NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Marlborough Express, Volume VIII, Issue 484, 22 March 1873, Page 5

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

It_ is an invariable rnie with all respectable journals to require that the real name of the writer should, m strict confidence, accompany any communications. We have received a letter with the signature of "A Lover of Verse," but have been obliged to -lay it aside until the omission has been repaired. Quiz, Picton.— Your letter only reached us last night, when the correspondence portion was printed. Will appear on Wednesday.

A telegram received last night states that the Wallace will leave Nelson for Blenheim on Tuesday next.

His Honor Mr Seymour proceeds to Nelson to-morrow to attend the anuual meeting of College Governors.

We are iuformed that the next session of the Provincial Council will be opened on Monday the 12th .of May next, of which due notice will shortly be gazetted.

Accidents.— On Wednesday last when the Picton Volunteers were out skirmishing with blank cartridge, MrS. Harris was accidentally ■wounded m the leg, and another man m the arm. We are happy to hear that "neither of the cases "were serious.

Short Hand Class.— We regret to notice thab a second attempt to establish a class for the study of Phonetic Shorthand, has again proved abortive. We are at a loss to understand the apathy of. the young men of this locality ; the exertions of the Committee, and the liberal offers of gentlemen of well known ability to conduct classes gratuitously, certainly deserve more attention from the public. We sincerely hope that Mr Church and other gentlemen will not grow weary m their efforts to do good. ' \

Clark Testimonial. — It will be remembered that some few weeks ago a halfcrown subscription list was opened at our office with a view of refunding to Mrs Clark of Picton the penalty which was levied upon her m the Eesident Magistrates Courb. . The list was closed after laying for a fortnight, and the result was a total sum of thirteen guineas, of which £8 2s 6d was contributed by friends m Blenheim, 10s from four friends m Havelock, and £4 10s 6d m Picton. This sum was pi-esented to Mrs Clark this week, who wishes us to thank the contributors for their kind consideration which will not be readily effaced from her memory, aud the expression of a sense of justice shown by their gift. . ■ .

The Ltbei. Oases. — The numerous enquiries made of us as to the present state of the actions m the Supreme Court with reference to the late proceedings, and when and where they are likely to be heard, have induced us to make some enquiries respecting them. We learn that the cause of delay m the two civil actions lies' with the, defendants, who were, unable to proceed to trial m January last, and the absence from Nelson of the Judge has prevented the argument of the points of law which have been raised/upon the pleadings. The same cau%e prevented aiiapplication being made for leave to file criminal informations m two other cases. The law's delays are alwa3's vexations, and m those cases, they are peculiai'ly so m keeping this much vexed question m abeyance at least untir June or July next, when, it is to be hoped they will be disposed of. Touching this present delay, we may have more to say anon. .

It will be seen fvorn an advertisement which appeai'3 elsewhere, that Mr C. 0. Montrose has established an Agency for coridnctiug Patents business iv Wellington. This is a want that has been seriously felt by the public. Hitherto applications for the registrations of Patents have been conducted by solicitors, thereby involving heavy legal fees, solicitors being necessarily obliged to forward the applications to other solicitors m Wellington, where the Patent Office is situated. Mr Montrose promises to save much of this expense, and. he undertakes to attend to instructions by telegraph by winch, m caseis of emergency, much valuable time may be saved. From what we know of Mr Montrose we have every reason to believe that clients could not entrust their business to better hands. ,

Fike Brigade. — The Brigade inefc for practice on Monday evening last, and though the muster was not as strong as usual — owiugto the absence of several members from town — the engine worked well, and showed fehe beneGcial results of the careful over-hauling bestowed on it by Mr Warner since taking office as Engine Keeper. On unscrewing the cap to attach the suction hose, the engine was found to be crammed full of stones by some mischievous hand ; the members of the Brigade are determined to prosecute with unsparing rigor any person detected m wantonly tampering with the Fire Engine. We hope this hint will be a warning.

