Established 1866. The Marlborough Express. published every evening. Wednesday, October 1, 1902. THE DYING SESSION.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXVI, Issue 229, 1 October 1902, Page 2

Established 1866. The Marlborough Express. published every evening. Wednesday, October 1, 1902. THE DYING SESSION.

The close of the session is close at hand. From what we hear privately from Wellington the session will probably end on Thursday night or Friday morning. There is now very little of importance left to be done, save for the Supplementary Estimates, and although these may be expected to provide the customary crop of small wranglings and recriminations the House is not likely to make any material alterations in the Treasurer's proposals. Some interest attaches to the reception and disposal of the Referendum Bill by the Legislative Council, but we should certainly not grieve were the Government to drop the measure, whose introduction has been, in our opinion, a well-meant, but unwise, concession to a noisy, but comparatively insignificant, agitation by a few faddists. Members, it is true, voted for the Bill, but, as we shrewdly suspect, with a firm hope and belief that the Council would repeat its action of last year, subjecting it to that process which is known as the slaughtering of an innocent. When the Appropriation Bill comes down there may bo a final onslaught made upon the financial policy of the Government ; but outside this there is very little left of any seriously debateable importance or value. Taken as a whole, although the session has not been remarkable for the passage of any specially notable oc important policy measure, a eon siderable amount of useful legislative work has been done. The session, too, haa been pleasantly and laudably free from the occurrence of any such disagreeable and discreditable " scenes" as have characterised so many of its predecessors. The leadership of the Acting-Premier has been a great personal success for Sir Joseph Ward, who has undoubtedly strengthened his standing in Parliament and his reputation in the country. When the curtain is finally rung down we shall follow our usual custom and briefly review in detail the more important of the measures which have been added to the Statute Book. LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS. _: + Meteorological.— Captain Edwin wires as lollows : " Gale from between north and east and south east, glass fall, tides good, indications for heavy rain." The Seddon Railway.—A meeting of Starborongh, Richmond Brook, and Blind River settlers is convened for Saturday evening next, at the Seddon Schoolroom, to discuss matters in connection with the opening of the Blen-heim-Seddon railway. Glasgow.—Glasgow, not satisfied with leading the world in Municipal Socialism, now has a project afoot for abolishing every remaining vestige of its dilapidated quarters; £10,000,000 is to be the cost, and that trifle is to be raised by a special betterment tax on ground values. A Rica Claim.—Ex-Mayor Tom Doyle, of Kanowna (W.A.), has had a further clean-up from his sensationally rich leader ; result, 2680z from 10 tons. This brings the total to date to 13280z from 32 tons. The leader continues to develop well, and the genial Tom looks in a fair way to realising a handsome fortune from it. An Unfortunate Soldier. —There is bt'-.1l a solitary soldier, a pilgrim by the Montrose, interned on Somes Island. He has been through all the penances of plague hospital, fever ward, convalescent home, and Somes Island, for measle3, pneumonia, and scarlet fever. On Monday he had to be sorrowfully recommitted to exile on account of a recurrence of scarlet fever rah. Loaders. —The Two Germans, namod Bohlke and Derschow, who recently started on a walking tour round the world for a wager to be won on the condition that they relied solely on the hospitality of the world, doing no work during their travels, have (says an Adelaide paper) quarrelled, and the tour has been abandoned. Floral Fete.—The entries for this exhibition came in in force this morning, and appended are some of the judging results. The exhibits in plasticine and sketching are very good and original, as also are the flower decorations. The exhibits will be on view this evening, and are worth seeing : — Floral wreath, boys, B. Macoy 1, M. Grace 2 ; ditto., girls, Isabel Chaytor 1, Els>ie Hale ; basket of flowers, Ursula Grace 1, J. Chaytor 2; bouquet, Edith Bentley 1, K. Barnett 2; buttonhole bouquet, under 12, J. Binley 1, M. Livingstone 2; ditto,, over 12, E. Bontloy 1, K. Barnett 2 ; vase, E. Hale 1, K. Barnett 2 ; table decorations, E. Fisher 1, K. Barnett and E. Hall 2. The judges for the above were Mesdames Griffiths, A. Farmar, and Vickers. This is the Season when death stalks through the land in the form of pneumonia. The surest defence against this disease is Chamberlain's Cough Remedy. Ifc always cures and cures quickly. J, Benning sells it.

School Inspection.—The examination of the Okararaio State school took place on the 24th utt. The following scholars were successful in gaining passes :— Standard VI.: John Nees (credit pass), Elsie Finlay, Archibald Finlay. Standard V.: Roderick Cameron, John Cameron, Ellen Gardiner, Alice Henricksen, Margaret Hart, Arthur Leslie, Elsie Mortimer, Ernest Moore, Alice Sneider. Standard IV.: Kate Cameron, Edith Hodgson, Susan Hart, Rebecca Moore, Albertina Nees. Standard III.: Almericus Berry, Gilbert Blick, Arthur Blick, Onslow Cameron, Constance Hodgson, George Leslie, George Speers. Standard II.: Owen Finlay, Margaret Gardiner, Bertha Moo?e, Thomas Moore, Violet Nees, Leonard Mortimer. Standard I.: Rhoda Cameron, Elizabeth Finlay, Jessie Leslie, Gertrude Moore, Harry Moore, Herbert Mortimer, Elsie Pask.

