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Marlborough Daily Times, Volume III, Issue 194, 28 January 1881, Page 3

'l’he Blenheim Hi He Volunteers fire on Monday next for the seven representatives for Nelson ; also second competition for the (lold Medal. The cricket match—Awatere Club v. Wanderers—will he played on Wednesday next in Messrs Redwood’s paddock, Spring fcfek. The gross receipts of the Picton-Blen-lieim railway for the four weeks ending December 11th amounted to L 469 9s 3d, as against L3lO 17s Sd for the corresponding period of 1879. In the quarter ending 31st December last the sum of L4,35fi 18s lid was deposited in the Blenheim Boat Office Savings Bank, and L 3, ISS 17s 2d withdrawn, the excess of deposits over withdrawals thus being LI, 171 Is 9d. It has apparently never struck the inspired genius of our contemporary that the people of Blenheim are kind and long-suffcr-ing to a fault, and when they listen patiently to any idiotic drivel that may he expressed one must not presume the “ favorable hearing ” is accorded because of any inherent excellence in either speech or speaker. The first meeting of creditors in the estate of W. Shepherd was to have been held on Wednesday, but through non-at. tandance of creditors was adjourned till yesterday. Owing to the same cause no meeting was held yesterday, and the Registrar of the District Court adjourned it nine die. The liabilities in this estate are stated at Ls'l 4s 3ld ; and the assets, consisting principally of small book debts, at L 9 os fid.

In reply to a correspondent, we may state that it is not true that a certain journalistic luminary will contest the representation of the Wairati electoral district at the next general election. Sundry expressions which have been used by him might possibly be construed to bear that meaning, but the force of folly would surely not be countenanced that far. It may be true, however, that Government are about to endeavor to secure his services as travelling Insurance agent, and there is no doubt lie possesses some of the qualifications required.

The s.s. Napier, which has recently been on the Slip at Wellington, will arrive here on Sunday morning, and sail for Wellington at 2 p.m. on the following day.

The settlement of the Registrar’s Certificate in the long pending case, Owen and Pickering v. Dive is set down for to-morrow at eleven o'clock. The ease will next lie heard of in Wellington. .Rumors are current in Havelock, that the mails arriving here by the afternoon’s coach do not catch the same day’s steamer. We are requested to contradict this, as we are informed by the Chief Postmaster that the contractor has hitherto kept excellent time.

The householders’ meeting at llemvick, for the election of a School Committee was duly held on Monday night. Considerable interest was manifested in the election, about 35 people having voted. Thirteen candidates were nominated, from whom Messrs Bary, Fraser, H. Gee, Mills, Mclvor, Tapp, and C. Watson, were chosen. Our moribund contemporary, in its issue of Thursday, borrows a few similes from the department of natural history. “The Turkey and the Ant ” come in for a fair share of attention, but the climax of joy is reached whilst d-uenting on the viitucs of the patient jackass. It has been said that “a fellow-feeling makes us wondrous kind,” and our contemporary proves it.

The following School Committes have been elected \V.\rronr : Hon. W. I). IT. Bail lie, Mesas W. Dunes, N. Iragg, C. White, John Hart, CL North, and T. Williams. ITcton : Messrs James Huller, H. Hilmer, T. Philpotts, D. McCormick, S. Swanwick, T. Lane, and A. T. Card. Si’RiNC Ckkk'v : Messrs E. Paul, E. Fairhall, IT. Roger.son, R. Soper, G. Jellyman, W. Gifford, and 11. Blick. Subscribers to the Literary Institute are reminded of the Annual General Meeting to he held on Monday evening, at 7.30 o'clock. Lady subscribers are particularly requested to attend. We understand that the Government subsidy, amounting last year to £47 Os, has been discontinued, so that ways and means will form an important item of business.

A correspondent writes as follows : takes three quarters of a column in the Erprex* to whitewash Messrs Lawrence and Norherg, two of the leaders of the Terry Party after their larrikin proceeding last Monday. Ido not wish to wash the opaque mixture olFlmt the leopard cannot change his spots, and the two gentleman arc still the same color in spite of the whitewash.”

