LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXVI, Issue 155, 5 July 1902, Page 2

LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS.

Trotting.—Owners of trotting horses are reminded that acceptances close to night, atnineo'clock, at the Masonic Hotel.

Vital Statistics.—The births registered in the district of Wairau for the month of June were 17 and the deaths five. Four marriage licenses were issued during the month.

Customs.—The customs duties paid at the port of Wairau for the month of June amounted to £650 14s 6d. The duties paid for June, 1901, were £611 3s sd. The beer duty last month totalled £50.

Night Dresses, in white Calico, and in white, cream, and pink Flannelette, extra large size, 3s lid, 4s 6d, 5s 6d, and 6s 6d ; beautifully trimmed,—R. Allan.

Marlbobough Land and Railway League.—An enthusiastic meeting was held in Pieton on Thursday evening last under the presidency of Mr John Duncan, of the Grove, at which it was decided to form a Picton branch of the Marlborough Land and Railway League upon conditions to be submitted to the Executive at its next meeting, stipulating for the retention of a certain percentage of the local subscriptions for branch purposes, and the representation of the branch on the Executive. A deputation was appointed to attend the next meeting in Blenheim and urge these points, which Mr Duncan promised to heartily support.

50 Carpet Squares, in Tapestry, Brussels, Kidderminster, &c, 9s 6d, lls 6d, to 60s ; these goods are worth double the money.—R. Allan.

Picton Harbour Association. —It has been decided to form in Picton an Harbor Association to work in harmony with the Marlborough Land and Railway League and further the effort it is making to secure through railway communication. The Hon. C. H. Mill's ferry scheme is the necessary link between the two trunk railway lines, and the increased traffic which through communication will undoubtedly bring, demands that timely provision should be made to make the port of Picton as commodious and free as possible. The Harbour Association has been formed to this end. The Mayor, Mr A. P. Seymour, who is going to Wellington next week, is, as delegate of the Association, to inter view the Minister of Marino, and see what the official intentions are with regard to increased wharf accommodation and other matters. We wish the Association a successful career.

Ladies' Bloomers, colonial knitted, at 3s lid, 5s lid, and 6s lid a pair ; less than wholesale price.—R. Allan.

The "Coronation" Oaks. — The oaks which it was intended to plant in the High School grounds having been taken out of the ground last week in anticipation of Coronation Day, the ceremony of planting them took place on Friday morning. On the assembling of the school in the morning the Principal, Dr Innes, addressed a few words to the pupils on the significance of the ceremony, and at 10.30 the school flag was hoisted. The holes for the trees were prepared by the boys, and the trees put in by the youngest pupils of the school—the "Edward" oak by George Benning and the " Alexandra" by Myrtle Siuale. The ceremony concluded with cheers for the King and Queen. The trees were the gift of a lady friend, and are fine healthy specimens of the real English oak.

Ladies' Knickers, in white, calico, and Fiannelette, 2s, 2s 6d, and 3s 9d a pair ; worth double. —R. Allan.

New Notions of Mars*—The Able Moreux, director of the Bourges Observatory, Paris, whose theory that the sun spots are not cooling, butoverheated regions, has (says a correspondent of the Daily Mail) had a revolutionising influence on solar astronomy, row advances a no less startling hypothesis concerning the planet Mar-. According to the Abbe, Mars is younger, and not older than the earth. The contrary belief, however, has always prevai'ed, and if the Abbe's views be accepted, then the former theories concerning the alleged canals and inhabitants of Mars are erroneous, and all Martian astronomy will have to be revised.

A Plague of FoxesI. —A few years ago a prominent resident of Victoria introuuoed into Australia some English foxes for the purpose of hunting, and they were liberated near Melbourne. Under the congenial climatic conditions prevailing in Australia they bred rapidly, and now have become such a pest as to menace the shoep-breeding industry in some places. The shire councils of Victoria spend hundreds of pounds annually in the purchase of their scalps, and at the same time the flockrnasters of that State are complaining bitterly of the great loss they sustain through the killing of lambs and sheep by Keynard. During the six years ended Juno, 1901, the Councils paid £8588 for 130,920 scalps.

Ladies1 Combinations, will not shrink, all sizes, at 3s lid, 4s Cd, and 8s lid ; less than wholesale price.—R. Allan.