Registration. — In a very few days the opportunity of registering claims to vote willhave passed away for this year, those who attach any value to their political rights should register a.t once. The qualifications under the Constitution Act are as follow : — " Everyman of the age of twenty-one years or upwards, having a freehold estate m possession, situate within the district for which the vote is to be given of the clear value of fifty pounds, above all charges and incumbiances, aud. of or to which he has been seized or entitled, either at law or m equity, for at least six calendar months next before the last registration of the electors, or having a leasehold estate m possession, situate within such district of the clear annual value of ten pounds, held upon a lease which at the time of such registration shall have not less than three years to run, or having a leasehold estate so situate, and of such value as aforesaid, of which he has been m possession for three years or upwards next before such registration, or being a householder within such r[- strict, occupying a tenement within the limits of a town (to be proclaimed as such by the Governor for the purposes of this Act) of the clear annual value of ten pounds, or without the limits of n town of the clear annal value of five pounds, and having resided therein six calendar months next before such registration as aforesaid, shall, if duly 'registered, be entitled to. vote at the election of a member or members of the district. ,

Large shipments t>f wheat continue 'to London from Adelaide. -'■"•■

A man, name as yet unknown, has been drowned m the Kahumingi River, near Masterton.

A gentlemen advertises m the "Wairarapa Standard for "for a boy to milk and attend to horses."

The s. s. Phosbe prooeeded to Sydney on March 8, for the purpose of getting new boilers, and being thoroughly overhauled.

In a stirring article on the dearth of labor m th'e Australian Colonies, the Times exhorts the working men to go where prosperity awaits them. .

A supreme Court- action for slander, damages has been commenced by Mr E. A. Drury, against Mr H. B. Roberts, both of Wanganui.

Fiji News.- -200 natives at the Ba River concealed themselves m the cotton, and massacred Mr and Mrs Burns, three children, and 25 laborers.

A cauvjsd house has been erected at Kauruatikapna for the reception of the Maori King, who has promised to haul down his flag, and be friends with the natives and Europeans.

The average yield of wheat throughout the proviuce of Auckland is believed to be from 23 to 25 bushels an acre. — The potato crop is generally a failure.

During a bush fire m the Riwaka district last week, a young man named Michell had .both bones of hi 3 leg broken by a burning tree fa ling upon him.

Fiji Fews. — All- the shares m the Fijian Bank have been taken up. Major Fitzgerald, with a force of 700 men, is attaching the Ba mouutaineers. .

The immigrants per Glenlora, principally female servants, were engaged at from 10a to 15s per iveek, and much higher wages wire offered for the'eountry — m fact, the demand far exceeded the supply, thereby giving them every choice both of place and wages.

Danger op Wrestling. — On the 28th ulh, while two men named A. Steele and Win. McDonald were wrestling together m the Provincial Sale Yards, Dimedin, the former was thrown, and McDonald fell upon him with his foot on Steele's stomach, inflicting internal injuries upon Steele of so serious a character that the unfortunate man has since died.

Wild pigs arc' a great nuisance m the Blue Mountain Range district, Ofcago. They are there to the number oi several thousands, and whole acres of ground are rooted up as thoroughly as if they had been ploughed. Advantage was taken of this condition of the ground to sow it with grass, but no sooner had it sprung up thau it was again completely rooted up.

The agricultural statistics for Canterbury, taken last month, are published m the Gazette, and show that the number of holdings m the province was 3,G19 ;exteut of .broken up, but not under crop, 45,570 acres)} > acres under crop, including sown grasses, 318,658^- ; estimated gross produce of wheat from present crop, 1,487,1741 bushels ; of oats, 897,544/,---bushels; of barley, 134,607 bushels ; of hay, 12,9515 tons ;of potatoes, 9,366f. There w§re 185,420^ acres of land laid down m permanent artificial grass ; and 5,725^ acres were sown with other crops beyond those previously mentioned.

Terse and pithy, pithy and true. True and terrible ; terribly true. This extract, exhumed from the Police Gazette, makes my blood run cold when I read it : — " Woman, name unknown, found drowned m the Yarra. The clothes worn by deceased have been fully identified as those belonging to Helen C. Risley, lately employed as a waitress at Nisen's Cafe, Bourke-street." Terribly real, and cold, and. stern, aud formal, is it , not ? Just m the style of the records of that bluesfcone building at the top of Russell-street. Only a waitress ! What matters if she floats on the water a disfigured corpse, and that the man who destroyed her walks, head erect, to-day m Collins-street ?" — "Timon," m Melbourne Weekly Times.

