LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXIII, Issue 224, 24 October 1887, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

A Mablkorouc-h Patent —Mr H. D. Vavasonr, of Flaxb .urne, has applied for & patent foe a wire strainer. . Thk Antimony Compant.— An eminent London Q.O. haß applied for a thousand snareß m the New Zealand Antimony : Company which is being brought oat by Sir Walter Buller. The Weather. — Capt. Edwin telegraphed at 1-39 p.m. to-day -.—Expect west to south and sontu-easfc heavy gale, Tjrit.h very cold weather, and glass rise : fasti fIoKTtCDriTDRiL. — Thß Secretary of the Horticultural Society desires us to state that the prize schedules for the forthaoming Show may be obtained from the Treasurer, Mr P. C. LUchfield, from Mr ; Sherwood, sod from Mr Gillespie. Chorch or the NATiYiTy.—His Lord--1 ship the Bishop of Nelson conducted the i services at this Church yesterday. In the , morning the Bishop administered the rite of Confirmation to thirty-nix young people of both sexes, and m the evening he preached a special sermon to the young, ! taking his text from Matthew xvi, verae 24. , OmciATiNG Ministers.— The names of the Key. Oliver Dean (Church of England) 1 and the Key. John Dickgon (Presbyterian) are ca/.ettnd under " The Marriage Act, 1880," as Olfieia'ing Ministers ; while the name of the Re.r. Irimana Paeuta his been withdrawn from t.ie list at tbe request of tlia Bishop of Waiapu. A Cmcan Sheep District.— A notice m r the Gazette, dated the loth instant, -fie ; clares that his Excellency the Governor ■ has been pleased to declare the Om&ka • Sheep District to be a clean sheep du:rict | under "The Sheep Act, 1878." , Anniversary Exoitrsiox.—Hilidaymakera and aifchfc seeis will be glad to learn that it has be^n decided that the smart new steamer Kaniori will run ao. excursion from Blenheim to Wellington and hack on the Ist November. This steamer's excellent passenger aeeoairaoda' tion, and her fast steaming capabilities, should m«ke the trip one of the pleasanfceat outiugfl offered to the public on the above day. The return fare will, we believe, be fixed 3fc a low price. Details will be advertised m a fft» days. 'f as Rowin« Cm»k.~ The superior attractions ot the Lawn Tennis Toarna-ments-or raiher of the JaHfis present thereat - prsved too strong tn admit of the boatinat season oeing opened on Sitarday. Only a few members attended, and it was decided lo postpone the ceremony. Betorneh — The many friends m MarlboronKh of Mr P. T. Parmar will bs pleased to learu that gentleman came baok to Blenheim from his trip to the Old Country on Friday evening list. Mr Faruiar, who has bean away just six months, went Home by the 'Frisco route, and returned by way of Su*y and Melbourne. He spent a month m America, two weeks m Krance, and the remainder of the time he devoted to tripping about England and generally enjoying himself. Edcc vrtoxAt, Inktito tk. — There waa a good attendance of te?cherß and others at the meeting of the Marlborough ISdaoditional lustituie, held oa Saturday last at the Boroogh School. Messrs W. Tissiman and J. Reynolds were elected delegates to represent Marlborough at the general meeting of the New Zealand Educational in3titut?, wlrch will be held m December next at Nelson. An excredingly well written, and interesting pupec on " Com-posit-'on," read by Miss Morgan, elicited tha hearty approval of those present at ttae meeting, and a vote of thanks was presented to the fair composer. Me Reynolds consented to bring up a paper at the next meeting on " Home Lessons." The proceedings at the ordinary meeting m December will he varied Bomewhat. Instead of reading a paper, as is usual at these g&tbe<ing«, a discussion on one of Shakespeare's plays— Henry V.— will be raised, and the friends of members of the Institute will be invited to attend and take part. Picton Road Board. — A meeting of the Picton Road Board was held on the 15th October. There were present, Messrs Sullivan, (Chairman), Powick, Smith, Home, Randall and Bragg. Proposed by Mr Home, seconded by Mr Sullivan, That all work done by the Board, ha shown four days before tenders are called for. Carried. A letter was received from Mr Wilson, re tbe Mud Road, and on the motion of Mr Bragg, seconded by Mr Home, it waa decided to grant the application contained m Mr Wilson's letter. Two tenders were received by Mr Bragg for tilling up approaches to Koromifco Bridge, .J. Alpntt i"6 5a (accepted), W. Gilßhriat £•>. It was proposed by Mr Raudall, that tenders for certain works at each end of the road be called for, the tenders to be sent into and opened by the members at the different ends of the district. Carried. It was resolved fcbaC the members of the Board meet at Tua Marina on the 2f>;h of this month, to inspect the Tua Marina Bridge. The Inspector was instructed to report on the road to P»ta at Brest wetfing.

