LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIV, Issue 56, 11 March 1910, Page 4

LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS.

At the Warden's Court this morning an application for a prospector's license over 50 acres in Top Valley was granted to Thomas Fowler.

Mr E E. Townshend, Crown Lands Ranger, is at present on a visit of inspection of the Government leases in the Kaikoura County.

According to a Dunedin telegram, Lake Wakatipu rose ten inches between Wednesday evening and yesterday morning.

Messrs James Law, Nathaniel Bragg, and D'Arcy Chaytor have been elected unopposed to. represent the Picton Road Board on the Wairau Hospital and Charitable Aid Board.

"• The Rev. W. W. Avery, son of Mr W. Avery, Fairhall, who is leaving shortl yto take up mission work in New Guinea, paid a brief visit to his relatives in Mar-lborough yesterday.

The Fielding Borough Council has decided to take a poll of the .ratepayers to raise a loan of £8000 for the installation of electric lighting. A proposal to take a poll for a loan of £12,000 for a municipal theatre was lost.

Mr James Bell left Blenheim yesterday for Wellington en route to the Old Country. He was farewelled at the railway station by a large number of friends, who wished him God speed and a safe return. Mr Bell will be absent for about 12 months.

At the Magistrate's Court this morning, before Mr R. S. Florance, S.M>, judgment was given for' plaintiff for amounts claimed, with costs, in the following undefended civil cases:—P. W. Adams v. W. M. Eyles £9 2s lid, costs 8s; Stagg and Son v. C. J. Lawrence £2 10s, costs ss.

Further arrivals of ribbons, from Id to 6d yard. Gigantic winter sale. —Auckland Clothing and Drapery Company., *

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company insert on our eighth page an extended advertisement of a clearing sale they are holding at the residence of Mr John Brydon, ' Renwicktown, on Friday next. Mr Brydon is leaving Marlborough, and has instructed the Company to dispose of the whole of his live stock, implements, vehicles, harness, and household furniture without reserve.

In this issue Messrs Griffiths and Son and Dalgety and Co., Ltd., offer for sale by public tender, Mr S. Perrett's farm at Renwicktown, consisting of 265 acres of first-class agricultural land. The property includes a very fine dwelling of eight rooms, with all modern conveniences, and all buildings necessary for an up-to-date farm, which is noted as growing some of the best barley and chaff in the district, and should be eagerly sought after by those • wishing to secure a nice property.

The Lone Hand for March (Messrs t?i\- and Potch> Proprietary, i ls m, briSht and attractive number. The frontipiece is a fine reproduction of Bourdillon's "BideftX*- B****-"8 ****-" A. H. Adams' serial balanad Jones" is concluded, and there is a further instalment of African Game Trails" ;with photographs by Theodore ; Rooseveldt. bnort stories, articles on various subjects, poetry, photographs of stage beauties, etc., make quite an extensive budget of interesting matter. Silver-mounted vases, usual price 4s 6d pair; now 2s 3d. Butter knives 3i am j s P°ons> etc, half-price. HunI w t tlcl. es almost given away, at W. J. Martin's sale. *

The weather m the Dominion at « o clock to-day was generally fine, exceptions being Castlepoint, New llymouth Cape Egmont, Waneanui, Wellington, Nelson and Bluff, where ram was being experienced. -Ine wind had calmed considerably compared with yesterday, and the sea was less agitated. Heavy seas were running' at Kaipara Heads and Uape l<oulwmd, and considerable at Uluff; at Cape Campbell the water ■had moderated. The highest temperature was 78 at Tiritifi, and the lowest 48 at Nuggets. The local reading was 63. There were only 15 places where the thermometer registered 70 degrees or' over, while at ten, all in the South Island, it was less than 60.

Kirkcaldie and Stains, Ltd., are now showing samples of their new autumn and winter suitings. The firm's head cutter, Mr Simmonds, intends making regular visits to Blenheim for the purpose of fitting garments personally. Therefore the advantage of securing an up-to-date and well-fitting suit _is assured. Gentlemen desiring an interview with Mr Simmonds should call at the firm's agency in Blenheim and make their appointments. *

The Rev. W. Lee, who has been appointed by Conference to the pastoral charge of the Picton Methodist Church, will be well known to many of the older members of the Blenheim circuit. Though Mr Lee is now well-advanced in years, he is still full of vigor and capacity, his repute as a preacher being widely known. Recently Mr Lee spent two years in England, where he had charge of a well-known circuit. The ripe experience and intimate knowledge of Methodist policy possessed by Mr Lee, combined with effective pupit powers and pastoral ability, make the appointment an excellent addition to the Revs. T. R. Richards and E. P. Blamires in the circuit.

