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Marlborough Daily Times, Volume II, Issue 174, 19 November 1880, Page 3

Dr Hector, the head of the Geological Department, is on a visit to this district. A special Jury was drawn this morning from which twelve will ultimately lie taken to try the libel case, Griffiths v. Jolinso 1. The Lyttelton took 210 bales of wool on her last trip to Wellington, and the Napier yesterday had also a fidl cargo for export. We understand that a valuable seam of coal has been found on land belonging to Messrs Conolly and Syms at Shakespere l’ay I’icton. The officers of the newly formed Waterloo Lodge, 1.0.G.T. I’icton were installed on Saturday last by Dro. Earll, the District Deputy G.W.C.T. for Marlborough. The funeral of the late Andrew J. Richmond, Esip, M.H.R., will take place this afternoon at Nelson, to which place the body was removed yesterday. - The steamer Napier left for Wellington last evening and will be back this evening, She will leaye again for Wellington to morrow morning at six o’clock. We are informed that the practice of opening the Post Office on Saturday evenings for the receipt of Savings Bank deposits will be discontinued after the last Saturday in the present month. On Sunday next there will be special services in connection with the Wesleyan Church. The Rev. R. Bavin will preach in the morning and evening, and collections will be made in aid of the Home Mission Fund.

Mr. W. B. Karll has been elected representative for the Marlborough District at the Grand Lodge 1.0.G.T. and Mr. W. II 11oul, of the Star Lodge, Kaikoura alternative representative. The session will be held in Wellington next month. We are sorry to hear that a little boy son of Mr Cook, of the National Dank, met with an accident by falling off a fence and dislocating his elbow. On making enquiries to-day we are glad to hear that the little patient is progressing favorably towards recovery. The steamer Napier arrived here yesterday morning-bringing the European Mail via San Francisco with London papers up to October 7. We beg to acknowledge the receipt by the New Zealand Loan and Merchautile Agency Co.’s Circular and catalogue of that date.

From the Ist December next, the commission on Money Orders issued in New Zealand on the United Kingdom must be charged according to the following scale : For sums not exceeding £2, Is; exceding £2 and not exceeding £4, 2j; exceeding £4 and not exceeding L'li, Ms ; exceeding £(i, and not exceeding £B, 4s; exceeding £8 and not exceeding .L'K), ns Wo have received a letter, from the same correspondent apparently who wrote to ns a few days ago relative to the Blenheim cricketers. On this occasion he has put a ignature to his letter which wo cannot read, and considering the time that has elapsed since the event of which he treats, we can see no good to be gained by the insertion of our mysterious friend’s communication.

On Wednesday last Mr. McNab and Mr. I’. Douslin took 1000 young trout from the Acclimatisation Society's boxes at Spring Crock to Havelock. The fish left Spring Creek at S p.m. and arrived at Havelock at M.MO a.m. next morning. Although the lish received unremitting attention, we regret to hear that there were about MOO deaths. The remainder were in good condition, and wore immediately distributed at Waverley, Polorus, and Mahakipawa. .1. H.Kcdwood, Esq., the President of the Spring Creek Cricket Club who takes a keen interest in all matters pertaining to sport has given the use of a splendid price of ground for the Club to play their matches on. It is about 100 acres in extent is securely fenced and provided with good gates. A pitch can he obtained which is second to none in the province affording splendid ground for fielding being as le\cl as a bowling green.

We have the pleasure of announcing that Mr Proctor will give three lectures instead of two at Ewart's Hall. The subjects chosen are “ The Life and Death of a World.’’ “ Hie Moon, our companion Planet,” and “ Tlie Sun and Star Depths,” on Friday, Saturday, and Monday, tlie 20tli 27th. and 29th instant. The juices will be as follows :—Course tickets, 12s, 9s, and (>s ; single lectures, ss, 4s, and 2s (id. Tickets can be had from Mr W. (.'lark, Club Hotel.

'l'lio line weather which has prevailed here lately lias greatly promoted the healthy and invigorating exercise of swimming, and we are glad to see that a meeting is called for Tuesday next at S o clock p.m., at the the Club Motel, of all persons interested in getting tip swimming races. We hope to see a large attendance, and that matters will betaken up with spirit. Mr a Clark (of Fell Pros.) is the honorary secretary, />n> tcm , from whom all further informatur that may he required can he obtained. The first bridge over the Wailiopai river has just been erected by Messrs Carter, Bros,, near the Stronvar station, about 10 miles from Blenheim ; bridge is in one span of ">(> ft ct and is four feet wide. It is built partly of wood and partly of wire. There are 1700 feet of timber and (iewt. of wire and iron used in its construction. The bridge will carry 10 tons. In all probability 12,000 sheep crossed it the day it was finished. The bridge was commenced on Monday last and completed on Wednesday evening. Mr Douslin prepared the plans and supervised the work.

