LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS

Marlborough Express, Volume LIIII, Issue 81, 7 April 1920, Page 4

LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS

The Chief Postmaster reports that the mails which left New Zealand on February 27th arrived in London on the sth inst. ...... N

,The latest quotation for., news printing paper -is £95 per ton, as against £12 to £15 before the war. Even at the ruling price it is; practically impossible for New Zealand newspaper offices to secure supplies.

At the inter-univei'sity ;. tennis tourney, hold during. Easter. Auckland won the 'Shieldu . Of the five of uuvtehes Auckland won three, Canterbury .two, and Otago one.

When a member of the Blenheim School Committee asked at the meeking last night if the headmaster had the power-to close the school under extraovdinai\y circumstances, Mr Rowntree said that the law provided that if even oni child attended the school during the first half-hour _in which, it was open in the morning then he must not close the school.

A section of the Wither -Run, con-1 .tainmg 445 acres 3 roods. 32 perches, has been inado available for soldier settlement (and the ballot will take place.in Blenheim after tho examination of applicants on May 13th. Applications will be received up to 4 p.m. on May 11th. The land may be purchased for cash, or on deferred payment, or selected on lease for 33 yea-rs 'with right of ronowal and a right to acq-iii-e iha fvcekold..

A Pre&s -Association telegram from Wellington states:—The Telegraph Department wishes to improve telephono communication with the South Island. Daring the war the teleplione cables were greatly improved^ and Mr Shrimpton, Chief Telegraph Engineev, will probably be sent Home to obtain a cable suitable for the purpose. The. Pacific Cable Company's steamer Iris recently surveyed the'bcibtoHi of Cook Strait along the proposed route.

At the Manchester Unity conference in Auckland, the balance-sheet, which was approved, showed that the Funeral Fund amounted to £48,208, compared with £47,735 last year,'the Management Fimd £1082; the Lod^e Helief Fund £1377; other funds £409; making a total of £51,076. The amount oi: funeral claims met during the year was £10,089. Soldier members' sick pay totalled £9489. The Society also paid to ledges soldier members' contributions amounting to £9715.

An inspection o>t tho apples sent from Nelson to Wellington for export was made at the Wellington wharf and cool store- last week by officers d: the Department of Horticulture during tho loading of the 'Athenic for England. Dnmn^orl coses, states the Fruitgrowoivs' Federation, were very mucli in evidence, 104 boina; counted that were ro brokon ,as to be unfit if or shipment, and as buskers and agents refuse to accept fruit, in broken cases, the loss will doubtless fall on the grower, who■ is blamed for "spoiling the ship for a ha'p'orth of tax."

A. meeting of the Marshlands Association Football Olub will be held tomorrow evening.

Justices of tho Peace are requested to attendi at the Courthouse on Friday morning to revise the jury list.

The following further subscriptions have been received towaa'Cis the White's Bay Road fund: M. Gibson £1 Is M. Gibson £1 Is, It. P. Furness £1 Is B. Blick £1.

The delegates of the Marlborough Friendly Societies Council are requested) ta meet in the Hibernian Kail to-morrow night to discuss tho medical attendants' new agreement.

.At the opening of the Ren wick Defence Rifle Club's range, Rifleman C. C. Brydon won the first priz*), Mr Paynter the visitors' match)., and Mrs McKay the ladies' match.

A letter received by tho School Committee from tho Wellington Education Board fras discussed at the monthly'meeting last night. The lettor contained instructions with regard to tho condtv.ct of the election of a new committee, which is to take place on the 28th April. It was emphasised that tho words "householder" was not now defined as formerly, when it was; a. "resident householder." The■■definition now was a person ocji.ipyirig a horse in the school district, and, in addition, the parent or guacdiian of a chid which attends the school, oven if the parent or guardian does not live-in the school district.

The Anglican Hclme Mission Fetsival will be hold in the Town Hall-on Thursday, 15th inst. Tea will commence at 5 o'clock, and the public meeting at 7.30", at which the speakers will be the Bishop of Nelson and Canon Fielden Taylor.

The Blenheim Borough Schools were closed T>his afternoon on account of the influenza epidemic, and will rejnain closed till further notice. Out of a roll number of 680, about 250 children were absent from school today ; and three teachers are laid up with the influenza.

A splendid new coal seam was discovered m Beva'n's Tunnel at the Liverpool State coal mines last week. The seam has so far J>een proved to bo 9 feet 6 inches thick, It is coal of a splendid quality (says_ the Grey River Argus). The seam rises to the momitain, and experts declare that this is a splendid indication* of a very large area of coal.

The following reading matter appears on tiie inside pages to-day: Miscellaneous Cables, '<T>anish Oisiri" •'Australian Politics," Sports and Pastimes, "A Farmer Soldier," "Antiquated Methods)/' "Loans to Soldiers," "Our Babies," "National Pofonce,'1 ''The Irish Brigade," "The Loading Port," <l School Committee,? '. "iSsx Hygiene/ and "The National: Debt"

Several farmers have ■ obtained a few healthy seedlings of the giant redwood of California^ the sequoia;. It was grown from' seed, lib of which : costs £3 the -high cost being apparently "due- to the difficulty of gathering it from trees, which attain a height of over a hundred feet. It is j believed this tree will succeed in our ! soil and climate. One specimen in Queen Street, Masterton, has attainted 70ft. in forty years.

The Wellington correspondent of the Christchurch Press states that the Telegraph Department is hard pressed for messengers, and in consequence of the shortage telegrams are occasionally heavily delayed in delivery. Every effort, however, is being made to secure messengers, and as lads are now unprocurable in the city the Department ■■ is employing adults. Private business firms are in the same fix as the Telegraph Department, and "Messenger wanted" is a common sign in shop window*

President "Wilson, it is stated, has issued more notes than the Bank of New Zealand. His notes have caused a mix-up in the European situation. Bank of New Zealand! notes are worth just so much: President Wilson's notes are worth so much; but the note.? issued-by C TunnielifFe and Son axe worth, jxisfc what they say. They say that their smithy floor is the best equipped in Marlborough, and that is so. Their sniithy work is its own guarantee. In the motor garage their expert's work is beyond compare. A new customer generally grows old in his custom with the firm. Painting cars, accessories., new or repaired hoods, and all motor 'requirements are specialities at the Grove Roa4 garage.—Advt.

A circular letter read at the usual meeting of the Blenheim School Committee liisib night dealt with the arrangements made for school children in connection with the forthcoming visit of H.It.H. the' Prince of Wales. The letter stated that the Government was prepared to pay 8d for each child for a. food supply where this was necessary; also a. flag; would be ■-given to each child if sufficient material was iwailaale. As regards railway facilities. "ree transit would be allowed for children in Standards 3 to 7. "The committee zesolved to leave all arrangements in the hands of the sub-committee a-lready a.ppointed.

Motor cyclists who exceed speed limits will' be interested in a case heard at the Auckland Police Court on Wedn3sday. A young man pleaded guilty to three charges of break-, ing the law in this respect, and the Magistrate (Mr Wilson) imposed fines totalling £30, being £10 on. each count. The* Magistrate said it was unfortunate that this was the maximum penalty. High speeding was a menace to the community, and he v- oII M pvareip" his authority to safeguard the public.