LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXV, Issue 86, 17 April 1901, Page 2

LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS

W.C.T.U. — Members and friends are reminded of the monthly meeting to bo held to morrow evening, Thursday, at 7.30, in Wesley Hall.'

Blenheim Rifles. — This corps parade to morrow evening at 7.30 in drill order—i.e., khaki uniform complete.

Garrison Band Social.—-The Gar* rison Band social is fixed for Wednesday May Bth in Ewarts Hall, and every endeavour is to be made to make the affair a startling .success.

Accident.— -A rather serious accident befel a railway workman named Murray at the Dashwood Pass yesterday. While engaged on the face of a siding a piece of rock was dislodged from above, striking Murray on the head, severly injuring the scalp and inflicting a dee]) wound, The sufferer was brought to town, bis wounds being attended to by Mr F. Shaw, of the Medical Hall.

PuusoNAt,.—Mr J. S. Winstanley, of the Wellington Telegraph Oftiee, who lias been transferred vo Nelson, was, on the eve of his departure, presented by his fcllow-Miuployees with a suitable keepsake. He was also tlie recipient of a very handsome tea and coffee set from Mr Alex. Turiibull, owner of the yacht Bona, " in remembrance of many happy days spent on the yacht."

Klt.ijy Union, — The adjoimwd annual meeting of the liugby Union was heW last night ajb this Grosvenor Hotel. Cori'ospondoijee was received from the High School and Seddou clubs re joining the Union. Ifc was resolved that the former by admitted as «. junior club, and thti Utter can join tho Union as a Senior Club, &tul fu consideration of their not being able tw U}ka part in Cup matches their subscription f»e £1 Is instead of £2 2s. Donations of £1 Is each wev<e acknowledged from Messrs K. F. Healy and W, W, Middlcton. It was resolved to inform iAtu New Zealand Rugby Union that this yea* olio Marlborough reppewsentatives would, it wiis intended, make & 3&}r£h Island tour". A question! ra the defalcation of a member* of a club was i-oforred back to the club toy proof. Proposed amendments to the I'ulm of the New Zealand Union were dealt with. A Ground Committee was appointed ta arrange re grounds. A large numberoi' amuiui]merits were made to the by-laws, the most important being tliafc each club will in future be represented Uy only one delegate, who must be a non* player. It is also j»vovidcd that oach c!uij must procure a ground for playing. Cup matches upon, '

Silk Table Centres, lovely goods,, English wholesale samples, Is and 2s 6d; worth from 7s $d to 205,-t-R, Allan,

Meteorological. — Captain Edwin wires as follows :— " Northeast to north and west gale, with rain ; glass fall; tides good; indications for exceptionally strong ebb tides hi the Straits."

Picton Roxd Board. — Notice is given in this issue of the general election of members of the above Board, to be held on the 3rd and 4th of May. Particulars as to nomination, &c, will bo found in our advertising1 columns.

A Compliment. — Bandmaster E. Rose leaves to-night for Wellington en route to Melbourne with the Wellington Garrison Band, he having been offered and accepted a position in the band,'which is to proceed to Melbourne to attend the celebrations at the opening of the Federal Parliament.

HORTICULTURAL- SOCIETY. — The schedule of tlio local Society's Autumn and Chrysanthemum Show i.s now in circulation, and may be obtained from any of the local booksellers, Miss Norgrove and Mr J. Morris (acting-Secre-tary), Maxwell Road, and at Eximjess oilico, Blenheim; J. Bary & Son, Renwick ; J. Young (agent for Express) and A. T. Card, Picton. The schedule is quite up to the standard in variety of exhibits and value of prizes, and should invite healthy competition in all classes. _ A valuable cup is offered for a collection of fruit, which must have been grown ,in the district by the exhibitor.

Colonial Commissions.—The following announcements were gazetted in February:—Hampshire Regiment: The appointment to a second lieutenancy of Corporal G. H. F. Rolleston, from Fourth New Zealand Contingent, which appeared in the Gazette of December 28, is cancelled at his own request. The appointment to a second lieutenancy of Private A. F. Wilson, from South Australian Bushmen, which appeared in the Gazette of December 28, is cancelled at his own request. Similar announcements relating of colonials are not infrequent. Does this mean that colonials, on enquiry, find that the standard of living in the regiments to which they are appointed is too expensive and extravagant for them ? If so, the sooner it is made possible for colonials to enter the British army as officers the better.