'.'Will you swear off liquor for twelve months?" asked Mr Kettle, S.M., of a drunk at Auckland. "-Yes," replied the man, somewhat dubiously. "Very well, take the Bible in your right hand and repeat these words after me: 'I solemnly swear to abstain from taking any alcoholic or intoxicating liquor for the period of twelve months..' " The prisoner repeated thess words 3 but at the end added the further words "except medicinally I" "Oh, very well," thundered the Magistrate, "I am not going to allow a man of your stamp to waste my time. You are prohibited for twelve months."

Come and see the latest in blousings. Hall's opening of the season on Saturday. The best quality goods at the lowest prices.—H. F. Hall. *

Into the portentous deliberations of the Otago Education Board on Thursday, says the Dajly Times, there crept for a moment less weighty things—a suggestion, as it were, of wedding bells and confetti. It was brought into that heavy atmosphere by the official resignation of a young lady school teacher, who, with, pleasing ingenuousness, thus wrote: "At the beginning of the month you received a formal notice of my resignation. I am leaving the service to embark on the placid—l ' hops to prove them—seas of matrimony. 1 cannot leave the service of the Board, even for this happy venture, without a feeling of regret, and I wish, to thank you and those in your service for the kindness and courtesy I have always received at your hands." The gratified Board solemnly accepted the resignation.

Mr McLeod, master of the Harbour Board's dredge ; had a fortunate escape from a shocking death on Saturday night (states the Pelorus Guardian). It is his custom to sleep at the Post Office Hotel every Saturday night, and on this occasion he retired, afc a quarter to 11. Exactly an hour later he was awakened by a suffocating sensation, and was horrified to see, through the dense smoke that filled his bedroom, tongues of flame coming apparently from the ceiling of the room. He soon discovered, however, that his coat and wais£coat, which were hanging on the wall, were ablaze; tearing them down, he rushed out into the passage and then on to the fire-escape landing and hurled them to the concrete floor beneath. He then ran back to his room and threw a basin of water over the burning wall; Mr Thompson, master* of the local school^ who occupied the adjoining room, hurried in with a large jugful of water, and the flames were then extinguished. The ceiling and walls are badly scorched, and all that remains of Mr McLeod's coat and waistcoat is a piece of one coatsleeve. For a long time afterwards he was suffering from the effects of the smoke, and his hands were blistered through carrying out the burning clothes. _ Mr McLeod supposes that a smouldering match in his vest pocket caused the fire, for his pipe was in the candlestick.

One of the resolutions passed by the Dominion conference of the Farmers' Union was as follows:—"That, seeing the department takes no notice of the returns sent in by owners under the land tax valuation, but always takes the valuator's value, the Government be requested to discontinue requiring owners to furnish returns of land values, as they appear to be quite valueless." The Hon. D. Buddo, Minister in charge of the Valuation Department, has replied as follows to the resolution above quoted:—"l beg to state that it is considered advisable that the information at preseint suplied, including land values, should be continued, as such information is of value to t,ne department. In these circumstances I regret very much that the Government cannot see its way to modify the present practice."

About sixty delegates from all over the Dominion will attend the triennial movable meeting of the Hibernian Society, New Zealand district, which commences at St. Patrick's Hall, Wellington, on the 30th inst. Among the matters to be considered is a motion by Hawea to change the headquarters from Auckland to Wellington. If that is not carried the Wellington members will consider a notice of motion to secede from the New Zealand district and form a new district, to be called the Central New Zealand district.

A party of Samoans—eight men, fifteen women, and three children— passed through Suva on the last trip of the Tofua, en route to Germany, to give entertainments such as the Maoris are now giving abroad (states the Suva correspondent of the New Zealand Herald). They have material for making their houses, etc, # also canoes, and will give the national songs and dances. In the winter they will show in the Continental theatres. Tamasese, grandson of the late old warrior chief, is of the number, and Mr Marquardt is in charge of the troupe.

