Local and General News.

Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 96, 11 January 1868, Page 3

Local and General News.

The Queen Bee, which left London on September 29th, arrived in Nelson on Saturday evening last.

There was only one ease called at tlie Kcsident Magistrate’s Court on Monday last—Atwood v. Clark, but neither party appeared.

We have to acknowledge the receipt from the Kev. Father Sauzoau of AT in aid of the Bergin Subscription Fund. Mr. Canning has resigned the office of Chief Inspector of Scab for Nelson, and Mr. I'rank Nairn, who previously held the office, has been reappointed. We have received copies of Card s Marlborough Almanac and Diary, Lucas Nelson Almanac, and Chapman’s New Zealand Almanac ; also the “ Manawatu Purchase,” by H. Williams, son of the late Archdeacon Williams. _ Our space will not enable ns to notice them this week.

The Asterope, Captain Stewart, the first wool ship of the season, was to sail from Wellington on Tuesday last with a cargo valued at A‘42,000 and the 'following passengers Cabin : Mrs. Hall, servant, and child, Master Pilcher. Steerage : Messrs. Denly and Nelson.

On Tuesday Mr. Dodson held a sale of sheep, horses, cattle, &e. The sale was well attended, and the prices generally satisfactory. The sheep averaged a higher price than a similar class sold for last year, while the horses seemed in better demand, several light draught fillies realising sums varying from .£2O to AMD. A Melbourne paper states that it D understood xhat his Koyal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh stated ou viewing the crowd at h's entry into Melbourne that die only two other demonstrations that he had seen that exceeded it were the entry of the Princess Alexandra into London and the funeral of the Duke of Wellington The sailors of the Galatea will have reason to think well of the liberality of the Duke of Edinburgh, as we perceive by a Melbourne paper that on arrival there bis Koyal Higness presented them with £SOO to spend. There can be little doubt but that the object of the gift was speedily accomplished.—Auckland Express. The Cadets met at the target on Saturday last and fired for the Colonial prizes with the following result :—John Tait, 'h ; M‘lver, 2d ; Chuck, 2d ; llayuer, 22 ; J. Sinclair, 20 ; Hutcheson, 21; Budge, IS; M‘FI wain, 10; Barry, Id; Wall, 11 W. Tait, S; Penny, 0 Consequently John Tait will, we presume, go to Wellington ou behalf of the Blenheim Cadet Corps. Sir George Grey — Wo understand that his Excellency Sir George Grey will not leave New Zealand until after the arrival of the Duke of Edinburgh, so that he may officially receive Ins Koyal Highness as Governor when he arrives ; also that Sir George Bowen’s commission as the new Governor will be purposely withheld until about the probable time of the Duke of Edinburgh’s departure. —Auckland -Express.

Prksbvtkki.vn Church. —ill - . Gorrie, whose tender for the erection of this edifice was accepted a short time ago, has this week commenced proceedings. A cursory examination of the plans show that it will lie the most ornamental building yet erected in Blenheim or neighbourhood. The site is very central, being on the tomme of land on the north side of Alfred-street, and°the entrance porch will be opposite to the end of Market-street.

Prison Commission. —His Honor Mr. .Justice Johnston, His Honor Mr. Justice Richmond, the Hon. Colonel Peacocke, Charles E. Haughton, Eofp, M.H.E., and James O’Keill, Esq., M.H.E., have been appointed a Commission to enquire into and report upon the working of the prison laws, the management, &c., of the gaols in the colony, and the desirability of founding a General Penal Establishment. The Commission is to report within six months. — Independent.

The Art Union System not Leoat,. —The Auckland Weekly 2Teuw says “We have been requested to direct the attention of subscribers to Mr. Lewisson’s Gift Enterprise, which was to have been drawn to-day at the Brunswick Buddings, to his advertisement in another column, notifying that the draw will not come oft', owing to the Provincial Law Officer giving Ids opinion that the drawing would be illegal The moneys paid by subscribers will be refunded on application at Mr. Lewisson’s establishment.”

Tua Marina — A correspondent last week enquired what number of residents were requisite to form a district, and entitle such district to have a school erected. The Education Act does not name any specific number, the matter resting with the Education Board. In the case referred to, we understand that a subscription list was prepared some time ago for the purpose of erecting a school, but the amounts promised have not been paid in., This week his Honor the Superintendent, as Chairman of the Board, has authorised Senior-Sergeant Emerson to collect these monies, with a view of-satisfying the requirements of the district, aud we hope ere long to hear that the erection of a school has been commenced.

