Marlborough Times. TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 1880.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume I, Issue 85, 13 January 1880, Page 2

Marlborough Times. TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 1880.

The North Ward election is now over, and Mr Fell is again returned to the Council by a substantial majority. The electors therefore have endorsed Mr Fell’s conduct as Mayor of the Borough and as Councillor for the ward. This victory is one of greater importance than is usually attendant on a Borough election. The occasion was made a trial of strength between two political parties and two prominent residents of the town. At the extreme North of the Borough Mr Dodson is regarded as one who always advocates the expenditure of the lion’s share of public funds in his own neighborhood, and this reputation is probably much in his favor with some residents in this particular ward, but it has not been sufficient to induce the majority of them to dispense with Mr Fell’s valuable services, and the electors may be congratulated on having taken a somewhat broader view of the situation than Mr Dodson, and on having recognised Mr Fell’s claims .to. their consideration. To have reject-, ed him would have been to have passed a vote of censure upon his past conduct. To have re-elected him is carrying a vote of confidence in him. We allowed Mr Dodson’s address to pass unnoticed until after the election, feeling sure that the electors did not agree with that gentleman in his

statement that the North ward had been neglected for the sake of the other wards. When a candidate, in order to catch a stray vote or two from the unthinking, appeals to them in the following terms, we fancy he must be rather hard put to it for arguments, and must even himself doubt if such twaddle will go down with anybody. “If returned ” says Mr Dodson in his published address, “ I “ shall endeavor to secure for the “ ward a fair share of attention, and “ hope before the approaching winter “ to nave our bye streets put in equal “repair to the more favored ones “ leading from Maxwell Road. I par- “ ticularly wish to see a bridge put “ over the Omaka river, opposite the “ school, and consider the neglect of “ the work a reproach on all concern- “ ed. I shall also support your pre- “ sent members in their endeavors to “ have the road from the Temperance “ Hall to the bridge widened and “ drained, and thus cure the quagmire “to be seen there after every show- “ or.” As to the bait held out to the residents between the Omaka bridge and the Temperance Hall, Mr Dodson ought certainly to know what every other ratepayer knows, that the whole of the Borough Council are, and have been for a long time past, just as anxious to have the street widened, raised, and drained, as he is himself, if not more so, and they are only waiting for the surveys to be completed before commencing the required works. As regards the Auckland-street footbridge, it would have been finished long ago but for the obstruction caused by a few interested persons who wished to divert the road from Seymour Street on to their own propertk:. This was very properly characterised by Mr Fell at the time as “ a job,” as it undoubtedly was. Mr Dodson’s assertion that the North Ward has been neglected for the more favored locality of the Maxwell Road, be it remembered, is made shortly after his futile attempt to get elected for the West Ward, against Mr Litchfield. This looks as if Mr Dodson only wanted to be returned for the West Ward so as to get an undue proportion of public money spent in and near that part of the town where he lives: We believe, and we think the great majority of the ratepayers of Blenheim know, and are ready to acknowledge, that the Council has dealt out even handed justice so far as it is possible for them, to do it, to all parts of the Borough, and that, the North Ward electors look upon this attempt of Mr Dodson to set one ward against another as contemptible, is proved by the result of the late election. Had Mr Dodson been returned for the North Ward, the result would have been that the East and West Wards must have combined against him, and should he again be nominated for either of those wards the electors will be cautious in giving credence to his professions, if they keep in view his address to the North Ward ratepay era. Many persons living on the South side of the Omaka River believe that Mr Dodson unfairly pulls the strings of the River Board in order to get more than his share of that Board’s funds spent in his immediate neighborhood, and that the protection of a large part of the Borough from damage, caused by the overflow of the Omaka and Taylor Rivers, is neglected, although the necessary protective works could be constructed at a comparatively small cost. We do not find fault with the protective works on the river bank on Mr Dodson’s property, as we believe an immense amount of good has resulted from their construction, but we do object to Mr Dodson, or anybody else, monopolising the lion’s share of the public funds raised within the Borough m order, apparently to serve no better purpose than the gratification of the wishes of the Dodson-Henderson “Ring,” at the expense of the ratepayers.