F. W. Smith .and Co.—S.P.Q.R.— New shapes, absolutely the latest which will be worn. Our prices, S.P.Q.R. —small profits quick returns —4s 6d, 5s 6d and 6s 6d. Positively the latest. 4We invite inspection. Better value impossible. *

At the Dunedin Police Court day, Barnes, manager, and Owen r conductor of the "Besses o' th Barn" band, were fined £1 and costs on each of two charges of giving open-air concerts at the Uaiedonian ground last Sunday week without the permission or the l/ity; authorities.

Travelling at the best is tedious, but when you have a headache it is misery Carry a box of Steams' HeadacheCure with you when you start oil, ana be armed against headache.

In conversation with a press representative to-day the Hon. J. Carroll referred to the reports regarding the Maori prophet, Rua, and he said, "I am awaiting a report as to Rua's doings. I refer to the recent reports that have been published regarding his having committed himself. If the facts are as have been reported, I shall have no hesitation in making an example of him, but care is, however, requisite as any failure in an attempt to deal with him would merely increase his prestige* with his tribe, and that is the reason, why I am awaiting, definite reports as to what occurred, before taKing: any steps.

' Judging by the experience of a dog-tax collector in a certain locality, the name of which we will not at present disclose (says the Pelorus Guardian), there are a few "rough, customers" there who would be all the better for a heart-to-heart talk with a man in blue. The collector'sdescription of his reception is graphic, the language used by irate dogowners being "frequent, and painful,, and free," and the threats of bodily violence quite sufficient to scare evem a book-agent. The collector, in reporting these facts to the local bodyemploying him, gave it as his decided^ opinion that in the locality referred to a dog-tax collector must be authorised to shoot on the slightest sign of demur—and to shoot either the dog or its owner, whichever is likely xo< give the more trouble!

Lord Kitchener's name is in everybody's mouth at present. Who isLord Kitchener? He is one of the* Best of England's sons, and is sent, out here for a certain duty- which her alone can fulfil in adequate manner. England sends to us her Best, but here in Blenheim we have always had' our Best. He gives to us his Best> and no Cheap Rubbish or shop-worn* stock. Everything is new and unsoiled, and his shop is the. rendezvousof sport. If a man cannot afford a brand new bicycle, Best can give him* a second-hand one which has been thoroughly overhauled, and at aprice< to suit his pocket; if he wants a new* one, well, what about a Premier?' Ladies also can be accommodated with? new or second-hand machines. Sportscan get Nobel's ammunition. "The> Best Shop." If you go to Alfrecl Street you will see the Kitchener of the bicycle trade in Blenheim. *

The arrival of a train from theNorth at Papanui is tan interesting: sight just now (states the Christchurch Press). The stationmaster anc? a porter take up positions at a small" gate leading from the platform, through which people have to pass toreach the street. As the passengersfile through their ticket are collected* and any one of them who had booked through to Christchurch from Rangiora nas either to pay up tenpenc© or rejoin the train. There are occasional arguments, and. passengers who ref ÜBeto pay up or will not rejoin the trainhave their names taken, with, a view* to further proceedings. The scene isv watched with wide smiles of interest by the passengers who gaze from the* carriage windows. The tickets or money . collected, the stationmaster and porter return to their ordinary: duties. This is like charging a passenger a higher fare from Picton to* Spring Creek than from Picton ..to* Blenheim if he wants to go to Grovetown.

There is no doubting the fact that the Marlborough cycling public ia particularly well catered for, and! there is also little doubt that for the. excellent service provided in. this lin©> Messrs Winiringham and Deugarde, of the Blenheim Garage (alongsideTown Hall) are mainly responsible. This firm make a special point of catering perfectly for every branch off the trade, and just at present, iis> order to show the excellence of their cycle repair department, they are> making a display in their showroom windqw of repair and replacementparts for different makes of bicycles. The firm claim that, through having the best assorted stock of cycle part® and accessories, they are in a position "to effect any repair to any cycle' without any vexatious delay," and judging by the display shown w should say that that claim is a verymodest one indeed. •