LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXVII, Issue 126, 11 June 1891, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Opening of Parwament. — Parliament was opened by Lord Onslow this afternoon. The Governor's Speech, which came to hand too late for publication to-day, will appear to-morrow.

Assembly Dance. —The weakly dance on Thursdays at the Volunteer Hall m aid of the uniform fund of the Garrison Band, commences this- evening. Dancing will begin at 7.30 o'clock.

Shipping.— Owing to the Graf ton- being placed on tbe slip m Wellington for her periodical overhaul, there will be no steamer from Picton for. Nelson and Coast tomorrow evening.

• St. Andrew's- Church. — The building committee of St. Andrew's Church met last night and had a consultation with Mr Hislop the architect for the new building. He was authorised to proceed at once with the specifications, and tenders are likely to be called about the middle of next month. Mr Hislop leaves for Wellington to-night.

A TEsrpjDBANCE Eepbbsentative. — At the sixteenth session of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand, 1.0. G.T., the following resolution was passed:— " That Bro. T. L. Buiek,-M.H.8., be respectfully requested to act as our Parliamentary representative, and m his place m the House of Bepresentatives to do all m his power to advance the cause of Templary, and of Temperance generally."

Maori Voters. — According to the new electoral bill " Maoris and half-castes shall not be qualified to be registered as electors " for European elections. The provision for residential registration is altered to twelve months m the colony and " one " month" m the district. The form for enrolment includes a declaration that the applicant is not under 21 years of age and is a British subject by birth or naturalisation.

Bio Vegetables.— The big gooseberry season having gone, tha latest wonders arc m turnips and carrots. At Clouston and Co's we were shown a sample of Devonshire Grey turnip grown at Avondale, by Mr C. lie Vere Teschemaker, which weighed 36ibs, and a 91b Belgian carrot from Mr William Jones', at Grovetown, Tbe seed was m each instance purchased at Mr Clouston's, and we believe the samples shown are fairly representative of the crops.

PnESENTATioN.—Mr B. O. Hodgson, of the local Telegraph Office, was the recipient, a few days ago, of a handsome clock with marble facings, the gift of bis brother officers, upon the uccasioa of his recent marriage. Mr Keys made tho presentation on behalf of the staff, and, m doing so, said the gift was not only a token of the esteem m which Mr Hodgson was held m the office, but also a memento of old friendship, and an expression of good wishes for Mr and Mr ' Hodgson's welfare. Mr Hodgson replied m suitable terms, thanking tho officers for their kindness.

i Wakasubina,— Tuesday's Post had the following paragraph :— A meeting of Wellington shareholders m the Wakaraarina Gorge Goldmining Company was held last night at the Albert Hotel to consider a question raised by the directors as to whether operations m the Gorge should be gone on with during the winter or whether tbe company should wait until the spring before giving their property another trial. About 780 shares were represented out of a total of some 1500 held m this city, and Mr Heeles was iv tho chair. After discussing the matter m the light of information given by Mr Heidcn; the company's manager, tho shareholders decided to take time to consider tho proposal.

School Inspection. — Mr Inspector Smith was yesterday engaged m visiting the town schools, but the results of .his visit will not be made known for some timn. There are, however, two points on which we hear he differs from hi 3 predecessor, viz. , as to copy books and home lessons. Mr Stnitli, if our information is correct, wants to introduce the Southern Cross copy books, which means an alteration m the style of writing ; and he thinks that more horns work should be given. Ponding his full report to the Board, which wili of. course be sent on to tho Committee, we defer any mnarks on these matters. -.•-.-.

Chairmanship of Committees. — No final decision has yet been come to with regard to the Chairmanship of Committees. The question, whether a Chairman of Committees shall be elected, or whether the proposal that the Chairmen of Select Committees shall act m rotation will be referred to the House, and a new standing order has been drafted to provide for such. a ohange, if desired by Parliament, but there are considerable difficulties m the. way, as certain permanent functions have to be performed by the Chairman of Committees, and it would not be easy to arrange for the porformance of all these if the chairmanship were 'placed m commission. There is a prevalent rumor that should it be decided to elect a Chairman of Committees ss usual, an arrangement will be arrived at for the ex-Chairman (Major Haralin) to be chosen once more.

