LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXIX, Issue 202, 17 August 1893, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

<$. Meteorologhcalj. —Captain Edwin wired at 12 30 p.m. ;— " West to south and southwest gala with rain, and weather continue very cold ; glass rise." The Junior Team.— The Junior rep 3 are requested to roll up at 7.30 this evening at the drill shed to select their captain and transact other business m connection with j their match against Nelson. Tenders. — The Lower Wairau River Board invite tenders up to the 23rd instant for forming banks, oulverts and pile work. The plans and specifications are to be seen at the Board's office. FooißALti Social. — Preparations are m full swing m connection with the social tomorrow evening Busy hands are decorating the Drill Shed to day, and other matters are being satisfactorily arranged. Train. — On the day of the interprovincial football match, the train which usually leaves Picton at 2 o'clock, will leave at 1 p.m., and the Blenheim 4.15 p.m. train will be delayed till 6 pm. Single fare will be charged for the return journey. The Wellington Rep3.— The Secretary of the Marlborough Rugby Union informs U3 he has received a wire to the effect that if the steamers can be arranged to suit, Wellington intend sending a team to play Marlborough and then go on to Nelson. Rabbit Destruction. — Wo hear that m tha Lower Awatere the rabbits have not been got under co effectually for years as during thiß winter. Several runholders who h&vo tried the naw rabbit poison, (i Toxa," Bpeak highly of the results obtained. Teas. — Tea importers and blenders are taking sdvantage of the Prohibition agitation to push their goods throughout the Colony. Rattray and Son, of Duoedin, are now invading Blanheim with two brands (Mandarin and Tiger) that are very highly spoken of. A list of the local agents appears m their advertisement. A Modern •• Rip Van." — There is a gentleman at Levin who has resided m the colony ! for 30 years, and up till Saturday last had not Been either a football match or a horse race. Now he has witnessed a football contest, and as a result he is eagerly looking forward to the time when he will get the opportunity of seeing a dividend paid out on the totslisator. An Impeachment. — The reason why we have so many partially ignorant young men and women amongst us, explains Tha Summary, is, that the public schools (whioh the majority attend) attempt too much, and turn out pupils who know nothing thoroughly. The public aohools will have to retrace their steps, give up fads m education, and come down to just plain hard p&n before they can impart a thorough eduoation m any particular branoh. Renwicktown.-t-" How the London poor liva " is the Bubjeot for a lantern lecture, to be given at the Rsnwick Hall on Monday next. In this series, besides dozens of wellknown London characters being presented, the experiences of the London School Board are wall brought out, a3 well aa the serious import of the Education Act to the poorer classes. The reading will be given by Mr A. J. Litchfield, and songs at intervals by various friends. Tickets can be obtained at Mr Hillman's store. An Impoverished Clergy.— The position of the Anglioan clergy m England is undergoing a great, though little noticed, change, j In a community which ia growing richer every year, they alone are growing poorer, and the Spectator observes that " unless some active steps are takeo, either the clergy must become largely celibate, or, if they marry, they must resign themselves to living as artisans live, and bringing up their children to various handicrafts." Could not the highly-paid magnates of the Churoh devote a portion of their unearned salaries to the relief of the hard-worked but miserably paid subordinates. The " Rep " Match.— Should the weather prove line, there will m all probability be a large attendance at the football match between Nelson and Marlborough to morrow afternoon. The Nelson team will arrive at Picton by the Penguin this evening, coming on to Blenheim by Mason's coach, which is due here about 930 They will be met by the members of the Reoeption Committee, We are asked to draw attention to the fact that the match starts to-morrow punctually at 3 p.m. not 2.30 as stated on the posters. The local team is requested to be on the ground at 2.30. The Selection Committee for the senior " Rep " team have chosen It. Griffiths to take the place of O'Dwyer who ia unfortunately for his province, unable to play, owing to a fractured rib. Expensive Physio.— Some of the medicines at present m use by European physicians are enormously expensive. A preparation of the Calabar bean, administered for lockjaw, called " physostigmine salicvlate," is worth £100 an ounce. Schools m England. — There are 15,170 free snhools m England and Wales, with 3,429,577 children. The total number paying a fee m echools receiving a fee grant, but still charging a fee ranging from under Id to a little over 6d, is 849,091. To Overcome Weakness. — Peppei s Quinine ard Iron Tonic gives New Life Appetite, Health, Strength, and Energy, cjres Indigestion, Nervous Debility, and Neuralgia. — Half-crown bottles. Everywhere. Insist on having Pe??er's.

