NEWS AND NOTES.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXVI, Issue 229, 1 October 1902, Page 1

NEWS AND NOTES.

A Sydney cable announces the death of Mr William Williams, a pioneer in gold-reefing, at the age of 102 years. It is advertised that an examination for mine manager's' and battery superintendents' certificates will be held on the 27th of January, 1903. The members of the Salvation Army Biorama and Orchestral combination arrived in town last evening preparatory to a Blenheim season. Anglers say that the local rivers are better stocked with trout than ever; and a successful season is anticipated. The sport has become wonderfully popular within the last couple of .years. > The Department of Agriculture has senb out for public information a copy of the proclamation made in Victoria as to certain insects and fungi declared _ under the Vegetation Diseases Act of that State. The dropping of the Land Bill this session is regretted by the New Zealand Times for one reason because it will compel candidates for election to deal with a great and confusing issue, involving the whole land policy of the country. A freak of nature in the matter of egg-laying has been discovered by a local poultry owner. He has a hen which lays eggs not as big on an average as the productions of a sparrow, and cackles as much over her performance as the best of his fowls. The miniature eggs are lacking in nothing except size, the yolk being perfectly formed. The Omdurman dredge, Top Valley, which was laid np for a long time undergoing considerable alterations in the gold saving appliances atf the hands of the new proprietary, known as the Egmont Dredging Company, again commenced work on Monday. It is to be hoped the new company will speedily get a good return for outlay. The trout fishing season opened at twelve o'clock last night. A large number of anglers went out, and there was keen competition for the honor of catching the first fish. This honor fell to Mr T. J. Ball, who was similarly successful last year. He came into this office at about a quarter past twelve with a healthy Rookingi trout weighing between five and six pounds, which was landed in town a minute or two after the midnight echoes of the town clock had died away. We have received from Gisborne correspondence and printed matter relative to the movement which has in view the establishment of a memorial of the landing of Captain Cook. One circular advises us that letters have been sent to all schools, public and private, in the Colony, and that subscriptions are looked for in all quarters; We are asked to inform the schools that the addressed envelopes from Gisborne are franked and returnable free. A pamphlet written by Bishop Williams contains an interesting account of Capt. Cook's first landing in New Zealand, at Gisborne on October the Bth, 1769. The memorial scheme is of a national character and deserves cordial support. Rheumatic Pains will soon wear out the strongest constitution. If relief is po-sible, Chamberlain's Pain Balm Will afford it. This liniment has been a boon to thousands of sufferers. One application gives relief. Trj * J. Becning sells it. The proposal of the Union Steamship . Company to run a daily "ferry" service between Wellington and Picton promises a convenient and welcome system of communication between .; Blenheim and the Empire City. Under the present service there are three passages weekly from Picton to Weir lington—on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays—with trips from Wellington to Picton on the three alternate days of the week. Apart from the running of the river boats, this means that at the best passengers and the mails reach Blenheim on only three nights in the weeks There was a better service during the summer months, but it was slightly diminished for the winter season. The scheme now under consideration would give a connection, with Welliugton better than anything that has gone before It is proposed to put the Haupiri on the WellingtonPicton running, with a view to her leaving the Empire City at 9 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and Picton every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at the same hour. This arrangement would give a complete daily service, and on three nights of the week a Blenheim bu mess man would be able to travel over to Wellington at night, spend the whole of one day there, and return to Blenheim in ample time to get to his office at the usual hour next morning. The institution of the proposed service depends, of course, on the making of suitable train arrangements, but it is hoped that there will be no difficulty in this direction. Doubtless suggestions as to the details of the scheme will be welcomed by the Union Company.