LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 117, 15 May 1909, Page 4

LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS.

The' donkey engine which took the sudden dive the other day into r the Wairau at the bridge works has been lifted out again, and is ready tor work. ,

A movement is on.foot (says a Wellington telegram) to make a presentation to the Prime Minister m recognition of his "Dreadnought action. It has been decided to give him an address in a silver casket; to become an heirloom.

The Picton Road Board yesterday had a considerable amount of business to get through, and the settled down to work from the jump, and the chairman took care that the discussion did not drift into any: side channels, with the result that at 4.d0 ; p.m. the Board'rose with the business finished.'

The clothing and other articles, found on the body of the man who had died in the bush at Para recently, were sent on to Blenheim, and Mrs McKenna and others had no hesitation in identifying the articles as those worn and owned by Walter.. Blackie. The-identity of the body, therefore, is now fully established: '

It is the. intention of Mr A. F. Redwood, of the Tua Marina Hotel, to light his hotel premises with acetylene, and a contract has been let for the installation. Mr Redwood is also building a hall on the section adjoining the hotel. Theldimensions of the hall will be 40ft. x 20ft.,: and it will be a decided acquisition to Tua Marina.

A meeting of the committee of the Marlborough Poultry Association was held at the Royal Hotel last evening, Mr W. Sowman in the chair. The secretary reported that he had obtained a very satisfactory list of special prizes, and these were allotted to the various classes. An account of £4 10s from the Nelson Association for cage hire in 1907 was presented, and provoked considerable discussion. It was eventually decided to hold the account over until next meeting, pending an explanation from the late, secretary. , ..:..■..■.■! -■■>'. ■ ■

It is perhaps as welt to 'sqund a warning note before the, need of such warning ceases to exist.,' At theWairau Ferry Bridge some yjb.ung children, all girls, are in the | habit of going out and about theVstreani' in a row-boat. An Express representative watched them, for some time yester-. day, and it was a marvel of luck that an overturn did not occur. One day there will be a drowning fatality, and then steps will be taken to stop the aquatic proclivities of the youngsters. This paragraph may be a word in time for the parents. : ,

At the Picton Road Board meeting yesterday, the secretary brought up the question whether churchgoers on Sundays should not be allowed puntage free over the Wairau. Some p.egple, said Mr Barnett, stopped away from church because they had,to pay to cross the ferry, and some who crossed and paid their puntage evidently thought the ferry fee enough to squander on church, and so allowed thje, offertory, to suffer. The members qf the Board did, :not take kindly to ■the idea, and Mr Law remarked that if these people allowed the ferry fee to deter them from crossing to church on a Sunday they did not think much of their church and would not miss it much.

A formal meeting of the Marlborough Football Referees' Association was held last night, when Mr Hylton was elected chairman and Mr W. Wanden secretary. Referees were appointed for the matches that were in progress as we went to press.

A Dunedin telegram reports- the death of Mr Colin Allan, aged 87, who came out in 1856 under engagement to the Otago Provincial Council. He was the first schoolmaster at Port Chalmers, and was immigration officer till 1888, when assisted immigration ceased.

At a meeting of the Arapawa Maori Council, presided over by Mr Hackworth, Superintendent of the Maori Councils in the Dominion, in the Courthouse this-morning, the election of Mr Tahua Watson to the position of chairman at a special meeting of the Coucil recently, was confirmed.

Mr Quartly has on view in his music emporium the latest patriotic song out, which bears on the recent "Dreadnought" craze, and is' entitled "Wake up, New Zealand." An effort is to be made to have the song sung at the performance to be given by Pollard's Opera Company on Tuesday night.

So much has been said in condemnation of the municipal methods of road-making that it comes as something of a pleasant diversion to chronicle the fact of some good work in this connection. The experiments in Market Street South have borne fruit in the top-dressing of Market Street North. This thoroughfare has been well done, and stands the traffic well. It is now a good section of the road.

"Pull out! Pull out, yer wasters 1" was the cry which greeted the members of the audience at the Town Hall last night Avho lined up before the ticket-office to get their money back after West's manager had stated that it .was impossible for the programme' to continue on account of the accident to the engine. "You've had yer sprat's worth!" Most of the audience evidently considered that what they had seen was worth paying for, as very few claimed reimbursement.

