LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXVII, Issue 120, 23 May 1903, Page 2

LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS.

Collegiate School. — The second term of the Picton Collegiate School commences on Tuesday next, 26th inst. The principal notifies there are a few vacancies for boarders.

Football. —The Pirate Club have forfeited their match to day against the Awarau juniors at Renwick. This places the Pirates out of the contest for the Junior Banner.

Meteorological.—Captain Edwin wired as follows at 12.30 p.m.:—v Gale after 16 hours from now, from between north and east and southeast; glass fall soon; weather much warmer ; tides high; expect much rain."

Renwick. —A final reminder is given of the sale of work and produce, with concert at which an orchestra of ten performers will play selections, to be held at Renwick on Monday evening. A drag leaves Blenheim at 7 p.m. The proceeds are in aid of the Presbyterian Manse Fund,

The Pioton Cricketers. —The Picton Cricket Club have written to the Waitohi Football Club offering them the use of a paddock which will make a full sized football ground, free of charge for the season. No reply has yet been received, but the cricketers hope the other club will waive their right to play on Nelson Square, for the season at least, and that in the meantime some arrangements may b.e made which will suit both parties.

Empire Day.—lt is notified in the Gazette that in future May 24fch will be observed as a holiday in the Government offices in the colony, and that the said day will be known as " Empire Day." As tho 24th instant falls on Sunday, Empire Day this year will be observed on Monday, the 25th instant. The Mayor of Wellington has pro claimed the day a holiday, and many business people intend to close their premises, remaining open all day on Wednesday. •

Cycling.—Already a large nutnte* of entries have been received for the Cycling Club Sports, and by closing time to night the newly-formed club will probably have received record nominations for their first meeting to bo held on the 3rd of June. The Committee in framing the programme endeavored to provide for all classes of sport. Competitors should note that nominations close at 9 o'clock to-night with the Secretary, Mr Geo. Denby.

Herbal Remedies.—-We beg to draw the attention of the public to the merits of Bock's herbal remedies. These have proved of immense benefit to sufferers in this and other parts of the colony, and, judging by the hundreds of testimonials, are making a name for themselves. Now that the cold weather has set in such remedies as rheumatic powder, Bock's balsam, and herb extract for toothache, should prove a boon to many a sufferer. Mr D. R. Nevison is the local agent for these remedies.

The Health Department.—Owing to Dr. Frengley, Health Officer for Nelson and Marlborough, being at present stationed at the head Health Office for the colony in Wellington, Dr. Anderson has been requested by the Health Department to proceed to Nelson and confer with the authorities there as to the provision of accommodation and other matters in the event of a case of small-pox occurring there. He accordingly leaves for Nelson this evening.

Fire Brigade Social.—A social event that is being looked forward to with pleasure is the Blenheim Volunteer Fire Brigade's re-union, which will be held in Ewart's Hall on Wednesday next. Each year the annual gathering increases in popularity, and the present occasion should be no exception to the rule. The preparations are being made on as large a scale as ever, and, this being so, the social should be a brilliant affair. Apart from its merit as an entertainment, the social should attract general patronage, for the Fire Brigade is the friend of every member of the community.

"King" Mauuta's Elevation. — With regard to the telegram appearing in oar columns to day stating that "King" Mahuta has been called to the Legislative Council of this colony, some feeling has existed between the various tribes in the North IslaDd as to the appointment. On tho death cf Major Ropata, M.L.C., a few years ago, it was urged that a member *of bis tribe (the Ngatinianiapoto) should be appointed to the Legislative Council to represent that tribe, and the claims of Mr Aparima T. Ngata, 8.A., a graduate of the Auckland University, and the leader of the " Young Maori Party," were pressed, but for some reason he was not appointod. We can therefore understand the . opposition of the Ngatimanhipoto tribe to the appointment of "King" Mahuta, who is, of course, a Waikato native.