The San Francisco Mail is expected to be here on Thursday next. Police Constable Dennis Glachan has been i appointed Inspector at Havelock under the Slaughter-house Act. The contract for tho Wakamarina bridge has, we understand, been taken by Mr Joseph Gilbertson, and the work will be commenced immediately. The steamer Napier arrived from Wellington on Sunday last, left again the following day, and is expected here again tomorrow, and is advertised for Wellington On Thursday next. The North Ward election on Friday terminated in the return of Mr Fell bv a majority of 11 over his opponent, Mr H. Dodson. The numbers being Fell 55, Dodson 44. There were two informal votes. A painful accident occurred yesterday to a little boy, aged one year and nine months, the son of Mr John Morrison. It seems the little fellow was trying to climb up into a chair, whan it tilted over, falling on the top of him, the result being that both bones iOf the forearm were fractured. _ Dr Cleghorn attended to . tba little patient and set the injured limb.

The steamer Lyttelton left Nelson for this port last evening, and is expected here this afternoon, She leaves for Wellington to-morrow evening at 5 o’clock, and for Nelson on Saturday next. We remind the ratepayers of the Lower Wairau Rivers Board District that the election of two members will take place on Thursday next, the 15th instant. Messrs C. Redwood, J. Jellyman, and W. Parker are candidates.

We are requested to state that the Awatere Road Board will meet on Wednesday, the 14th instant, at 10‘30 a.m., and that the adjourned meeting of the Wairau Road Board will take place on Wednesday, the 21st instant at two p.m.

According to “Kenelm,” the writer of the “Sporting Notes from New Zealand,” which appear in the Australasian of the 27th December, Sir Hercules Robinson has sent to Mr Lee, of Sydney, to send him a colt or two for racing purposes. Mr John S. Hickson has been appointed Deputy Registrar of the Supreme Court and Deputy Sheriff of the District of Marlborough, and has duly taken the oaths of office and allegiancebeforeSamuel Johnson, Esq., J.P., under authority from his Excellency the Governor.

All the old members of the Marlborough Land Board have been reappointed by his Excellency the Governor. The time at which the next meeting will be held has not yet been fixed, but it will probably be at an early date.

Re the Government telegram scandal, the Standard publishes the following specimen, dated the 23rd August, and addressed R. Wakelin, Esq., Wairarapa Standard, Grey town :—“ Oblige by taking no step which will compel you to oppose Mr Bunny. He has greatly assisted us and showed great disinterestedness. —G. Grey.”

In the Gazette of the Bth instant the sum of £l7 17s 6d has been granted for the Volunteers of Marlborough to compete for before the 31st March, 1880, also £l2 3s for the Cadets. The firing will, we understand, be competed for at Tua Marina as during the last two years. At a meeting of the Committee of the Blenheim Literary Institute on Friday evening, it was decided to hold the general meeting for the election of officers, etc., on Monday the 26th instant. The report which will be brought up for adoption will, we are informed, be of a very satisfactory character, showing that the number of members has greatly increased during the past year. On the 31st December last, Mr Tapp, butcher, Renwicktown, whilst attending to some pigs, was rushed by a boar, and severely mangled in the thigh. Luckily assistance was at hand, and the boar was driven off, or there is no doubt that the result would have been far more serious. Dr Cleghorn stitched up the wounds, and we are glad to hear Mr Tapp is progressing favorably. The funds of the new Temperance Hall will be augmented by £lO derived from the proceeds of a picnic at Renwick Town held during the Christmas holidays hy members of the 1.0.G.T. Brother Earll found the horses and traps, charging 4s each there and back and handing t e money over for the benefit of the Society. The refreshments, which were on the. most liberal scale, were contributed by friends, and in every way the affair has proved a great success.

On Monday last men working for the Awatere Road Board had their ter.t, three saddles, and a quautity of blankets and clothing destroyed by fire. One man narrowly escaped losing £3O which he had in his swag. How the fire originated is not known. Mr Scaife, of the Mount Gladstone Run kindly lent a tent, without which the men would have fared badly during the rainy weather of the past few days.

In opening the sixth annual session of the Grand ferring to the absence of Brother Earll is reported to have said:—“The chairs of the G.W. Counsellor, G.W.V.T., and Past G.W.C.T. were found vacant. The G.W.C., Bro. Earll, had been prevented by important private business from attending the session. He sent his cordial greetings and good wishes, which were reciprocated by the Grand Lodge. To those who had previously met Bro. Earll in Grand Lodge Session, his absence was cause of regret. One bright particular star was wanting from the constitution.” On Monday, last week, Mr James Tait, manager for W. Smith, Esq., of Ludstone, while travelling home al*ng the Queen’s highway, commonly know as the Great South Road, met with a serious accident. When passing through the side cutting leading into Goose Bay, his horse slipped over the side, in consequence of its narrowness and bad condition, and fell into the bush beneath, and there man and horse had to remain in a creek bottom till daylight. Mr Tait escaped with a broken arm and the horse was badly knocked about and scratched. The fall was about 50 feet, and it is nothing short of a miracle that either escaped with life.

