Local and General News.

Marlborough Express, Volume VII, Issue 462, 4 January 1873, Page 5

Local and General News.

Iff out- correspondence column a letter signed "Citizen" calls attention to % nuisance* which we regret to say is one of long standing ' Similar complaints have reached us before, and* some have been published m tho Express The blocking up of the bridge by Mr Collie's by a lot of men and boys sitting and lounging oa the hand rail, would necessarily be a great nuisance to females, even if they were sure of not being annoyed by rude remarks, or insulted by obscene language, and we are greatly surprised that steps have not been taken long ago to remedy the evil. Nkw Ycav's morning was ushered m by the playing of rival bauds, one belonging to Blenheim under the conduct of Mr M'Elwaiu and the other from Picton conducted by Mr Hoskins, to die latter of which wo were indebted for a complimentary reminder. We wish to remind .oiu* readers that Dr Carr will give a farewell Seance on Tuesday evening next, when he will manipulate the heads of some of our principal townsmen. All I his mesmeric snbjecEs have also promised to ' j assist on the occasion, * :|H j

A Wellington tdogram of Dec. 31 says : —Despatches from tlie Secretary of State request the Governor to arrive. in Melbourne early m March. He proceeds to Auckland with Mr M'Lean to attend, a great Native meeting, and will leave for Melbourne at the end of February. Barclay and Smales report favorably of emigration prospects m Scotland and Wales, but say they are being outbid by American agents. We notice by advertisement that the fine iron ship, "Helen Burns," will be the lirst to load m Port Underwood this season. She is expected to sail from Port Chalmers this day, and should be m Port Underwood by Monday or Tuesday. We learn that a large portion of her cargo is already m store waiting shipment, and she will no doubt be despatched a full ship by the first week m February. Our readers will perceive by an advertisement m another page, , that Miss Emily Neilson and Mr G. Bromley will have a benefit performance on Monday next, when a most attractive programme will be presented. The burlesque of -'Willikind and hys Dinah," which proved so successful m the hands of the Wairau Club, will be repeated as a part ox the entertainment m addition to a variety of new and charming scenes, duetts, songs, &c. We trust these talented artistes will have a bumper house. "VVairau Club. — The performances given by this Amateur Company on the nights of Jan. Ist and 2nd, were a great s\icce3B, and on both occasions were ably assisted by Miss Nielson. The pieces selected were "The Charcoal Burner," a melo-drama of the, old schaol, and a very laughable bur^ lesque called " Willikind and hys Dinah. " We have not space at our com maud at present to give our customary critique on the merits of those who took part m the entertainment, but purpose doing so next week. Suffice it to sa.y that on New Year's night, to one of the largest audiences ever assembled m Blenheim, the (Jlub most, thoroughly retrieved its lately , waning reputation. On Jan. 2nd, to a comparatively small audience, the performance was repeated, when all engaged acquitted themselves even more creditably, and with greater spirit than on the previous night. The musical portion of the performance, especially m the Charcoal Burner, although much improved on the second occasion, wanted more practice, but having said this we should find it difficult to do other than praise it. Thk Rechabite FKsTi.-y.AL. — That "it never rains but it pours "'is a trite, but nevertheless * truthful proverb, and we found it so, m a figurative sense of course, on New Years' day. The calls on our presence were numerous, but Vj-e could not attend to them all or we should have/felt much pleasure m being present at the social gathering of tho' Ban Accor.l Tent of the \Tndependent Order of Reohabites on Wednesday •ilnst. At about 3.30 p.m. the officers and memjV}6s«^ of. the Tent formed m procession at the |Literlr^. Institute, and headed by the Picton fb.ind marTTu'e<l'"~*HrjHich a porh'on of -the town. ; On returning to-t' c p>«qe of meeHrig the members and their friends sat *rf^n to an .excellent tea m a tent, which bad beeX^. erected' for the purpose, adjoining the Institufe After tea they adjourned to the interior of kite, building, where S. L. Muller, Esq., occupied m^ chnir; addresses were dfilivercd by £he Yen. AfJKjideacon Butt, the Rev. IV. Slrimffs, M.A., Sectary, the Rev. J. B. Richardson, P.C.R., anu Mr Terrill, P.C.R., and Mr Rush; C.R, The ! programme of the evening was diversified by vocal and instnmental music, Mrs Collins kindly presiding at the piano. In the