into contact with the subject of the petition, and who can hear testimony to the truth of the statements set forth in the prayer for his release.” The Clerk of the Court.—Mr Harvey Thomson is iu one sense a very unsatisfactory Magistrates’ Clerk. On more than two or three occasions lie has absented himself from his duties, compelled, he has alleged, through illness. Of course, if ho has been really ill it is a misfortune ; but that is no reason why the public should suffer Major Edwards is absent on important duties, and the clerk has been away from Ins office now for three days. ('ould the Government not find some easy post for this gentleman whore his physical or mental lapsi would least interfere with the routine of duties pertaining to so important an office? ft is possible to line! some climate which will bettor agree with him, and it is quite possible to find another clerk who will give more satisfaction. We undertand that Ins ambition is in an inverse ratio to his continuity of application to his duties, and that he lias put Major Edwards to some trouble by communications he has been carrying on with an official called Mr Fountain, at Wellington, iu which he has been proposing changes quite out of keeping with his comparatively humble sphere, it may not he possible to find him a place where so exalted aspirations would be satisfied : but these can easily be rendered harmless, and his own and the public convenience greatly iue -eased. —II 'any a uu i Herald. Protection. —The following is from the Australasian-. —“The intense selfishness and narrow-mindedness of the protectionists are becoming more and more apparent every day. Each interest wants to be subsidised by the state, but then it is strongly averse to the same assistance being afforded to any other interest, 'flic brewers, for example, have no objections to lie protected as against their English competitors, but they protest against a similar advantage be-, in<r accorded to the malster. The tailors are perfectly willing to accept of protection against their rivals in Great Britain ; but when it comes to lie a question of imposing an import duty of 10 per cent, upon cloths, in order to encourage the woolen manufactures, the operative tailors assail the Treasurer with protests and complaints, And not altogether without reason; for the master tailors, finding that they cannot increase the price of clothing to their customers, have announced their intention of making a reduction of 10 per cent, in the wages paid to their men. Nor can we blame them for so doing. Already firms have got into the habitof arranging with peopL in London and Paris for the supply of so many suits a year, and this practice is likely to become more general as protection increases t o cost of production here. Consumers will naturally endeavor to protect themselves, just as producers are doing ; and perhaps the latter will disc ive:-, in course of time, that they have been engaged in the foolish occupation of killing the goose which laid the golden eggs.

The End of “ Shouting.”—Gilchrist, late cashier to Messrs Weaver and Co., Melbourne, says the writer from “ Under the Verandah,” is a melancholy example of the evil r<suits of attempting to do business by “ show • ing.” There seems reason to believe that the money of which he robbed his employers was actually spent by him in endeavoring to push the trade, through inviting customers to drink at the conclusion of every bargain. In some trades this is a regularly recognised system, but it does not seem to have been a portion of the programme of the prosecutors in the present instance. Still, the case of Gilchrist differs materially from that of an ordinary embezzler, and I should not he sorry if he received a lenient sentence. In the office of a New York paper there stood in type the report of a cermou, and a paragraph about the career of a mad dog. In “ making up”’ the two got mixed up, and the readers of the paper next day, were astonished by following melange:—‘“The Rev. James Thomson preachcd to a large audience last Sunday. This was his last sermon previous to his embarkation for Europe He exhorted Ins brethren and sisters, and after a devout prayer, took a whim to cut up some frantic freaks. He ran up Smith-street tobrown, and down Carr-street to College. At this stage of the proceedings some boys seized him, tied a tea-kettle to his tail, and let him go. A great crowd gathered, and for a few moments there was a lively scene, finally he was shot by a policeman.” We understand that Mr Fownall, the patentee of the new flax machine, has effected many imjjortant improvements since wo last described it. One of these consists in the addition of a small wet scutch, worked with the machine, and also an alteration of the springs and scraper, whereby their efficiency is very greatly increased. The material now produced is of a very superior quality indeed. It comes from the mill perfectly washed and clean, and fit for the market, without being further dealt with. Orders for these machines have been received from several liax districts, including Canterbury, the M airau, and Mauawatu. Good judges, wc are informed, have valued the libre, as now produced, at per ton, even in this market. At the request of several interested, a I further trial will be made on Saturday next, at J the same place, Pilcher's Steam A orks, in I M anners-street. — Pont.

Aristocracy v. Pauperism. —'The following reflections by a Southern contemporary arc pregnant with truth, as applicable to the whole Colony as to a Province; —“That an asylum for paupers should exist in a country which exports wool and gold is surely an extraordinary circumstance. This strange fact is, however, accounted for by a series of maladministration of the land of the Province. The chief object of all our parliamentary majorities, and of nearly all our Governments, especially General G »vermuents, has been the enrichment of the pastoral lessees, who send the wealth acquired by them from the greater portion of the public estate of Otago to English markets, and who do, doubtless, receive large returns for their exports, but any one can see, with “ half-au-eye ” that these runholders do not mentally, morally, or otherwise contribute to the welfare of the Province or Colony. Consequently, the unfortunate farm laborer, who cannot get a piece of laud, is reduced to pauperism, and sometimes to crime, and hence wo have got “fat” gaols, and permanent asylums for paupers, in a country which is not a quarter of a century in existence.” —Taranaki Herald. Extraordinary. —New Orleans lias had a sensation in the dcatli of .a mysterious old man, who had dwelt in that city for many years. He lived alone, spoke to no one, but spent bis time in silent abstraction. For weeks the old man had been seen taking bis daily walk about the streets ; his house remained closed, grass was growing from the chinks of the marble steps at his door, and it began to bo whispered about that he was dead. At last, one day, the neighbors went in. Sure enough he was dead—he lay pallid and stark on a pallet of straw. Near the body was a rich casket, which was found to contain the .Bourbon diadem, stolen ou the night of the Kith of August, 1830, when Charles the Tenth abdicated the throne of France in favor of the Duke of Bordeaux. Underneath it was a manuscript written in French. it contained only these words ; “1 am Gharctte, the \ eudeau General. Maria of Savoy was to have been my wife. She was taken from me, and given to the Comte d’Artois. I could have forgiven this, but he deserted me when i most needed his help and assistance. I revenged myself and procured his overthrow, and am happy since he died in exile.”

The Biioodkk Contracts. — -The preliminary meeting of persons opposed to the 13rod cn contract scheme, which was announced to take place at Burnip's Hotel, Ivaiapoi, Canterbury, on Wednesday evening last, to draw up some resolutions to be submitted to a public meeting, was attended by three or four persons, [n reply to repeated questions of *■ here were the promoters ?” the answer was still the same — “ they did not know.” While these and similar questions were being promiscuously thrown out, air Bichard Woodford stepped to the head of the table and took his seat. He was supported on his right by Mr John Moore, senr., and as there was no attempt made for some time to commence business, it was suggested that the chairman should favor the company with a song. This lively addition to the meeting was respectfully declined, on the ground that the gentleman called upon was suilering Irom the effects of a bad cold. Mr Woodford stated that he had sent the advertisement down convening the meeting, but was sorry to see such a small attendance. He happened to meet a person the other evening, and they began to talk about the Brodgen contracts. It was then suggested that a preliminary meeting should bo called to pre. pave resolutions to he submitted to a publicmeetim. The meeting iiad now been called in due course, but the public did not attend. Mr Lllis s aid the proper course for persons who wished a public meeting to be called, was to got up a requisition to the Mayor, and he would call a meeting in due form. After some more conversation the subject dropped, and no attempt was made to draw up resolutions.