Is Camp.— The K«Hant Marllwrough Hussars went into damp, for their an- ml training, on Saturday evening hat. We fear that with the siring wind blowing chey will have had, so far, anything but a comfortable time of it m their light and airy tents. The camp was visited yesterday by a large number of Blp.nheim people, and the afternoon was made enjoyable by selections of music played by the Friendly Sccietios Band, under the leadership of Mr Onrrie. Coxcrrt.— Wo understand that a conpert, to he held nnder thfi auspices of the Mfirlhorough Caledoni.au Society, will take plaoo at E wart's Hall on the evening of the !)f.li November. Everyone will remember the enjoyable concert given by this Society last year : on this occasion, however, the songs will not be entirely Scotch, but. a varied programme will be i presented. ■ Tim Hiiskuxun's. — A summoned meet ing of the H.A.C.D.S. is to be held ou Monday next the 31st instant. The business to be transacted will be found stated m an advertisement which appears m our columns to-day. Pni/.i-: Winners.— The Nelson Corporation having invited competitive designs for the drainage of the city, with the offer of L2OO for the best and LSO for the second, have received designs f rom various places, and Mr Hay, C.E., of Dunedin, was called to aid as an expert m coming to a decision. It transpires that Mr A. F. Somerville, of Nelson, receives the L2OO, and Mr H. B. flnddlestone, of Blenheim, the second of Ji'iO. ■ Laws' Tp.xsis.— With the propitious weather of Saturday the gala day of the Marlborough Lawn' Tennis Club was. a. marked success. The ground was gaily: decorated with Hags and bnntiug, and the picture presented on the ground when, at ■■•■2.80 p.m., Mr John Holmes, the President of the. Club, m the orthodox manner declared the courts open, was a charming one. Here and there m the large, assemblage of members and friends were worn the. prominent and tasteful colors (navy blue and white) of the Club, and among the becoming dresses of the ladies were those worn by Mosdames Lucas, Jvellas, De Castro, anil P. Pannav, Misses Farmar (2), Ferguson, and Pasley (2). The~'cTay" was celebrated by a series of matches, Married versus Single, and the fact that thirty-seven members took part, speaks well for the popularity of the. Club. Every game was watched with considerable interest, and the majority of the sets were fought to the bitter end; but the Married had to succumb to the superior play of their opponents. Of 229 games played the Married were credited with 107, and the Single with 122. Among the sets which drew special attention was a well contested one played by MissDouslin the lady champion of the province, whose staying powers proved too much for her opponent. Among the visitors present we noticed His Lordship the Bishop of Nelson, Mrs Maitland Gardner (of Christchurch), Misses Williams. and Speed (of Wellington), Mrs Lamb (of Auckland), Miss Wither and Major Webb (of Kelson). and Rev. Thos. S. Grace, and Mrs Grace. Tea and cake were provided, and m the superintendence of the table Mrs Holmes had no easy task, but everyone recognised the completion of the day's enjoyment m the soothing cup, supplied by the fair hands of her assistants. The exertions of Mr Howard, the Hon. Secretary, met with universal approval. Tub Govbrn'mkxt Savings Bank. — The Savings Bank returns show that m spite of the cry of depression all over the Colony at present the number of deposits have increased, and the number of withdrawals have decreased, the returns for the past quarter being— Deposits, 86,*m9, amounting to .£327,195 10s lOd; withdrawals, '2li8"»7, amounting to £28.5.70 l 4s ; showing an excess of deposits over withdrawals of £41,444 (is lOd. For the same period last year the returns are —Deposits, 35,3:38, to the value of .C2i?o,s<i7 ' 5s lid: withdrawals, '22, % 2(i(i, amounting to £34">,140' I.ls 7d. There are three districts each having seven savings banks, viz., Blenheim, (ireymouth. .and Westport. The returns for these districts give some idea of the earning and saving powers of the residents of the several localities. Blenheim district has for the past quarter 50i» deposits to the amount of £0;">22 19s "d ; Greymouth district, 1027 deposits, amounting to £13,202 13s 4d : Westport deposits, ">f}4, amounting