LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXIV, Issue 258, 20 November 1888, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Mail Tender. — Fresh tenders are to be called for the- Blenheim Kaikoura mail service.

New Zealand Victorious.— A Melbourne cable message says the yacht Akarana won the St Kilda gold medal. . .

.-. Weather Report— At 12.10 p.m. Capt. Edwin wired : — " Northwest to west and south gale. Glass further fall, but rising within twelve hours, and much coldei} "weather.

-... The Gale. — The gale did not do much idamage about Havelock. It partially unroofed Brownlee's sawmill and a stable was similarly treated..

" The Show."—- Given fine weather, there should be a good attendance tomorrow, as numbers of entries are coming m, and the Mayor has proclaimed the afternoon a half holiday. Members are warned that they must show 1 their tickets at the gate or pay the entrance fee. The Secretary will receive entries . up to eight o'clock this evening.

Removal.— Mr W. E. Barton accountant at the' Bank of. New Zealand, who has been absent on sick leave, wired the Manager to-day that ho had been ordered to proceed to Whaugarei forthwith. Mr Barton", accordingly will not return to Blenheim, where during his year's stay he has been generally respected.

"Rustic Sports. — A meeting was held at Hornby's Half- Way -House, on Saturday evening Jast, when it was resolved to hold the annual Boxing Day sports on the 26th December. . Mr John . Hornby was appointed Treasurer. There is a balance m hand of about £15, and additional subscriptions have brought the amount up to nearly £22.

More Gold.— As you probably have got the mam items of mining news I am m possession of, I will merely state that there are indications of a rush down the Sound, viz.at North West Bay. Several parties have gone down and many are satisfied with their prospects. Again there are vague reports of gold being found at the World's End, Pelorus sound. — Havelock correspondent.

" When Johnny Comes Marching Home."— Johnny Watson has gone to Wellington to interview the Minister of Mines about the tracks question. If the hon. gentleman will not hear him and do something for us, Johnny means to call a public meeting m Wellington, and make the thing a burning colonial question. On dit that just after his departure' yesterterday afternoon, some wag sent a " collect " telegram to the Minister, informing- him that Johnny was away and the donkey was being looked after m the meantime. What a story will Johnny have to tell us when he comes back !

. Holiness m Picton. — ' ' Spiritual wickedness m high places " is a favorite theme of lament among the faithful, but m Picton no such scandal exists, for this morning the local paper publishes a declaration .under the hand of the -Mayoral -Election returning officer m which that gentleman says " Alfred George Fell, Esq.*,. being the lioly (the Italics are ours) candidate^l,declare him duly elected." Happy Picton, Holy Fell!" ' .

f Working Mbns 1 Club.— The Committee of the club met last evening ;' 'present, the President, and Messrs P. Connell, Costello, Brewster, Scott, Douglas, Simmons, Aston, and Sullivan. • Seventeen applications had been received by the President for the ( office of steward, and one was now with- 1 ' drawn, leaving sixteen to ■be considered. These were very fully considered, and finally Mr A. Penney was appointed. J Meeting of Ratepayers. — A rneetiryJTof ratepayers of the inner area will bemeld this evening m the Council Chamber, to consider the expediency of employing a night watchman m the town, and of consenting to a further rate to defray the expense of such an institution.

The Neptune.— The s.s. Neptune which left at four o'clock yesterday morning for Wellington, having on board Mr and Mrs J. J. Sinclair, struck the bar m crossing, with such force that' her rudder and- one of her rudder posts was carried away, Jury gear had to.be rigged up and tlie vessel, thus steered, pursued her way to Wellington..

Thk Vacancy on' the Bench.— The Post says it is rumored that Mr Conplly js to be appointed a Supremo Court Judge iv succession to the late Mr Justice Johnston. Our contemporary speaks m terms of disapprobation of the proposal.

The Fire Brigade. — A meeting of the Brigade was held last evening for the purpose of nominating officers for the ensuing year.. The installation will take place a£ next meeting. The following were the nominations: Captain, MrR/M-'Af't-ney; Lieutenant, Mr v May; Foreman of the Hose, Mr Derbyshire; Branelimen, Mr John Taylor and Mi- E. James ; Secretary, Mr Tunnicliffe ; Auditors, Mr M. Healy and Mr R. Kilpatriek. Two new members were elected and one was proposed, and it was resolved io request the police to co-operate at fires m . keeping the hose' clear of traffic (foot or wheel) by means of ropes. — In connection with Mr Rogers reference to the gas jet under the engine we may stale that some members of the brigade (Messrs Can- and Eythell originally) with the sanction of the Captain, have for the last week or two kept a (jittp : r %t burning under the boiler, m readiness i'or an ui^x-xi.- This bit of generous enterprise ought riot Jo pa allowed to cost the brigade anything. The "inner area" might at least pay lor the gas jet.

Education Board. — An adjourned meeting of the Education Board will be held at 10.30 to-morrow, to receive tenders for the re erection of the public school at Blenheim, that was destroyed by fire.

Lpnacy.— At the R.M. Court this morning, before Mr J. Allen, R.M., a man of unsound mind was brought up. He was laboring under a curious cleltipion, viz : that the Lord had commanded him not to work, and had revealed to; him that his wife and family would be supported by his wife's relations. His appearance was somewhat sombre and also uncertain, and the medical gentlemen (Drs Cleghorn and Nairn) considered him likely to be dangerous to others. He would sit for hours, Bible m hand, brooding silently. He was committed to the Asylum at Wellington. His age is 39, and he is a laboror, and belongs to the Plymouth Brethren.