Blouse Flannelettes, in all new designs, 6£-d and 7|d; beautiful goodsworth double.—R. Allan.

Farm Hands.—New Zealand is apparently not the only colony in which farm hands are diflicult to procure. The dairying industry in the Euroa district (Vie.) is threatened with a serious check, owing to farmers being unable to secure sufßcent labour. Many farmers have been compelled to dispose of their dairy herds and go in for sheep farming. One local auctioneer states that during last year he held 11 clearing sales of dairy herds for farmers who found difficulty in securing the necessary labour, other salesmen doing their share of the same class of business.

Grain and Produce Shipments.— The following are the shipments of grain and produce from Lyttelton for the week ended on Friday :—For Australia—4629 sks oats, 400 sks barley, 51 sks potatoes; 1909 sks wheat, 2887 sks oats, 167 sks barley, 489 sks bran, 928 sks, 2625 bags, and*7 boxes flour, 815 sks potatoes, 35 sks sharps, Total shipment — 1909 sks wheat, 7516 sks oats, 567 sks barley, 489 sks bran, 928 sks, 2625 bags, and 7 boxes flour, 866'sks potatoes, 35 sks sharps.

Trimming Braids, in colored and black,.at Id yard ; usual price Is.—R. Allan. ~

The New School Regulations.— The following reference to the new regulations appears in Inspector Smith's annual report on the public schools of Marlborough :—The new regulations have now had a year's trial, and we shall no doubt soon hear from all parts of the Colony to what extent the cause of education has benefited by them. With the view of ascertaining, as nearly as possible, the effect of "these regulations upon the efficiency of the school work in tills district, I took advantage' of the provisions of Clause 6, and examined, exactly as heretofore, the four upper standards myself; and, as stated above, I found in the whole district only 24 scholars passed that, in my opinion, were not quite fit to be' promoted; and pveu this was partly due to the leniency of the regulations before referred to, lam decidedly of opinion that there is little danger of any less vigorous treatment of the subjects taught, or that any relaxation of the requirements of the' examinations, will follow from the granting of this liberty to the teachers. It may be sonic time before the general public will feel the same confidence, but that will come in time if the teachers continue to deserve the judgment which I unhesitatingly pronounce upon the general effect pf .tho regulations in this district during the past year • namely, that no depreciation, but rather some considerable improvement on the whole, has resulted from the adoption of the new system,

Ladies' Paddock Mackintoshes, the best value ever shown, at 12s 6d and 19s GJ ; less than wholesale price — R. Allan.

Sounds Tracks.—Mr George Rutland, of Canvastown, who, as subenumerator for the recently-taken census, has paid two extended visits through, tlie Pelorus Sound, expresses himself (says tho GaaiKlian) as plcasmv ably surprised at the progress made'by the settlers upon their holdings, and the relative luxury everywhere provailing, in distinction to the discomforts borne by them, with Mark Taploy spirit, in the earlier times of settlement. In regard to the Sounds tracks, Mr Rutland statps thpy are iii excel? lent order, with the exception of a length from Broughton's to Torea, Kenepuru, Avhich was blocked by slips during the weather experienced in October last, and which, through some dispute- between Mr John Gullery and the Survey Dopiu'tiuent, lias been permitted to remain in a condition of menace to those using this portion of the track. The settler.*,- Mr Rutland found, were gratified at the steps that have been taken to give them increased facilities for land communication, and the promptitude with which their wants and suggestions in this direction have fapen considered. A noticeable feature in tho portion of the Sound visited was thajb the population e» ccedod ninety per cent, of New Zealand born, and, of this, the proportion was largely composed of those born in the locality. Mr Rutland speaks in unstinted torjus of the generous hospitality extended by oho. severs—thi*. as all visitors can vouch for, is an Inherent virtue of the Sounds residents, and for which tkeir reputation stands high in many lands.

