LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXVI, Issue 156, 7 July 1902, Page 2

LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS.

Grove Wharf. —Tenders, closing on tho 15th instant, are invited for the lease of Grove wharf and shed.

Educational. —Particulars concerning appointments under the Education Board of the North Canterbury district aro given in our advertising columns.

Dentistry.—The representative of the Medical Hall dental department visits Picton to-morrow, and may be consulted at Mrs Allport's.

Accident. —A painful accident occurred to Mrs Jas. Sitnson, sen., in the vicinity of the School Bridge on Saturday evening last. A piece of tow or flax became entangled in her boot, with the result that she was thrown to the ground, breaking an arm, and received a severe shaking. Under the care of Dr Noonan she is progressing as well can be expected;

Customs Duties.—The total amount of duties collected in the colony for the year ended March, 1902, was £2,400,----418. The rate per cent, of cost of collection at the principal ports was : — Auckland, £1 5s 7d for collecting £009,429; Wellington, £1 5s 7d, for £540,818; Dunedin, £1 8s 3d for £448,901; Lyttelton, £1 11s 5d for £302,263.

The Trotting Club Meeting. —Complete arrangements are being made by the Committee of the Wairau Trotting Club to make tho forthcoming meeting a success. A splendid halfmile track has been laid out at considerable expense, and arrangements made for respectable bookmakers to be on the ground. The acceptances are good, and an enjoyable afternoon's sport may be looked forward to.

Income Tax.—During the year ended March, 1901, residents in the North Island paid £62,766 in income tax, and those of the South Island paid £65,157. The sum of £45,884 was set down as indivisible between North and South Island owing to the fact that the businesses from which such payments were received embraced every part of the colony. This return was called for by Mr Fowlds.

A Pessimistic View.—We may be too pessimistic (says the London Spectator), but the news from China strikes U3 as becoming increasingly serious. The Mandarins are raising large fresh taxes, to pay the interest of the indemnity, and are explaining blandly that the exactions are not their fault, but that of the foreigners and of the native Christians, whom they protect. The indemnity, moreover, has been increased, both as regards principal and interest, by 15 per cent., for it has to be paid in gold, and it is collected in silver, which has fallen in comparative value s'nee the treaty was signed by nearly that proportion, and is sinking still. The managers of the collections on behalf of the Powers have no power to make remissions, and the Mandarins, who argue, and perhaps believe, that they are only responsible for silver, declare that they positively cannot raise the additional money. The people who have to pay for the indemnity, for the loss by exchange, for the bribes to the Mandarins, and for the keep of the collectors sent among them, are exasperated bej'ond endurance, and threaten the Christians, whom they regard as the ultimate cause of their oppressions, in a way which the experienced Roman Catholic missionaries regard as most alarming. The Viceroys, though anxious to protect the foreigners, are not equally anxious to protect men whom they at heart regard as traitors, and a general popular rising, in which Christianity might be extirpated in China, as it was in Japan in the seventeenth century, is by no means out of the question.

"YOU WANT IT"

'—So do we.

You want your washing to look well; we like to see it so ; v/e wish, you wish, and everybody wishes, and wished it all along, that Empire Company's Royal Blue tad been discovered long ago.

The Imperial Contingents.—lt will be remembered that some time ago there was a good des.l of discussion on the subject of the charge of three per cent, made by the New South Wales Government in connection with the equipment of Imperial Contingents. It would appear that the New Zealand Government received a similar commission. A despatch from Downing Street, dated 22nd August, 19C1, informed the New South Wales Government as follows: —"His Majesty's Government agrees to the proposal of your Government to charge a commission of 3 per cent, in connection with advances, on account of the Imperial Bushmen's Contingent raised for service in South Africa at the expense of tho Imperial Government. The principle of this decision of course extends beyond the particular case now in question, and I have therefore to request that the other Australian Governments which have raised Contingents on the same basis may be informed of it." Mr Chamberlain, in forwarding this memo, to Lord Ranfurly, points out that his Government will see that the principle of the decisions now taken applies in the case of New Zealand Contingents raised at the expense of the Imperial Government.

The Evicted Barmaid. — It is rumored tliafc the Glasgow barmaids need not fear being wiped out, despite the recent threat of the local magistry. Sorao enterprising English publicans, it seems, are anxious to acquire the services of Glasgow girls, and to that end have asked them to sign an agreement to wear a tartan blouso with a large brooch bearing the inscription "Evicted from Glasgow." It was believed that this notion, if carried out, would prove a big draw in London and other centres during Coronation week.

Articles of Common Consumption. —An interesting return showing the consumption of articles of common use per head of population from the year 1881 to 1901 has been presented to Parliament. The consumption of spirits had been gradually decreasing from £2 12s in 1881 to £1 17s 3d in 1891, and £1 19s 7d in 1901. Tobacco has remained very stoatly, having only raised a couple of shillings during the twenty years. In 1881 it was £1 43 2d; in 1891 it was £1 3s 7d, and in 1901 it was £1 4s 4}d. The cousumption of cigars and cigarettes has steadily mounted from 2s lid to 4s 7d in 1891. and 7a Gd in 1901. Ale and beer has been going down from 2s to 8(3. Wine decreased from 2s 7d to Is 3-iJcl. The amount of tea last year was Is 1 jj, as against 3s o}d in 1891, and 2s 5d in 1881. The consumption of coffee and cocoa has also decreased, while sugar has steadily increased from 2a 10J to 4s Id. In 1881 the New Zealand brewed beer consumed was 3s 7^d, in 1891 2s O-Jd, and n 1901 3s 2|<J.

1 ARE YOU THE LAUNDRY MAID?' If you are, don't forget that to turn out Qnished work, you must have Empire Company's Royal Blue.

BiSHOr CowiE.—ln his letter of resignation, published in the New Zealand Guardian, the late Primate wrote: —"The heart failure from which I am suffering is, I think, the result mainly of protracted anxiety, financial and otherwise, consequent on the lack of a suitable maintenance being providod for the Bishop of this diocese, and latterly more especially in connection wfth the increasing poverty of my poor Maori clergy. The episcopal income here at the present time is £C6O per annum. Considering the financial and other difficulties of my position, cur people in this diocese, and throughout the province will, I believe, be of opinion that, after 33 years of incessant work, I am not unduly hasty in asking now to be relieved of my epis copal responsibilities." The relief from his cares came too late. He wrote his letter on June 6, and died in less than three weeks later.

" STOP THE LEAK "—ln the Blue bag. Empire Company's Royal Blue an do its work, but it must have a sound Blue bag.

The '* Labor Question" i?, we know, A problem hard to solve, But if its progress is but slow, Results in time revolve. But in the case of cold or cough, Results are swift and sure, If we but take to drive them off Some Woods' Great Peppermint Cure. 2