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Marlborough Express, Volume XIII, Issue 1080, 20 November 1878, Page 5

-Daniel Burn, tinsmith, has filed a declaration of insolvency, at Wellington. The Secretary of the Horticultural Society requests us to say that prize takers afc the late show will oblige him by calling m at his office and accepting the awards of the judges. Another telegraph wire is we understand to be put up between this place and Christchurch. Mr S. Macalister the Inspector arrived here on Monday from Nelson to superintend the work. . An application by Messrs Avis and Co for a slaughter-house license was made at the R. M. Court on Monday last, S. L. Muller Esq. PJ M., S. Johnson Esq. J. P. and H. D. Church Esq. J. P. sitting on the Bench. The application was granted. Enquiries are being made respecting Timothy Balton, aged 24 years, who sailed from Hobart Town to New Zealand, July 1874. His parents received the last; tetter from him on the 28th July 1877. He was then m Blenheim. Information may be given to the Rev. F. Sauzeau, or sent to the Express office. Vagrancy. — William. Hobury, an elderly man, who has been frequently before the R.M. Court, and is known by th*» soubriquet of '■' Death Recorded " was brought before S. L Muller, Esq., R. M., on Tuesday, charged with having no visible means of support. He made no defence, and was sentenced to 3 months hard labour. The Marlborougli portion of the immigrants who arrived by the Edwin Fox at Nelson on Monday may he expected hereto-day. They are all m good health, and if they are of the right sort, they are sure to meet with immediate employment, the labor market being by no means overstocked m the district. A meeting of creditors m the estate of Mrs Isabella Dalgleish, of Havelock, Licensed Victualler, was convened for yesterday at the Supreme Court office, but no creditors attended. The meeting was adjourned until this morning, with the same result. We understand that Mr Griffiths has been appointed Trustee. Havelock. — At the Warden's Court on Thursday last there were three applications for water races which were unopposed, and were all granted. In the R.M. Court a case of assaulting the police was disposed of, the defendant pleading guilty, and being fined 103, and 6s 6d costa. The remaining cases were postpon ed till n ext Court day — to-morrow week— owing to the indisposition of Mr Allen, R.M., caused by his recent accident. "We again take the opportunity of reminding the theatre-going portion of our readers that Mr and Mrs Hart and Company will open this evening, for a short season only, at Ewart's Hall. The programme is an attractive one, and entirely new here. It comprises "Double Dealngs," "Money Matters," and " My Wife's Relations." Mr Hart's speciality banjo act, of which repute speaks highly, will also be introduced here for the first time. Miss Kate Russell, La Petite Louise, and Herr Reinhold Geyger, will contribute to the evening's entertainment, which promises to be an excellent one, and a full house may confidently be anticipated. The Venerable Archdeacon Stock has discovered the cause and cure of larrikinisra. In the course of his sermon at St. Paul's last night, taking occasion to animadvert on and deplore the growth of that nineteenth-century pest, he said its rise and progress was attributable to wholly secular education m our day schools, and its fall could only be brought abut by an entire hange m the State system of teaching the young now prevailing m most colonial communities.— Exchange. [What can Archdeacon Stock and the other ministers and Sunday School teachers be doing; ? Surely they do not want the School masters to do their work.] Monday last was the Nomination day for the office of Mayor of Blenheim, and Mr A. G. Fell for the third time was nominated by "the party," and Mr Samuel Johnson by the Ratepayers' Reform Association. The occasion is noticeable for a decidedly new feature ; while the party is canvassing and using all the tricks and dodges they so well know how, Mr Johnson is determined to do neither one nor the other. He states that while he has the strongest possible sense of the honor that it would be were he the chosen of the people, he cannot and will not canvass for votes, preferring to accept the fiat of the electors, given without fear or favor so far as he is concerned. The polling day is Wednesday, next week. The Promoters Company having been established to work the ground of the old Sutherland Gold-mining Company under the new name of the Picton and Havelock Gold-mining Company, the promoters shares, ICO of LlO each, are, we are informed, all taken up, and it is intended to proceed vigorously with the working immediately. It is proposed to put m a tunnel of 120 feet on the opposite side of the hill to that on which the old workings are. The prospect is said to be an excellent one. There is plenty of water power available by which the expenses of crushing will be reduced to a minimum so that a few pennyweights to the ton would be sufficient to pay, and a much larger return is confidently anticipated. The benefits which would result to the District from the success of goldmining m the Wairau Valley and the surrounding neighbourhood can hardly be over-estimated!