How English Labourers Live. — The following letter recently appeared m the English Times : — Sir, — If the following balance-sheet will help one-half of the world to know m any degree how some of the other half live, its details may possibly be as worthy the space which they will occupy as a balance-sheet of some huge bankruptcy which you occasionally publish. My informant is the wife of a labourer m my pariah. She is a permanent invalid, unable to earn a penny m any w ay, but a thoroughly clever manager. Were it :.ot for her illness the two items of weekly charity -would, of course, have no place m the list. The details themselves have been more than once challenged by public officei'S and others, and have always been passed as scrupulously correct. There were, when I got the information, six children, the eldest aged 14. Their united earniugs for the year amounted to £2 15s. Income per week. — Husband's day wages, 13s 6d ; wife allowed by a friend,. Is ; parish allowance of flour, 2s ; total, 16s 6d. Outgoings per week.— Rent, 2s ; 7 gallons of flour. 7s ; 21b of Dutch cheese, Is 3d ; lib of butter, Is 4d ; Jib of soap, 2d ; soda aud blue, Id ; salt aud pepper, *d ; l&lbs of caudles, lO&d; 2oz of tea, 4d ; 21b of sugar, 7d ; schooling, 7~d ; cotton, mustard, &c. 7d' milk, 3id ; washing, Is; lnangliug, Id; total, 153 ibid. Extra earnings, per annum.— Hop-picking" (daughter) £\ ; acorns picked up, 15s ; hoptyinw, £1 ; five days' harvest, over and above day wan-es, £1 ss ; hop drying, over and above day wages, £3 6s ; mowing, over aud above day wages, £2 ; profit on two pig 3, £1.- Total, £10 6s. Add yearly income, £42 183. — Grand total, £53 4s.— Extra outgoings per annum. — Benefit club, £1 ; daughter's benefit club, 4s 4d; daughter's boots, 12s ; husband's boot 3, 12s ; five children's -boots, £1 10s ; faggots, £ I '; extra food for husband m hop drying, 10s ; husband's clothes, £1 ; tools, 7s.— £8 4s ; add yearly outgoings, £41 53 6d— total, £49 9s 6d— and there has been a balance of £3 14s 6d per anuuin for coals and meat, and for clothing for the wife and children. The margin for wet days and drink for labourer himself is not large.— An East Sussex Ikcpjibent.— Jfoyember 16,

In a Southern paper attention is called to the damage done to wool bales by careless handling where iron hooks are employed.

The Sydney papers announce that the Victoria, the first of the A.S.N. Go's line of steamers to the Southern ports of New Zealand, is to leave m March, and that New Plymouth ia to be the first port of call.

There are various w ys of ascertaining whether a gun is loaded, but blowing m at the muzzle and pressing the ha iiner back with the foot at the same time is no'; a good way. A young man m one of th •. "cow counties" adopted this plan a few dn .s ago, and though the coroner concluded the ; tin was loaded the information was of no use to the young man.

Ram Letting. — Mr J. Grigg's annual ram letting took place m Christchurch on the 25th of February, and attracted a large number of those interested ia sheep breeding. The universal opinion, amoHg those capable, of judging was, that they were magnificent sheep, and would do credit to any breeder m England. Out of 159 rams submitted, 131 were let for the season, and prices ranging from £7 10s to £2 10s., at averaging £3 7s per head all round.

A few days ago a roan, apparently m distress, called at the house of a benevolent lady at Remuera, aud implored temporary assistance, exclaiming that if she could not give him immediate aid he must resort to something too fearful to contemplate. The lady gave him half-a--crown, and compassionately asked, " What is it, poor man, that I have saved you from?" "Work, madam, work," was the emphatic and melancholy reply. — Auckland Star.

The following sentences are from the Gospel of Agriculture, by John R. Hayes : — " How long, ye shallow ploughers, will it taka to learn you the lesson that one acre deepploughed and well-cultivated will produce nearly double what two acres will shallowploughed and neglected ? Farmers plough deep, subsoil go twice m a furrow, thoroughly mix and incorporate your manure with the soil, itse the harrow, keep the soil completely and continually stirred and pulverised, and you shall reap such a reward aa shallow ploughei'3 hare never dreamed of."

According to the Waikato Times the radiating influences of Oddfellowship have reached the settlements of the "Waikato. "We learn, says this authority, that the necessary provincial officers" of the Independent Order of Oddfellows, M.U., will visit Ngaruawahia on 6th of March, for the purpose of opening a new lodge at that place. There will be great rejoicings 'on that occasion, after the manner of Englishmen. There are already two lodges of Oddfellows m the district; one at Cambridge and another at Alexandra. Wherever such societies have been established there are always to be found a greater or less number of the population putting money away to provide against the monetary distress often consequent on sickr ness or death."

