LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXVI, Issue 40, 17 February 1902, Page 2

LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS.

The Hospital.—The Matron of the Wairau Hospital desires to thank Mesdatne3 Huddlestone, Nolan, James, Rodgers and Mahon for fruit, Mrs Sheridan for fruit and vegetables, and Mrs Graham for fruit and cakes.

InONiNO.—Mr ,T. Coxon, the ironing expert, who is at present giving lessons in shirt and collar starching and ironing, gave a demonstration on Saturday evening in the window of Mr F. Shaw's shop. This process attracted much attention, and he was Watched by a very large crowd of people.

Soonps Excursion. — People who patronise the pleasurable weekly excursiops to the Sounds will be interested to know that refreshments, at a moderate cost, may be obtained from Mrs Baxter, Te Weka Bay. Boats may also be had on hire.

Accident. —An unfortunate accident happened to a little girl of Mr Con way, Wairau Road, on Thursday last. The child, which is about eighteen months old, was playing with a calf on the lawn, when the animal trod on its face, and tore open the left cheek. It is supposed tljat the qaji's hoof got into the child's mouth, and in extricating it the animal must have torn the cheek. The little sufferer is progressing favorably under uiedjoal treatment,

Dentistry.—Mr Johnstone, surgeon dentist, representing Shaw's Medical Hall Dental Department, will pay the usual professional visit to Havelock on Wednesday.

A Novel Play.—One of the most successful theatrical productions in Paris recently has been a sh«rt play, called *'Au Telephone," in which an anxious and loving husband, absent only for a few days from home, comforts his lonely wife by talking to her oft tho telephone from where he is staying, a hundred miles away. She tells him she is alone in the house, and is afraid of a burglar who is trying to get in. Ho tells her to take the pistol from the drawer in his desk. She says it is not there. The husband then, without being able to do anything to help her, hears his wife being killed, as he listens with the receiver to his ear.

The Hemp Industry.—The Agricultural Department is being urged by various firms which handle flag in large quantities to bring into operation the system of cotupulsorily grading all hemp inteneddfor oxport. The Department has been informed that flax of inferior grade is being shipped Home in certain quarters, and a fear is expressed that unless the Act of last session is immediately brought into force the good name which New Zealand hemp has obtained on the London market will be further injured. The representations made to the Department have caused it to bestir itself in the matter, and it is probable that compulsory grading will be insisted on from the Ist prox.

Breach of the Law. —When the Eighth Contingent was camped at Trentham, a man named Joseph Angus kept a booth by the wayside, wherein he dispensed what he called " hops." Two probationary constables went there one day, and had several drinks of this liquor, which one of them thought was "pretty straight beer." Each brought a bottle of it home with him, and had it analysed by Mr T. H. Hustwick. In sequel Angus and his assistant (Laura Golder) were consequently charged at the Magistrate's Court with having unlawfully sold intoxicating liquor without being possessed of a license so to do. Golder failed to appear, and Angus pleaded Not Guilty. Mr Hustwick testified that the liquor was a mixture of beer and something, which might have been cider, and was certainly intoxicating. Eventually, Angus was fined £10, with costs amounting to £1 14s, or in default two months' liard labour. Golder was fined £5, with 13s costs, and the option of one month's imprisonment*

Progressive WELLiNGTON.-Another instance of the enterprise of Wellington's commercial men is the completion of the Kelburne-Karori tramway, which is now looked upon as one of the "sights" of the "Empire City." Starting from a right-of-way on Lambton Quay, adjoining the New Zealand Times office, the tram-line begins at once a rather sensational-looking climb up the hill of about a mile and a quarter, several tunnels being cut to reduce the grade somewhat, which even as it stands is quite steep enough—viz., 1 in 10. The tramway is built in a most substantial manner, and every precaution is taken against runaway accidents. Motive power is provided by a stationary engine at the top of the hill, which works an endless steel rope, in the same manner as the Dunedin trams. In additional to the usual pair of iron rails a centre rail is provided of a larger size, for braking purposes ; and as an instance of the perfect control secured, it is stated that a few days ago a car, loaded with seven tons, was takan down safely, stopping instantly anywhere on the route. At present passengers are only taken to Kelburne in the cable tram, changing there to a " bus" if is desired to continue the journey to Karori nearly two miles further. It is, however, intended ultimately to continue the cable-tram to the latter place. Kelburne has been lately cufc up into building sites, and will be sold at auction in a few days. Its close proximity to the heart of the city, combined with its elevated situation and healthful locality, is causing it to be greatly sought after by those desiring more elbow-room and purer air than is to be obtained in the crowded areas lower down.

Scholarships. — The St. Patrick's Cellege scholarships, offered by the college, have been won by Timothy Francis Ryan, son of Mr W. Ryan, of Palmerston North, and Wilfred Casey, of Wellington. In conjunction with the scholarships decided in connection with St. Patrick's College, it must be satisfactory to the Sisters of Mercy at the Palmerston Convent (says the Standard) to know that the first competitor,, Master Ryan, has never attended any school but theirs, affording another proof that women are capable of giving thorough instruction in the higher branches of education. The second boy, named Casey, of Wellington, attends the Marist Brothers* school there, and comes of a clever family. His brother has already won a similar scholarship, and his sister topped the list recently for the colony in the Civil Service examination. It is rather a coincidence that the maiden name of the late Mrs Ryan was Casey, although she was no relation to the boy who was second to her son.

Popular Conoent in a Cathedral. —The Dean of Warwick (says a London paper) has arranged a popular concert to be held in the Cathedral early in January, in aid of the funds of a local hospital for children. A stage and platform have been erected in front of the rood screen, and a charge for admission will be made. The programme is of a semi-sacred character, and the Dean is ignoring the criticism that has been made by the High Church papers. There is a peculiar fitness in a concert for the Jenny Lind Hospital. The great singer herself took the deepest interest in the suffering children, and on more than one occasion went to Norwich specially to sing for their benefit. Among those who offered to sing this year were Madame Albani and Mr Charles Santley #

A Huge Gamble. —According to the Vienna papers a Polish nobleman recently lost the lmgo sum of 2,200,000 kronen (about £88,000) playing at baccarat at the rooms oO the Jockey Club a(i the Austrian capital. The lion's share of the winnings fell to a Hungarian deputy and sportsman, who won half a million gulden, and to an Austrian aristocrat. The loser could not, of course, pay the sum immediately, and ho was allowed half a year in which to discharge the debt.