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Railway Accident. — There was another railway accident ou Wednesday forenoon about a mile and a half north of Seacliff, and it is surprising that the consequences were not more serious. How the accident occurred is not certain. The train left Dunedin for Oaraaru at 7.40, and comprised an engine, three or four empty trucks, two intermediate vans, and two Jong bogie carriages, an American carriage, and the guard's van. About a mile and a quarter beyond Seacliff one of the trucks left the metals. This was not noticed by those on the train. The bumping told on the axle-box, which commenced to break up. After leaving the cutting to round a wide curve the driver apparently noticed that the truck was off, and put on the brakes. The momentum caused the train to buckle, and tho first carriage plunged down the embankment, pulling the next carriage half off the line and al-o two of the intermediate trucks in front, which fell on their sides, one wheel mounting the platform of the carriage, and smashing tho ironwork of the carriage. Though at an angle of 45 degrees, it did not fall over. There were about twenty passengers on the train, and their first intimation of danger was finding the train going over the embankment. Fortunately all escaped injury, with the exception of a young man who was thrown off the rear platform and was bruised, and two girls who received a severe shaking.

50 Ladies' Jackets and Capes, fawn, grey, and black, in a splendid Covert Coating Cloth, to be cleared at 15s 9d ; usual price 35s. —R. Allan.

Dead Letter Office.—Tho records of the Dead Letter Office, contained in the annual report of the Postal Department, are as interesting this year as ever. Thus we find that 481 letters were wrongly addressed, 29 letters had used stamps on them, 435 letters and 142 letter cards were posted without address, and eight letters were posted with libellous addresses and, of course, intercepted. If real proof were required of the carelessness of the public, however, it is to be found in the fact that articles representing a total value of over £5465 were found in letters opened in the Dead Letter Office and returned to senders where practicable. The articles consisted of: —347 postoffice orders, value £959 10s 3d ; 31 bank drafts, value £2144 8s 6d; 225 cheques, value £1954 17s 3d ; 2 dividend warrants, value £G 12s; 4 promissory notes, value £43 8s 3d; postal notes, value £93 9s 6d ; stamps, value £21 18a 2d; bank-notes, value £191; gold, value £43; silver and copper, value £7 Is Bd. Other articles dealt with in tho Dead Letter Office comprised watches, chains, scarf-pins, rings, brooches, earrings, spoons, eyeglasses, bangles, books of foreign stamps, and certificate of mortgage, hat feathers, and violin strings.

Far-topped Lined Kid Gloves, all sizes, 2s lid pair ; usual price, 4s 6d. — R. Allan.

De Wet and the Coeonation.—The London Daily Mail received from a reliable correspondent in South Africa an amusing story of some sidelights on tbe peace negotiations. The letter is dated April 24ch. "When De Wet left Pretoria the field force canteen gave him two saddles, two suits, and three dozen of whisky. The officer in charge of the peace delegates taught them bridge, in which they all took great interest. De Wet when leaving the officer told him how much he would miss his rubber, and hoped to renew it on his return. What odd people we British are in war-time! It is highly possible that De Wet may go Home to the Coronation to represent the new Transvaal colony. De Wet is now riding about with a flag of trace, and crosses the line once a day to let us know where he is. Steyn has locomotor ataxia, and has lost his eyesight. There is, in fact, now an armistice without a declaration of the fact, as the delegates are all wandering from one commando to another under flags of truce, trying to get their men to give in, or else to concoct a winter campaign—which ? Those who know the delegates hero—oven the pro Boers, are very confident of the enemy giving up, as they are short of horses and food, and De Wet, having been promised his life and freedom, is understood to be against fnrther hostilities. The public knows not a word of what is happening, and as there is no war, and only a few troops going aimlessly about the country to keep the enemy moving, the depresand boredom on everyone's face is much marked. It is ridiculous to call this war."

100 Girls' and Ladies' Mackintoshes, warranted waterproof, from 5s lid each; worth 21s. —R. Allan.

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Tra.de with South Africa.—Speaking at Bloemfontein on May 23rd, Mr Seddon is reported to have said that he was prepared to make an offer to anyone there connected with meat and grain, or dairy produce. He would place at the disposal of those engaged in such, free of cost, the whole machinery of the New Zealand Government, and that would dispense with the middleman's profits. He would guarantee to send the best articles. He was not entirely unselfish. The public would have the advantage of having the best quality at a reasonable cost, and they in New Zealand would have the advantage of the trade.

Linoleum ! Linoleum! 6f fc wide, 2s 9d, 2s lid, 3s lid the running yard; 3ft wide, Is 6d.—R. Allan.

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