The “ Indefatigable ” will start from BlenI helm, with the overland mail to Nelson, to- | morrow morning (Sunday). ! Dreadful ! —On Tuesday last, after the sals I of sheep, horses, &e., Mr. Dodson offered for sale ■ the celebrated Christmas Cake, which formed the chief prize at Brown and Sutherland’s recent Art Union, and valued at ten guineas. Notwithstanding the large attendance of buyers, only one person was adventurous enough to bid for'it, The offer was fire shillings only, and not all the artful persuasions of the auctioneer could raise another cent. We shall be curious, since wo tasted the trimmings of this wonderful composition, to learn its ultimate fate. The Queensland Murder.—We understand, says the Si/dneg Morning Herald, that Thomas 1 John Gridin, late Police -Magistrate at Cleremont, and Gold Commissioner for the Rockhampton district, was brought before the Rockhampton bench on the; ‘2lst ultimo, charged on suspicion with the murder of troopers Power and Cahill. The depositions of several witnesses were read over, and the prisoner was remanded for a week. Since the above was published, a telegram has been received at Sydney from Brisbane, to the effect that Griffin has confessed his guilt of the double murder. The ketch Alarm, Captain Butt, left Wellington on Wednesday night, but was obliged by contrary winds to put in again at Worser’s Hay, She worked out again on Thursday morning, and crossed the Straits with a very heavy sea running, and a S.W. wind. W ent on to Port Underwood, and brought up till between one and two yesterday morning. Got under weigh again, aiid worked down to the river mouth by six am., and reached Mr. Atwood’s last evening, and will probably be at the Wharf this morning. Mr. W. Shnmonds and son, Mrs. J. I O’Brien, and child were passengers by her.

Prices ok (-Irain. —The Dispatch, of Nov. 3, quotes English wheat from G9s. to 755., ami says ‘‘a considerable number of iron-screw colliers have been fitted out in the north-eastern ports, and have proceeded to the Black Sea or Sea of Azof! to load grain for (Ireat Britain at very high rates of freight, some of them getting as high as 105 a. per ton for grain from the Sea of AzolF.” While these prices hold it is likely that the exportation of grain from the Australian colonies will continue, as well as from South America , and we consequently shad experience a high rate of prices in New Zealand as our markets have been governed in previous seasons bv importations from those countries.

The Laitciiiixci Water —The Laughing Water, which lately returned from the Friendly Islands, after -landing a cargo of sheep for Mr. Tetley, lias again been dhp itched for the same place on her fourth and last trip. With the landing of the sheep on board the contract will be fulfilled. Instead of coming to Pictonto take in her cargo she was loaded at Kekerangu, and so expeditiously was the work accomplished that two days only were taken to perform the task. We are unable to state for certain the reason the Laughing Water did not load here as usual, but we have been informed that other causes beside the facilities afforded the sailors to go ashore, assisted in keeping her away.— Press.

Volunteers. — A practice meeting was held hy the members of the Blenheim Subdivision on Saturday last. Until the men arrived on the ground, it was supposed that the competitive iiriiur for Colonial prizes was to come off, but a message from Captain Baillie respecting a conteimilatcd change in the number of sbots to be fired, caused them to alter their arrangements. A Gazette notice has since been received, which states that the following alterations had been made in the published regulations —ln clause Colonial prizes to lie 5 instead of 3 shots, and the score not to be less than 30 marks ; highest score GO marks. In clause 3 preliminary competitive tiring, 7 shots instead of 3 ; highest score 84 marks. One representative for every 20 men who score 42, instead of IS marks, and the least score for each representative to he 50, instead of 24 marks. We are not aware when the firing will take place.

