LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXVII, Issue 163, 14 July 1903, Page 2

LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS.

Flax Gkader.—The request of the Chamber of Commerce as to the appointment of a flax grader is that such an official should be stationed at Blen heim, not at Picton, as stated in our report of the recent meeting.

Gas Day.—As the 15th of the month falls on Arbor Day the last discount day for the payment of gas accounts has been extended to the Thursday, 16th inst., after which no discount will be allowed.

Sudden Death. —News was received in town to-day that Mr W. J. Baillie, of Picton, was found dead in bed this morning at his residence. Deceased, who was an old resident of the district, was highly respected. He formerly held a commission as lieutenant in the 51st regiment, and saw much active service in Burmah with his regiment.

Garrison Band Concert. — The fourth of the Garrison Band honorary members' concerts, and the last of this series, will be held to-night in Ewart's Hall. A first rate programme has been chosen for the concert, and those attending can be sure of a musical rendition of a high order.

Obituary.—The death is announced of the Rev. Dean Holland, who passed away yesterday at the Catholic Presbytery, Reefcon, after five months' illness, at the age of 68 years. The reverend gentleman came to the colony 37 years ago, first living in Hawke's Bay and Ta-anaku In 1865 he was appointed chaplain to the forces operating under General Chute against the Maorig. He was present at a number of engagements, and played a prominent part during the retreat from Ngutu-o te-Mana, where Yon Tempsky fell. The Dean's career is reviewed in Gudgeon's "Heroes of New Zealand."

/ Trotting Meeting.—Arrangements are now complete for the Trotting Meeting to be held at Redwoodtown to-morrow. A first rate track has been laid out, and all outside horses have arrived. The totalisator will be under the able management of Mr F. N. Jones, of Nelson, and dividends will be paid out on first and second horses in each race, providing there are six starters. Everything at present points to a successful gathering. The Committee certainly deserve credit for carrying out the programme under such adverse circumstances.

Tattersali/s Sweeps. — Some evidence of the amount of money sent out of the colony in connection with Tattersall s sweeps may be gleaned from the annual report of the Postal Department presented to Parliament the other day. The number of money orders issued in New Zealand for Tasmania in 1901 was 69,012, representing a value of £62,184. The embargo established in regard to money orders for " Tattersall's" has resulted in a large falling off, in 1902 the number of orders being only 14,589, of a value of only £15,628. This, of course, means a loss of revenue to the Post Office. It does not follow, however, that tbe figures represent the redaction in the amount of money sent out of the colony to Tattersall's, for there are now agencies doing business in the interest of the firm.

Truancy Prosecutions.—At a meeting of the Wanganui School Committee on Monday it was resolved: " That in the opinion of the Committee many of the prosecutions made by the Truant Inspector under the School Attendance Act are harsh and unnecessary, and haiftss parent* in a manner never in tended by the Education Act." It further held that before parties are put to the trouble and expense of defending breaches of tbe Act notice of suoh-parents default shall be given to the Committee, who shall decide each case on its merits, and decide if it be necessary to prosecute. The mover of the motion, who is a J.P., stated that of 60 informations he had recently heard, not 10 per cent, should have come into Court but for the state of the law. -

Expelled from the Army.—On May 26 the painful ceremony of expelling three soldiers from the army took place at Fnlwood Barracks, Preston (Eng land), The men were Gunners Owen, Matthews, and Foster, who gave evidence in the trial of Gunner Hudson, executed at Manchester for the murder by shooting of Bombardier Short. The whole of the troops in the garrison were drawn up on three sides of the square, into the centre of which the gunners were marched. A letter of General Hallam Parr, of the North western district, was read, in which that officer stated that by not giving information sooner than they'did the men - bad rendered themselves unworthy to wear the uniform of the regiment. He therefore ordered that they should be discharged from the army. The ex-gunners, attired in civilian clothes, were marched by a squad right through the square to the barracks" gateway.

• For Influenza and Cold in the Head take Woods' Great Peppermint Cure Is6dand2s6d.

Government Meat Shops.—-Messrs W. Weddel and Co.'s report of May 29 says:—The New Zealand Government has announced its intention to open retail shops in this country, for the purpose of further advertising the good quality of the mutton, lamb and beef produced in that colony. Details of the scheme are not yet to hand, and it is, therefore, impossible to express any opinion' upon the proposals. At the outset they have elicited most extraordinarily varied criticisms, some traders resenting, some ridiculing, and others welcoming tbetn. the mere suggestion that the New Zealand Government intends to take this step may possibly have the effect of "clearing the atmosphere" in the retail trade. Many traders, who "have "net hitherto advertised the sources oftheiiTstipplies, will probably take advantage of the greater puulieity now given to the subject to state explicity whether they are selling colonial or Argentine meat; while the numerous establishments throughout the country now selling New Zealand meat as such may be encouraged to push their goods still more energetically if properly backed up by the New Zealand Government.

Toothache is a severe test of a man's philosophy. A simple remedy is to saturate a piece of cotton with Chamberlain's Pain Balm and place it in the cavity of the affected tooth. One application gives relief. Try it. J. Benning sells it.

A Prophet at Fault.t-" The voice of the stars" is sometimes curiously silent. The startling revolution in Servia, with the cold-blooded assassination of the Royal Family and the Ministry, one would think, was sufficiently important to deserve some indication in the heavens, considering the trivialities which find their way into the prophetic calendars. " Old Moore" is the only one at present accessible to us, but, though ho tells us that during June- King Edward must beware, as Saturn threatens " his health and person," and that "the Emperor of Germany will be unfortunate and in sore trouble," he has nothing to say regarding the present seat of disturbance. In July, certainly, he tells us to look for frequent " deeds of blood and insubordination in the Balkan Peninsula," but is careful to attribute them to impatience under the tyrannical rule of the Sultan. From early May to late September, These are the chilly months remember When coughs and colds do most prevail And weakened health begins to fail, And all humanity's coughing and sneezing, And bronchial tubes are stuffed and wheezing, It's time to get that mixture pure 4 W. E. Woods' Great Peppermint Cure.