LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 306, 30 December 1909, Page 4

LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS.

The New Zealand Times states that an alleged assault case,, in which a local clergyman, anda newspaper editor are concerned, is likely to come on at the Petone Court shortly.

It is reported (states our Christchurch correspondent) that the first sale of this season's barley has been made at 3s at a country station.. The line was fairly large, and the quality of the barley was very good.

A strong nor'westerly gale has been; raging sine© yesterday, and it is reported that stooks of grain have been considerably blown about, and a great deal of damage done to crops still not cut.

The Blenheim Rowing Club's junior and senior fours had a most successful trial on the Opawa River last night. The juniors put up a very good performance against the redoubtable four.

End of Lease. —Stuff must go regardless of cost. Beautiful dress zephyrs, in lovely new two-tone shading, to clear at 4£d per yard; worth 7|d to 10,Jd per yard.—R. Allan. *

The fruit crop throughout the province promises to be very large this season, particularly apples, and a great many fruitgrowers are already making preparations for sending their yeild to, Wellington.

The man Barry, who was_ committed for sentence at Pieton yesterday on a charge, of theft, when informing Constable King where he had put a portion of the stolen money, said: "You will never be able to get it now; it is under the water."

Closing Down.—Ladies' very charming white embroidered blouses, to be fired out at 3s lid to 6s 6d each; worth 6s lid to 12s 6d each.—-R. Allan's End of Lease Sale. *

All; the shearers' awards expire in March next. It is stated that when new awards are applied for the court will be asked .to include all shed hands, while at the, same time an effort will be made to have one award, the present rates of pay being higher in the" North than they are in the South Island.

A man named William Barry was brought before two Justices of the Peace at Pieton yesterday, and pleaded guilty to a charge of having stolen a purse containing £9, four £1 notes and a £5 note, the property of James Carr. Sergeant Hanson reported that the accused had a long list of convictions against him, and he was committed to the Supreme Court at Wellington for sentence.

A mean imposition was perpetrated on an official in the Stamps Department of the Christchurch Post Office on Friday (states The Press). During the rush of business a person demanded a .few shillings' worth of stamps, and tendered in payment a coin which purported to be a halfsovereign, but which was really a gilded farthing. The stamps- and change were handed over, and the Post Office was the loser.

Convincing evidence of the exceptional heat of the preceding few days was brought to the Southland Times office one day last week in the form of two partially-roasted apples plucked in an orchard at East Invercargill. Apparently, the access of heat in the sunlight was more than the green fruit could absorb, and the effect was not to ripen but to roast the apples. The apples looked as if they had been in an oven for a quarter of an hour.

Absolutely Thrown Away.—-Beauti-ful lac© curtains, in white and cream, to go at Is lid, 2s lid, 3s 6d,' 4s lid to 25s the pair. The best value in the Dominion.—R. Allan's End of Lease Sale. . *

At the central examination at Canvastown two candidates from the Carluke School presented themselves one of whom obtained a Proficiency certificate and the other a Competency certificate in the Sixth Standard. As a Proficiency and a Competency were also obtained in August, this makes a total of two

Proficiency and two Competency certificates in the Sixth Standard awarded to. the pupils of this school during the year 1909.

j LOST—A violent headachee, shortjlv after taking Steams' Headache ! Cure. Anyone else wishing to lose a j headache quickly should get a box of ' this certain remedy. Is.

Mr R. Ham had the misfortune to lose his threshing mill at Blind River on Tuesday through an outbreak of fire. The mill, which had just undergone an extensive overhaul, was engaged in. threshing a crop of barley on Mr O'Donoghue's farm, when the stubble under the combine was observed to be on fire, caused, it is' conjectured, by a spark from the engine. Despite strenuous efforts to extinguish the outbreak, the fire gained, and totally destroyed the threshing plant. Mr Ham estimates his loss at about £300, and Mr O'Donoghue also lost a quantity of barley. A new combine is to arrive from Christchurch for Mr Ham about the middle of next week.

