LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLV, Issue 57, 8 March 1911, Page 4

LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS.

rha^Everton Grange, which loaded at Pictoii, took in 10,697 carcases or mutton from the freezing Avorks tor West of England ports.

The inspection parade of the Blenheim Rifles ("A" Company, 13th Regiment) called for this evening has been cancelled, Lieut.-Colonel Hawkins being unable to visit Blenheim at present.

The Conway river bed, on the Kai-koura-Cheviot route, is reported to be in rather a bad state, there being a drop of three to four feet in. it. The coach had some trouble in negotiating this ford on Wednesday.

Our Picton correspondent writes as follows:—In the report of the annual meeting of the Waitohi Football Club I omitted to state that Mr Barrett, who had done sterling work as secretary to the club during the past 12 months, resigned from the position, _Mr W. Le Compte being elected as his successor.

A mob of sheep which were being driven through Market Street this morning, seeing their forms reflected in the plate glass window of Mr Vance's shop, mistook the reflection for some woolly brethren and charged at the shop, and were prevented only with difficulty from getting inside.

Make up your minds to visit H. F Hall's show'on Friday next.

A Press Association telegram from Dunedin states that the Hotel Employees' Union have filed an application for three new sets of claims as to hotels, restaurants, private hotels, and boardinghouses. The wages asked range from £4 10s per week for chefs to £1 5s for general hands.

New season's goods at less than sale prices at Hall's on Friday. Come and see our marvellous values.

The Pelorus Guardian reports that the new manager of the Havelock dairy factory, Mr A. Fraser, arrived on Monday from Kakaramea, Taranaki, and took charge yesterday. The monthly pay of the factory totalled £550 17s 6d, mad© up as follows:—Milk £462 4s 2d, wages £33 16s Bd, sundries £54 16s Bd.

Men! You are not forgotten. Watch our windows on Friday and Saturday for the newest goods in men's wear .__H. F. Hall.

There were moderate to good tides and smooth seas running all along the coast at 9 o'clock this morning, but Ea^st Cape and Oamaru reported a slight swell. Variable winds, still prevail, while the skies are blue, with passing clouds. Gisbprne, 70, was the warmest place, while' Nuggets, 50, was the coldest.

The Biggest, Brightest, and Best Show of ii©w season's goods ever on view can bo seen at Hall's show on Friday and Saturday. Everybody invited to be present.

In the list of handicaps for the Hibernian Sports, which appeared on Monday evening, an error was made (presumably by the handicapper) in J. Strickland's and M. Strickland's starts. The former is on 11 yards in the 150 yards race, and 8 yards in the Publicans' Handicap; whilst .M. Strickland has 14yds and 10yds start respectively. In the Half-mile event A. Greig (35 yards) was omitted.

The first of a series of euchre tournaments in aid of the funds of the Picton Horticultural Society took place at Fay's Hall last night. Seventeen tables were filled, and p] ay proceeded very briskly. After two hours' good fun the results were: Ladies, Ist prize, Mrs Evatt; Snd prize, Miss Violet Fuller. Messrs T. Steele and Percy Young tied for the gentlemen's prizes, and after playing off the first prize was won by the former.

It may not be generally known among owners and drovers of sheep and cattle that it is an offence against the Borough by-laws to drive sheep- or cattle or horses in mobs through Market Street. Such, however, is th© fact, and the person who brought a line of sheep through Market Street this morning took a decided risk in doing so; tin fact, it is not certain that he will not be proceeded against for this violation of the by-laws.

There will be a great day in Blen- ! heim on Friday, March 17th, when the anniversary of the Hibernian Society's patron saint, St. Patrick, will be celebrated by a monster sports gathering. The prizes donated constitute a record for a society of this size. The fact that the liberal prize-* money allotted has attracted all the prominent professional sprinters and distance runners in the Dominion is sufficient guanantee that the meeting will be one of the largest held in New Zealand' this year. *

_A meeting of the residents of the Wangamoa Valley was held at the Accommodation House on Ist March, for the purpose of forming a rifle club. Mr S. Norgrove was voted to the chair. Twelve members signified their intention of joining th© club. .Range and other committees were set up, to report to a meeting to be held to-day. Th© members tavor joining the Ronga Defence Rifle Club rather than forming a separate club for Wangamoa.