course of the evening a very handsome testimonial was pre-. sented to the secretary, consisting of a French time piece with a marble stanrl, on the base of which a silver plate bears the following inscription : - "Presented to the Rev. Bro. W. Shirriffs. M.A., by the Brethren of the Bon Accord Tent, 1.0. R. Blenheim, Jan. 1, 1873. The gift was suitably 'acknowledged, and after a very pleasant evening the meeting separated., Good Samaritans. — VVe find the following m the current number of the Picton Press :— " When the regular business of the Resident Magistrate's Court was concluded on ! Monday, Sergeant Scanlan applied to the Bench for informntion under the following circumstances :— He stated that men were m the habit of going to him requesting information where they could obtain lodging- or accommodation. He sometimes went with the men, who applied to the various hotels and boarding houses m town ; and if the applicants for accommodation were not dressed as gentlemen, they were invariably refused admittance under the plea that the houses were full. Under these circumstances, the Sergeant inquired what he could do to get the men who came into the town shelter and food. — The Bench stated that it was not quite certain whether there, was a law that would compel keepers of public houses to grant admittance to applicants should they hare room, but the Bench was of opinion no such law was m existence ; still, as the subject was one of mv portance, the matter would be looked up, and . further information given. As coroboratmg the statement of Sergeant Scanlan, we may state that on Saturday evening a most respectable lady, with a little girl some 11 years of age, arrived from Blenheim for the purpose of getting a change of air for the little girl, who was recovering from an attack of sickness supposed to be infections, but who had sufficiently recovered to be pronounced quite free from any contagious disorder. The lady with her daughter wandered about Picton for eomo time, and could find no,'person who would give them shelter, which they were quite willing to give any i;ecompense for, until a married person who had become acquaicted with the strait gave up his own bed and sought lodgings for himself. Such is a specimen of good Ssimaritauism as it is to be found m Picton. — Press. The New Wharf, that has for the past ffw months been m course of construction by Messrs Dryden and Thompson, is now completed, and forms a structure evory way suitable for the purpose for which it was built. The designer and the supemitencient of the buildiiur was Mr T. Frcelnnrl, and the structure creeled from liis designs is likely to prove a niost serviceable one.— Pre&;

j A Ram fair is to be held m Napier m February. Between 700 and SOO entries hay« already been mac? c. " r About 140 persons availed themselves, of the opportunity affoi\iej by tha N. Z. Steam. Navigation Company, to visit Wellington on Wednesday, lust. ..;/■ . RESIDENT" MAGISTRATES} COURT. —On Monday there was no business of any kind. On Tuesday, a irian who gave the name of Jame3 Smith was charged before J. D. Bamford, Esq., J. P., with stealing certain moneys m notes ami silver from Mr R, M'lver, at Renwicktown. An unfortunate inebriate was also brought up, but discharged with a caution. Ou Thursday another victim of mis-placed confidence m liquor wa3 brought before H ; D. OhuTCb, Esq., J.P., and fined £1 and costs, or 48 hours Imprisonment. On Friday, a third victim was brought before W. H.Eyea, Esq., J.l\, and fined 5s and costs., The Hurinui bridge, on the boi'ders of Nelson and Canterbury, and iwhich has been washed away frequently, is again completed and open to traffic. It is 260 feet longer than before, and measures altogether 1100 feet m length. ■"'.._ Titr Australasian says that "the disqualification of Peeress m New Zealand, because ahe was purchased from Mr Redwood by Mr Walters and scratched for a race for which she was a favorite, has been freely discussed iv sporting circles during the week, and there cau be no doubt that the stewards exceeded their powers, for all the ' best authorities agree that they overstepped the laws of racing." J JSTewspapilßs are to he. carried free m future m New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania. " Gas is. now freely used on board ship during long voyages. " So says a but we are not aware that there is anything novel m the statemeut, as we have been unable to find any spur on earth, on sea, m air, whero man has intruded his presence where gas is not freely used. In fact herein before all things is man's pre-eminence noticeable that he is a patent self-acting perennial gas-generator. Whether the gas of the tar is of a, better quality than that of the land-lubber, and therefore deserving of special notice, we cannot say.