PjfESEN'j'ATjOxX. — At Havelock .on Saturday &st, Mr Charles Mitchell, who, for sevcu ycai's, hay lield a position in the store of Mr W. ]>i'icp, and \vho has entered into business at Renwi,ekio^ij; w^s" made the recipient of a presentation by tho residents of Haveloek and district as a token or the good willies he carries with him for liis future wplCaj-i^and a recognition of the esteem jn which h t e is hpld, The function, which was ojF ;*. rfiijrpspnpitivc character, was held ufcMrD. .Diiggan/s Commercial Hotel, the Chairman~of the town Board occupying the chair and making the-i>vGse«tation. Mr Mitchell ■was the recipient of a handsome clock, Mrs Mitchell being presented with a spyejr ii6yle#s hunting watch. The health and prosperity of tho recipients ■\yer(?tQasted with musical honors. My Mitchell was Chairman of the School CftmwitteG for two years, and W.M. of the local Masonic Lodge during a

Blexheim Girls' School.—ln his annual report, Inspector Smith adds the following remarks to his reference to 1-ho scholarship examinations :—lt wi.l be noticed that of the nine candidates who gained suilicient marks to qualify lot- a scholarship under the regulations (GO per cent of the possible marks), as many as seven were sent up by the Blenheim Girls' School, the tenth on the list being also a pupil at the same school. This fact must be very o-ratilying to tlio teacher and to the Committee, while it must also be a matter of surprise and regret that the other large schools failed to secure oven one of the eight scholarships actually awarded.

A MAiswiouoiTGir Want. — "Hand work has been recently added to the list of class subjects," says Inspector Smith, " but, invaluable as that means of education would be, if efficiently treated, something must bo struck out of the syllabus before- any great advantage can accrue from its introduction, which, moreover, would necessitate an expenditure in material and appliances that it will be difficult to provide for in the smaller districts, without special assistance from the Department. For some years past, the teachers of some of our smaller schools, as well as the mistress of the Infant Department in the Blenheim school, have made good use of the Kindergarten material supplied to them, the latter being particularly zealous in the work ; and I cannot refrain from once more urging upon the Board the completion of the infant school by the erection of the eastern wing, aud fitting it up as a proper Kindergarten school. The furniture might be so arranged as to be easily .1 cnovable, so as to allow of the room being used at certain hours for any classes in manual ov technical instruction that may hereafter be established. It is high time that some movement in this direction should be made in Blenheim, where teachers of many brandies of industrial art can be so easily fo aid. On my visits to Wellington I hxvc been struck with admiration, somewhat alloyed with a feeling approach ing to envy, to see the abundant provision tliat has been made for this modern phase of popular education ; and.l feel sure, that at any rate, a small measure of assistance might reasonably be asked for towards the improvement of Marl borough in this direction."

Ladies' and Girls' Knitted Woollen Singlets, at Is and Is 6d; worth double. Extra heavy anl warm.— ll. Allan.

ACCOII JIOJJATIOX AT HA2OIEU PIAIXS. —A Wellington resident who has just returned from a visit to Hanmer Plains, speaks in high terms of the health-giv-ing qualities of the resort. The accommodation available there for visitors, however, he describes as being both insufficient and indifferent. During Easter the accommodation was greatly over-taxed. Some persons who arrived on one particular day had to return to Culverden, as there were no rooms to be had at the springs. Quite a number of people in Canterbury received telegrams advising x thcm that it was impossible to accommodate them at Hanmer Plains, with the result that they had either to defer or abandon their projected visits. The gentleman in question considers that there is every warrant for increasing and improving the accommodation at the .springs. In his opinion establishments resembling those at British wateringplaces, such as Mattock and at the Continental spas, would be highly remunerative at Hanmer Plains, which is yearly increasing in favour as a health resort.

Dress Fringes, in pure Silk, at 2d end 3d yard ; worth Is.—R. Allai?.

The Mujksee Tbagkdy.—The man Alfred Kent, whom a telegram from Sydney reported on Monday to .have attacked his mother, wife and two children, fatally injuring one, was a very powerful man. His mother (says the New Zealand Times) was a fullblooded Maori, not a half-caste, as reported by tlio cable. Kent, although half a Maori, had never been in New Zealand—in fact, had never been out of the Mudgee district. He resided at a digging township named Home Rule, situated between Giilgong and Mudgeo. Kent was a man of abstemious habits and of a lively disposition. He was reputed to be the best pick-and-shovel man in the whole district, and was a good performer at such pastimes as tossing the caber, putting the weight, etc., and altogether of an open disposition that seemed to preclude any suspicion of the madness whichmust have caused him to commit the savage act chronicled in the cable message referred to.

Dress Stufts.—We have never offered such value in Lustres, Serges, Amazon Cloths, Reps, &c, in black and colored, pure wool, double width, at Is Gd yard ; usual price 3s (3d.—R t Allan,

James O. Bain, the Lion Comique, is coming early in April.