The following tenders were opened last night by the Works Committee of the Spring Creek Road Board for removing the long bridge on the Sandhill, Road, and erecting a culvert, &c. :—James Andrill L 23 10s, Francis Beamsley L 43. The Committee said that there was a great disparity between the tenders, but it had always been their rule to accept the lowest tender. In this case, however, the tender of Mr. Andrell was so absurdly low that even if they accepted it they did not think he would not take the contract up. Moreover, the tender was informal, as it imposed conditions, and was not in accordance with the specifications. The tender of Mr F. Beamsley at L 43 was then accepted. The funeral of the late Mr Robert Dick Mclsaac P.P.G.M., of the 1.0.0. F., M.U., took place at Renwick Town on Sunday afternoon, and was largely attended by members ef the Marlborough and Renwick Lodgse and by numerous other friends. The burial service of the Presbyterian Church was impressively performed by the Rev. Mr Shirrifis and the Lodge service by Bro. P.S. Tissiman. The members of the Lodges followed the deceased’s remains to the grave wearing their black sashes. The fact of so large a number attending notwithstanding the very unfavorable state of the weather shows that the Lodges are not

neglectful in paying this last mark of reßpect to a deceased brother, and that both in and out of the Order, Mr Mclsaac was greatly esteemed and respected. He was one of the oldest Odd Fellows iD Marlborough, and was looked upon as a mainstay of the Renwick Lodge, by whom his loss will long be mourned.

The road South of the Clarence is in a most fearful condition, notwithstanding that it is now Summer. The original formation can only be discovered by close observation, it having all but disappeared, and the water tables are all over, centre or anywhere but the sides, where they ought to be. Beyond the Kaikouras the road is, if possible, worse still, and Lovell the mailman, on whose word we can thoroughly rely from long experience, declares that on the next occasion when it is wet, when he gets to Kaikoura he will turn back, as it is next to impossible to travel over the road and then not at all without risking life and limb. Complaints have been made to the local authorities repeatedly, but without effect. “May they always live in peace and harmony,” was the way a Yankee marriage notice should have wound up ; but the compositor, who couldn’t read manuscript very well, put in type and horrified the happy couple by making it, “May they live on peas and hominy.” From the Sands.—They had been married but a fortnight—one happy, happy fourteen days-and were spending the honeymoon at beautiful Shanklin. As they sat side by side on the soft sands, while the sun shone softly o’er her fair head, and the wavelets lapped musically at their feet, Angelina addressed Edwin with a pretty pout, “Do you put down that stupid paper and pay me just a little attention, ’ said the bride. “My ownest,” said the bridegroom, ' ‘l’m paying you as little as I possibly can.”

The newest service rendered by monkeys to mankind wasrecently illustrated in London In one of the school districts too many parents reported no children in their families, and in order to ascertain the real number of children in the district the school officers resorted to an ingenious measure. Two monkeys were gaily dressed, put in a waggon, and and accompanied by a brass band were carried through the streets of the district. At once crowds of children made their appearance. The procession was stopped in a park, and the school officers began their work; distributing candies to the youngsters they took their names and addresses. They found out that over sixty parents kept their children from school. The ingenious measure brought to the school about 200 boys and girls. We clip the following from the Timaru Hen Id of Dec. 20th :—“ A letter received by last mail from an old resident of this district who returned to England a few months ago, contains the following significant piece of information ; —‘ I have been here at work for some time organizing a party of small farmers who were desirous of emigrating to New Zealand. These men have a capital of from £SOO to £2OOO each, and families averaging seven, sons and daughters. After I liad made all arrangements for their outfit and was about to manage the shipping for them, some of them came to me and said there was a tax on land in New Zealand —was that true ? I said yes, it was so. The reply was, ‘ Then we will not go. We have had enough land tax in the old country. ” Is the Herald quite sure that he read the letter through, and that it was not the contemplated property tax that frightened away the intending immigrants ? On 3rd of November there was launched from the ship-building yard of Messrs. Win. Denny & Brothers, Glasgow a Bcrewsteamer of 1600 tons, named the Te Auau. Her principal dimensions are:—Length between perpendiculars, 270 feet; breadth moulded, 25 feet. She is to the order of the Union Steamship Company of New Zealand (Limited), and is classed at Lloyd’s 100 A, and built entirely of steel. She has a double bottom capable of containing 293 tons of water ballast and is fitted with accommodation for 126 first and 87 secondclass passengers. She is schooner-rigged and her masts are of steel. All the woodwork and decorative work is similar to that of the Rotomahana, lately launched for the same company. She will be engined by Messrs. Denny & Co. with compound direct-acting engines of 270 nominal horsepower. The ceremony of naming the vessel was performed by Miss Julia Robson, of Westhall, Dumbarton. The Te Anau ia the sixth vessel built by Wm. Denny & Brothers for the company, and they have a seventh ir. progress. The Te Anau is under command of Captain Carey, late of the Rotorua and is telegraphed as having left Glasgow on the 13th December for Port Chalmers.