Lion Brewery.— 'A change m connection with this brewery is announced. Mr A. Rayner, who is favourably known m this district, has been appointed to the management, and the business m future will be carried on under the name of the Blenheim Brewery. Thk Colonial Treasurer. — The way m which the Hon Mr Ward got hurt was very simple. He was getting into a railway carriage on his way to Invercargill, and somehow bumped the cap of one of his knees against something. He was not very much hurt, and thought nothing of it until after he went home, and the knee began to swell, It then began to get painful, and he had to consult a doctor, who recommended him to rest for a few days. This was exactly what he could not well do. He had to open the Invercargill Post office, attend to other duties, and get back to Wellington as quickly as possible. Coalition. — Several of our contemporaries m both Islands predict the retirement of the Hon. Mr Seidon, and the formation of a coalition Ministry, which will include Sir Robert Stout as leader, Captain Ruasell, Mr Mitchelson, and probably Mr Ward and Mr John McSenzie Such a Ministry would be a strong one, and would probably prove acceptable to the House ; but it is rather too premature to venture any such speculation. It might be justified if the Ministry were to be defeated, and a new one formed without an appeal to the country, but under present circumstances the Ministry will not vacate office unless defeated at the polls. London Market Report.— Messrs John Holmes and Co. report as follows under date London, June 30:— Wool— Sinoe our l&6t advices we are unable to report any improvement m our market, the tendency being, on the other hand, towards a lower range of prico all round. Merino wools are rather lower than at the opening days of the series, and show a decline of about 5 par cent. Crossbred descriptions, owing no doubt to the large supplies which are being offered, as well as the pressure of the Home clip on the market, have also given way, particularly the finest qualities, which may be traced to the absence of any support from America. We quote this latter class at 10 per cent reduction on opening rates, and medium and coarser qualities, though the demand continues brisk at the lower level, fully 5 per cent. The auctions are only moderately attended, and the tone generally of the rate room is rather quiet. Total offered to date 117,627 bales, of which 10,538 bales, 8 95 per cent, hava been bought m. Tallow— At to-day'a auctions 1200 oat of about 1800 casks were sold at late rates Taxation Results. — Under the land and income tax system, graaiers, sheep-farmers, farmers, daryaaen, eti. — the owners of country lands— paid £89,841 m 1892 93, while ia property tax m 1889 they paid £81,544. Tm's class comprise the laigaat taxpayers. Next m ord*r come trust esates, whiob. yielded £40,555, as against ' £32,287 under the property tax. Loan companies paid £30,923, and land oom panics £32,207 m land and inoome tax, as against £38,147 and £12,049 under the old system. Absentees paid £25,301, mercan die companies £16,302, and professional men £13,520. Working storemen, mechanics, labourers, shepherd 3, miners, sailors, who paid £4053 under the proparty tax, paid only £543 under the land and income tax Tradesmen, wholesale and retail shopkeepers, etc, paid about £3000 leas under the existing system than under that which it replaced. The number of the property tax payers was 8611, while the number of land tax payers is 4760. The Licensing Qcjestion. — The greatest reticence is still observed as to the scope of the Government Alcoholic Liquors Bill, but the Wellington special correspondent of the Christohurch Press says that be is m & position to state positively that the Government will stand or fail by the Bill, and should they be defeated they will appeal to the country on it as soon as possible after passing certain legislation which they consider absolutely naoessary. Their dsfeat on the licensing question is oonsidered by some aa a not unlikely ooasequenGe, m view of the faot that any Bill not giving a bare majority on the question of liaense or no license is not likely to satisfy Sir Robert Stout and the extremists. Prominent Ministerialists on the other hand express an opinion that the Government should be able to carry even a two-thirds majority of those on iheroll, and they explain the hostile vote of Wednesday night as being simply brought about by the Opposition m their desire to embarass the Ministry. Provision will bo made m the Government Licensing Bill that any eligible person shall be eligible for eleotion as a member of a Licensing Committee irrespeotive of the fact that he may have very pronounced views m favor of prohibition, a provision rendered necessary by the decision of Mr Justice Deonieton m consequence of the bias of the Sydenham Committee, and m order to guard against a scratch victory, there will he provision m the Bill for a second poll, Getting Sobbrbr Every Yjsab.