An Auckland telegram states that Mr Wm. Taylor, of T© Awamutu, wrote to the Agricultural and Pastoral Association stating that he had disposed of his stud because of the shameful way in which the Railway Department had treated his stock going to and from the Cambridge Show. 13oHie of the horses' were so badly injured that they could not enter the ring. They were in a truck for 23 hours doing 54 miles. The Association decided to send the letter - to' <the Railway Department. .--•' , 1

V It is reported that a number of mullock trucks that have been used for the construction of the railway at Blind Creek have been removed to Gisborne, presumably to be used in connection with the railway extension work in Poverty Bay. The construction placed upon the action, of the Railway Department in taking those trucks away at this juncture is that it is not intended to proceed further, with local, railway extension for a time, despite the repeated agitation by : the different local bodies for years past, and notwithstanding Ministerial promises. . ""'■;. . '

The'43alv.atipn Army psnd connected with the local corps are to be credited with supplying a fair share of music to the general public/ and some new instruments are really needed for the band. Ways and means have been devised whereby these can be provided, and entertainments for this purpose will be held at various intervals. Tomorrow afternoon the Garrison Band,1 under Bandmaster Rose, will render a programme of music ,from the Seymour' Square rotunda, commencing at 3 o'clock, for the purpose- of assisting in this object. Their action in this matter is highly appreciated, and it is hoped that the fund for new instruments will be considerably augmented by a liberal response from the' public. A collection will be.taken at the' gates.

The well-known launch Kotiro (which is Maori for' Maori maid) has been sold by Mr F. Paine, of Blenheim, to a Wanganui gentleman, who intends to use it as a pleasure boat on the Wanganui River. There is a certain amount of interest attached to the Kotiro, as it was the first motor launch to cross the Wairau bar, an example which was quickly followed by others, and the river has now a small fleet of launches plying thereon. The Kotiro was originally built to the order of Mr Brownlee, of Havelock, and came into Mr Paine's possession many years ago. The launch was instrumental at one time of its history in saving the lives of three' men at the bar. The launch Pet capsized whilst crossing the bar and precipitated its crew of three into the water. Mr Paine happened to be at the Pilot Station with his launch at the time and witnessed the accident. Way was got up and the launch proceeded to the; rescue, and Mr Paine, was- providentially enabled to save the men just in the nick!of time;. There was a considerable sea breaking ove,r the bar and the rescue was effected at some risk to the crew of the-Kotiro. Luckily Mr Paine had the assistance of Captain Fisk, who took charge of tHe wheel;-(and his long experience of the bar proved invaluable.

A most enjoyable social function was held Jn St. Patrick's Hall last night, when notwithstanding the heavy rain that fell there was a very good attendance. The function was promoted by Mrs Austin in aid of a very needy and deserving, cause, and the amount received as the result of the social exceeded the highest expectations of those who had the interest of the function at heart. The floor was in excellent order, and the music contributed by many of those present was conducive of/ an enjoyable time. An ample supply of delicate edibles was done justice to shortly after 11 .o'clock, when dancing was _ resumed and carried on until a good time after midnight. During an interval in the proceedings, Mr Healy thanked those who had subscribed towards the social, and also the Rev. Father Holley for granting the use of St. Patrick's Hall free of charge, thus assisting materially towards the success of the gathering. ' ■'.. ■'■ -■ •■ r: ■'• '-"■"''' . ' ■ .

Back pages to-day contain the usualinstalment of Newspaper Verse an<& Funny Storiettes, also "The Week, the World and Wellington," Pictoa Road Board, and various items ofi general interest.

A year or two ago the MarlborougftL Rugby Union decided that the names oi players in all matches should be in. the hands of the secretary'not later; than the Thursday morning preceding; such matches. While this rule was more or less in ;force the names. were= handed to the press all together and' published on Thursday evening. Country players then had a clear day'a' notice of the fact that they were wanted for the following Saturday, and of where they had to go to. It-would be a great convenience to the newspapers and ;to the players if the Union' passed a similar rule this year (or [insisted on the observance of the old1 one, if it is still in force); names of players to reach the office of The Ex* press from the Union secretary not later than 1 p.m. to ensure publication in the first edition.

Owing to an accident to "the engine' which drives the dynamo, West's Pie-: tures had to close down just before 9 o'clock last night. The engine badj given some trouble (which was rot noticed by the audience) on the previous night, and uppnr-examinationJ yesterday it was ascertained that one . of the parts was broken. It was then too late to have another one made, and the manager was informed that the company would be lucky ifs the engine carried ■ them,.. through.^ Accordingly, no tickets were collected at the door. Everything went vvell until the seventh picture, when the* cinematograph stopped.', After ai while it started again, but only for a), minute or two, and then the mana-< ger came oh to the stage and an* , nounced that; the 'performance would' have to be abandoned. He stated that those desirous of obtaining half, or all their money back could get it( by applying at the office. The orchestra then played "God Save the King," and the audience dispersed.; The pictures that were shown were of the same high standard ;of excel.lence v that characterised those ex-. Jiibited on the first two nights. The most beautiful was "The Fountains of Versailles," while' the views of! i Constantinople were especially inter-v esting in yifew of the recent deposition of Abdul Hamid, who is seen! driving to and from the mosque.