LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12, 15 January 1906, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

We would draw our readers' attention to the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company's advertisement, appearing in this issue, of their stock sale to be held at Koromiko on Thursday next, 17th instant. This is the first of their series of sales to be held this season.

The funeral of the late Mr H. A. Bali took place on Saturday morning, when a large number of residents testified their esteem for the departed. The Rev W. O. Robb officiated at the grave. The rev. gentleman also feelingly referred to the family's bereavement at St. Andrew's Church last evening. . '■.

At the Magistrate's Court this morning the wife decertio'n charge brought by Rea Hippolite, and on which dant was recently arrested at Gisborne, was withdrawn. Defendant, who appeared on bail, said he had not intended to leave his wife, but was merely detained longer than he expected at Gisborne. Mr T. Scott-Smith, S.M., was on the Bench.

Whatever else happens, there is no fear of rough water on the Wairau River at. the Ferry, and the annual regatta, to be held this year on the Saturday preceding Easter Monday should prove a convenient testingground for the various crews who intend taking part-in the.championship events at Pictoh. A meeting of^all interested in the Wairau regatta is called for Wednesday evening next.

In our reference to the N.Z.L. and M.A. Coy.'s new Havelock Suburban saleyards, opened last Friday, it should have been stated that, in addition to the selling pens proper, the drafting yards can also accommodate 2000 sheep, the full capacity of the whole of the sheep pens being about 5000, besides smaller yards for accommodating 50 rams and 30 pigs, and several small paddocks, which would easily hold another 10,000 if required,

The out-door treatment is undergoing a thorough trial at the Wairau estuary this summer. Mr Cheesman and party are camped at Mr Aldridge's; Dr. Nairn and party on the Pilot Reserve; and Mrs Draper and party at Mr Thomas T. Collard's. The latter oamp is on a very extended scale, a "piano being added to its numerous other attractions. In society language this camp is "at home " on Wednesday afternoons after half-past two.

Light winds, mainly from a-souther-ly direction, were the most in vogue at 9 a.m. to-day. The barometer and thermometer remain high, 30.20 and 75 being the highest readings, at Invercargfll and Farewell Spit respectively. Other summer temperatures were: Thames 74, Gisborne 72, Cambridge and Tiritiri 70. Blenheim recorded 68. Rain was falling at Christchurch, and misty weather prevailed at Wellington. The sea was generally smooth to moderate, though East Cape and Tauranga reported a heavy swell.

Of Miss Lilian Irvine's singing of Tosti's gem, the evergreen "Goodbye," at her Wellington concert, the New Zealand "Times' " musical,critic remarked that the song " was probably never sung so well in Wellington by so young a singer." The "Post" remarked of the same rendering that it was "given with extraordinary po"wer and pathos, and an encore was persistently demanded." The Blenheim talent which has been enlisted for 'the occasion is of the best; and, as the tickets have been going off well, St. Andrew's Hall should be filled tomorrow evening.

The irregular behaviour of a riderless steed—saddled and bridled, however, and belonging to a butcher—in front of the "Express " Office this morning created some little commotion. It commenced to make its letloosed wanderings interesting by plunging amongst the traces between the. leaders and shatters.jof, ft .{iye-horse waggon team, standing outside Mr .W iff en's office. The draught horses were naturally somewhat startled, and took some considerable restraining. Freeing itself, the. runaway next got on to the footpath against the Club Hotel, and was very soon "shooting the chute " off the slippery asphalt into the water-table. It then bolted up High Street, and was caught in the vicinity of the Grosyenor Hotel, none the worse for its adventure.

Cushion Covers, large size, deep frill ,to be cleaved at 6u each; worth 2a.— H. F. Hall.

- Now that there are so many oillaunches on the river, it behoves helmsmen to be very careful, and observe the rules of the road, especially at night. Two collisions were narroAvly averted only last night, the cause of the crouble in each case being apparently lack of knowledge on the part of the boat-steerers. In the first case the launch-was going down-stream, on its right side, and on sighting the boat coming upwards, went over on to the wrong side ,a collision being only saved by a couple of feet. In the second the boat-steerev was going down stream keeping to his left, close under the bank, on his wrong side, and the collision was averted by a few inches and a coat of paint. The rulo is quite the opposite to that in driving, for instead ot keeping to the left, you keep to the right. We avoid "port" and " starboard " and technical terms, for our river sailors are, as Dickens puts it, "in perspective," and too much must not bo expected of them, but common sense # and the "rule" should make an accident next door to impossible. There is a regulation as to side-lights on launchs, which is strongly enforced in the Queen Charlotte and Pelorus Sounds, and perhaps it would be as well that the river boats should follow such.

Boys' galatea hats; we are clearing he whole stock, ranging from 4s 6u ;o Is 6d; to be «U cleared at Is each. -H. F. Hall..