My. "Deck. — This gentleman preached at Grove Town last Sunday afternoon to a crowded congregation, and m the Temperance Hall, Blenheim, m the evening to a rooir. full. He took for his text the Bth chapter of Romans, Ist verse, " There is therefore now no condemnation to 'them which are m Christ Jesus," delivering a most interesting discourse. The preacher's manner is calm, earnest, and very pleasing, and he was listened to throughout with marked attention. He will preach again on Sunday evening next at the same time and place, also at Grove Town m the afternoon. Canards are getting so frequent that people do not know what to believe. So far as one of the candidates for the Mayoralty is concerned this sort of thing is getting quite monotonous, and we are divided m opinion as to whether it is worth while to correct them. The following are two of the latest specimens :— It is stated that Mr Johnson has guaranteed Mr McNab's account for defending a recent case m Court wherein Mr Johnson. sat on the Bench, which story, if true, would show that he virtually sat to decide a case m which he was interested. This atrocious fable has not a particle of foundation. Again, on Monday the signatures of certain councillors to Cr. Pell's nomination were got by saying Mr Johnson was not coming forward, without consulting him or waiting until the appointed hour for receiving his nomination. We must beg our readers who are concerned m the present election to beware of these stories, which are only circulated with the object of affecting their votes. At the annual meeting of the Clergy and office bearers of the Wesleyan Methodist Church m the Wellington district, which was concluded on Friday last, the Rev. J. B. Richardson was elected secretary to the meeting, and m his unavoidable absence, owing to illness aud death m his home, the duties of the secretariat were discharged by the Rev. W. G. Thomas. Two candidates for the ministry were brought forward for examination, and after the meeting had considered the reports of their sermons, and the results of their literary and theological papers, one of them, Mr Slade of Masterton, late of England, was cordially recommended j to be received by Conference with a view to his being sent to the Theological Institution at the Three Kings, Auckland. The financial report stated that the following new buildings had been undertaken during the year : — Anew schoolroom at Thorndon to cost about L 320 ; a new church at Masterton costing L6BO, at Napier a new manse costing L2lO, at Norsewood a house costing L2lO. The fojlowing sums had been raised during the year for the various connectional funds : — Aged ministers' fund, LB4 15s ; children's fund, L7l 8s ; education fund, L3O 10s ; foreign missions, L 34 5s ; home missions, LlB7 10s. The above sums represent what has been raised m the Wellington district m addition to the support of the circuit ministers and local church 'ordinances. The Rev. J. B. Richardson was elected district representative to accompany the chairman to the Conference to be held m Auckland m January next. The lay members of the Conference will be elected by the various circuits at the December quarterly saeeting. A.-Londou telegram of November 6th, states that Mr Stanley has left for Cyprus, via the Suez Canal, and thence to England. Mr Tom Russell of Auckland is said to have made £150,000 one afternoon lately on the London Stock Exchange, when war between England and Russia appeared imminent. At a conference at Christchuvch held last week with the Charitable Aid Board, the districts of Amuri and' Cheviot were taken into the Christchurch boundaries. Many exhibitors at Paris have applied for space at Sydney. France has appointed a representative to watch over her interests, and •will probably dispatch exhibits m a war vessel. A ; committee is being formed at Paris to establish a permanent International Exhibition at Sydenham. The Auckland papers state that an J official of the Native Department having obtained a block of 10,000 acres of native land m j the north of Auckland, the Government have j ordered the Crown grant to be put aside pending I an inquiry. • The l'eceipts on the Picton and Blenheim railway during the last year show an m I crease over the previous year of L 6 11s 2d. The district must be progressing at the same rate as Mark Twain's English editor at Constantinople ! was getting rich, that was— deliberately, very deliberately. — New Zealander. Invercargill, says the New Zealander ; is a Csesar was — ambitious. The people of that inhospitable place hope yet to have a street tramway which will "take the wind out of Wellington." We hope so, and with the wind we hope it will take the dust too. Invercargill is just the place where all inconvenient things should be taken to. Trade with China. — An article recently appeared m the Foocbow Herald, m which pleasure is expressed at a prospect of a large increase* of trade between China and New Zealand. The importation of Australian -wool into Japan for manufacture is also being commented r>n, and the Southern colonies are just now attracting much attention there. Wellington College. — A few days ago m the Legislative Council, the Hon. •Mr Miller said this college might become the best m New Zealand, being m what would no doubt be its capital for all time. Therefore they should take a broad view of the question. He considered to leave only 19 acres for a playground would be a huge mistake. One of the great canses of the failure of the Dunedin High School, was its want of a playground. The College should try to tide over its present little difficulties without the paltry expedient of letting its reserves to men who, as soon as they had them, would put up their two-penny-balf-penny villas, or tanneries, or public-houses, and such places. [An hon. member — There are provisions againsb that.] Yes, these provisions look excellent on paper, but as soon as you let your land they will laugh at you, and build what they like. I most earnestly hope the Council will not pass the Bill. After further discussion the Bill was carried!