Biorama. — This evening at the Army Barracks the Biorama Company will give their first entertainment. The views shown are a very fine selection projected by the new compound lantern and bioscope, which is operated by Major Perry, who has a well sustained reputation throughout Australia for this work. The company of vocalists and instrumentalists comprise : — Captain Brodie, lanternist, baritone, and Scottish warbler ; Captain Whiteman, solo pianist and soprano ; Lieutenant Crothers, pianist, violinist, and alto; Cadet Thompson, assistant operatic violinist and basso; Cadet Gore, cornetist and tenor ; Bro. Mackay, tenor and cellist; and they give a firstclass programme of standard songs, duets, trios, quartettes and glees, illustrated and aided by orchestral accompaniments. The Company have drawn large houses wherever they have shown, and the press generally speak of the entertainments as firstclass ones.

Mutual Improvement Society.— Last night, at Wesley Hall, the members of the Blenheim Mutual Improvement Society held a social re-union of an enjoyable character. The gathering, which brings a very successful session to a close, was well attended, and the following programme was submitted:— Pianoforte duet, Misses Smith and Paine; song, Mr R. G. Crawford ; reading, Mr D. P. Sinclair; song, Mrs A. J. Litchfield; recitation, Mr W. H. Marple; pianoforte solo, Miss Olive Rose; recitation, Miss M. Girling; song, Mr J. Rose ; recitation, Miss G. Rose. The President of the Society (Rev. G. W. Spence) then gave an address, reviewing the work of the Society during the session just ended, and trusted its educational advantages would prove of lasting benefit to the members and that next year they would carry on the good work even more successfully. The ladies, following their usual custom, then handed round a bountiful supply of light refreshments, to which ample justice was done. Vote 3 of thanks were then passed by acclamation to the ladies, the Secretary, and the Press. The President made special acknowledgment of the very great assistance rendered by the local Press, the proprietor being warmly thanked for the ready help accorded in furthering the work of the Society. The gathering broke up after singing a verse of Auld Lang Syne.

Kaikoura Cheese. — Mr Reakes stated at his Suburban School meeting on Tuesday evening (says the Star) that he had tasted at the Kaikoura Dairy Factory that day some of the very finest—if not the finest—cheese he had ever eaten, but the manager had shown him what impure milk would do were care not exercised. He (Mr Reakes) thought the Company were exceedingly fortunate in having such a good cheesemaker and manager, of whose ability lie had been informed by an eminent authority in the Department. Mr Andrew Rutherford, in proposing a vote of thanks to the lecturer, extolled the Kaikoura cheese, which, he said, from the first time he had tasted it, he had continued to use, and had nob obtained any other make. He always took care to have a sufficient supply at Kaikoura cheese on hand, regarding it as being unsurpassable in the colony. The remarks of both gentlemen were heartily applauded.

Hydatids.—ln an article on the prevalence of this disease in New Zealand, especially in Otago, the Otago Daily Times says : —" The ova voided by dogs constitute our real danger, and the spread of hydatids might be minimised by absolutely preventing dogs reeding upon offal. Very few people probably know that when buying a sheep's pluck for the dog they may be active agents in the dissemination of a disease that is by far too prevalent in this colony. The statistics for the fiveyear period ending in 1896 show that there were 146 cases, resulting in 22 deaths ; while in a similar period ending in 1901 there were 226 eases and 40 deaths, a truly alarming increase. The knowledge of that fact cannot be too widely disseminated, and people in the country would be well advised to avoid drinking at streams where contamination is probable. Hydatid disease is a serious infliction, involving critical surgical operations, and too frequently even death, so that no warning we might give could be too pronounced against the dangers that beset the community."

Shropshire Sheep in Australia.—At a large and representative meeting of Shropshire sheep breeders at Newmarket, Melbourne, recently, Mr J. Gibb, of Berwick, occupied the chair, and in his opening remarks gave an interesting discourse on the merits of Shropshire sheep. Mr H. H. Peck, hon. secretary of the Victorian Shropshire Association, stated that it was desirable that inter-State breeders should meet annually to discuss matters pertaining to the breed on the same lines as were adopted in England after the Royal Show there. Mr A. E. Mansell, a noted English breeder who has come to reside in Tasmania, moved that three delegates of the Victorian, Tasmanian, and South Australian Associations should meet and adopt a programme for furthering the interests of Shropshire sheep. The motion was carried unanimously, and a special vote of thanks was passed to Mr H. H. Peck for the work he had done in bringing the breed so much into prominence in Australia.

Borrowed Plumes.—A story is about (says a London paper) that a lady appeared at a recent reception in a gorgeous gown looted from the Imperial Palace at Peking, and later in the evening found herself face to face with the Chinese Ambassador. Not even his official reserve, added to the natural inscrutability of his race, it is said, could conceal his agitation in meeting an English lady arrayed in material worn only by Chinese royalty. They say the lady was so abashed that she at once left. But whether the looted dress has been returned to the Empress of China is a matter of doubt.

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

Hard Luck.—: One Denis Farrell, of Annandale, Sydney, recently went into a stable to feed a horse and cow, when the cow kicked him, breaking his left a,rm in two places and throwing him against the horse, which also kicked him, breaking his left leg and knocking him over a barrel, by which several of his ribs were broken. Denis, however, survived this deadly game of ping-

pong.

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