The time-table of the Picton-Sed-don railway section for the holidays is published. On Friday the ordinary trains between Seddon and Blenheim will not run. Special trains will run to and from these two, places, the times of which are advertised. On New Year's Day the ordinary timetable will be suspended and special times are scheduled between Picton and Seddon. Day excursion tickets will be issued, admitting to wharf, and passengers only,will be admitted to the platforms at Blenheim and Picton. Tickets for use on the Saturday may be obtained at the station on Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Goods traffic will be suspended on Ist January.

Our Christehurch correspondent telegraphs that the Victorian, South Australian, and West Australian Miniature Rifle Associations are at presentj through Mr A. Hill, of Adelaide, endeavouring to arrange an annual or a biennial post match between themselves and the Canterbury Miniature Rifls Association for a trophy or shield, to become the property of the team winning it a certain number of times, not necessarily in succession. The local Association, which has had some very interesting post matches with English Associations, is considering the matter,, and there is every likelihood of the match eventuating.

If the muscles of the throat are strained a cold is very easily contracted. Zymole Trokeys will r prevent this;- they are just the thing for hoarseness and irritating coughs. *'

The steamer Morayshire, which is due at Wellington about January 16, from Liverpool, via Sydney and Auckland, is bringing 147 immigrants to New Zealand. This number includes 44 children. The various trades and occupations are represented as follows: —9. labourers, 6 domestics, 6 farmers, 6 machinists, 3 miners, 3 clerks, 2 drapers, 2. engineers, 2 farm labourers, 2 carters, 2 porters, 2 mechanics, 2 colliers, 2 carpenters, 2 butchers^ also a tram-conductor, upholsterer, shop assistant, seaman, fitter, dyer, sawyer, painter, gardener, joiner, photographer, draper's assistant, craneman, snipping agent, accountant, hairdresser, correspondent, cabinetmaker, dairyman, dairymaid, ironmonger, horse-keeper, and ironworker.

.Dainty wear for ladies for Christinas; also Christmas Presents, at F. W. Smith and Go's. #

Being overstocked in silver-plated goods, W. J. Martin is giving a special discount. Now is the time to purchase Wedding and Christmas gifts. Following on a usual precedent, a reporter called on the local post offiec authorities this morning for the purpose of getting the detailed returns of the Christmas postal and telegraphic business. He was told that headquarters' instructions were emphatic; that no information whatever should be supplied to the press. This is an extraordinary order, inasmuch as the Christchurch Press of the 27th inst. has the full details of the business transacted at the Christchurch Post Office. Perhaps the Controllers x>f the Red Wax in the Capital City have a greater idea of Blenheim's importance than they hold of the Cathedral City, probably having in view the transference of the site of the chief city of the Dominion. Be that as it may; the public must go without its informatijon. /

The cyclist has a well-deseryed reputation for carelessness regarding the care of his' possession (telegraphs our Christehureh correspondent), and Christchurch has for a long time past been developing notoriety, as the domain of the cycle thief. Bicycles that have been left unattended for a few moments continue to disappear as though spiirted away, while the tale of lamps and pumps that have attracted the attention of the sneakthief is long indeed. Complaints are received almost daily of the'theft of bicycles, but numbers of bicycles appear to be mislaid and forgotten by their owners, and relegated to a dusty storehouse at the police station, from which, if unclaimed, they will be brought forth to be sold by auction. Yesterday there were about thirty unclaimed bicycles at the police station, many of them damaged in various ways. One bore a tag stating that it had been taken by mistake and returned the same evening to the police. There are few such examples of honesty.

llf credit is a convenience, " The Dresden" will gladly extend the advantages of its popular and liberal time-payment system so that you will eb able to furnish your home with- a piano. You merely pay a small deposit and then instalments of 20s a month, or more. In no other warehouse in New Zealand—or in Australia either —are there so many pianos and organs under one roof as at the Dresdren Piano Company's in Wellington. It is a wonderful stock to select from. Then, too, there can be no bargaining with the Dresden. Its first price is its last—and lowest. Thus, a child could purchase a piano just as advantageously as could a man. This is the essence of fairness. No wonder "The Dresden" possesses the confidence of the public. The Company's manager in the North Island is Mr M. i J. Brookes, and its local represents- ; tives are Griffiths and Son. * i

Preaching^ at Phillipstown, Canter-t bury, on Sunday evening, the Rev* H. E. Ensor said in regard to the approaching New Year that the neurotic idea had been fostered that' men's actions during the year were1 entered up against them on a specieaof charge sheet, which they sat down, to consider very solemnly a lid very gloomily during the dying Hours ofi the old year. They had been taught to regard God in the light of a presiding magistrate, who could be acajoled by a few.sobs and a few hysterical prayers on New Year's Eveto wipe out their offences and give them a clean sheet to, start the New; Year with.