That skating will become very popular during the coming winter season was evidenced yesterday afternoon and , evening, when the Olympia Skating Rink at the Grosvenor Hall was opened to a large number of enthusiasts. The rink is under the personal supervision of Mr Laurie, who, by his exhibition oil skates, gave the impression that he is an expert. Under his careful instruction and guidance, many, who hitheito could not skate were able after a short trial to circle the room with ease.

For some time past (states theStar) a rumor has been current in Kaikoura that a branch of the Bank of Australasia was to be opened in the southern portion of the Marllorough province, Kaikoura and Seddon being mentioned as the likely places. Substance was lent to the rumor by an officer of the above Bank being in the district some four weeks ago, and casual enquiries made by him and also, since then, the reduction-of the Bank of NewZealand's charge for keeping accounts gave further stability to tne report. We are, however, in a position to state distinctly that the Bank of Australasia has no intention Avhatever at present of commencing operations at either Kaikoura or Seddon.

The fire at the shop in Alfred Street was a good opportunity for bargains in damaged1 goods, but now they are all gone, and there is nothing in the shop but new and fresh goods. Thera are, however, still bargains to be had from 300 "Best" high-grade Englishbuilt cycles at £6 10s, £8 10s, £10 10s, £15 10s. Second-hand, cycles can be had at £J 10s to £5 10s, all in first-class order. All accessories at lowest prices in Blenheim. I buy direct, and can afford to sell at a minimum of profit. I have also roller skateSj fishing tackle, guns and ammunition—E. H. Best, Alfred Street.

A correspondent of the Kaikoura Star writes as follows: —If the persons who helped themselves to four of my ducks on Thursday night last will bring back the pair of white \vlesburys I would be greatly obliged. This particular pair were imported, and I wanted them for the Show. There is no need for the rarty who appropriated them to bring them to my house; just leave them in the paddock from which they were taken, and take away a few fowls, a rat lamb, or a sucking-pig, in exchange. That will do.

The contractors have just completed the work of extending H. 1. Hall's business premises in Alfred Street. The building has now an up-to-date appearance, having plateglass windows in place of those removed. The difference that these alterations have made to the interior of the premises is very great, there being an ample supply of light, and in addition any quantity of room, which enables the goods stocked to be displayed to advantage.

Say this to the chemist—"My head aches. —a box of :Stearns' Headache Cure please." Ta ko a wafer while there —takes but a second, relief: in a minute.

The annual Marlborough ewe fair was held at the Loan Company's and the Co-operative yards :this afternoon. The entries received total 10,000, and comprise some of the finest sheep seen in local yards for a long time. At the time of The Express being published only a small number of the sheep had been offered.. A small line of fat crossbred wethers brought 12s 3d and a line of merino wethers 6s lOd. A line of two-tooth ewes were passed in at 10s 3d, and another line of twotooth coarse-woolled ewes changed hands at 14s 3d.

; AIL Nelsonians (says the Mail) will remember the Lily, which for many years traded1 between Nelson and Motueka. When, the Anchor Company sold her some years ago she went to Wellington, where she, spent most of her time lying in the stream off Kaiwarra. Occasionally she was chartered by divers, etc., but most of her time was spent in 1 retirement.. .On Monday afternoon the small steamer sank at her moorings. Captain White visited the vesselon the previous Saturday, and found everything safe, but oh Monday he received .inforniation to the,effect that; the Xiily was sinking. He secured a "launch, and proceeded, out to the sinking vessel, but, when he arrived there, he found her deck's awash. A line was made fast, and an effort was made to beach her, and she ts lying with her decks aw^ash about 50 yards out from the Esplanade. It is surmised that the recent heavy weather had affected the little craft, and she has sprung a leak.

A small shop inChristchurch, occupied by Mr H. Upjohn, tobacconist and hairdresser, was burglariously entered on Friday night, and a .quantity of goods taken. Mr Upjohn left the premises about 8.30 on Friday night, and the theft was not discovered until be opened his shop it the usual hour on Saturday morning The premises were in a very disordered condition, the shelves and cases having been. ransacked, and very largely dispossessed of their contents. TiiP cash-box and till were not interfered with, but the thief annexed the, previous day's saloon takings, about 30s, which had been left in the saloon. Mr Upjohn estimates his total loss at about £40.

