The Marlborough Press. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1880.

Marlborough Press, Volume XXI, Issue 1249, 19 November 1880, Page 2

The Marlborough Press. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1880.

We noticed that Mr F. Smith, of Tua Marina, returned from Christchurch by last night’s steamer, bringing with him « fine grown bull, and another younger' beast, both apparently in splendid condition and of high class. On Monday and Tuesday nights Mr, Mrs and Miss Hart will give their musical entertainment entitled “ Happy Hours” to the public of Picton. These artistes have played here several times before, and the excellence of the performance is so widely acknowledged that it were needless now to urge anything in their favor.

A cricket match between scratch teams be played on Nelson Square, on Monday next' when the eleven who recently played in Blenheim will be engaged with others in a little necessary practice. It is intended!] to have the return match with Blenheim about the 2nd of December, and ns that day Jis not far distant our local men must indulge fin p, little play before hand, unless they want to suffer a similar fate to that which befel them at Blenheim on the Prince of Wales’ Birthday. The Local Lodge of Good Templars, Lodge Waterloo, No. 235, held a meeting on Saturday last, when officers for the- ensuing quarter were elected. Mr Earll acted as installing officer for the occasion, when the following were installed D. Weymss, W.C.T. ; R. Bennett, W.V.T. ; S. Rabone, junr., W.S., (re-elected) ; C. H. Dryden, W.F.S., (re-elected) ; R. E. Bowden, W.T. After the installation some formal business was transacted, and a very agreeable evening spent. Since this Lodge opened seven weeks ago the members have increased by 20, and the total number on the Lodge books is now 30. Such success was not expected when it was decided to open a branch of a society for the aid of temperance principles in Pictou. A fairly numerous congregation attended the morning and evening services of Holy Trinity Church on Sunday last, when the offertories were devoted towards the Hospital Funds. A Choral Service in the evening was a novelty to many of the congregation, and, as it was very ably performed, formed an agreeable change to such as like the style of service. The 'choir master, Mr A. L. Palethorpe, had got his department into good order, and the effects of hi# tuition was plainly observable The amount collected towards the Hospital Funds was slightly under £l7, being about the same as la»t year, and a* the Government supplement this with an equal amount, the result will be that the Hospital will benefit to the extent of nearly £34 by Sunday’s contributions,

Until Saturday «vening it was not known whether there would be more than one candidate for the office of Mayor, but on that date a requisition, to which was attached nearly 40 names, was presented to Captain Macneil, requesting him to come forward, the requisitionists pledging themselves to not only vote for him hut to use their utmost endeavors to secure his return. It is not likely that more tlmu 70 vote# will be recorded, so that the requisition was comparatively a very strong one, and Captain Macneil complied with the request. On Monday the persons nominated for the office of Mayor were Lachlan Macneil and Alexander Trindle Thompson, and the Returning Officer published that fact by placard on the windows of the Council Chambers. The polling will take place at the office of the Borough Council on Wednesday next, commencing at 9 a.m., and closing at 6 p.m. Two or three days this week have been sufficiently warm to turn the attention to the subject of sea bathing, and in consequence the new proprietor of the Picton baths has received a beginning of what we expect will develope into a largo amount of patronage before the season closes. Should there be few customers, it will not bt for want of accommodation and attention on the part of the bath keeper, and with free boats nlways available there can he no grounds for excuses on the part of those who have expressed a wish to see such a capital thing as baths established. The residents of Picton are not very warm in the matter, for, although the proprietor made a personal canvass of the town, he succeaded in disposing of only an exceedingly limited number of season tickets A few really hot days may bring about a change in the feelings, and with the memory of the comfort of such a mode of obtaining refreshment fresh in the mind, an improvement in the amount of support may be anticipated. A hastily convened meeting in connection with the development of our coal fields, took place on Monday at the invitation of the perspns instrumental in prospecting on the western side of 'Shnkspeare Bay. There was not anything really tangible proposed, but there was a talk of forming a company to work the coal deposits oil fourths,—that is the promoters to receive onefourth of the capital in paid up shares, twofourths in cash, and the remaining fourth to be expended in opening up and working the mine The proposition niay be stated clearer thus : Supposing a company with £20,000 be formed, the promoters to receive £SOOO in paid up shares. £IO.OOO in cash, leaving a balance of £SOOO as the actual capital of the company. In the absence of anything beyond mere conversation, it is iifficult to learn what was really the result of the meeting, but our informant states that nothing particular transpired, as nobody was prepared with a difinite scheme, and when those present separated it was with the idea, that another meeting would be held at no distant dgte.