to .t'4700 7s lid. Thk PnnrATF/s llkskinatiox. — The Primate of Now Zealand gives the following reasons for his resignation : — " I take this opportunity of informing you that it is my intention, if my life is prolonged to that date, to resign my oilice at the end of next year. In my present state of health I. feel" myself capable of doing some work, and important work, m the diocese, and that it is my duty to do it if my health is continued ; but there is other work to be done, and it requires a younger and abler man. I therefore purpose convening the Synod for the next session as soon as may be convenient after 'Easter next, that steps may be. taken for the appointment of my successor." $Post Office Kevemrb. — The Postofuoe revenue for the quarter is L 46.670 t)s 7£d, as against L 44.838 13s fid for the similar quarter of last year. The receipts from the various sources show an increase m nearly every item, with the exception of postage received from foreign offices, which is L4f)/>l lss (id, as against LSIG2 17s (id last year, aud the commission received from money orders is only L 2052 Is an against 1/20(14 10s 8d for last year. The success of the postal note service may account for this decrease. The revenue collected at the Blenheim oflice was as follows :— Private box and bag rents L 7, money order commission Li4l 14s 2, Stamps sold LSOI Ifis lOd, postal guides 2a fid, postal-note commission L2l 6s 9cl, miscellaneous LI 9b, total LBSB, 9s 3s. Imports Axr> Exportk. — The total declared value at imports to the colony during the September quarter was £1,845,132 In the corresponding quarter of last year it was £1,981,708. The total exports for the period were, £1,118,739, as compared with £1,02(5,658 m the corresponding quarter of the previous year. The value of the Wairau imports for the quarter were from the United Kingdom £2,439, from New South Wules £102, from Victoria £103, from South Australia £24, from Tasmania, £0, and from the United States L 3 2; the total being £2,7GG, as Against L 5,047 for the corresponding quarter of last year. The value of the exports from the Wairau were : To the United Kingdom £4,061 ; and to Brazil L 3 2; the total being £4,093. The value of the Picton imports wa« L 73, as against L274- last year. The Omaka Sbssp Dibtbiot. — The following boundaries of the newly constituted Omaka Sheep District, to which we made .reference & few days ago, have been gazetted : — "All that area m the Provincial District of Maryborough bounded generally towards the North and West by the Ouaka River from the lieuwick New Road to the dividing fence between the Hawkesbnry Ran aud land m occupation of John Newrnaa ; thence generally toward* the South and Weßt by that dividing fence to the southern boundary of Section No. 7, Block 1., Avon Survey District ; tbence by that boundary, the dividing fence batween the Brookby sad Tyntesfield Runs, the southern bonn Jaries of Sections Nos. 110, Avon Survey Digtiiot, 109, 30 of Square 42, 107 and 106, Taykr PaHs Survey District, and a tributary of the Fairhal! R-.ver to the Fairnall River ; thence generally towards the Bast and North by that river ta the south-eastern corner of Section No. 108, j Taylor Paßa Survey District ; thence by a pubfic tati wjrosn tire Feiro*ll Rrver ft <

I its junction with another public ioatl j intersecting Sections NO3. 15 '••tul 10, Block 1., Taylor Pass Survey District; thence by that road to a point m Section No. 102, Taylor Pass Survey District, 1375 links from its southern bound iry ; thence by a line p rallel to the aouthern boundary of said Section No. 102 to the Pairhall Kivor aforesaid, and by that river to the dividing fence between the Hawkesbury Run and land m the occupation of Edward Pairhall ; thence by that dividing fence to the Renwiek Neve Road aforesaid, and by that road to the O.naka River aforesaid." Postal Not ks.— -The postal note service is gradually growing m public favor, the commission last quarter from that source amounting to L 226 5s lOc'l as againsb L 174 7s 7d of last year. In the postal district of Blenheim there were 380 postal notes sold, of the vaUie of L 154 '2s 9d, the commission being L 2 16j Pd. Money Orders, — TLr Money Order Office show a fair increase over last year's work. For the last quarter the number of orders issued were 39,070 to the amount of £137,250 63 7d ; aad orders paid, 3i,252, to the amount of £121,822 2s 4i. For the 3orresponding quarter last year the figures were — Of tiers issued, 38,443 ; amount, £135.008 2s 81. Orders paid, .'