— Grey mouth Star. Boy Drowned. — We regret to leani that Walter Thomas Timnicliffe, aged fourteen years, son of Mr H. J. Tunnicliffe, sawyer, was drowned yesterday, at Wairaea South, whilst bathing with a boy called tiavage. An inquest will be held by the Coroner, Dr .Squires, to-day. Ox Saturday liist a man named Dixon very narrowly escaped being seriously hurt. Ho was engaged in' painting the tower of St. Andrew's Church, Lamhton Quay, when the swinging plank ph which he was seated treacherously snapped m two, and the man fell upon the steep combated ir»n roof bsjow him. On reaching the fluttering he grasped it and managed -to deaden his progress a. little, but not enough to pull himself up. He next landed upon the roof of the porch, from which he jumped to the ground, a distance of about twelve feet. AlN th»«gh verymuchshakeu and somewhat bruised, he did not appear to be so seriously hurt a« to prevent him resuming his work, but he looked pale and nervous from the shock. — Independe.ni. \ , Brogden'Ss.^Employes. —The following

Besides these there are aboufrSjO/gangere. We [New Zealandifferuldfsc&ntinue ifco hear from day to day of the extraorduVry curative effect produced "by the free use of theaters of the Hot Springs m all cases of rheumaticfcmd neuralgic a&ections. A gentleman;well knowfcy to the community of Auckland informed us yesterday that,, after suffering excruciating tortures for many weeks from sciatica, a fortnight spent at the Hot Springs has completely cured him. Speaking not only for himself Imfc foKmany others, our informant expresses a belief' that were the surprising effects of th'tse medicinal waters known throughout Australia, our shores 1 . . would be rushed by thousands of invalids. MONKY-JIAKING Made Easy.— A. correspondent of the Australasian say s : — ln squatting circles there is an old gentleman who has this cork-like quality «f not staying under for long. I remember his telling mo one day at lunch, many years ago that lie would shear that season 120,000 sheep. Butowin«totoorouchscab, and too little and. perhaps, something else, brought him to deplorable grief. He seemed stranded high and dry, and not likely to get afloat again. But his energy remained. With a few pounds m his pocket he lately started for Sydney by the P. and 0. boat. On board he met a former Queensland squatter, with whom he soon foregathered. Chatting very cosily over a tumbler of hot whiskey punch, the Queenslauder disclosed that the object, of his voyage from England, now nearly accomplished, was the sale of a pastoral property m the youngest of the colonies ; there were so many thousand acres freehold, so many cattle, and so many sheep. My old friend metaphorically pricked up his cars. "What price," he inquired, "so y<u ask?" "Well," said tlie Queensiander, "I don't mean to accept loss than .£22,000 ; of. thi3 ronly want 4T>, 000 cash, aud the balance I won't object to leaving ;as an ir.eumbrance on the property." His companion took a loiig sip\ from his goblet, Miaked "knowingly — and than startled the new arrival by saying quiefcly, "I'll take that property." Now, at the moment' all the cash ho could command was much nearer .■£so than .£5,000. but on arrival at Sydney he interviewed a friendly b.tnlrerj arranged for. the requisite cash, awl is onca more, o i the high, road to fortune. It is said, that he could realise? £10,000 profit ou his suddenly closed bargain^';-.;

Thk Mutual Lift Association of Australasia, m consequence. <>f the stringency of the Stamp Art, )872, havu withdrawn from insurance iv New Zetland. A pensi >N of £750 a year, under the G •vermnent Pension Act, has been granted to Colonel Sir Thomas Gore Browne m consideration jut his colonial services. The Hon. Mr Water house's woolshed at Hungaroa (Wellington) has been destroyed by fire, together with 30 tons of hay and 1 ton sulphur. Spontaneous combustion of the hay is the supposed cause of the tire. An important discovery of gold has been made on a tributary of the Tarwin River, near Mount Fatigue, twelve miles from Stockyard Creek, m Gipps Land. A girl named Ashby hetween three and tour years of age, at the Thames, has startled her parents by her peculiar taste. She picked up a cup cantaining quicksilver, and swallowed a quantity of the metal Purgatives were administered by Dr. Lethbridge, and it is believed the young lady will be quite equal to the digestion of the rather foreign substance. — Southern Cross. The Southland Times has been shown a specimen of the copper ore brought from Moke Creek, m the Lake district, which seems to indicate that a vast amount of mineral wealth awaits