— A com. parative return has been issued by the Government showing the consumption of various articles for each year since 1878, the total and the quan ity per head of the population (specially estimated) for the year. In 1892 the average consumption of spirits (adult population) was 2 47 gallons per head. This item shows a pretty steady decrease since IS7B, when it was 473 gallons per h»ad. It has shown a slight tendency to risa sinoe 1890. The consumption o{ tohaaoo was equal to 6721 b per head of the adult population This item has varied between 6-511 b and 7*641 b. Of wine, the consumption (as by people over fifteen) declined from 0 7 gallons per head m 1878 to 0-37 gallons m 1892. The average for imported ale and beer, on the same basia, also declined from 1.75. gallons per head to 062 gallons. New Zealand ale and beer were consumed m 1893 to the extent of 4§ million gallons, equal to 11-4 gallons per head of the people over fifteen — this average has also declined. Foe 1882 it was logal per head. Tea, coffee, etc, and sugar are calculated for the total population. Of tea the rate per head m 1892 was 5.91 b ; of coffee, etc., 0 791 b ; of sugar, 83.81 b. The consumption of tea has not varied much ; that of coffee, cocoa, and chicory has declined pretty regularly from 1.431 b m 1878. While the consumption of sugar has slightly increased of late, it was higher (87.11 b) m 1884, and also m 1878 (64 61b). The amount of Customs duty paid by the several items m 1892 were : — Spirits, £351,154; tobacco and ciga,rs, £237 489; wine, £32,607 ; ale and heer, £19,640 : tea, £102,209; coffee etc., £6,820; sugar, £120.963; ad valorem goods, £499,506; New Zealand beer excise, £59,409, A Bridge Dispute.— Mr J. Allen, E.M., sat as Commissioner yesterday, to enquire into the question of control and maintenance of Litchfield's bridge, Middle Renwiok Road. The Omaka Road Board contend that the Wairau Boad Board should bear half the cost of maintaining the bridge, but this the latter body absolutely decline to do, and it was then necessary to take steps to determine the matter, and the Government were requisitioned by the Omaka Boad Board to appoint a Commissioner to settle the question at issue. Upon the case being called, Mr Rogers, who appeared for the Wairau Road Board, said that after having heard the commission read, be wished to raise the question of the powers granted to the Commissioner. It was his intention during tho investigation of the case to produoo evidence to show that the Pelorus B.oad Board, and also the Blenheim Borough Council, were as much interested m this matter as the Wairau Road Board, and probably more so, inasmuch as the ratepayers of tho.se two districts derived considerable benefit from the existence of this bridge. They made, perhaps, more use of this bridge than the ratepayers of the Wairau Road Board district, therefore if the Commissioner was of opinion that under tho powers now granted to him he could not enquire and report as to the liability of the Pelorus Road Board and the Blenheim Borough Council to contribute towards the maintainancQ of the said bridge, he trusted that the Commissioner would apply for the necessary powers. The Commissioner said that if all other documents filed m the case were set aside, and the Commission read by itself, it might possibly be construed as a general authority to enquire as to the liability of any board or publio body to contribute towards the expense. But if read with the application of the Omaka Road Board upon whioh thi3 commission wns granted, it would appear doubtful if this enquiry oould extend beyond the question of liability of the two Boards named m the application. As an adjournment must necessarily take place, he would, m the meantime, apply for further instructions on this point. Proceedings accordingly adjourned to the 13th September, at 11 a.m. Baldness may be prevented, and a thick growth ojf hair stimulated by the use of Ayar'a Bair Vigor.