The Manchester Ship Canal.—Extraordinary progress is being made with the first section of the Manchester Ship Canal. In Cheshire, at the part where it is proposed to enter the Mersey, great docks are being cut, and between there and Ellesmere, and comprising what is known as the Eastham' section, there are engaged no fewer than 1700 men, working day and night on the ground. There are also twenty-two locomotives employed m drawing the debris away to the spoil banks, after it is raised by eleven navvies or excavators. - These enormous machines dig out the channel for the canal, and dispose of the earth at the daily rate of nearly six hundred yards. Some forty miles of steel rails have been laid alongside the proposed canal for the purpose of facilitating the remoyalof the displaced rock and earth. The width of the canal from bank to bank will be 300 ft, and at the bottom about 126 ft.

Vegetable Tallow. — The Mark Lane Express learns that the importation of refined vegetable tallow increases, from Borneo (Indian Archipelago). Finns have been started at Singapore and other places, who produce this tallow: (containing 7072 per cent, stearine) by chemical processes and the most perfect machinery. The success of the enterprise surpasses the expectations of the promoters, and the factories cannot produce the quantities wanted. This tallow is the product' of nuts growing m these tropical countries, and has hitherto been used only for lubricating purposes ; but now it is likely to come into competition with animal fats for the purpose of fraudulent admixture with dairy products.

The Bank of New Zealand and the Public Credit.— The Daily News of Oct. stli has the following remarks : — A serious fall m New Zealand stock topk place on the Stock Exchange yesterday, m consequence of a statement by the Bank of New Zealand, the chief banking institution of the Colony, which is reproduced m the Money article. Heavy losses have been incurred, which are ascribed to the continued depreciation of securities m the hands of the Bank. The belief had been hugged^-that these values would recover, but at last this hope seems to have been extinguished, and the Directors have made a clean breast of it.' ; They propose to write off, or m other words to recognise as irretrievably lost, not only thelarger reserve which had been shown on paper, but alsc three-tenths of the paid-up capital. Last year the reserve appeared at £500,000, and the year before at £635,000. Thus, within two years, the Bank of New Zealand I has lost altogether a sum of £925,000. In what precise way the Bank has lost all this money is not difficult to imagine. Agriculture m New Zealand has been notoriously depressed, and the taxation of the Colony has at the same time been heavy. This Colony had the misfortune to be under the guidance of a too sanguine Finance Minister, and is now paying the penalty of a system of over financing and of speculating m public works. A burden of. taxation was so accumulated which repelled colonists and checked the growth of population and resources which had been too sanguinely anticipated. Nevertheless, New Zealand is not bankrupt.

■ A Singtjlak Accident.— An accident, as singular as it was terrible, recently befel a bicyclist m the town of Bochester, America. A young bicyclist was returning home after a spin, and when he reached the corner of the street where the meat market is situated he turned up on the sidewalk. Passing under the awning m front of the meat market, two young men were horrified to see the bicyclist suspended by. a huge meat- hook hanging from a brace supporting the awning. They hastened to his' assistance, and discovered that the hook had caught him just below the right eye. The wheel had passed partly from beneath the rider, so that almost his whole weight came upon the hook. The young men speedily released him, and took him to the City Hospital, where it was found that the hook had, pierced under the cheek bone, and torn through under the orb of the eye. He suffered excruciating pain, but there is some possibility of .saving the eyesight.

Gold Fields. — A -large stock of tents for the same, at. SaiAiiß and- Hay's. We are now showing the latest novelties m spring and summer goods ; all the newest shapes and styles m hats, bonnets, flowers, feathers, arid trimmings ! new dress materials m stripes, fancy, and plain Beautiful French cashmeres m summer makes, and a splendid lot' of prints, drillettes, lace, striped &a ; gloves, hosiery, and fancy goods. Splendid value m men's and boys, clothing, out tailor-made suits being a specialty. We have received the new season's patterns'; a 'large variety of the celebrated New' Zealand tweeds to select fi;om. An early inspection solicited. — Smale and Hay, London House.

Wells' Hair Balsaji. — If gray, restores to original color. An elegant dressing, softens and beautifies. No oil nor grease. A Tonic Restorative. Stops hair coming out ; strengthens, cleanses, heals scalp.

A Card.— An important discovery is announced m the Paris Figaro, of a valuable remedy for " nervous debility, physical exhaustion, and kindred complaints. The discovery was made by a missionary m Old Mexico"; it saved him from a miserable existence and premature decay. The Rev.- Joseph Holmes, Bloomsbury Mansions, Bloomsbury Square, London, W.C., will send the prescription, free of charge, on receipt of a self- addressed stamped envelope. Mention this paper.

From the Hub. — There is perhaps no tonic offered to the people that possesses as much real intrinsic value as Dr Soule's American Hop Bitters. .Just at this eeason of the year, when the stomach needs an appetiser, or the -blood needs purifyiug, the cheapest and best remedy is Dr. Soule's American Hop Bitters. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure ; don't. wait until you are prostrated by ; a disease that .may take months. for you to recover m. " Boston Globe."

Skinny Mes.— " Wells' Health Renewer" restores health and vigor, cures Dyspepsja, Impotence, . Sexual Debility. At phemists and druggists, Kerqpthoi'n'e, Prosser and Co., Agents, Christchuroh.

HorEFOR the Dbaf.— Nicholson's Ear Drums Cure Deafness. The most astonishing cures have been effected. Send for 132 page illustrated book containing full particulars of this invention, free? Dr Nicholson, 65 William-street, Melbourne.

"Rough on Catakkh."— Corrects offensive odors at once. Complete cure of worst chronic cases _; also unequalled as gargle for diphtheria, sore throat foul breath.

" Bvchv - Paiba." — Quick, complete (jure, all ajinoyiag Kidney, Bladder and Uiiriary Diseases. At chemists and dvng gists. Kemptho'rnei Prp'sser aud Co! Agents. Ciji'isloliiu'ch,