development m the locality named. We believe that the deposit is so rich that m some places solid pieces of copper may be seen. A sample is to be forwarded to Dunedin to Professor Black, for analysis' A house belonging to Mr T. Ketopton, sen., Grey town, had a narrow escape f.om being burnt down on Sunday. Some long grass around it took fire m some mysterious manner. By great^exertionsj the house was saved. - Householders would do well to cut and remove to a distance all grass and other materials of'a combustible nature. By doing so they will lessen materially the danger from external fires. A shocking case of drowning has occurred at Kyneton, Victoria. Two boys, aged ten and eight years, sons of Mr Giles, fruiterer, left their home after dinner and went to bathe m the Post-office creek. Their clothes were found on the bauk, and upon a search being made their dead bodies were fouud m the water. No one was present at the time of the drowning. Only a day or two before, another child of Mr Giles was run over by a cart and killed. News reached town yesterday of an impoxtant find near the Cascades, about nine or ten miles up the river, and although not very definite, it comes from a source that should prove authentic. A prospecting party of two or three men have been out for some time past following up quartz indications, and they have reported to their principals J;be existence of a well defined reef, yielding gold bearing stone, • and also the discovery of an extent of alluvial ground.— - Wesiport Times, Dec. 20. Nothing further has been heard of the disaster to the Glenlora. In November, 1866, the barque Napier, Captain Petherbridge, met with au accident through heavy weather, compelling her to put into Mauritius as the Gleulora has done. It is a most convenient port for vessels to run into that may be damaged by the hurricanes which occur m those latitudes. The Napier was detained m Mauritius two monthsy principally m consequence of there being^o" vessels lying at Port Louis m a disabled^ 4 condition, and all requiring repair. The to the Napier was the splitting of tfje rudderhead, thereby rendering her incap4"Dle of being steered. We may suppose th« 3 Glenlora will . take about the same time fitir repairs, and will probably arrive here abo>£ft ,the middle of January. — Independent, y On Monday the Maoris at work on the railway for Mng^rs Kay & Co. (we loam from our Waikafor^contemporary) struck for more pay, butj^Js they had not hitherto done sufficient, wdrk to pay for their food, the contractors refups&d to "spring," so they have ceased work, y%a white men were set to work at once m v^cheir stead. Had Hauhaus been got instead of Kupapas, the scheme might have succeeded ; they are poor, aud want clothes and food, while the others have had work at flax mills, aud hence are saucy. /The King, however, would not allow them to work, although 4UO agreed to come if allowed. A SAaiFLE bottle offline petroleum oil which abounds m the district some thirty miles west and north of Gisborne, on land recently occupied by Captßead, has been brought into Gisboruc. The local journal states : — The oil is somewhat dirty m appearance, and burns m its primitive state with a sharp, lurid fianie, emitting au unpleasant odour. We have confident hopes of this industry being added to the increasing products and wealth of the colony before long, as the purification of oil, by processes known to the trade, could easily be accomplished. We do not see why a company shonld not be formed to raise the capital necessary to this end. Capture of a Whale at the Breakwater. — On the morning of Friday last the rocks at the Breakwater were the scene of an unusual occurrence iv the capture of a whale of the bottle-no3ed species. Soon after the men had started work one of them came running to Mr Walkeni, and m a great state of excitement told that he had found a big fish on the rocks. All ran to the spot, and Mr Walkein sang out, " It's a whale ! a whale ! Get a crow-bar ; it's a bottle-nosed whale ! " Very soon all the men were gathered round the animal with ropes, chains, aud weapons of all descriptions, while the finder was daucing round it crying out, m a powerful Cornish accent " Scat'un, harpoon 'un, gad'un, rope 'un, &c." All this time the whale seemed to be asleep, but the noise, and tickling seusation produced by the introduction of a crow-bar into its blubber caused it to open its eyes, and then ii; began blowing aud lashing its tail. It was at last secured, and hauled ou ,the biij'i and left for claad. It- is a iiao specimen, moanii-cs 13ft. iv length and about lOffc. iv girth. It ii i 3 besu converts I into ail to lubricate the %x\\. :li.i on the harbor tramway. — Oamaru Times.