A meeting of the burgesses is called for Saturday night at the Council Chambers, when Mr Thompson, one of the candidates for the office of Mayor, will enlighten the audience as to his views upon Municipal matters. Mr Thompson’s action is a proper oue, and he should secure a large attendance. A fresh coal discovery has been made on the western side of the Peninsula between Picton harbor and Shakspeare Bay. The locale of this find is nearly in a line with the site of the house built by Major Wilkinson, but nearer the beach. It is about this spot the Government Geologist stated the richest coal deposits in the locality would be found, and it is to the perseverance of Mr Pugh that the present discovery is owing. Should a seam of any magnitude be found hereabouts, and of which the indications are most favorable, it will he the most important find yet made, as the position is much superior to that of other seams. At present the seam at Kaipupu is some 18 inches thick, but it has attained that dimension at a depth -of four feet, having been less than one inch thick at the surface of the ground. Samples of the coal may be seen at this office, and at the Pier and Terminus Hotels. It is rumored that some outside capitalists are negotiating about starting a company with a capital of £30,000 to work this new find. About the quality of the coal there can be no two opinions. It flares away on the application of a light, proving, that it has no superior for gas producing purposes, and being so good in this respect it may be assumed that it is equally good for every use to which a first-class coal can be applied. Our Havelock correspndent writes under date of the 15th November:—“ On the 10th inst. a Mr C. H. M. King, 8.A., was arrested by Sergeant Hogan, in Lucknow-street, and'‘ accused of creating a disturbance at a house occupied by Mrs Alexander. He was taken to the house, and the woman not being at horns, a boy was sent to find her ; he not returning, Mr King was taken to Mr Levin’s, and from there back to Mrs A’s, The woman having returnsd, she was asked by the Sergeant if Mr King was the man who created the disturbance, she at once said “ No.” Mr King altered the position of his hat, and she again said he was not the man, when tire Sergeant, who had been trying to induce the woman to give Mr King in charge, said he was sure Mr King was the man, and would not let him go until he had proved where he had spent the night. They went to Mr Fear’s Hotel, and those who slept in the same room declared Mr King went to bed before eleven, and did not rise until after 7 a.m. the next day. Mr and Mrs Fear also corroborated their evidence. This did not satisfy oar Sergeant. Mr Cawte interposed on his friends's behalf, but was threatened with the lock-up, the Sergeant calling them all liars. Mr King was then released from custody. Since the occurrence of these events, Inspector Atchison lias been visiting in the Grove nnd Mnhakipawa, and his case will be strongly represented to head quarters.— Express.