The event of the past month most entitled to note, is the sudden and great rise that has taken place in flour, it having sprung up from £IG to £22 a ton. The partial failure of the harvest in South Australia, where the wheat has suffered severely from rust, and the almost total failure of crops in New South Wales from drought, has been the cause of tins rise. At Adelaide, by last accounts, Hour was CIS a ton, and wheat 7-s. a bushel, hut this is regarded as an extreme price ami not likely to he maintained. The return the harvest will yield in South Australia is as yet a matter of speculation, to some extent, for while some insist that the damage sustained by the wheat is very great, others maintain there will be a fair average crop. South Australia being to a great extent the granary of the southern hemisphere, the price of corn in Adelaide rules the market in' all the southern colonies. Should the worst fears be realised, Adelaide will still have a very large surplus of wheat for export ; hut the price it will command at home will prevent shipments being made to Croat Britain.— Examiner.

Missing. —On Saturday, the 28th ult., Mr. Joseph Blaymires, an old settler, and well-known resident in the province, left ins home in Picton to pay a visit to his wife and daughter at Renwiek Town. As he did not reach his destination as expected, enquiries were instituted and it was found all traces of him .were lost near the Opawa river. Mr. Jellymau, the last person who saw him, as is known, directed Mr. Blaymires to the place where ho could cross the river in safety. From the time he was seen hy Mr. Jellymau, nothing has been heard concerning him, and it is surmised that in crossing the Opawa river he either took the wrong ford or went oyer the fall and was drowned. Search parties nave been out for several days, hut up to late on Monday last no traces or any evidence of the fate which has befallen him was discovered.— Press. [The search in which the police assisted, continued until Wednesday, when the son of the missing man became assured that further search was useless until the fresh had gone down. Some hopes were entertained that Mr. Blaymires had gone on to the Onamalutu, hut Police-constable Gresham could hear no tidings of him in that direction. A strong search party will be organised during next week, when all the hanks down to the sea will be again examined.]

Female Suffrage.—The charms of Olympia Brown, a Vermont lady, who is making speeches in. Kansas in support of female suffrage, are thus set forth by an Omaha paper:—“She is a weather-beaten, cross-grained, sour, snappish, fanatical, crabbed, skinny, smoked-looking ola beldame.”

Tiiic Greymouth correspondent of the West Coast Ti,ne.i aaya that .the North beach still continues to yields its golden treasures to the fortunate few who have been lucky enough to drop upon the right spot. Andrews and party obtained over SO ounces iasc week. Several of the adjoining claims are reported equally good. Tue same writer says the Nelson Government are building a good school and master’s residence at Cobden with praiseworthy prouipltude, in response to the request from the inhabitants.

The Hokitika races came off on Monday, the 30th ultimo, and although the weather was both •wet and cold, a considerable number of persons were present. The Trial Stakes of 40 sovs. brought four horses to the post —Mr. D. Cameron's Mocking Bird beating Mr. Smith’s Regalia, Red Rose, and Stella. Tue Town Plate of !00 sovs was contested by three horses, Mr. Cameron’s Mocking Bird beating Mr. (/. Harrison’s Kohler, second, and Mr. Trimble’s Golden Cloud. The Packers’ Purse of SO sovs. was won by Mr. Muffin a Batcher Boy, beating Archie and Maid cf the Shannon. The Selling Race was won by Mr. J. Day’s Native, beating Regalia, second, and lied Rose.— Mail.

Thames Wold Export. —The amount of gold shipped tor Sydney per a. s Auckland this inoath amounts to i7130s i-’dwis. It was shipped by the several banks as follows ;--Union Bank of Australia, 14150 z. 2dwta., of which 64Qos. were from Kant’s and 3300 z from Kelly’s claims. Bank of Australasia, 2980 z. In addition to the above we understand that the Bank of New Zealand have about i-100or., which will be shipped in the Taranaki to be transhipped at Wellington for England via Panama, the bank having assayed the gold here. The Bank of New South Wales did not ship any gold. _ The above expor; shows an increase of 21i30z. for this month, the shipment by last steamer being about iUOOoz. — Auckland Express,

