LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXVI, Issue 101, 3 May 1890, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Another Bag.— Messrs Frank Dodson and W. Sowman got a bag of 104 ducks the other day at the Awatere. Meteorological. — Captain Edwin wired at 1.16 p.m. : " North to East and southeast gale after 12 hours from now with rain. Indications for tides higher than usual. Glass further fall. Military Funeral. — The Blenheim Rifles and the Garrison Band are called out for to-morrow as the remains of the late Mr Thos. Hustwick are to be accorded a military funeral. Fish Poisoning. — We regret to see that Mr J. McHattie, clerk at the Post Office, is absent from his post, suffering from fish poisoning. Other cases are reported also. La Grippe and Pleurisy. — At Dunedin Hospital there are a number of pleurisy cases brought about by people neglecting themselves after la grippe. Fire. — Late on Thursday evening the shed belonging to the Tua Marina Rowing Club, another shed m which some grain was stored, and an adjoining stable were burned down. Through the exertions of several persons who happened to be at hand the boats were saved. No cause is assigned. Foot Race. — A match for £25 a-side has been arranged between R. F. Priddle and Geo. Blanchett to come off at the Riverlands Racecourse on Saturday next. Both competitors are training hard, and an interesting and close race is anticipated.

Waibau Road Board.— The Board met yesterday afternaon; present, Messrs Ward (Chairman), Avery, Storey, Watts. Correspondence was received from (1) C. White, re Onamalutu Road ; (2) Omaka Baard, asking for assistance m maintaining the Middle Renwick Road ; (3) Hospital and Charitable Aid Roard, applying for rate £169 5s 8d; (4) Inspector's report for April; (5) slaughterhouse report. Resolved, that leave of absence be granted to Messrs Carter and Goulter ; that tenders be called for 50 chains of metalling from the Narrow Gate between Erina and Monro's, to the Marchburn, the Chairman to open tenders on the 9th inst ; that m reply to the application from the Omaka Road Board for assistance towards the maintenance of the Middle Road, that body be informed that at present the Board is unable to assist them. The following are the tenders received for contract No. 1, creek crossing m Narrows : J. Mayne £9 8s (accepted), Burton and Son £14 17s, W. Ronowiez £10 17s 6d. Quabter of A Centdry.— A meeting of the Wesley Church Trustees has just been held to make arrangements for celebrat- ' ing the 25th anniversary of the Wesleyan Church m Blenheim. A letter was read from the Rev. F. Whitmore Isitt announcing his willingness to lecture and take part m the celebrations. It was decided to hold the service on Friday, May 30th, to have the sermona from Mr Isitt on June Ist, and one of his popular lectures on the Tuesday following. It is pretty well known that as a lecturer and preacher Mr Isitt occupies a foremost position m the Wesleyan Ministry. During his three years' term m Invercargill nearly £300 were, raised by his lectures for various ohurch objects. Christian Socialism, Ternperence,. Home Rule, and kindred themes were subjects on which he appeared as an eloquent expounder. A deputation from the Irish Roman Catholics of Invercargill attended his valedictory meeting and presented him with a valuable memento of their appreciation of his eminent services m the cause of Home Rule. Military Funerals.— The question of what corps should take part m military funerals was, m connection with the funeral of the late Vol. Hustwick, decided to-day by the commanding officer of the district, Lieut.-Col. Baillie. It appears that the matter is settled by regulations, which lay down that " In addition to the firing parties (m this case, consisting of 13 men and a Sergeant), the funeral of an officer will be attended by all the officers of the battalion, that of a sergeant by the sergeants, and that of a corporal by the corporals of the battalion. The funeral of a Volunteer, whether noncommissioned officer or private, will be attended by the troop, battery, or oompany (officers included) to which he belonged. The pall is to be supported by members of the same rank with that of the deceased, or as near the rank as possible ;" therefore any Volunteers, who not being members of the Company to which the deceased belonged, who may wish to attend the funeral, are requested to do so as private citizens. The Late General Elphinstone. — Our readers will remember that a few weeks ago a cable message informed us that General Elphinstone had been lost from the R.M.S. Tongariro while on her last voyage from Plymouth for this Colony. From our English exchanges we gather the following particulars of the accident. At half-past 9 o'clock, on the night named, when the Tongariro was at the mouth of the Channel, General Elphinstone came on the saloon deck to look at the lights of Ushant, which were then coming into view. He stood talking on the deck with Mr Vivian, jun., and was standing just before the chart room on the port side of she steamer. Mr Vivian was sitting on the skylight, Sir Howard faoing him. The weather was clear with a fresh wind, and a somewhat rough sea. The ship was occasionally rolline, although not heavily, and it is evident that General Elphinstone thought lightly of the rolling,' as he might easily have steadied himself by holding on to the bars of the skylight 8r to the window of the chart room, which were both within his reach. But presently there came a heavier'roll tban before, and as the vessel was recovering from it Sir Howard slipped. He was thrown against the gunwale chains, and, turning a complete somersault, went overboard. The fourth officer and Mr Vivian saw the General fall on a partially open port below, and roll thence into the water. The engines were immediately reversed. A patent lifebuoy bearing a light was thrown overboard, and a boat lowered with all despatch. The ship cruised around the spot for two hours, but no sign of the General was discovered, and the search was reluctantly abandoned. Extra's Accident. — Referring to Emm's accident, Mr Stanley, the explorer, described it as follows: — We were seventy persons at table, thirty-five down one side and thirty-five on the other. Hevr Wissmann had- responded to a toast; Erain and I had also spoken and the conversation was becoming general. Near the dining-room was a small saloon with a large window and a low railing. Emm had got up from the table, talking to somebody, and went into this saloon near the open window, when suddenly, after having made a lively gesture, he fell over the railing. When I was told that Emm had fallen, I was unaware of the gravity of his fall. * I thought he had slipped off his chair by accident. A few moments after I heard the real state of affairs, and on going into the street I only saw a pool of blood, as Emm had already been carried away. Nearly the whole side of his head behind an ear was broken, and he bled through an ear. A Novel Rat- Trap.— A few days ago, by some unknown means, a young rat managed to get to the bottom of a barrel of oysters which was standing m the shop of an oyster merchant. Not being able to force its way out m an upward direction, the rodent turned to the sides, and managed to bite a hole big enough to obtain freedom. Unfortunately for the rat, as it forced itself through the passage its tail rested on an open oyster, which immediately closed on the prize. The rat was thus left dangling on the side of the barrel, un.able to return or escape, and was discovered and killed by the owner of the shop. Bank Retdkns.— The quarterly Bank returns up to 31st March show the total assets to be £17,575,946 19s 7d, and the total liabilities £13,231,278 15s 4d, The liabilities consist of notes m circulation, £919,425 7s 7d; bills m circulation, £61,527 12s 3d; balances due to other Banks, £30,677 12s lOd ; Government deposits, £491,809 10s lid ; deposits not bearing interest, £3,562,379; deposits bearing interest, £8,165,459 11s 9d. The assets consist of coin, £2,294,701 16s 5d ; bullion, £107,670 12s 6d ; notes and bills of other Banks, £38,169 l&s sd ; balances due from other Banks, £142,522 18s lOd ; landed property, £510,810 9s Id ; notes and bills discounted, £2,631,925 Is 4d; Government securities, £100,641 0s 6d ; good debts due to Banks, £11,377,203 0s JOd ; other securities, £372,266 Os Bd. To Darken Geey Hair. — Lockyers Sulphar Haii f Restorer is the quickest best, safest, and cheapest. — Large bottles Is 6d. Everywhere