The promoters of the Presbyterian Church tea meeting were fortunate in having most propitious weather for the affair, and the result was a very large attendance. Visitors from Wnitohi Valley, Blenheim, the Grove, and even from far away Kaikoura, were present, and a numerous tribe of children attended with their parents or friends. The Indies of the congregation were most bountiful with their supplies, and the tea tables were well covered with an abundance of good things, such ns children love, and their elders do not disdain, and the difficulty was in making a choice, so good was the variety, and so appetising the viands. For some time the ladies were kept busily engaged in supplying the wants of the small multitude, but even the most capacious appetite must become satisfied sooner or later, and such was the case on this occasion, and a lull took place after many of the delicacies had disappeared from the well stocked tables. After tho business of eating nnd drinking had terminated, the remnants were removed, the tables cleared away, and the Hall made comfortable for the intellectual part of the entertain*ment. The chair was occupied by Mr J\ M‘Hutcheson, and addresses delivered during the evening by the Revs Opie, McAra, Shiiriffs, and Riddle. The speeches were apt, and the speakers succeeded in hitting the happy medium, managing to amuse and instruct at the same time In the intervals, and at other times during the evening, most efficient service was rendered by the choirs of the Churches, and the musical part of the entertainment formed one of the features of the gathering. It is not possible with the limited space at our disposal to give a detailed account of the whole of the proceedings, and we must be content with saying that everything passed off in a most agreeable manner and with the greatest success. There is a very noteworthy improvement manifest in connection with the coming election for the Mayor of the Borough of Picton. Hitherto the ratepayers have been content to let the chief place in the town be occupied by whoever liked to take office, but a change is now apparent', and there will be a good fight for the honor attached to the position The candidates are Captain Macneil, a gentleman comparatively a new comer amongst us, and Mr A T. Thompson, the well known saw mill owner of Picton and Para. Captain Macneil, although he Ims not resided in Picton a great longtli of time, has managed to secure the hearty good wishes of a large number of the townsfolk, and these uro sanguine that the Captain is the best man to fill the office of Mayor, as his actions, since being a member of the Borough Council, prore him to be a shrewd business like man. Ilis position as an ex-cantain in the Mwrcantile Murine service is sufficient to stamp him as a man of intelligence, and as he has plenty of time to attend to the duties of the office his supporters say he is the coming man. About Mr Thompson we need say but little, for he has been a member of the Council for a considerable period, and his services while a member must be so fresh in the recollection of our readers that it were useless to enter into particulars. His supporters say that he possesses a business aptitute peculiarly fitting him for the position, while his services in the Council should secure for him the office he now desires to obtain. We have no choice in the matter. The result is in the hands of the electors, aud whichever candidate they consider the most suitable they will return—that is, if they will take the trouble to attend to vote. It is a good sign to see that anything will stir the borough electors up, and we hope on Wednesday next that there will be a large number of rotes recorded, and that the best man will win.

The closing of the Picton Gaol has been the cause of the departure from amongst us of Mr Cawte, an old and well known townsman, and one, too, [who worthily filled his position, and left it at last accompanied by the best wishes of many who have known him fora number of years For many years Mr Cawte occupied the office of gaoler, and although his position in the Government service prevented him from taking any part in any public matter, he was always ready ami willing to give his service# for anything tending to promote the interests of his fellowtownsmen. Unobtrusive, never striving to gain notoriety, he pursued the even tenor of his way. mindful only of the duties entrusted to him ; but a day came when a cry for retrenchment was raised, and hi# office was abolished and the holder compelled to #eek a fresh residence and new occupation. It is not improbable that Mr Cawte may yet determine to settle down in Picton, but at present h 8 has gone to Mahakipawa, where he possesses a large interest in landed property. Whatever his future lot, many will bear in remembrance big long citizenship and his value when a resident of the place. Following Mr Cawte is Mr IX Lloyd, who, in

consequence of the closing of the gaol, has been offered and accepted a similar position to that he occupied here in the Nelson gaol. Mr Lloyd is one of the old identities of the place, having been a resident about twenty years, and in that time succeeded in making numerous friends, all of whom will regret that the exigences of the service has caused his removal. Mr Jennins is the last of the trio who was employed at the Picton Gaol, and he too, is about to leave. Although not so long employed in Picton, he has been for a number of years in the district, and during a long residence has gained a reputation for probity that hns secured for him also a large circle of acquaintances, the majority of whom will feel that they are losing a personal friend when he leaves for Fielding, that, place being his destination. This disposes of all the late gaol officials, nnd it will be a long time before their places will- be filled by better men in our midst.