One of those open meetings for which the Order is so justly eelebratod was held in the Good Templars Hall, Grove-road, on Tuesday evening, when Mr Handby delivered':! lecture to an appreciative audience. The subject chosen was “The Pillars of Intemperance ” and although we are not inclined to endorse the whole of the views expressed, it is but just to say the lecturer treated his subject in a masterly maimer, and succeeded in retaining the attention of his audience to the end.

Agricultural Machinery.—We call special attention to Messrs. Sharp and Pickering's advertisement of farm implements to arrive per “ Coromandel ” from London now expected daily and we have no doubt the farmers will welcome a direct importation of such a well assorted lot. They have a further quantity to follow, which shipment includes many novelties. The goods we understand arc from the best English manufactories.

A meeting of creditors in the estate of H. P. Mackiin was held in the Court-house Blenheim, on Wednesday. On the motion of Mr Jas. Robinson, seconded by Mr M. Healy, Mr Griffiths was voted to the chair. The debtor was represented by Mr Rogers. Proofs of debt were received from the following creditors : —J. Robinson L2l 13s (id; Girling and Co. L 33 10s; Boundy, LI (Js ; Xorberg, L 3 10s; P. Lawrence. L2O 10s ; M. Healy, LIS 7s; Anne Mackiin, L 290 Is, (id ; Griffiths, L2 Is ; Hustwick, L.~> Ids Oil. It was resolved that Mr C'. .J. W. Griffiths be appointed trustee, on the motion of Mr Healy, seconded by Mr Robinson. The meeting was then adjourned for a fortnight.

•Special attenfon is ca’leil to the price list of the RocU’-o.v Ma’iifaeturiug Co., of Boston, published in these columns. All those wishing to secure an excellent and co rcct timel.coper a/e recommended to add ess t! • nselves to this old and reliable firm. No fr-thev evidence of the invariable good qrality of their manufactures will be required beyond the following facts The firm was established ic IS-J. 9, and since then have gained prize medals at the Exhibit on of Loadon, Paris, A ienna, etc. for excellence of manufacture. They are appointed, by w rrant, watchmakers to the Queen of England, Prince of Wales, the Emperor of Russui and the Bey of Tunis.

We trust now that the new School Committee is elected it will carry out the ideas expressed at the meeting on Monday evening, and afford every facility for reporters attending its meetings. The argument used bv one member as a reason for ids election, viz., that a report would thus be obtainable was rather unsound. In the first place, it is a well recognised fact among journalists that their opinions are far more likely to be free of bias if they refrain from seeking election into public positions, and overleaping older public men. Those who are wise prefer to hold a neutral position, and are thus enabled to form their opinions without prejudice. Under present circumstances, unless the proceedings are thrown open to the public they may expect a very one-sided report of the transactions of the Committee.

Wo have taken the trouble to carefully analyse the results of the election held on Monday evening, with a view of showing the absurdity of the present system of cumulative voting. By the subjoined table it will be seen that Mr Dodson, who headed the poll with 309, was only voted for by 123 persons, the overplus, 176, being made up of extra votes, 70 of which were contributed by 10 individual electors, who plumped 'for him. Mr Terry, again, who scored 293, was indebted to the cumulative vote for ISO of them, 119 of which were contributed by 17 persons. It will be seen also that out of tire total numbers polled, 343 were wielded by 4!) persons. It is scarcely fitting,’ in these enlightened times, that such a state of affairs should be allowed to exist—

1497 672 Sin 49 = 343 It will he seen that our analysis of the voting is somewhat different to that of our contemporary, and it will also be discovered by those who take the trouble to go through his figures, that they falsify themselves. As a sign that the times are not so bad as they are represented to be', bricklayers

cr.:i scarcely bo obtained in Timavu at the present time, and those who are out of wo-k refuse 12s per day, holding out for

Oamaru hr': been “going the pace ” very heavily for a small town. She returns her debts at £174,402, with a revenue of only £13,054.

r L ;venty thousand lottery t ickets were sold in aid of a cathedral fund at Arundale, New South Wales. £513 worth of prizes ;■ re offered. Gambling io becoming sanctified when the Church leads the way.