St. George's Day.—After the conclusion of the meeting of the St. George's Day Sports Committeo last eveningl, those present discussed the advisability of forming a Society of St. George to celebrate in a worthy and fitting manner the English national day, and to take any steps deemed necessary to uphold the honor and glory of Englishmen. Tho meeting were unanimously of opinion such a Society should be established in Blenheim, and on tho motion of the Chairman (Mr J. Conolly) it was resolved that in the opinion of those present it is desirable to form a Society c f St. George in Marlborough, and that Messrs Couolly, Fisher and Wanden be a sub-committee to obtain rule 3 and regulations of such a Society, and have power to call a meeting of those interested in forming such a Society as soon as the necessary information is to h^jjd,

A Distinguished Visitor. — It will be seen by reference to our columns that the Rev. Frederick A. Macdonald, of London, is to pay a visit to Blenheim on next Wednesday as the special deputation of the British and Foreign Bible Society. Mr Macdonald belongs to a truly distinguished family. He is uncle to the famous Kudyard Kipling, Ma* Macdonald's third sister being the mother of the popular author and poet Another sister of Mr Macdonald a is the wife of Sir W. Burne-Joues, who holds a place among the chief English painters in this artistic ago; while yet another sister mourns the loss of a great artist who was peerless in his own mystic world of pictorial imagination. For many years Mr Macdonald has occupied various prominent positions in the Wesleyan Church in England, of which he is a minister. When ho was hardly forty years of age he was appointed Professor of Theology at Handsworth College. In the year 18S9 he was elected President of tho Briti=h Conference, the highest honor that his church could confer on him. Since then he has filled the responsible position of senior secretary for foreign missions under the direction of tho Wesleyan Foreign Missionary Society, having under his special ciro and oversight the European Missions of Methodism in France, Italy, Spain, Austria and tho Mediterranean Islands. Mr Macdonald has been released by his church from his ordinary work, for part of this year, at the request of the Committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society, with the object that ho should address meeting in the cities and principal towns of New Zealand and Australia. The Bib!e Society will celebrate its centenary next year. In view of this interesting event the Board is calling tho attontion of the Christian public all over tho world to the great work which it has already done, and also to tho urgent needs which exists for rapidly extending operations to regions yet untouched. In Mr Macdonald the Society has secured an advocate of marked ability and one who comes with the reputation of being a brilliant platform speaker. The public meeting which Mr Macdonald is announced to address will be held in St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, and Yen. Archdeacon Grace, President of the local auxiliary, will preside.

The Small rox Outbreak. — One effoct of last year's smallpox scourge in England was rather picturesque. Every second man bore the outward and visible sign of sanitary salvation, in the shape of a bright red band on his coat-sleeve. Like the vaccine lymph, the red band "took," and was welcomed as an opportunity to indulgo the primeval huniaa fondness for gaudiness. The air of conscious rectitude exhibited by the "decores" was almost as painful as the smallpox itself. The rod band was worn as a signal that the wearer need not be harried by the Health Department, and it served also as a warning to the public not to crowd on to the arm that bore it. Naturally, the public found itself unable to resist leaning up against these arms with great earnestness. Should the public, iv its eager*ness to avoid the disease, catch the red band iofectioD, they will be wise to follow the example of the ingenious boy, who wore the band on the unvaccinated arm, aud was able to smile pleasantly at the multitude when it jostled him in order to hear him squeal. For Children's Hacking Cough at night take Woods' Great Peppermint Cure, Is 6d and 2s Cd.

Ravages of TnE Sea.—The impending fate of Heligoland, which even the Kaiser cannot preserve for the German Empire, will not (says a London paper) inspire much confidence in the power of Mr Balfour to" devise some means of preserving from destruction the property of East Coast landowners and mayors, who the other week alarmed him with the story of the encroachment of the sea. Measurements of the havoc wrought have not been kept with much care of lato years, but some twenty years ago Professor Phillips made careful calculations, which showed that the thirty-six miles of Yorkshire coast between Flatnborough and Spurn Head lost annually two yards and a quarter, or thirty acres a year. Over one mile in breadth has been lost since tl c Norman Conquest, and two a'wca the occupation of York by the Romans. Britain has thus lost more than a hundred Heligolands within historic memory from one little section of the seagirt isle.