Birch Hill Station, Waii-au Valley, was sold last week by Messrs Adams and Kingdon, solicitors, Nelson, including 18,000 sheep and I and estate of 73,414 acres of which 20,187 acres are freehold, for £20,000.— Colonist. Singular Accident.— Yesterday week, a fatal accident is reported to have occurred to William Scut.ter, one of the men engaged on the Government contract, for falling bush between the Owen and Mangles. Deceased was felling a tree when a large branch fell and struck him on the back of the head driving his face on a stake which penetrated his eye and came out at the back of his head, causing instantaneous death. — Colonist. A meeting; of the Board of Education, was held ar Wanganui recently, when an 'application for assistance from' the Roman Catholic School at Wanganui was considered. After a long and animated debate the following resolution was carried : — That until a sufficient amount of non-sectarian education has been provided to jneet the immediate educational requirements of the community, the Board is unable to entertain any proposition for granting aid to denominational schools. — Herald. A warning to mothei's is given by the Bendigo Advertiser : — On Saturday last a child seven weeks old, son of James O'Malley, farmer, Salisbnry, was put to bed m the morning by his mother, with his head on a pillow' alongside to prevent him rolling out of bed. In an hour and a half the mother went into the room, and found the child black m the face and dead, with his head buried beneath the pillows. An inquest was held on the body, and the evidence showed that lleath had resulted from the child having smothered itself between the two pillows. Presbytehian Church - The following occurs m the report preseuted by the Secretary to the Presbyterian Assembly recently held m Christcbiurch : — " In Nelson the Rev Mr Calder is the sole representative of our church, the Rev Mr. Bannatyue having left Pawawa and gone to Picton, m Marlborough. In the portions of this province situate on the West Coast, there are several important places, such as Reefton and Westport, calling for immediate ministration ; and .along the western side of Blind Bay, from Colling wood to Richmond, there are also several districts devoid of our church's ministrations. The claims of all these districts were by the convener brought under the notice of the Mission Board of the Presbyterian Church m Ireland, who undertook to appoint and send nut two men to minister to them, one on the west coast portion of the province, and one on the west side of Blind Bay, but as yet no information has been received of the appointment of either. Meanwhile Mr Calder is doing what he can to visit m the districts more adjacent to the City of Nelson. The important district of the Amuri, rendered vacant by the translation of the Rev Mr Hogg, will now become a distinct charge, and will uot be long m having again thq blessing of a resident pastorate. The commity tee are glad to report that a fine site ,has r >6en given m the township of Waiiwi, by'Mf"Kutherford, as a site for a church and manse for the charge. The committee are convinced that the destitute state of %tee provinces, of Nelson and Marlborough caJJ^T at this instant more loudly for the serious attention of the whole church than any^ner portion of the field under the church's/care, and they expi'ess the earnest hope thatr Whatever the Assembly may do with resijpct to the continuance or abolition of this ! -scheme of the church, they will take measures for dealing effectually with the destitution here referred to. This is the weak point m the church's present line of operations, and it will be to her disgrace if she does not strengthen it." Auckland Races. — These races, which come off on the Ist and 2nd proximo, present a fair programme. The meeting will open with a Maiden Plate — a sweepstakes of 10 soys, with 100 added j one mile and a half. Then comes — A Handicap of 10 soys, with 150 added, two miles ; a Sweepstakes