The Government has decided that the census of population shall be separated from the , electoral census. It was originally intended to take them together, but it has been found that this would delay the census, which has to be completed by April 2nd. At the same,, time as the census is taken, agricultural statistics are also to be obtained. Both census and electoral departments have been instructed to exercise all possible expedition. It was explained by the Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) that the electoral rolls cannot be coir.gleted until the boundaries of the electoral districts have been fixed, arid this is dependent upon the completion of the census on the basis of which the Representation Commission compiles its report redistributing the eighty seats according to the population.

An interesting incident in connection with the death of Mr T. W. McKenzie occurred on Friday (says the N.Z. Times). It was mentioned m his obituary notice that on one occasion he was found by a chief named Porutn in occupation of one of his wbares, and by him would certainly have been killed had it not been that one of the chief's wives threw her mantle over him as he was lying on the grass, thus creating a ta.pu which saved him. Porutu's grandson yesterday brought in, to be placed on the coffin, tiia identical Maori mat which was thrown over him sove-Kty-one years ago by Porutu's wife. Jt was a cherished heirloom of the Portitu (Pitt) family.

Tho New Zealand Flaxmillers' Association lias decided to approach the Railway Department and ask that the engines be provided with efficient spark crrestors, and also that a couple of men be stationed at the most dangerous places during the dry season. This action'wa.s decided upon in consequence o- the fires which occurred in the flax area a few weeks ago.

The entries for the forthcoming Kaikoura A. and P. Show, which closed on Wednesday night, produced a total which approached anticipations (says the Star). The total, 860, has only once been beaten (in 1909, when the total was 1014 independent of competitions), but on that occasion the conditions altogether were more favorable. All the sections have been well supported, the sheep and horses being v.cry strong.

A lady who caused a warrant to be issued for the arrest of her husband in. Auckland the other morninp- on the ground that he intended deserting her, appeared in the afternoon at the Police Court, this time accompanied by her husband under arrest, and asked for the cancellation of the warrant. She explained that she had acted rather hastily, and was now convinced that her husband had no intention of deserting her. Mr C. C. Kettle, S.M., after commenting on the needless trouble she had put the police and Court officials to, acceeded to her request. ;

During his journey to England, the Hon. Dr Findlay (Minister of Justice) will spend a week in America. Several days will have to be spent in travelling, but he will find time to continue his investigations into the most modern and humane systems of reformatory treatment of criminals, visiting several well' known instit actions. "I hope to have an opportunity," remarked the Minister, just before leaving Wellington, "of discussing prison reform with Mr Winston Churchill, the English Home Secretary, who has taken great interest in Now Zealand's efforts at reform, and has been supplied, with particulars of my scheme."

1 In the early hours of Friday morning (says the Auckland Herald) a re-spectably-dressed middle-aged woman was wandering about Queen Street looking for a bed, but as she was only possessed of one shilling she. experienced some difficulty in procuring the desired night's rest. At last she appealed to a policeman, to whom she related her evening's experience. It appears that she was out with another woman, whom she had only seen! once before, and whom she knew as "Nellie." She had about 10 shillings in. her possession, but after parting with "Nellie" she discovered that her money was gone, with the exception! of a solitary shilling. The" woman did not know "Nellie's" surname, nor her address, and as she could furnish! the law with no further information she proceeded on her search for »' bed.

A peculiar accident "happened at North Head, Auckland, ; on Tuesday evening (reports the Herald) as the ■ result'of which a valuable horse owned by the Defence Department sustained a painful injury. The horse, which was grazing on the seaward slope of North Head, was startled by, a shot from the 61b quickfiring gun, and immediately galloped across the line of fire in th"c direction of safe territory. The second shot, however, was fired before the animal got past, and the shell ploughed through the flesh just behind the horse's wither. The injured beast, which is said to be worth £40, is now in the hands of the Government veterinary surgeon, who has the opinion that' ■the* wound is not dangerous. A FINE RECOMMENDATION. When a hotelkeeper or retailer tells you he sells only Thomson's Carbonated Waters and Cordials, he squares his shoulders and stands straighter. He knows as well as you do that his choice of the recognised leading brand of Australasia is a fine recommendation—one which raises him in your estimation, and gives his house an undisputed tone. Thomson and Co.s name and their trademark "Purity" should be on the capsule, label, and* wrapper ot every bottle, otherwise it is not genuine.