ESTABLISHED 1866. The Marlborough Express PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. Saturday, March 30, 1901. LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXV, Issue 74, 30 March 1901, Page 2

ESTABLISHED 1866. The Marlborough Express PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. Saturday, March 30, 1901. LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS

. *. — : Bank ot? New Zealand.—A parcel of 142 shares in the Bank of New Zealand belonging to the estate of the late Mr B. Blower, was sold at auction the other day in Wellington at £1 6s 6d per share.

D-I.C. —Mr Perrin thel'epresentative of the D.I.C. is now in Blenheim with samples of autumn arid winter goods. His rooms are at Nosworthy's buildings. • ■ ■"■ Dentisty.—Mr C. Powell will be absent from Blenheim*' on the monthly visit to Haveloek on Tuesday and Wednesday next.

Blenheim Rifles. — This corps parades on Monday night at 7.30 in blue uniform, preparatory to camp. Haversacks and Jerseys will be distributed after parade.

Police Court.—This morning Mr J. Allen, S.M., sentenced a man named Norman McPherson to a month's imprisonment as a vagrant and having no visible means of support.

Business Change.—'Mr C. Mitchell

notifies the public that he has- taken over the general store business at Renwick lately carried on by Mr S. E. Shaw.

Wheat.—Messrs Neale and-Haddow, of Nelson, require a large quantity of good feed wheat, and request that samples be sent them.

Seddon Sale. —Messrs Griffiths & Son's next stock sale will be held at Seddon on Wednesday 10th April.

Slaughtering. —The Agricultural Department is issuing a circular to farmers and others drawing attention to those portions of the-Slaughtering and Inspection Act dealing with the killing of stock for private consumption. The Act comes into force on the Ist pi'ox.

Literary Institute.—The adjourned general meeting of the Blenheim Literary Institute was very poorly attended last evening. A few petty accounts were paid, and it was decided to spend £5 locally on new books. The resignations of Miss Douslin as Secretary, and Mrs Bright as a member of the Committee, were accepted with regret. An offer was made by Mr J. D. Iremonger to lease the vacant section between the Institute and the river for the sum of £10 per year. The meeting adjourned until the 12 th April, when it is hoped there will be a larger attendance.

Municipal Reform.—The principal planks in the platform of the Municipal Reform Association of Napier are as follows:—1. Retrenchment in the expenditure on the staff. 2. Reorganisation of the staff; the Mayor to be paid a fixed salary monthly. 3. Municipal control of town lighting. 4. All municipal business to be done in open Council, in the presence of the representatives of the press. 5. When necessary to go into committee, busi-

ness to be afterwards supplied to the press, with motions and division-lists. 6i Abolition of log-rolling for the

benefit of any special part of the borough. 7. Executive to be appointed to act with the Mayor in all important business. 8. No expense to be incurred unless and until passed in open Council.

Japan and Russia.—News by the San Francisco mail states that the encroachments of Russia in Manchuria are threatening serious complications, and are particularly irriating to Japan. Mail advices from that country sliow that Japan is hurrying preparations for war at all her arsenals and shipyards. Russia's attitude in the Corea, where her soldiers have appeared, and the planting of the Russian flag on the Island of Hanto at the mouth of the Tuuien, have given an impetus to Japan's preparations.

Parliament.—The Dunedhi Star's Wellington special wires that there has been no decision yet as to calling Parliament together. Seeing that to meet in Wellington in May and then to adjourn to the Ist of July. would meaii "serious expense and inconvenience to members, it is proposed to consult them on the matter. By meeting on June 29th and formally opening by Commission, Parliament could meet again on Monday, July Ist, This would enable salaries and pressing accounts to be voted, and an Impress Supply^ Bill to be passed. The debate on the Address-in-Reply would be adjourned. It is stated that there is precedent for such a course. However, members are to be consulted.

Dress at the Royal Functions.— We have already stated the depth of mourning required to be worn by those who may be invited to meet our Royal visitors. Some anxiety still exists, we understand, on this matter, and we, therefore, publish the following paragraph from the Melbourne "Argus, which may be considered official, and will, we hope, finally settle the question :—"Colonel Campbell, private secretary His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor, states with regard to the dress at functions during the visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York, that ladies whose husbands hold any official positions will wear all black, but other ladies will wear half-mourning. This will apply to all occasions. Dresses, hats and bonnets, with touches of white, and spangled with silver and black (but not gold or colors), will be considered half-mourning. As regards gentlemen's costumes at levees, etc., a modified hat-band, but no arm-band, will be correct. Dark frock and grey frock suits, or grey or dark mourning suits, will be appropriate."

A Valuable Historical Document. —A correspondent of the Melbourne Age, referring to an article " The Romance of the British Throne," published in that paper, writes : —" It may interest some of your readers to know that the original document signed by Richard Cromwell, and witnessed by six Earls and Lords, under which he agreed to resign the Crown of England for over for himself and his heirs, is in possession of the Auckland (New Zealand) Public Library. This important public document was presented to the library, with other manuscripts, by the late Sir George Grey some years ago, with the history of how it came into his possession, and was given onlyon the understanding that the history was not to be published until after his death,"

The Maoris.---A correspondent in a position to speak authoritatively "on such matters tells the Bay of Plenty Times that a great change has come over the Maoris during the last few years in connection with the drinking of intoxicating- liquors. The old custom of rum drinking has almost disappeared, and now draught beer is the principal tipple of the commoner, the chiefs taking kindly to the more aristocratic bottled ale.

The Rifle Champion. — The rifle champion, Mr Harry Nelson, is about 40 years of age, and is a son of Mr William Nelson, of Nelson Brothers, Tomoana, Hawke's Bay. He has been a resident of Woodville for about eight years, and during most of that time has been prominent in local shooting circles. He is the manager at Woodville of Nelson Brothers estate. Mr Wilson, who finished second, is a surveyor by profession, and has been a consistent shot at Woodville for several years.

CHAMBELAIN'S COUGH REMEDY A GREAT FAVORITE. The soothing and healing properties of this remedy, its pleasant taste aud prompt and permanent cures have made it a great favorite with people everywhere. It is especially prized by mothers of small children for colds and wheoping cough, as it always affords quick relief, and as it contains no opium or other harmful drug, it may be given as confidently to a baby as to an adult. For gale by J, Bennjng, Grocer,