of 5 soys, with s<) added, weight for age, and penalty for winner of Maiden Plate, one mile and a-quaf ter ; Inkeepers' Purse — a sweepstakes of 5 soys, with 75 added, weight for age, with penalties, one mile and ahalf; Yeomanry Plate — sweepstakes of 3 soys, with 40 added, welterweights, gentlemen riders, one mile and a quarter ; a Pony Race closing the day's sport. The second day will open with ■<. Produce Stake for horses bred m the province ; followed by the Jockey Club Handicap — a sweepstake of 10 soys, with 150 added, two miles ; Ladies' Purse— a sweepstakes of 5 soys, with. 50 added, weight for age, and penalties for winners of the previous day, one mile ; Hurdle Race — sweepstakes ot 3 soys, with 30 added, one mile and a half ; and Consolation Stakes of 3 soys, with 30 added, weight for age, one mile. Mr Redwood's filly, Malvina, the winner of the Maiden Plate at the Canterbury meeting, passed through Nelson on Tnesday, on her way to Auckland, m charge of E. Cutts, who had also with him a three-year-old colt, by Diqmedes, out of Queen of the South, belonging to Mr Watt, of Auckland, who could not b« got ready for the Canterbury races. There will be a large field of Maidens at the Auckland meeting, and as many of them are well-bred, some at least should be fair animals. Peeress we observe is disqualified, but Mr Walters has Yatterina and Slander ; Flying Jib, and possibly Black Eagle, will run, so there should be no lack of sport. We have heard since with regret that Malvina was restive on the passage to Onehunga, and slightly lamed herself.— Examiner. Compulsory Marriage. — The "Flan cur" m Sydney, m reference to a letter which appeared iu^he Oamaru Times, New Zealand, advocating compulsory marriage as a means of populating, and colonising the country, preferable to retaining the services of a paid immigration agent, says : — " I don't see why not. It seems to be the fashion of the day to make everything involuntary—' no compulsion, only you must !' Compulsory education, compulsory vaccination, compulsory teetotalism, — why not compulsory matrimony ? But we all remember the old story of the border laird with the ugly daughter, who, having captured a notorious border reiver, swore that he should marry ' Mucklc-mouthed Meg,' or swing for it, whereupon the said reiver, haviug seen the intended bride, deliberately declared his preference for for ttie halter to the altar.

We regret to learn that the caterpillars are already making sad havoc with crops both north and south of Auckland, and many a fair field of oats has had to be mown down to save even a remnant from destruction. The pheasants and insectivorous birds are doing some good to keep down the hordes of crickets and caterpillars with which, this Northern Island abounds, but their numbers are quite insufficient to cope with the armies of grubs swarming around. — Southern Cross. Salmon Ova for Nelson. — We stated a short time ago, that Mr Huddleston, Secretery to the Nelson Acclimatization Society,, had addressed a letter to the Society m San Francisco, relative to the possibility of -obtaining American salmon and sea-trout ova, as also some of the game birds of the country. By the mail on Monday last, Mr Huddle3tbn received a most satisfactory reply, and is promised' salmon ova by the next or following steamer, with sea-trout ova later m the season, and also such birds as can be procured out of a list forwarded by that gentleman. This effort of Mr Huddleston to obtain for our rivers the king of fish, at a comparatively small cost, entitles him to our warmest thanks. — Examiner.

is Jstated to be the nnmbor of persons employed by^ifessrs BrdgdenX Co. on the various railways fLr which they fikve routracted :— Men Aixck^d and Rail way ... 512 Napier *jad Pakigaki Railway ... 29 Picton aii(ft>"Bleriheinv Rail way ... 168 Wellington aS^llutt Railway ... 120 Dunedin and Clfefclia Railway ... 284 Invercargill and M&^taura Railway... 150 ■ X ■'■■■' -*— Total ...X .. ... 1263