A man who travelled out of Mataura for Christmas cheer on his wax back fell off the train as it was travelling at a good pace, but with thegood fortune which generally attends such people fell clear of the train.. His disappearance was apparently notnoticed by other passengers, but a resident near-by saw the mishap and? telephoned to the police station.i Police Constable Schuffer accordingly proceeded to the spot and found! the man comfortably sleeping by the* side of the line, with his only, injury; a real good blade eye. When awakened, he with extreme unconcern accepted the constable's invitation tofaccompany him to the police station.

It is not always safe for a publid speaker to take his audiences mucU into his confidence. The unexpected happened at the Kaiapoi District High; School prize distribution last week, When a reverend gentleman began His' address by asking if the scholars would like him to make a long speech.! The reply was a chorus of "Noes."' "Well," he continued, "do you want any speech from me at all?" And! the "Noes" were equally as emphatic. "Well," he went on to say, "it! is good for children to receive sometimes what they do not want," ancl he proceeded to give a forcible address on the need for building up a sound? body, training the mind, and establishing a good character. A very hearty round of. applause greeted th© speaker's remarks. — Christchurchi Press. ": .:. ■.• .-,' ■:-, .:> <■'.:. >■■-~ ,;'■, •

An extraordinary occurrence is.re» ported from Weetalibah, New South: Wales, about 20 miles from Coonamble, bearing in its train serious losst for a well-known district grazier. It appears that Mr J. Hall, of Edgertonl Park, made it a custom to yard hi» sheep overnight about once a fort--night. Some weeks ago he yarded 1600. Next day he forgot to release the sheep or give any instructions •about them, and proceeded to Sydney, on business. The sheep were locked up in the yards for eight days before their- plight was discovered, when it' was found that all but about 20 were dead, and they succumbed immediately they were given water. Mr Hall's loss is estimated at £800. The yards in which the sheep were confined are some distance from any habitationOne day during which the sheep were in the yards the heat registered was* 107 degrees.

The actual worth of RHEUMO cannot he computed in pounds and shillings. Ask one of the thousands who have tried it, and found relief,, ■what they would give for RHEUMO,, were Rheumatism, Gout, Sciatica or Lumbago to attack them again. You, too, can be cured, and a bottle will only cost you 2s 6d and 4s 6d, at any, chemist's or store. 5

A marvellous escape from death as a result of a shot from a pea-rifle occurred at Gore on Wednesday evening (says the Standard). The five-year-old son of Mr W. Wilson, of Broughton Street, was sitting on the lawn in front of the house, when his parents were startled by his screaming. On reaching the boy Mr and Mrs Wilson found that he had been hit by a bullet from a pea-rifle. The bullet struck the youngster on the left breast, making a hole in his waistcoat; but as it was evidentlyspent before reaching him, his shirfc was not penetrated, though his skin. was badly bruised. After quietening; the little fellow Mr Wilson made tracks for the belt of trees opposite, from which direction the shot had apparently come; but the shooter* had evidently heard the cries cif the boy, and,1 reflecting that something; was wvongj had got' out of the. way.' The Orange Lodge at Timaru ba» passed the following resolution, which. will be sent to the Prime Minister: — "That the members of this lodge strongly protest against the action of the Prime Minister in causing the British flag to be hoisted at the Post Office building at half-mast on the occasion of the death of King Leopold of Belgium, as the public character of that deceased monarch did not warrant such a procedure, especially when his actions in the Congo affair caused such a calamity as doing to> death thousands of ixs inhabitants, an action most reprehensible in the highest degree, and forfeiting all respect."