LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVII, Issue 144, 20 June 1913, Page 4

LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS.

Says the Wairarapa Age:—The sheep-shearing machine is a wonderful contrivance. Nobody ever dreamt, however, that it would be used for the clipping of horses as well as of ' sheep. A few days ago, on a station in the Masterton district, by the use of an extra crank, the shearingmachine was successfully employed in clipping a horse. Great bargains at our Make-Room Sale—so knitted coats at half regular prices, commencing at 4s lid.—Bert Tasker and Co., Alfred Street.—Advt._ A leading Christchuroh tradesman, in conversation with a reporter, stated that, though he had not yet made up his returns for the last week, he anticipated that, consequent on the establishment of the Saturday half-holi-day, his receipts would show a decrease of close on £200. It is reported that another tradesman, in a fairly large way of business, took the magnificent sum of one shilling and sixpence last Friday night. Hard to believe—splendid quality bloomers- and moirette underskirts at Is 6d, at the Make-Room Sale*at the Quality Shop, Alfred Street. —Advt. A monster wild pig (a barrow) was shot on Brookdale station last week by Messrs J. R. Tate and'F. Dawson (says the Kaikoura Star). Ever since Mr A. W. Rutherford, jun., has been in possession of the run, the tracks of the huge animal have been seen (always in the vicinity of one spot), but it was not sighted until Messrs Tate and Dawson happened on it, and after a short but sharp chase, brought it to earth. The pig was in the pink of condition, and turned the scales at 4151b5.

The following is from a Gisborne paper:—The secretary of the Operatic Society had a rather embarrassing task last evening at the voice-testing. On asking one lady what song she was going to sing, she replied: "I've Got My Eyes on You," "Yes, I know that," said Mr Samson, "but what is the name of the song?" Another lady on'being asked, the same question, said: "You Told Me That You Loved Me." "I did nothing of the sort," retorted Mr Samson, gaily.

Many shopkeepers, sine© the carrying of the Saturday half-holiday proposal in Christchurch, have made inquiries at the office of the Labor Department as to whether they can, by partitioning off their shops, carry on on a, Saturday afternoon and evening such business as may be conducted then. . They were told (reports the Press) that they cannot do this, and were referred to a recent decision in Wellington, which held that a partition is not a sufficient separation between shops .working under different | holiday conditionsl, and in future such i shops must be absolutely separated, 1 and registered separately. The persons employed in one shop must not be the same persons as those employed in the adjoining shon||

On her outward voyage from Auckland to way ports and Vancouver last month, the Union Company's R.M.S. Niagara met with some very rough j weather between Auckland and Fiji. Captain J. Gibb, in attempting to ! prevent a teapot from being hurled across his cabin fell heavily, and sustained an injured leg and cuts on the face, being unconscious when picked up. Thei rolling of the big liner was accounted for by the fact that the oil tanks, which are at the bottom of the ship, were empty. This, of course, ' will not again be the case, as the tanks were to have been filled while the vessel was at Vancouver, which port she left on Wednesday week for Auckland and Sydney.

The ordinary meeting of the Blenheim Borough Council will be held tonight.

The old Narrows Road through Bankhouse will <be closed as from Monday next, the new road being now open.

A poll will be taken next Thursday to fill an extraordinary vacancy on the Tua Marina River Board. The candidates are Messrs G. C. P. Gibson and Albert Robinson.

The Valuer-General notifies that the revised district valuation roll for the County of Awatere will be open for public inspection at the County Council office from to-morrow until July Ist. Objections to valuations must be lodged not later than July 2nd.

The Blenheim Amateur Swimming Club has fteen approached by the New Zealand Swimming Council with a view to the New Zealand championships being held in the local baths next February. This would be a very desirable event, as it would be the means of stimulating swimming locally-

The bulldog to whose exploits at.tention was drawn last week is still permitted to roam the streets and pursue his pugnacious proclivities. One afternoon this week he chased a spaniel into a shop in town, penned it up behind the counter, and proceeded to worry it, until beaten off. A dose of lead is just about the medicine that this ferocious brute requires.

At a meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union in Wellington on Wednesday evening, a letter was received from the Nelson Union, -requesting that they be associated with the Marlbonough Union in the match against New South Wales, to be pJayed at Blenheim this year. It was decided that the application was too late to be dealt with, but the Nelson Union is to be informed that in future tours their application will be borne in mind.

A poll was taken at Invercargill on Wednesday on the water question, two schemes being submitted.l One proposal was to increase the presentsupply from underground sources by means of pumping, and the second was to bring in a gravitation supply from a stream known as the Dunsdale, necessitating about 18 miles of pipe line.; > The pumping scheme was j carried by 392 votes for, to'i 519; against. The voting on the gravita-! tion scheme was 621 for and 786 against.