The Late Gales. —By the arrival of the Kennedy this morning, we learn that the damage sustained at Westport by the late gale has been very great. Fearful havoc has been committed amongst the wharves, the now Government wharf, in course of completion, having been swept away, and Mr. Beauchamp’s wharf destroyed to within a few feet of his store. The bonded stores, lying immediately abtwe the Government wharf, have been so damaged that their removal has become necessary, and all the vessels lying in she harbour had gone over to the lagoon for safety The storm appears to have been one of unprecedented severity, and Captain Wheeler of the Phoebe, states that he hasnever encountered such weather since he first went to sea. We are informed by Captain Ciouston that the barometer has not remained so low for a very considerable time past. —Evening Mail. It will bs in the recollec ion of onr readers that an unfortunate woman named Charlotte Dawson, not long since the proprletoress of an hotel in Dunedin, and alleged to be a natural daughter of George IV., lately made a most desperate attempt to commit suicide at Westport whilst labouring under the effects of delirium tremens The unhappy woman had recovered from the frightful wounds she had inflicted on herself, and it was proposed to send her to her friends in Dunedin by the first steamer to that port. Previous to New Year’s Eve, however, it appears she had relapsed into her former dissipated habits, under the influence of which she committed another desperate, and this time successful, attempt upon her life on that evening by cutting her throat. An inquest was held on the body on the following day, when a verdict was returned in accordance with these facts.— Mail.

The Taranaki Herald, of 7, says that the sale of the land in the township of the Waitara {or Raleigh) were put up to auction on Saturday last at the Land Office, and 108 were disposed of out of the IS3 put up. The whole sum realised was .£‘1709 Ids. 6d., but of this .*1292 10s. was paid in Government scrip, leaving a balance of only .£’4l7 2s. 6d. cash receipts. The highest figure which any section fetched was £i2 10s. The attendance at the sale was good, but, as far as we are aware, there was not one outside ourchaser present. Previous to the sale hi r. F. Carrington protested against the sale and threatened to proceed against purchasers. The Superintendent replied that the Government considered that their title to the land was good, that the purchasers would shortly be in possession of crown grants, and that the Government (not the buyers) would of course be the party responsible for the validity of their title. [This is the land which Governor Gore Browne was unfortunately induced to purchase, by an undue “pressure from without;,” and which involved New Zealand in a seven years’ war, at a cost of several millions of money and the lives of many thousands of men.] — Mail.

Election of Governors for the Nelson College. —This election took place yesterday throughout the Provinces of Nelson and Marlborough. The following are, the only returns as yet received, and as those from Waimea-west, Upper and Lower Montere, Motueka, Motupipi, Collingwood, Picton, and Takaka, have yet to come in, the position of the candidates may yet uudergp a material alteration. The Wakefield returns, received yesterday evening, show a blank, no votes having been recorded in that district. We give the numbers polled for each candidate at the places named :

The returns from Blenheim were received by telegram yesterday, and are therefore not legally . ””»• r~—c-rlv ratified by the Re- •. tariiag QfSc.gr -at that pla;o. Mail, Jan. 4,

The schooner Florence, concerning whose safety many fears ware entertained, has arrived safely in Melbourne, after a passage of over sixty days from Hokitika. The length of her voyage was caused through a succession of very heavy wes erly gales, by which she was forced to take shelter no fewer than four separate times under Swan Island. Women to bs Allowed to Vote under the Reform Bxll.—Singular Discovery —The Observer inserts the following singular statement from a correspondent :—“ The Chancellor of the Exchequer and his friends thought themselves very clever in framing their Representation Bill so as to include only males as voters, but the Act of 1850, known as Lord Brougham’s Act. for shortening the language used in Acts of Parliament, provides that in all Acts, words importing tue masculine gender shall be deemed and taken to include females, &0., unless the contrary is expressly provided. Mr. Disraeli has not expressed the contrary, and therefore women are safe to vote if they like. The same Act also enacts that county shall be held to mean also ‘ county of a town or of a city,’ unless such extended meaning is expressly excluded by words. Iu this ease the Representation Act expressly excludes county of city and eounty of a town. We might have noticed this matter during the progress of the discussions, but preferred to leave clever Mr. Disraeli to his own devices, and this Act does not appear to have been thought of by any one. The original Act of IQ3k deals with male persons and persons merely, with mt interpretation, and therefore the Act of 185 J referred to would apply to it as it does to all o hers.”

1 sL D*s C . * St s — c : £ 3? =3 35 3 Nelson 201 196 134 138 116 127 Suburban N. 29 12 22 14 14 22 Suburban S. 5 16 12 1 15 0 Waimea E. 18 13 16 6 12 7 Wairuea S; 24 24 16 16 0 6 Blenheim... 54 45 34 55 13 7 ■ ■ — — T — • 331 306 234 230 170 169