LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIV, Issue 77, 7 April 1910, Page 4

LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS.

Two fresh diphtheria cases have been, taken to the hospital—one from Springlands, and the other from High Street.

Children's and maids' coats, in serges, cloths, Cheviot, etc, from 7s 6d.—Auckland Clothing and Drapery Company. *

A Masterton telegram states that a commission of inquiry is sitting at the Masterton railway station, investigating a charge of* pilfering goods.

The value of the exports of wool and sheep alone over the Kaikoura wharf during the past five months totals, roundly, £50,000. The export of cheese and flax would add considerably to this amount.

Captain Henry Young, of Mr S. Ivirkpatrick's motor yacht "Queen of Beauty," which has several times visited Picton, expired suddenly the other day at Nelson while talking to a friend.

It is stated that there is every probability of the banks of New Zealand refusing to accept the new Australian coinage. The Government will, it is understood, support the banks in their attitude.

In connection with the Catholic missions as already announced, it has been found necessary to make an alteration in dates. The Havelock mission will take place one week earlier, and that at Seddon one week later than as originally published.

In the railway collision case in the Supreme Court yesterday an argument arose as to the difference ot meaning of the two words "laceration" and "contusion." The Crown Solicitor said that the words were synonymous, but the medical witness laughed. On being asked what the meaning of the word "contusion' was he replied that in his opinion contusion meant "a sort of second-hand bruise."

A Wellington telegram states that when the Mokoia was at Papeete the inhabitants manifested great interest in the steamer as the largest passenger vessel that had ever visited the group. The results attending the placing of the Mokoia on the Wel-lington-Tahiti run were somewhat disappointing, as only ten passengers travelled from Tahiti and Rarotonga \ to Wellington, where the vessel ar-' rived this morning. The number carried outward, however, was satisrac-

F. Hall. A most enjoyable social was held last night in the Church ot the Nativity schoolroom xn aid of the piano fund. Solos were rendered by Misses Sowman, B. Draper, and Connolly; Archdeacon Grace gave two Maori songs, and Miss D. Fisher contributed a pianoforte solo. An appetising repast brought to a close one of the best social evenings ever li eld in the schoolroom. The receipts xn connection with the function were very good, and in consequence tne fund in aid of which the social was instituted will be considerably augmented.

People who happened to be out of doors in Blenheim very early yesterday morning (about 1 a.m.) noticed a number of brilliant flashes ot lightning playing about the sky in the direction of Cape Campbell. The phenomena appeared at intervals of a few seconds, large balls of light shooting up in the east and almost Simultaneously in the south-east. The night was quite clear and starlight, and the spectacle was an interesting and impressive one, lasting some time. Evidently a heavy thunderstorm was in progress somewhere at sea in a south-easterly direction.

Last Monday (writes our Mahakipawa correspondent) ,Mr Litchfield's chaff cutter was at work cutting chaff in Mr Jack Murphy's paddock at the Grove. On Tuesday morning, about 5 or 6 o'clock, the stack of oats, bags of chaff, and chaffcutter were discovered to be on fire. The traction engine was not injured, but everything else was destroyed. The chaffcutter was insured, but Mr Murphy lost some 300 bags of chaff; under the circumstances a big loss for him, there being no insurance, and he being ,a young beginner. Much sympathy is felt for him. How the tire originated is a mystery.

A conference between the local carriers and members of the Omaka Road . Board took place yesterday upon the question of heavy haulage rates. The Board contended that some form of taxation was necessary to provide- for the cost of the upkeep, of the roads, which, during the period that most of the heavy carting was done, was a heavy item. The farmers of the Omaka district, however, should not be burdened with heavy haulage charges, when they did their own carting to town, but outside traffic should be compelled to pay something towards the maintenance of roads and bridges. The carriers pointed out that it was impossible for them to carry on their business on a £10 rate per waggon per year, because if the carriers' rates rose over a certain amount' the farmers did their own carting. Several recommendations were made with regard to the taxes which should be levied, which the Board promised to consider at its next meeting.

i(How thin you are looking!" Do you hear this statement made too often? Then take Steams' Wine of Cod Liver Extract • it's a wonderful flesh creator. Builds up your blood, too. Try it. '

Special bargains in blankets, rugs, quilts, etc., at H. F. Hall's.

