LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Marlborough Press, Volume XXI, Issue 1203, 2 January 1880, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The outward English mail via. San Francisco will close at Picton on Friday, January 2nd.

Hospital Sunday was observed on Sunday last in the Catholic Chapel, when the very handsome sum of £4 was given towards the Charity, On Saturday last, the day fixed to fill the extraordinary vacancy in the Mayoral chair, there was only one nomination, and Mr T. Williams has been declared again duly elected Mayor of Picton for the year of office. We learn that an important change is about to take place in the local Railway Department, the present manager, Mr Christophers, leaving to take charge at Westport, and the present manager at Westport is coming here to fill the vacancy thus created. The Picton Sea-water Battis are now completed, and the dressing rooms are as convenient and comfortable as could be found in places with far larger pretensions. A few wants in the shape of furnishing with towels, &c., is required to be supplied, but bathers may take a diurnal dip with a consciousness that they may defy sharks or other marine monsters. It is expected that the baths will be opened on this. New Year’s Day, so that the many visitors to the place will be able to enjoy the luxury of sea bathing. The offertory in Holy Trinity Church on Christmas Day was for the Sunday School, and the sum of £6 Pis 6d was subscribed. The possession of this amount will enable the teachers to effect some much needed improvements, and will do good indirectly by proving that the people generally take an interest in the work, and are willing to assist when required to do so. This will put the teachers in good heart, as they will learn that their labors are appreciated, and the task they set themselves of instilling Bible truths into the minds of scholars does not remain unrecognised.

No efforts are being spared to make the amusements of New New Day a great success. The promoters of the Regatta have worked with a will to provide good sport by offering valuable prizes, amongst which are three silver cups, and in other manner to make the aquatic events attractive. The suggestor and organiser of the land sports will be disappointed should the entertainment on Nelson Square not meet with the expectations of visitors, and as the various sports are so dissimilar, all who wish for a day’s amusements should find something to their liking When the daylight has Jdeparted, the ladies will he able to enjoy themselves at the Ball, to be held in the Assembly Hall ; and with such an appropriate ending, New Year’s Day may be brought to a conclusion. The erection of Government Buildings in Picton is likelv to prove beneficial in more ways than one. Besides the ordinary use of such building for the holding of a Magistrate’s Court, it is proposed to have sittings of the District Court held periodically in Picton, when the graver offences, beyond the jurisdiction of the lower Court, and not sufficiently serious for trial nt the. Supreme Court, may be disposed of. Mr Justice'Broad is District Judge, and Mr J. Green has received the appointment of Clerk of the District Court, and it is stated that provision will be made for a monthly sitting of the Court. When the time comes for this to be done, great advantages will be secured to the people of the district, as they will be able to obtain a speedy settlement of any legal dispute instead of having to wait for the six monthly sitting of a Higher Court, and then have to travel many miles to attend it. Whoever undertook the task of decorating the Church of Holy Trinity for Christmas Day deserves credit for the work, and for the taste and skill displayed in making such efficient and appropriate ornamentation. Every window was decorated with flowers and greenery, and all the pews were dressed in seasonable fashion, yet withall a main design was kept in view, and in no place was there a too great profusion of ornament. Over the chancel window adapted to the design, was the inscription “ Glad Tidings of Great Joy.” and underneath was the word “ Immanuel” in gold letters on a ground that showed it up to great advange. A large congregation attended the Church on Christmas Day, and it was well rewarded by the whole service, apart altogether from the motive that should prove always attractive. The Choir chanted the Psalms for the day, and sang some special music very ereditanly. The Kev. Mr Opie took for his text one' of the inscriptions used for decorating—“ Glad Tidings of Great Joy,” and preached an eloquent sermon, which was listened to with great satisfaction by the large congregation. It. would he pleasing alike to the Clergyman and to others interested in Church matters, if as large an attendance could be gathered within the walls of Holy Trinity Church on every occasion of holding service.

The steamer Waitaki will leave Wellington at 7 a.m on New Year’s Day, conveying passengers to Picton, returning to Wellington about 6 pm. the same evening. As the return fare is only 10s, it is anticipated a large number of excursionists will take advantage of the trip, In consequence of the steamer being thus engaged, site will not leave Picton for Nelson until Friday. To accomodate expected sight-seers, the railway time table will be altered for New Year’s Day. A train will leave Picton at 8 a.m., and again on the arrival of the excursion steamer, the last one leaving at 7 pmi This should suffice to suit all pkrties, and give.facilities for excursionists and ordinary visitors. The times the return fains will leave Opawa will be Been in a notification in aiipth'er /Column y" ] ,-** Our readers will nqtice an apparent error in the date of this issue of the paper, and the time it is published. Printers and others connected with newspaper work require occasional relaxation, and for the purpose of giving all hands a holiday we go to press on New Year’s Eve. This will account for some apparent discrepancies in the narrative of current events, as we have dated the paper in advance to make the weekly dates concur The alteration should cause no inconvenience with this explanation. In the good old days’ when gold was plentiful and diggers were flush of money, it was no unusual thing for them to invent expedients for getting rid of their easily earned accumulations, and it has remained for these hard-up latter days to prove that men can be found who squander money as foolishly as those in the “ good old times.” On Saturday last there was a visitor in Picton in searcli of a new sensation, and lie hired a man to wheel him about in a wheelbarrow, [laying for this primitive mode of conveyance one shilling per hour. The laborer and his iiirer agreed amicably together for some time, but the engagement did not last long, the rate of progress not exactly agreeing with the rapid ideas of the capitalist.