Farmers' Union.-—A great deal has been said lately as to tho non-political character of the Farmers' Union, but at the annual meeting of tha Waimate branch, the chairman, Mr Borrie, emphatically opposed the clause of the general constitution of the Union which provides tliab the organisation shall be a non political one. He said that if the Farmers' Union continued to be a non-political and unregistered association, he would bs its favor of the withdrawal from ifc of the Waiaute branch, and the establishment of a separate union for farmers. A resolution to that effect was unanimously agreed to by the meeting. The Union, said tho chairmau, should be registered as an Employers' or Farmers' Union, to meet such disputes as arose with workers' and other unions ; in its present position it was helpless in any dispute which might arise. The question will probably be one of the most important to bo dealt with by Uio con fereace to be held shortly.

For Bronchial Cough, take Woods' Great Peppermint Cure, Is 6d and 2s 6d everywhere.

Poison in Wall Paper.—A writer in the April issue of the House, in the first of a series of practical articles on "Domestic Hygiene," calls attention to a matter which is important, namely, the use of arsenic iv paint and wall papers. The symptoms are intense langour and weakness. He quotes tho opinion of Sir T. Lav tor Brunton, who stated that he knew of a caso of "a medical friend whose wife and himself were both nearly killed by the use of arsenical paint, and another whose children died of symptoms which he was only led after their death to as sociate with the arsenic with which the nursery wall paper was loaded.'' The writer of tho article suggests that householders would bo wel! advised to obtain the opinion of an analyst as to whether the wall paper to be used in their houses is innocuous or otherwise.

Pkotestant Defence Association. —The Protestant Defence Association, which was recently formed at Dunediu, has now a fairly large membership. The following are some of the objects of the Association :—To maintain the actual, and insist on the practiol, recognition of the absolute equality of citizenship, independent of creed or profession ; to claim the right of all (other things being equal) to an equitable share in the distribution of appointments and privileges under the patronage of Ministers of State ;to advocate the reading of the Bible in our public schools as part of the syllabus ; to resist attempts to breakdown our (roe and compulsory syst m of education in favour of any Stateaided private or denominational system ; to preserve and defend the general interests of Protestantism against the artful oucroachments of Roman Catholicism in matters religious, political, social and commercial.

A Ludicrous Procession.—The annual commemoration of the Sydney University took place on May 2, the students marching in procession through the principal streets to tl c Town Hall, The procession was one of the most ridiculous ever seen in Sydney, and for norso surpassed anything ever attempted by the students in pa9t years. The vehicles in tho procession were tip drays, trolleys, sulkies, dool ey carts, boxes on wheels, drags, motor cars, and carriages. In a great number of instances horses, whose points wora palpably altered, were attired in trousers and other garments. A small company oE studev.ts, with false noses and beards, were drawn along in what at one time was a coster's barrow. It creaked ominously, but managed to survive the ahorfc journey.

Fov Influenza and Cold in the Ilead iako Woods' Great Peppermint; Cure, Is Od and 2s Gd.

Bkeacii of Puomise. —A Victorian young lady recently recovered handsome damages from Marcus William Oldbam for breach of promise of marriage. Another lady is now seeking damages for alleged failure to provide tiho lady with a bouso, furniture, and an annuity. Application was made to tbo court the other day to alow substituted service of the writ, as defendant was believed to bo in New Zealand, Mr Justice A'Beekett, in declining the application, said that within a reasonable time a fresh application could be made. The defendant, a young niau, succeeded to a great part of tho wealth of the late Mr Silas Harding, a very rich Western district landowner, who resided at Geelong. In bis old ago lie married a handsome young woman, Miss Oldham, stated to have been an actress, whom he fir3t saw while performing at the Geelong Theat o. On his death he left her his fortune. She was killed a year or two ago in a vehicle accident, and tho Harding fortune thus went to her brother.

If toothache gives you cruel pain,

Thank God it's not a spra'n. From toothache wo assure you,

Book's Herb Extract will cure you

The above is free from Acids ; being purely herbal will not injure the teeth. Price 1/- at D, R. Nevisou, local agent, .—A DVT.

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