(2,024 ; amount £120,709 7a lOd. In the postal district of Blenheim there were BSO orders issued of the value of £3073 123 Id : and there were 333 paid of the value of £1,305 14s "d. Gorit> Dott.— The gold duty return for the whole of the Colony from April Ist to September 30>h, 1887. shows a decrease of 0,825 ounces, the returns being, for the period ending September 30th. 1887, ■"53,471 ' ounces, valued at £211.332; and for the samo period of 1850. GJ,296 ounces, valued at £235 871. The returns from Auckland ami Marlbirough are heavier this year thtn-daet, hut Nelson, Ocai^o, and the West Coaat show a deereisa. The total amount of "gold entered for duty for exportation from the whole of the Colony from tha earliest finds to date of September 30th. 1837, is 11,175,702 ounces, valued at £43,863, 429. Telegraph Department,— There ia a dighfc. falling off m the return for the Telegraph Department. The paid telegrams sent during lasb quarter were 309,450, a number for which cash was received L 22.570 19a 2d, as against 474,090 messages, valued at L 25.759 11s for a similar quarter last year. There i 8 a considerable increase, however, m the number of Government telegrams. The last quarter sbows that 04,812 messages were sent valued -at L10.G05 ss, as against L 59,051, valued at LG4uO Os Id, for a similar period last year. The number of paid telegrams taken at the Blenheim office was 9,1 OS, for which £510 ■%* 51 waR received ', the number of Government telegrams put m was 1,068, the value 1 eing £200 10?. BiiLWAY Returns. — The railway traffic returns for the four weeks ending the 17th September sho v thR total receipts to have been £63. 898 3*, as against £02,505 llu" collecfced m the corresponding period of I last year. T.se North Is and lines yielded £20,937 os, us a^aiust £21,09S 14s 5d ; ! and the Middle Island lines £42,900 17s, as against £U,400 I(s* 7d. The total expenditure was £52,135 12s 9d, as against £51,051 ?>3 JOd. the North Island liius j absorbing £18 553, as ompared with £10.447 Is 01 ; and the Middle Island lines £33.582 84 lOd. as against £34,574 23 41. The proportion of expenditure to levenue on the several lines for a v*»arJy average during the two periods. I.SBO 87, was as follows: — \ ! orth Island— Kawa kawa, 03 34. 03 80; Whanearei, 11215,; 85 36: Auckland. 81 59, SIV23; Napier, 0782, 00 41; 80-02, 78"(>0 ; Wanganui, 89 96 OS 02. Middle Island— FJurunui-Blnif, 07 95, 7-°-02 ; Greymouth, 54-28, 5,;-52 ; Westp >rt, 48 9j, 43-40 ; Nelson, *0 8(>, 7609; Pinto-, 11103, 103-65. Oraud total. 7 1 55, 74-99. On the Picton section the total re;eip^s were L 38 1113 114, as compaied with £395 10s 7d m the four weaks of last year. The number of passengers carried was 2027. aa against 2037 ; and the fare* amounted 10 to £152 la 10d, as against £137 15s 3d. Nkw Zkalasd asp Rabaton*<u.— On the 26th of April last Sir R. Stoat forwarded i to the Governor the following memorandum m regard to the proposed appointment of an agent at Earotonga : — " Referring to the despatch from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, | Ministers desire to point out that the proposals of Her Majesty'B Government is not m accordanos with the offer made by them m their memo, of the 28th October, 1885, which \v«ia as follows : — ' If Her Majesty's Government leava to the New Zealand Government the nomination of an officer to act as vice-consul, and also as agent for New Zealand, Ministers wonld undertake to propose to Parliament that this Colony should pay his salary ; and they fully believe that Parliament would sanstion such approval.' Ministers, however, feel unable to ask tbe New Zealand Parliament to vot9 the pay and allowances specified m Mr Stanhope's deßpatoh for a vice-eonsnl at Earatonga to be named by Her Majesty's Government. As regards the dnties of an agent for New Zealand at Raraton«a, Ministers desire that the consular officer appointed should have special regard to the development of trade between this Colony and the islands under his consular jurisdiction.