The Warwick Argus statss- that " Mrs Morrissey, whose liusband died some weeks back, bad a field of wheat, that was ripe on her farm, and that, owing either to the scarcity of reapers, or ths means to employ them, the poor widow found herself m a difficulty about saving the crop that a bountiful Providence had sent to herself and her children. The difficulty was, of course, known to all her neighbours, who, to their credit be it said, soon found a ready way of solving it. Some forty or fifty of them assembled on Sunday, and inspired by feelings of true Christian charity, resolved to cut through the Pharasaical red tape of Sabbatical observances, and cut down the widow's wheat. A meritorious action of this kind should not be passed without notice, and we have great pleasure m recording an iustauce of practical Christianity that must resemble the 'floweret of Edeu without the trail of the serpent.' "

Ths following appears m the Otago Dally Times : — " Sir, — I see a man about town who recently had a narrow escape up country from being lynched. At the local races he had entered to ran a hurdle race, his opponent being a lad uuder twenty. Of course everyone backed the man, and heavy bets were laid upon him. The race was run and lost — the boy coming m first. It immediately transpired that the father of the boy had paid £50 to the boy's opponent to lose, and lose he did, pocketing, it is believed a considerable 3um besides the .£SO as the result of his villainy. He bolted, and by one of hi 3 victims was pursued and overtaken. To prevent serious damage to his personal appearance he returned a considerable sum and was allowed to proceed. It shows a very low state of morality when such characters are allowed to set their foot into a respectable hotel or to be permitted by any committee having the pretence of honesty to appear amongst them. But I fear my feeble warning will ba of no use, aud that designing rogues will continue to flourish and prosper; and make their little game at the expense of simple fools until the world ends."

Tjiue if not New.— The Nelson Examiner, m a recent issue, remarks : — Our Upper House, lias no root m history, its members represent no body, and nothing but themselves, neither 1 the wealth, nor the education, nor the intelligence of the country. It contains indeed able men, but they are simply made useless to the colony by their being there. Possibly, of all New Zealand politicians, the most upright and experienced, certainly the moat single-minded and bravest, is that gallant old officer who presides m the Upper House. There his mature wisdom — his statesmanship — learnt m India, the school of English statesmen, administrators, and soldiers — his honesty aud loyalty, the unflinching courage, which has ere now, eveu m N"ew Zealand, enabled him to walk amid the threats and jeers of the angriest and largest mob that wa3 ever collected m this colony, with as even a step and as serene a smile, as m the lobbies of the House where all these five qualities, so rare m colonial statesmen, are lost to us. We do not conceal our opinion, that any Upper House 13 an unnecessary expense to the couutry which does not want and does not possess two sets of able and trustworthy public men, if it even contain one ; that consequently it is a prison-house to the valuable men it does contain, and as a nominee Upper House especially it is a costly and useless farce."

The body of a man was found m the lagoon at Oamaru on March 4. It had evidently been m the water some days. An inquest was held and an open verdict returned. The deceased is supposed to be James Lyons, a native of England.

Seven hundred and seventy thousand acres under cultivation m South Australia, have yielded an expected average of twelve bushels of wheat to the acre. The surplus of wheat for export is from 160,000 to 170,000 tons.

At Wanganui on 12th March at the autumn show, there was a splendid exhibition of fruits. The apples were particularly good- A plate of Wanganui grown oranges were exhibited. The show of flowers was also good. The attendance was large.

The Tichbqrne claimant has entered a recognizance m £20000 to answer at the Court of Queen's Bench on charge of contempt, for a speech at Brighton. Onslow and Whalley, Members of Paliament, have been fined £100 each for publicly accusing Sir John Duke Coleridge of conspiring to deprive the Tichborne claimant of his rights.

Good. — During a sheep stealing case at Wellington, Mr Allen argued that the prisoner Death must be innocent, because he appeared to be a fool, and sheep stealers were very elver. His Honor took exception to the argument, which he said meant that rogues were clever and honest men fools. In spite of the supposed division of tliß race into knaves and fools, his experience led him to believe that the greatest knaves were the biggest fools. — Post.

Our readers will remember that the residents of Greytown and its neighborhood m the Wairarapa, memorialised the Government a short time ago to be formed into a municipality. We understand that one result of the memorial will be that an endeavor will be made next session to pass a bill, to enable the Provincial Councils to grant municipal powera more easily to districts, than does the present Municipal Corporations Act. — Post.

Auckland despatches received from Tauranga, state that Mr 0. De Thierry has succeeded iv leasing four large runs m the Roiorua district, the surveys of which will be commenced at once. The King natives are not to interfere with the surveys. The land is of superior quality, and much of it is covered with natural grass. The effect of these leases, it is believed will be to open up the whole of the Taupo and Lake country. There is great rejoicing amongst the Rotorua natives m consequence, who are willing to lease the Kamgarow plains. .