The Celestials seem to have little difficulty in obtaining white-skinned brides in Victoria. During last year 13 Chinamen were married to white women, 11 of whom were natives of the colony. The Commissioner of Customs, Victoria, gave the following reason for suspecting a large firm of defrauding the revenue of the Colony, in reply to a query : —“ Oh, I saw that he had a reputation for extra piety, and lately endowed a church.” The Employers’ Liability Act will prohably alfect farmers and squires as well as manufacturers, for it makes every one responsible for injuries caused to workmen by the negligence of bailiffs, foremen, and overseers, of every character : and it applies in the case of all injuries caused by defect iu machinery.

Mr Bradlaugb informed bis constituent at Northampton lately that ho had voted 95 times in the last se. sffi i and now had a little bill of £45,500 against him ; and lie observed that he was glad he had a rich colleague, lie attributed his position to the solid vote of t ic great Non-conformist party being scarcely broken. As to what he intended to do in Parliament, he proposed to try his hand at the perpetual pension list.

Cutting Steel by means of Air.— The Kiujiwe.r gives an account of Reese’s fusing disc, by means of which a bar of steel is cut in two by a current of air. Ihe disc is 42 inches in d-ameter, of 3.10 inch soft steel, and lias a peripheral velocity of 2,500 feet per minute. The round (it must ho round it seems) bar of steel is also caused to revolve in the same direction, at a rate ol 200 revolutions pev minute ; thus the opposing faces travel in opposite directions, and if the disc touched the steel it would no doubt cut it, as steel rails are sawn off by a soft iron saw, But is is demonstrated that the disc does not touch the bar, and it is clear that the latter is burned through by the air set in motion by the disc. The latter, which is 3.Hi inch thick, “cuts’ a groove 5.1(5 inch thick, and bus inch clearance in front of the edge. The machine is actually at work in the United St..tes.

Flection day in San Francisco deserves a word of notice, as being the very quietest and most orderly day of the year, says the American correspondent of the Auckland Hem'll. No liquor is allowed to he sold and as you walk along the streets there is nothing to he seen except closed shops and a group of quiet men at every second corner with a little table on which lay the election tickets. You wonder where the voting is going on, when a face appears at a small window and you see men walking quietly and unobtrusively through an open door, where in a room used for the occasion, the votes arc recorded. No drunkenness, no riot, no sound ; it is as though a huge national funeral was in process of celebration. In fact, the election law of this State is the best in the United States,_ and the polling in the different wards is an immense improvement on the grand hustings system. Mr George Lnnscll, mine-owner, Sandhurst, treated 150 miners in his employ to a trip to the Melbourne Exhibition on Saturday (says a recently-dated Lallarut ( oarin'.) They were conveyed to the metropolis early in the morning, and back to Sandhurst in the evening, each way being carried by a train which was paid for by Mr Lansell specially for the purpose. Apropos of this wealthy mine-owner, the Bnidii/o fn (epcnilait says : —Mr George Lansell is a wealthy speculator among speculators. For example,, for one claim—the United Hustler's and Redan—lie drew in dividends of £45,000 in 033 days. This is at a rate of nearly £O9 per day, or £4S3 per week. His income, therefore, from that one company alone is at the rate of £14,110 per year ; and to produce such a revenue from this mine the invested capital was not one tithe of tiie profits. [One of the original proprietors of this mine we may mention is now carrying on business in \Y airarapa. He sank a large sum of money in working it, and abandoned it as not likely to prove remunerative. It was subsequently taken by others ultimately following into thehands of Mr Lansell, who would appear to have more than ordinary “ luck.” At one time we are informed, Mr Lansell was an ironmonger in Sandhurst, but found quartzreeling more profitable than business.]

Dodson liesult. 301) Voters. Extra. 123 176 Plumpers. Votes. 10 = 70 Terry •293 110 1S3 17 = 119 Robinson ... 175 70 105 9 = 63 Hustwick ... 137 73 64 1 i Parker 134 74 00 1 = 7 Grilliths 122 49 73 2 — 14 Litchfield ... 105 OS 37 1 = 7 Douslin 104 50 54 3 = 21 Purser 74 36 3S 3 = 21 Cliing 44 19 25 2 — 14