The Czar's yacht, conveying General Grant and the Grand Duke Sergius from Lividia to Odessa foundered. No Jives were lost. "We learn from the Grey River Argus that the necessity of a cleansing process m local politics has forced itself upon the attencion of a section of the residents m the luangahua County, and. a " Reform Association " is being formed for the purpose of influencing the forthcoming elec- ' tions for that County. The Shanghai correspondent of .the N.Z. Press Agency, writing under date September 21st, says :— Mr C. Thatcher, who is well known m Australia and New Zealand, and who had paid several visits to China as a collector of curios, died suddenly here a few days ago from cholera. He had arrived from England only a week previously. The Dunstan Times says: — "Among the wreckage brought down by the late Hoods, and which, could ifc but speak, might possibly tell a tale of horror, is the upper part of the skull of a human being with a hole m the side of it, bearing a suspicious resemblance to a bullet hole. It was found on a newly-formed bank of gravel, about a mile below Mutton Town Gully, by Mr Thomas Sims, and has been presented by that gentleman to the Clyde Athenaeum Museum." Apparently thb Manawatu County Council is m a bad way. A candidate for election to it, ia addressing the ratepayers recently, observed : — " We are m a Maelstrom of corruption, and before we can hope to effect any good we must purge the political atmosphere of the putridify by which we are enveloped." This eloquent gentleman is Mr Loudon, and we notice m the local paper that he has lately been m trouble about what Mr Whyte, a local publican, termed at a public meeting "tampering with a public doonment." Defence of Lyttelton. — The Hon. Colonel Whitmore appears to have been indulging m a little chaff lately at the expense of the good people of Lyttelton. A deputation waited on the gallant Colonel one day last week, on the subject of the defence of Lyttelton. The Colonel said guns would be out by the end of the year. He scouted the idea of any attack on a NewZealand port, and said that even if such a thing did take place the people would soon get used to it. Sheep. — A few days ago m the LegislaevitCouncil, tne Hon. Mr. Hall moved — "That ereht be laid on tde table,^during the next session a return from the Tnspectos of Sheep, showing the number of sheep m the several districts of the Colony and distinguishing the number depastured on Crown and freehold lands, respectivdly; also, showing the number of sheep-owners owing less than 500, f lOOO, 2000, 5000,10,000, 20,000 50,000, 100,000, 200,000, 300,000, 400,000 and 500,000 sheep respectively." — Carried An account is given' m the Auckland Star of the exhumation of nearly a hundred human skulls at a spot supposed to have been a Maori Burial place. It is added, that the workmen have used the most perfeot of the skulls m coping a wall, laid on m an artistic manner, and presenting a not impleasing appearance to the eye. It is not surprising to read, that the dis. covery has made quite a sensation m the neighbourhood, considering the truly " artistic" manner m which these remains have been disposed of. The Poverty Bay Herald is responsible for the following : — lt is singular the mistakes some people make. Only this morniug a wily old Maori stopped one of our legal gentlemen m the street, and said he required a lawyer's services. " All right" said the man of law, "how much money have you m your pocket ?" The native dipped down and replied, "Two pounds," " Trot it out," said the solicitor. " What's the case ?" The Maori banded him a oopy of the summons, and 10, mirabile dictu I the plaintiff was none other than the lawyer himself, who had been suing the unfortunate native for professional costs. Now that native has retained the plaintiff to defend his own case. " This is a strange world, my masters." The following is a comparison of the results of the Civil Service examinations for the years 1876-7 and 1877-8 :— . Year 1876-7 Year 1877-78 Junior Examination examined 107 167 „ „ passed 61 75 failed ...46 82 Senior Examination. examined ...... 36 64 „ „ passed 22 26 „ „ failed ... 14 ? 8 The highest number of marks attained ia the junior examination, December, 1877 i was 1960, out of a possible 2400 ; and m June, 1878, 2047, out of the same maximum. The average number of marks attained on each subject by the best passed candidates m the senior examination was as follows : — December, 1877, 395, out of a possible 600 ; June, 1878, 407 oat of the same maximum. — New Zealander. The following is from the Timaru Herald : — " A certain farmer hi this district, who prides himself on being a ' nipper,' had occasion some time ago to dispose of his surplus stock, amongst which was a three-year-old draught gelding. This particular animal, when put up to auction, did not meet with approval, being stated by experts to be gone m the legs. After the sale, however, the farmer got hold of a 'new chum' carter, and prevailed upon him to buy the horse for L4O. The friends of the purchaser told him he had been regularly ' done' m the transaction, and after six months trial he found the animal was really all but useless, and resolved to get rid of it. Once more it appeared m the sale yards, and was duly eulogised by the • knight of the hammer.' Its original owner, the farmer, happened to attend the sale with a view of buying some horses, and this one came under his eye. He failed to recognise it, and finally became its purchaser at L 75. On going to the auctioneer's office afterwards to settle up, he casually inquired by whom the animal was bred, and then for the first time learnt the truth. The look of disgust which settled on his countenance can better be imagined than described, and it will doubtless be some considerable time before he will again buy a horse before he knows his pedigree.