NEWS AND NOTES.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXVI, Issue 233, 6 October 1902, Page 1

NEWS AND NOTES.

Parliament is prorogued by the Gazette to November the 12th.

A large shipment of Argentine maize has arrived for the Sydney and Brisbane markets.

The cold weather hangs on persistently, and its exceptional nature is a fruitful topic of conversation.

The Telegraph Office advises that an office will be opened at the Otaki racecourse on Wednesday and Thursday, Bth and 9th inst.; hoars of attendance, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Parliamentary Committee has no recommendation to make cunceruii g the petitions of 1600 signatories who prayed that the Bible be read in puWic schools.

Last week a heavy train was seat out to Seddon to test the stability of the Awatere bridge, which is now equipped with the wind screen. It is understood that the teat was entirely satisfactory.

An.entry which attracted much attention at the Floral Fete last week was an exhibit of plasticine work put in by the children of the Renwioktown school. It reflected credit on both the juveniles and their teacher, Miss Williams, who has evidently made a successful study of this subject.

Among the personal items of a letter from the Pretoria correspondent of the Christchurch Press is a note saying that an ex New Zealander in the Standard Bank at Johannesburg is Mr J, Cranston, Auckland, and formerly of Blenheim, who, after going to South Africa, saw service with Kitchener's Scouts. -

A Wanganui syndicate is arranging for the importation of several motor car omnibuses to run between Wanganui and the various suburbs. The 'buses are expected in a few montbs. Tney are of the latest type, and cost £1000 each. They are each capable Of carrying from thirty to forty passengers. . :

A return presented to Parliament shows that during the ten years ended the 31st March, 1902, a total of 335,564 acres were sold for cash, and 639,677 acres were converted into freehold. The revenue received in that period was £701,358. The lowest area sold for cash in one year during the decade was 22,526 acres (in 1898)> and the greatest area sold for cash was 58,725 acres (in 1901).

F. T. Moore, who was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for writing threatening letters to the ActingPremier, but was released, on the understanding that he was to leave for South Africa, has written to the Evening Post from Sydney, stating that he intends to return to contest the Wellington Suburbs seat, at the coming election.

The new regulations concerning the public school syllabus are under the consideration of the Education Department. When these have been drafted, they will be circulated amongst the various Boards, educational institutes and inspectors of. schools. .

Among the items on the Supple* tnentary Estimates ar«: —Compensation to Dr. T. R. King, formerly of the Lunacy Department, £288; and, in> i nil satisfaction and settlement; of all claims arising out of the appointment of Mr W. B. Edwards as a Judge of the Supreme Court and natire commissioner, and inrespect of his subsequent loss of office. £5500.

In the Legislative Council on Friday, the Hon. Captain Baillie, speaking with forty-one years' experience of the Council, congratulated members on tbe decorum and got d feeling that bad characterised the session just ended. Thongh he could not see members, said Capt. Baillie (referrißg to his weakening eyesight), he wished them all a hearty good-bye. The Minister of Education spoke of his great pleasure at flndi g the bon. member so brave and cheery in face of his great affliction, and expressed the hope that Captain Baillie would be with them for many more sessions;

Oui Cullensville correspondent wri' es :—Last Monday a well attended .meeting was held at Mahakipawa. Mr John Duncan in the chair, when it was unanimously resolved to tender a social to Sergeant Coleman, Seventh Contingent, one of the Mahakipawa/ boys who left this district for the South African war., It is to be held in * the Theatre Royal, Cullensville, on Friday, the 24th inst. A large attendance from Canvastown, Havelock, and all the surrounding districts is pro* mised. A Maltese Cross, suitably iascribed, is to be procured, and Mr J. Duncan has kindly promised to make the presentation. Socials at Cullensville are- generally a great success, but it is anticipated that the present one will beat the record.

T\ro celebrities are left this week (writes a London correspondent under date the 22nd August) to prevent us from sinking into a state of post coronation coma —Mr Seddon and the Shah. We can amuse the latter with waxworks and pom-poms, phonographs and performing dogs, but there is nothing we can teach the former. Seat least he told the representative of the Leeds Mercury,, who, thinking that the time had come to talk of many things, asked, "Have you learned anything during your visit to this country which may be useful to the people of New Zealand?" "Nothing at all/* was the prompt and somewhat disconcerting answer; " there is very little we have to learn." The Mercury turns the tables, and says:—" Mr Seddon appears to have come amongst us with somewhat hazy impressions about the population of Leeds, and about the way in which it finds employment. Though a visit of a few hours is sufficient to exhaust all of consequence and interest that Leeds has to show to the visitor from New Zealand; •. . . -it is to be regretted that he has not a good deal more time to spare in some of the great manufacturing centres."