We have to acknowledge with thanks the receipt, from the Government printer, of a copy of the Statutes passed by the New Zealand Parliament in sessions I and 11, 1879. They are as follows : —Session I Appropriation, Imprest Supply, Maori Prisoners’ Trials, New Zealand Loan.. Session ll—Administration, Appropriation (No. 2), Building Societies Act 1876 Amendment, Confiscated Lands Inquiry and Maori Prisoners’ Trials, Customs Tariff, Debtors and Creditors Amendment, District Courts Act 1858 Amendment, District Courts Proceedings Validation, Dstrict Law Societies Act Amendment, Elections Validation, Electoral Acts Repeal, Electric Telegraph Act Amendment, Forest Trees Planting Encouragement Acts Amendment. Fine Arts Copyright Act 1877 Amendment, Harbors Act Amendment, Imbecile Passengers Act Extension, Immigration and Public Works Appropriation, Imprest Supply (No. 1), Imprest Supply (No. 2), Imprest Supply (No. 3), Imprest Supply (No. 4), Imprest Supply No. 5), Intercolonial Probate, Land Act 1877 Amendment, Land-Tax Collection, Leases and Sales of Settled Estates Act 1865 Amendment, Mines Act 1877 Amendment, Patents Act Amendment, Prisons Act Amendment, Property Assessment. Property-Tax, Public Revenues, Public Revenues Act 1878 Amendment, Public Reserves Sale, Public Works, Qualification of Electors, Rating Act 1876 Amendment, Registration of Electors, Resident Magistrates Act 1867 Amendment, Revision of Statutes, Sites for Working Men’s Clubs, Slaughterhouses Act 1877 Amendment, Tobacco, Treasury Bills, and Triennial Parliaments.

A couple of Irishmen, thinking to combine pleasure with profit by doing a little unlicensed trafficking in liquor on the Derby day, bought a small jar of whiskey and started for Epsom. Knowing they would want a drop on the way, it was agreed that neither should drink without paying. They had not travelled far on the road when one drank a glass and paid his partner threepence ; he followed suit, and handed the money back again. It was a dusty, toilsome journey, and upon reaching the downs they were dumbfoundered by discovering the whiskey was all gone, and that, although they had honestly paid for every dram, they had only threepence between them as the final result of their speculation.— Chamber's Journal. Anthony Trollope, writing of novel read* ing, says that a good novel should be both realistic and sensational in the highest degree. If a novel fails in either, he adds, “there is a failure in art. Let those readers who fancy that they do not like sensational scenes, think of some of those passages from our greatnovelists which have charmed them most—of Rebecca in the castle with Ivanhoe; of the mad lady tearing the veil of the expectant bride in Jane Eyre; of Lady Castlewood as, in her indignation, she explains to the Duke of Hamilton, Harry Esmond’s right to be present at the marriage of his Grace with Beatrix. * * * * Truth let there be—truth of description, truth of character, human truth as to men and women. If there be such truth I do do not know that a novel can be too sensational.”

The Lyell Argus ia no more, having given place to the Lyell Times. The editor enumerates the following remarkable sentiments in the opening article:—“ The Lyell Times' ‘ Spirit ’ is not of this world, it scorns the Trammels of Grammar, Spelling or even Printing, that hamper the thoughts of other Journalists. The Spirit of the Times soars above such trifles, it seeks to instill into the minds of men (and of women, too), the Spirit of the Times , a spirit of liberality in thought, word, and deep towards our fellow-men, coupled with an earnest desire to improve the social condition of mankind in general.”

No two Bank of England notes are exactly alike. The printing is done by a method known only to the inventor, and the paper is manufactured by a process which has been in charge of the Portal family for two hundred years. No notes ar ever reissued afteribeing paid back into th bank, but are periodically destroyed.