On Saturday next there will be an auction sale of bankrupt stock in the esate of R. Hines and "Co., of Auckland. The goods that are to be sold are of exceptionally high class, and it is seldom the public have such an opportunity of securing such goods at their own prices, as the goods have been purchased through the Official Assignee in bankruptcy at 5s in the pound. The goods to be sold consist of drapery, clothing, underwear, silE goods, rugs, eiderdown quilts, suitings, costume lengths, electroplate, silver-mounted carvers, silver back brushes and mirrors, ladies' and men's dressing-cases, oil paintings, silvermounted purses and bags, field and opera glasses, watches, jewellery, diamond and sapphire rings and a large assortment of goods, which will be sold absolutely without reserve. The sale will take place in the premises lately occupied by Mr E. Freeth, Market Street, commencing at 11 o'clock. The v goods will be all opened up and on display from 2 o'clock on Friday afternoon.

A correspondent, "Citizen," writesas follows to yesterday's New Zealand Times..: —Noticing in a recent issue of your paper that the Minister for~ Marine is Inviting the opinion of thdShipmasters' Guild as to the locality in which a lighthouse is most required on the coast of the North Island, I venture to ask whether the wreck of" the Penguin, with its terrible mortality and the subsequent agitation for a lighthouse in the vicinity of that sad disaster, has been forgotten? Theevidence given at the Penguin inquiry, so fully established the fact of strong, and uncertain tides in that locality, and the court was so emphatic xn its condemnation of running past Tom sRock without seeing any lights, that I can hardly imagine that the shipmasters who so strongly advocated a lio-ht on Tongue Point have since goneto sleep. To allow the East Coast proposition to be carried would imply that Cook Strait is sufficiently lighted, and that the strenuous effort made by the Merchant Service Guild in fighting the case of Captain Naylor to an, appeal was unnecessary. From a layman's point of view, it certainly appears that now the trunk line of railway is opeiK and the bulk of the passenger traffic goes that way, though there may be some need for a light on the East Coast, yet the light oil Tongue Point should take precedence.

Those city folk who complain bitterly because the Government will not lend them money to build tramlines, to their doors ought to be made toexperience some of the hardships that have to be endured by settlers in thehack country. The case of a Soundssettler is cited by our Havelock contemporary. In order to have his two children educated he has undertaken, to provide free board and lodging for two other children. The settler live^ two miles from the school, and every morning he has to pull his boat thai? distance to take the children to> school, and to make the. same journey; after school to bring them home. Th - Education Department will not subsidise schools where there are les3--than six scholars, and as only twoscholars attend from the bay in which the school is situated the settler hasto pay for the keep of two children belonging to other people so that the* Department's requirements shall b& met. Also, he has to pay out of his. own pocket about £6 per annum towards the teacher's salary. Such a. state of affairs is inconceivable toour city friends, but this is by no means; an isolated case.

The objection made by some Australian station owners to the employment of married couples blessed with "encumbrances" is apparently shared* by some pastoralists in.New Zealand, Inquiries made at a labour agencyby a Christchurch Press reporter.elicited? that great difficulty was frequentlyexperienced in placing married; couples on stations when children of tender years had to accompany their parents. In a great many cases the married couples have to occupy roomsill the homestead, and the employer does not, in view of that fact, welcome the presence of their children. Another objection is that the wife'stime is fully occupied in the discharge of her household work, andE this would be neglected if she had toattend to young children. When there is separate cottage accommodation the objections to the presence of children are not so pronounced. It is interesting to note, also ; that married couples cast an appraising eyeoa offers which come their way. Their two principal requirements are that the station should be within moderately easy reach of a school, and thatthe services of a doctor can be secured with reasonable promptness. Places which do not offer these amenities are seldom considered bymarried couples with "encumbrances"

At a meeting of Nelson Brothers,, the South American meat importers,, 'in London, the chairman said that the company had lost £70,000 during; the year on frozen meat, owing to theenormous shipment of frozen lamb& and the fall of prices.