Judgment has been given by Mr F. 08. Lough-nan, S.M., in the interesting case of Albert Hayward, of Ward, v. Alfred Davies, of Hapuku, and John Richard Wallace, of Kaikoura, in which a claim was made for £35 in • respect to the sale of the bay gelding "Dick." The torse was sold by Wali lace through, his agent, Baillie, to the ' plaintiff in May, 1912, for £25. Wallace had obtained the horse from, one Maxton in May, 1911. A few weeks ' after1 Wallace's sale to Hayward Davies stepped in, and took possession of the horse on the strength, of a hirepurchase agreement he hadl made with Maxton in November, 1911, which purported, to show that Davies was the real owner of the animal and had only leased it to Maxton, who had left Kaikoura and could not be traced. The plaintiff Hayward now claimed alternatively against the two defendants for the possession of the gelding or £25; in case possession could not be had, and also £10 damages for detention. Mr C.\ H. Mills appeared for the plaintiff; Mr S. P. McNab for Davies, and Mr W. T. Churchward for Wallace. During the hearing of the case it was admitted that no dispute existed so far as the plaintiff was concerned, and it was for the Court to say which of the two defendants he had to look to. Plis Worship, having heard legal argument, gave judgment for plaintiff as against Wallace for £26 10s with £1 14s costs and £2 12s solicitor's fee, and judgment for Davies for £4 10s witnesses' expenses and £2 2s solicitor's fee.

The practice of lending young men large sums of money was commented upon by Mr H. W. Bishop, S.M., in the Christchurch Magistrate's Court the other day. The case before him was a judgment summons case in which the defendant, a young man of about 24 years of age, owed money on a- promissory note held by a moneylender. Debtor denied that he followed racing, and that he was addicted to drink, and, in answer to a- further question, said that his previous employer had suspended him "simply because of a difference." ■ In deciding not to make an order, Mr Bishop said that large sums of money should not be lent to irresponsible young men; it induced them to go to races and take to drink, though he did not say that this had occurred in the present case.

The growth of the drum and fife bands movement in Auckland may be gathered from the fact that there are now no fewer than seventeen schoolboys' bands, with a membership of not less than 850. At the last meeting of the New _ Zealand Juvenile Musical Association a report by a sub-committee recommending the immediate formation and starting of a city senior band was adopted, subject to the question of finance, which will be brought forward at the Association's next meeting. The Association is also arranging with the Exhibition Commissioners for drum and fife competitions to take place next January.

The revenue for the year ended 31st shows Customs duty at £3,379,193, an increase over last year of £109,899; stamps £1,097,867, an increase of £181,070; railways £3,941,566, an increase of £172,702; land and! income tax £1,195,963, an increase of £96,165; post and telegraph £1,167,977, an increase of £78,393. The total revenue was £11,752,755, an increase of £610,775.

A sharp frost appeared probable last night, but a shower of rain early this morning had the effect of warming the atmosphere, and the cold was not so severe as it would otherwise have been. Three and a-half degrees was the reading for the night. Queenstown (34) and Bealey (35) were the coldest stations at 9 o'clock, the local reading being 44. The prospects of bad weather had disappeared in many instances, and fine weather was generally recorded.

The monthly meeting of the Rising Star Band of Hope was held last evening in the Orange Hall. Ml- E. S. Hulbcrt presided, and an interesting address was given by Mr E. H. Penny. The following items were rendered :—Recitations, Misses Jean Workman, Elvie Lewis, and Alice Moates; piano solo; Miss /Dorothy Knight; dialogue. Masters P. Adams, C. Saunders, "VV. Cleator, R. Jellyman, S. Moates, and L. Hobson; recitations. Miss Ivy Thomas, Masters A. Patchett, and F. Moates; dialogue, Masters A. Richards and Webster ; violin solo, Master M. Knight.

A youth from the way-backs recently entered an Eketahuna drapery establishment and asked to be allowed to try on an overcoat. Scenting a sale the assistant was all attention, and after a garment had been found which fitted like a glove the promising customer requested to be informed its size. "Can I wrap it up," eagerly asked the salesman. " "No thank you. I am sending away for a coat and merely wanted to find out what size I took," was the stunning reply. '

A case not unlike that of the faithful St. Bernard that refused to leave the side of his dead master was furnished in Invercargill on Monday, says the News, with the difference that the animal in this instance was a ferocious bulldog, and his master was still in the land of the .living, but helplessly' intoxicated. The constable who visited the inebriate saw that any efforts to make an arrest would, be fruitless until he got the assistance jof someone better acquainted with I the canine's nature. This, he did, .and the owner of the dog later appeared at the Police Court and was fined ss.

Rabbits seem to have ceased to be a pest, in Southland especially, where bush and other cover does not exist to any considerable extent, trapping at the .proper time being sufficient to keep them within bounds. What a change time effects (says the News). When they were introduced for sporting purposes, so valuable an asset were they considered that at New River, where a number were liberated, a notice was posted pointing out that anyone found destroying them /Would be punished as the law directed. The sandy waste this side of Riverton beach was then ■ covered with native growth, the transformation being due to the operations of the rabbits. ■

•A refresher course for officers, N.Z. Staff Corps and N.C.O.'s of the/ Permanent Staff will be held at } Palmerston North from the 7th July to the 16th August, 1913. The course will be held in two portions, approxii inately half the officers and N.C.O.'s in each district attending at each. Officers and N.C.Q f 's of the Senior Cadets, of the age of 18 and upwards, up to 50 for the district may also attend, and will be attached to the instructional battalion. It is desirable that Territorial officers and N.C.O.'s should be present for the full term of the camp, but where they cannot get away for so long, they may attend for any period not less than one week. They will serve in the ranks, but will be given opportunity for exercising command. Sergeant-Major Reid will attend the first course, and Captain Avery, Lieutenant Redmond, and SergeantMajors Colclough, O'Sullivan, Salt, Thompson, and Weston will be among those present.