Hunt Club. -The meet yesterday was at Mr W, Spper's, Spring Creek. There was a fair attendance, and a splendid day's sport was eDJoyed, one hare affording a capital run of two miles, when it took to the liver bed, and the hounds had to be called off. A second hare was soon started mMr Winsor Soper's paddock, and the hounds wore streaming over some beautiful grass paddocks through Mr Fairhall's and into Mr Isaac Gilford's, when puss turned down the plain again, and after a graud van of four mile 3 was killed m Mr Felix Soper's paddock. Numerous barb wire fences weie negotiated successfully by the field, notably by tbe master, huntsman, and Mr !'• Gregory. Amongst those well to the front were the master (Mr Richardson) on Maori ging, the huntsman ort a black, Mr T. Gregory on Cupid, Mr A. Gifford on Topsy, MrE. Soper p» Bravo, J. W. Allen on a bay,; and G. Chessman on Lbos, and others. The drag hounds will mee£ on Saturday at 3 p.m. at Grove Town, where a good run has been laid off. It will be the only run at Grove Town this season, and nearly the whole ot it can be seen by spectators.

Domain BoAB&.-^At a meeting of the Domain Board on Tuesday, there were present Messrs T. Horton (Chairman), H. Dodson, and C. Redwood. The business of tl>e meeting consisted of opening tenders for the toage for three years of the Domain. Those received were as follow :— Connor and Hovgau £51, T. Carter ££5, J. Hodson £45, D. Broughan £40' for the first year and £45 fo>r the next two years, and Thomas Redwood £75. Tha la3.t-nientioned was acoepted. We learn that the arrears of rent from the late lessee have all been collected, but most of the money will be required to pay tho costs of the private bill which Mr Dodson got put through Parliament, What we are not so well informed about, liowevei", is as to what steps have been taken to reeoyer Jho arrears due from the Marlborough Racing "Club, Mr p.odsou recently stated that the receipts were being " carefully conserved," but our information leads us to believe that the Racing Club is indebted to the Domain Board very considerably, and m the interests of the public we want to know what provisions have boen made to Beoure payment when the Racing Club is m fontls,

Mr Gaskill's Death.— We regret to hear I that there are s.ome unsatisfactory rumors current with reference to Mr Gaskill's death, and believing that the best thing to do was to sift the matter to the bottom, "we this morning walked out to Springlands Hotel to hear what Mr Bax had to say. His story, which, by the way, is corroborated by Dr Cleghorn is as follows:— Mr Gaskili was staying at Mrs Millington's when it was discovered that he had contracted typhoid fever (presumably m Wellington) and the doctor ordered .his removal to the Hospital. Mr Gaskill, however refused to go there and said he would like tq.go to a private house. The doctor pointed out that few people would take m a case of the sort, m "fact he only knew one individual m this district and that was Mr Bax. Deceased agreed to go there, and ho remained there for over seven weeks. Our attention was directed to the matter by ' hearing a resident declaiming against the licensee for allowing a typhoid patient near the place. He evidently did not know thai typhoid, uuder ordinarily careful conditions, is not infectious, providing always that the excreta of the patient is buried or burnt, and this we are assured was done. Mr Bax has considerable experience m matters of this sort, and knows well how to deal with fever cases. But when we read m the Peloriis Guardian that the deceased was placed m "a comfortless room," we decided to see for ourselves what accommodation he had had/ Hence th.9 visit. .The room is matchlined, has plenty of light, was carpeted, and contained the usual toilet necessaries. True, there were no curtains, or hanging. 1 ;, or pictures, but no one who knows anything of the furnishing of a fever ward would think oE expecting these. A special nurse was imported from Wellington, and Mr Bax himself and another assistant were constant m their attendance. The deceased never complained of his treatment, but on the contrary was well pleased with the manner m which he was attended, and we think it unjust and uncalled for to blame Mr Bax as some unthinking people have done. We hear that Mr Mills has written the Hospital Board on the matter, asking why the patient was removed, and the answer we have no doubt will be the same as stated above, namely that it was done m acoordS ance with Mr Gaskill's wishes.