On Wednesday evening about 40 ntem- ! hers of the Aggressive Lodge and Blenheim Band of Hope Lodge, 1.0. G. T., paid a ; visit to Marl borough town, where they were i entertained at tea by the members of the Crystal Spring Lodge, and afterwards a popular entertainment consisting of readings from “ Uncle Toms Cabin,” witii songs and recitations was given. Drotlior Girling presided and the meeting was j addressed by Mr George Dodson and other ! friends of the cause, who dwelt particularly ! on the advantages young people would • derive from becoming Good Templars, and thanking their Blenheim hrctiiern for jurying them this visit. .V very pleasing evening was spent by all presant on this occasion. The annual meeting of the Star Cricket Club was held on Tuesday evening list, at Bush's Hotel. Mr Fell was re-elected President, and the election of a vice-President was postponed for a week. Mr Hustwick was elected Treasurer, and Mr G. S. Pudge Secretary. Messrs Trewcek, C. C. Halliday, (A. Halliday, Goj. Carter, and G. Stevenson were elected a Committee for the ensuing year. On Thursday a Committee meeting was held, when an invitation to play a return match with Picton on the 2nd December was accepted, and a challenge from the “Wanderers” was ordered to stand over until the next meeting. The Committee also revised the Club Rules, and will make a report suggesting certain alterations to the next general meeting to be held oil the 2.7 th instant. It will be remembered by our readeis that in April, 1 S>7D, the Hutt County i Council engaged the services of Mr Douslin ; who lias made rivers a sjiecialty to report j on the best method of diverting and protecting the banks of the Hutt River, The result was that one of Dotislins Floating Dams was fixed just above the Hutt Bridge, ft is 100 feet long and so far is a success. We take the following from the /vv-M/q/ZWoftlie 1 Itliinst. “HuttCounty Council—Councillor Dick moved, and the motion was agreed to, that the Engineer be authorised to spend a sum not exceeding LIOO in lengthening the Floating Dam which protects the Hutt Pridgo. This

speaks volumes for the success of Douslin’s I Dams. I It is always a pleasing duty to record j improvements in street architecture and the general appearance of the town. As Mr \\ ard remarked in a recent speech at the Friendly Societies’ Anniversary Dinner, Blenheim from being a very insignificant little place is becoming a very nice town and promises eventually to grow into a large and flourishing city. Amongst the many handsome new shops and business premises which are taking the place of old and delapidated buildings, the one just finished by Messrs Healy and Sons, Boot and Shoe Manufacturers, Market Street, is conspicuous. It is two stories in height, and on the ground floor lias a front shop 30ft by 20ft, and a ladies room of rather less dimensions at the rear. Upstairs are four rooms suitable for store rooms, and at the back is a commodious workshop with all appliances for carrying oil a large trade. The work lias been executed by Mr Coleman, the contractor, and appears to have been well and faithfully carried out according to specification. In tiro ladies room is a glass show case, which a contemporary with his usual happy faculty of calling things by their wrong names terms a “Mirror”! The new shop will be open for business to-inorrow week, and we wish Messrs Healy and Sons every success in their new and handsome establishment.

A hastily convened meeting in connection with the development of our coal fields, took place on Monday at the invitation of the persons instrumental in prospecting on the western side of Sliakspoarc Day. There was not anything really tangible proposed, but there was a talk of forming a company to work tlie coal deposits on fourths, — that is the promoters to receive onefoiirtli of the capital in paid up shares, twofourbhs in cash, and the remaining fourth to be expended in opening up and working the mine. The proposition may lie stated clearer thus:—Supposing a company with £20,030 be formed, the promoters to receive £.7003 in paid up shares, L 10,030 in cash, leaving a balance of L 5033 as the actual capital of the company. In the absence of anything beyond mere conversation, it is diiiieuit to learn what was really the result of the meeting, but our informant states that nothing particular transpired, as nobody was prepared with a definite scheme and when those present separated it was with the idea that another meeting would be held at no distant date.—Picton /Ve.-.-s.

We Proceed ! —A Wairarapa jiaper mokes the lolknving somewhat mysterious announcement:— “It is stated the employment of girls in the Telegraph Department has produced results not anticipated by Dr Lemon.” Emigration is stopped. The Taranaki Hcml.il says that a new compound lias been tried for smelting iron sand. Mr E. M. .Smith produces in half an hour enough metal from Taranaki sand to enable him to east a cog wheel, which was accomplished in a most satisfactory manner. There are the elements of a great industry here. The Hawke’s Bay Herald mentions an extraordinary swarm of bees caught by Mr Chambers at Te Mata. The swarm was at least four feet long, and averaged about 18 inches in diameter—a solid mass of bees. It wss so heavy that tlie branch of a blue gum on which the bees settled was borne down almost to breaking point. The swarm filled a large barrel and a box, and then thousands were unable to get inside. It is estimated that there were over 50,000 bees.

It is fortunate for New Zealand(says the European Mail) that tlie Grey Government was superseded in time to prevent a financial crash, if not financial ruin. The news that had the slightest hitch or delay occurred in Heating the five million loan the colony must have suspended payment with in a week, created, as might have been expected, no little alarm here. Assistance however, seems to have come just in tlie nick of time, and it is, perhaps, fortunate that the true state of the case was not known on this side until after tlie crisis was tided over, because, it it had been the “ bears " would have made the most of it. New Zealand stock would kavc been bunted to death, and the loan would have been a failure. The democratic followers of a rampant statesman may therefore gather from this episode bow dangerous it is to piny fast and loose with the first principles of government, and, by seeking to achieve a little jiassing jropularity, to run the risof ruining irretrievably the credit of a colony.