Several enquiries having reached us as to tho position of affairs in regard to the new Town Hall, a representative of this paper waited upon His Worship the Mayor (Mr E. H. Penny) this morning, and put the question in turn. His ["Worship stated that the present position was that the matter of preparing rough plans and estimates was in tho hands of a local architect, who was expected to report to the Committee before the Council's meeting on Friday next. Tho Council was, said the Mayor, doing whatever it could to expectito matters.

Print Sale—We are clearing out 500 yards, reduced from Is to 2cl a yard; 12 yards for 2s—H. F. Hall.

Says an exchange: Is ■ tho Besson Shield going to find its home in the South Island? The possession of this shield betokens the champion band of the colony, and from reliable reports to hand it seems likely that a keen contest is about to take place. It is stated that a southern band has been greatly strengthened since they last appeared at a contest some years ago ; in fact, more than one southern band appears to be confident of being very close to the top when the result of the 1906 contest at Hawera is made known. It is even reported, in a jocular manner, of one band that they have taken up their residence at the practice room. Everything seems to point to a hard fought conflict for honors, and the present holders (Wangauui) of the coveted shield may havo to look to their laurels. The contest commences on Tuesday, 23rd instant, the final test selection being played on the Thursday evening.

100 yards of linen crash, all colors, to be cleared but; reduced from Is yard to 2s the dozen yards.—H. b . Hall.

The following is highly "reminiscent of other days" in connection with river conserving problems in this district: — There was a very lively meeting of the Meanee River Board on. * Saturday; r Interruptions were frequent, and occasionally there was dis'dfder. Once or twice physical encounters seemed imminent, but were fortunately averted by the mediation of the Chairman and the good-humored banter of the highly diverted spectators. At one stage Mr John Tracey, who had been keeping up a fire of interjections and observations throughout the whole of the Chairman's address, again exploded. Constable-Rior-dan, having previously warned Mr Tracey to restrain himself, now asked him to leave the room. Mr Tracey refused to do so ; and demanded to know who Constable Riordan was, anyhow. At the request of the Chairman, the constable agreed to give Mr Tracey another chance, and that gentleman temporarily subsided. Later on, however, Mr Tracoy broke forth again repeatedly, and when asked to be quiet told a ratepayer who made the request that he was a (something) " gomerill." When Mr J. McElwee was addressing the meeting on the subject of raising the banks, Mr Tracey interrupted him, and a violent altercation ensued, much to the amusement of all the others present. Eventually the climax was reached when Mr Tracey and Mr McElwee faced each other in threatening pugilistic attitude, but the timely intervention of the Chairman prevented an actual encounter. The two gentlemen then resumed their seats, exchanging ferocious scowls and muttered maledictions j amid the uproarious .laughter of the spectators. Colored Muslins, all to be cleared i out reduced from Is per yard to 2d a yard—H. F. Hall. The sub-committee of the Canterbury A. and P. Association appointed to consider the expenditure of 1000 promised by the Exhibition Committee and the Government towards the expenses of an International Show in 1906, recommended that the sum shoud be apportioned as follows:— Twenty per cent, to be added to all sections m the prize schedule, the details to be left with the sub-committee interested, £244; extra medals, £100; competitions, £100; extra entertainment of visitors, £56. - Accommodation of extra stock: Paddocks for sheep, £100; additional horse boxes, £100; additional cattle stalls, £100; additional pens and cover for sheep, £200; total.£looo. The sub-commit-tee also recommended that the incom-

ing committee, out of the Association's funds, should donate four championship prizes, of £25 each in merino and English Leicester sheep, draught stallions, ami shorthorn bulls; also that the sum of £200 be voted to supplement" the amount set down for pens and cover- for sheep. A suggestion that, the manner in which the cham-

pionship prizes were to be allotted, and the particular breeds which could compete for them should not be decided at that meeting, seemed to find

general favor, and the report was adopted with the alteration that the "championships should be for sheep, cattle, horses, and pigs." Puny boys and girls need careful attention. Nothing quite so good for them as Steams' Wine, which makes new blood, sharpens their appetite, and restores childhood's happy vigor. The Eyesight—Mr G. S. Jones, consulting optician, may be consulted at Messrs E. Powell and Sons', dentists, during this week. Spectacles and the "Reform" artificial eyes fitted. Hours from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. * Ladies' flannel coats and skirts are the latest in summer costumes; they are light in weight and wash well. We are showing them in light aiid dark colours, ranging in price from 29s 6d to 84s, which we can supply in all sizes. Kirkcaldio and Stains,* Ltd , Agency, High Street, Blenheim. * Success comes to him who works a McCormick. Agent, E. F. Healy, Blenheim. . * The wise astronomer foretells

The date of each eclipse, The racing man at finger's ends Has all the latest tips.. But we can vouch a fact more true— Can give a tip more sure— If you would of a cold be rid

Take Woods' Great Peppermint Cure. 23