The Late Sib John Robertson. — A writer m the Melbourne Argus tells the following anecdote of the late Sir John Robertson : — The old man was merry and -wise. He loved a good dinner, and drank champagne like water, and he boasted reasonably enough that he could always carry his liquor like a gentleman. An officious friend took him m charge one day, thinking that the effect of the wine was becoming too apparent. " Let's have a cup of tea, Sir John, and I'll see you down to the boat." " I'll drink a pot of tea lo please you, and you cau come down to the boat if you like. " They drank the tea and walked down to the boat, and it was one of Sydney's hot an drowsy summer afternoons, and there was a quarter of an hour to wait till the boat should arrive. Sir John sat down and meditated and dozed, and m ten minuets a ferry boat came m a trifle late. " Ashore now quick ! ashore!' bawled the captain. "Aye, aye, I'll be there. " The old man imagined he had made the passage Jand was at home. He got up and walked deliberately over the end of the pier. The cold sea water awakened him effectually, and, striking out quietly, he swam to the step 3. There was his friend stretching his hands and wagging a too fluent tongue. « Ah, Sir John, Sir John, I knew there was <od much wine." What a terrible light kindled m ths wide blue eyes, as with beard and long gray locks all^ dripping, tho old man turned. "Wine ! Wine be • It was your accursed tea.

Sir William Fox on the Bench. - Sir William Fox, recently imposed a fine of £10. on a female inebriate at Auckland. On the lady striking a constable on leaving the court she was called back and fined an additional £10. Another inebriate was let off with a £3 fine.

We have received from the best home manufacturers a large supply of excellent babylinen, and are prepared to forward on application to any address, carriage paid, 8 articles of thoroughly good material and work for one guinea, This should be a very conveniont method one of each garment as a pattern. All our babylinen and underclothing is personally selected by an experienced lady assistant •at Te Aro House, Wellington.

Persons of Delicate Constitution, who are obliged to abstain from ordinary Coffee, should try Ckeases Taraxacum ok Dandelion Coffee, which is recommended by medical authorities as a very valuable beverage for persons who suffer from weak digestion, flatulency, and nervousness. Sold m lib and £lb tins, Is and 2s.

Oon assortment of Ladies corsets is anequalled m the province. We keep only the best and most approved makes. To select from ws have a stock of nearly 2000 (two thousand) pairs and these range from the very smallest to the largest outsize at Te Aro House, Wellington. Many ladies admire grey hair — on some other person— but few care to try its effects on their own charms. They need not, since Ayer's Hair Vigor restores grey hair to its original color. Sold by druggists and perfumers. Wolfe's Schnapps is the most popular liquor m Australia, hence the imitations. We have also an excellent assortment of ladies undervests m merino wool, .natural wool and silk. All orders will be promptly executed, and when cash is sent with the orders^ will be sent carriage paid, to any address, from Te Aro House, Wellington. We have an unrivalled stock of ladies underlinon m night-dresses, chemises, drawers, combinations, and all our garments aro guaranteed to be either lock stitched or hand sewn, and include such popular make 3as the " Hibernia " and " Stirling" at Te Aro House, Wellington. The public health is endangered by persons who vend counterfeits of Wolfe's Schnapps. To Overcome Weakness. — Pepper's Quinine and Iron Tonic gives New Life, Appetite, Health, Strength, and Energy, cures Indigestion, Nervous Debility and Neuralgia. — Half-crown bottle's. Every* where. Insist on having Pfppers. Holloway's Ointment and Pills.— Those who have given these remedies a fair trial freely admit that they inherently possess every property suitable for healing and removing eruptions, ulcerations, piles, abscesses, sores, bad legs, gathering breasts, and all disorders of the glandulnr system. When carefully rubbed m the Ointment relaxes the swollen muscles, diminishes inflammation, assuages pain, and even alleviates dangerou3 maladies which may have lasted for months, or even year's. Holloway's excellent preparations are effective singiy, resistless m combination, and have been recommended by grateful patients to.be resorted to as alteratives .when all other means of regaining health have failed. Their action is temperate, not violent or reducing.