An extensive fire occurred at Melbourne on March. 3, on the premises of Messrs Connell, Watson, and Hogarth, wholesale grocers, Flindei'3 1 Lane. They held the largest stock m the colony, which was valued at £75,000. The stock was insured for £G9,103, divided pretty equally aiaohgst the various insurauce offices. A further amount of £10,500 they had neglected to renew on expiring policies. , It was feared at one time that the premises of. Banks Brothers would be sacraficed, but the fire kept within "VTatson's premises. The damage to Banks' stock is about £3000 by water. The fire was witnessed by thousands, and tne sight was very grand, the store being filled with spirits and other inflammable matter.

The Governor delivered an address to the Natives at Ngaruawhai, after, the war dance. He spoke of the vcarm welcome he had received from the two , races ' now living m peace and friendship, and - wished that the Maoris and Europeans would form into one great people, as' the rivers Waipa and Houtua . mingled their waters into one river at Ngaruawhia. He hoped war was closed and passed for ever, and that the sun of peace would ever shine forth. All the Maori political prisoner had been set free by him ; not one remained ; so that, as soon as the necessary arrangements could be made, a general amnesty would be proclaimed m the name of the Queen, for all past acts of rebellion by political offenders. He hoped such an act of grace would further cement the friendly relations existing between the two races, and urged them to devote attention to the arts of peace and industry, to secure for themselves the comforts enjoyed by Europeans.

Greymouth Races. — These races came off on Monday and Tuesday last with tlie following results : Telegraph Stakes, of 30 sov3 ; 1$ miles ; Mr Walters' Yatterina, walked over. Wes bland Hurdle Handicap, of 75 soys, 2i miles ; Mr M'Gee's Dick Turpin, 1 ; Mr Skelton's Septimus, 2. The following horses also ran, Mr. Campbell's Harlequin, Mr J. Jerome's Mozzele and Mr Garforth's Commodore. Greyraouth Jockey Club Handicap, of 175 soys, with, a sweep of 7 soys, added ; Distance, 2£ miles ;Mr Webb's Gossip, 1 ; Mr Walters' Yatterina, 2 ; followed by Mr Nosworthy's Envy, Mr Campbell's Harlequin, Mr M'Gee's Dick Turpin, and Mr Webb's' Prima Donna. District Plate, of 50 soys ;1\ miles ; Mr Carroll's. Lacenfeed, 1. Gold-Field's Handicap of 125 soys ; Distance, l'{ miles ; Mr Walters' Slander, 1." Hurdle Handicap of 30 soys ; Distance, about 2 miles ; Mr M'Gee's Dick Turpin, 1. Steward's Haudieap, 50 soys ;1£ miles ; Mr Walters' Yatterina.

An extraordinary case lias occurred t?t Haurald. Ana Folks, widow, aged. 73, was found hanging man outhouse, The person who discovered her went for a constable, and the constable fetched a doctor, who pronounced life extinct, butuone of themcut the body down. The body was left hanging for -36 hours, during which time all the people m the village went and saw it. The coroner being absent, Mr Kells, J.P., summoned a jury, who viewed the body while it was hanging, but did not order it to be cut down. The inquest was most irregular, A verdict oifelo de se was returned, although . it was shown that the woman was insane. The Inspector of Police at Auckland was not informed of the occurrence uniil the inquest was over, when the Sergeant of Police went and had the body, which was decomposed when it was cut down, placed m a coffin. The Rev. E. A. Hall now refused to bury it, or permit it to be buried iv the cemetery until after the expiration of seven nights, as provided m the church prayer-book, but theXpolice buried the woman fa defiance of him without any religious service,

The official census reports 269,000 slaves m Cuba.

A sitting of the Supreme Court, under the Dfvorce and Matrimonial Causes Act, will be held m Wellington on the 19th of May.

A movement has been commenced at Blackburn, m Lancashire, to ciose the mills, m consequence of the dearness and scarcity of fuel.

A splendid meteor was seen last night (says the Westport paper of March 4th) about 9 o'clock, flashing southward. It passed right over the town, and as it vanished from sight it left behind a brilliant streak of light, which was visible for nearly five minutes. The sight was magnificent. -.

Gold South of ] Hokitika. — CapfcainThompson, harbormaster of Okarito, writes that ou the 26th ult., a party of three men came m from the foot of the Waihp glacier, bringing with them thirty-eight ounces' of gold. The sample was exceediugly large scaly gold. Another party from the Lake District also speaks m high terms of the ground m that vicinity. — Westland Register.