Local and General News.

Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 112, 11 April 1868, Page 3

Local and General News.

Yesterday (being Good Friday), was observed as a general holiday in Blenheim. The Nelson Council is called together for the 21st instant.

The Canterbury Press has subsided into a triweekly publication. We are glad to find that Mr. Bagge, our chief - postmaster, has so far recovered from his illness, as to be enabled to resume his duties this week. '“'■'"We understand that Sergeant Goodall has sent in his resignation, and Mr. J. J. Faap has been sworn in as a constable for Blenheim in his stead. Thursday next, the 10th inst., is to be kept as a general holiday at Nelson, to commemorate the opening of the new Water Works.

On the Ist inst., a child named Edelstein, playing on the banks of the river at Motueka, fell.in and was drowned.

At Charleston and Addison’s Flat the people are forming a Volunteer Rifle Corps, and at Hokitika, a Cavalry Corps.

A Cricket Match between the Schoolboys of Picton and Mahakipawa came oil on Friday last, and resulted in an easy victory for the former. — Press.

Mr. Luckib, the editor of the Colonist, has received a threatening letter, purporting to come from the Fenian Brotherhood, but which is believed to be a hoax.

The Westport Star states that the Eev. Father M'Donough, having been recalled by the Right Rev. Bishop Yiard, formally resigned his charge on Monday, the 30th ultimo. The Nelson Races are to be held on the 22ud and 23rd of the present month. A splendid programme is in preparation, and a large number of horses are expected from the other Provinces. The West Coast Times of Saturday reports “ By the Omeo, which came yesterday, the Rev. Mr. M‘Taggart arrived in Hokitika. He is charged by the Right Rev. Bishop Yiard with the duty of superseding Father Larkins in his clerical functions.

accession to comfort has arrived in Blenheim this week, in the person of Mr. Augustus, who will keep each extremity of the body in order. In other words, in addition to the profession of hairdresser, he is a chiropodist, and keeps the toes in condition also. * Shipping. —We have to chronicle only two arrivals this week—namely, the Lyttelton and Maria Louisa— the former from Nelson, with a large general cargo and a full complement of passengers, and the latter from Havelock, with timber and coals, consigned to Mr. Gorrie. From the Picton Press we learn that Bishop Sutor has issued a form of thanksgiving and pj*^y o used in the Nelson Gnurchcs on Sunday last, “ oh the occasion of the late unprovoked and treasonable attack on H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh,” which, together with the hymn by the Bishop, which we published last week, is to be used iu the Church at Picton on , Sunday next. Arrest op a Fenian at Wanganui.—The Wananui papers of March 2(3th, mentions that a man named Wallace was given iu charge by Colonel M‘Donnell for using treasonable or seditious language. The news of the attempted assassination of his Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh was being canvassed, when Wallace observed—“ a good job too ; it served him {the Prince) d d well right.” •''"We have been requested to notice a desecration of the Cemetery by some persons placing their horses within the enclosure. We are sure this must be the result of thoughtlessness. A consideration for the little flower-bedecked mounds where rest the sacred ashes of our dead, ought to be present to the minds of all who enter. We do not envy the feelings of those who so carefully tend the flowers and shrubs they have planted with such care, and watered with such difficulty, when they find them nipped off, and trodden down ruthlessly, in consequence of the course alluded to.

Takanakx— The 27th anniversary was celebrated on the 31st ultimo, by the annual races, which were not successful j the attendance was small, and entries not full ; and the horses inferior.—On the 3rd instant, a public meeting was held to give expression to the indignation felt at the attack on Prince Alfred, the attendance being numerous, and the meeting enthusiastic. The Superintendent has written to the Reception Commission declining the honor of entertaining the Prince, as the settlers do not feel themselves in a position to make the adequate provisions. Mb. G. Donne again.— Mr. Timothy Gallagher, of Addison’s Plat', in answer to a requisition signed by 156 persons, announces his intention to contest the forthcoming election of a representative in the General Assembly for Westland North. There are now four candidates in the field, viz., Mr. G. Donne, M.P.0., Mr. G. W, Horne, M:P.C., Mr. T. Gallagher, and Mr. E. A. Doyle. At a meeting of electors, called by Mr. Donne at Addison’s Plat, an amendment was carried amid great cheering to the effect that Mr. Donne was not a fit and proper person to represent the district, and a correspondent of the papers says that the miners fairly booled him from the platform.”— Colonist.

Train Fired on in which the Fringe and Princess Teok weke Travelling.— The Edinburgh express up-train on .the Great Northern line was fired at on Saturday night, January 18, hear Grantham. The bullet struck the weather guard of the engine, which was indented, and the ball itself was flattened by the concussion. It was secured and delivered to the authorities at King’s-cross. Among the passengers by this train were the Prince and Princess Teck (the Princess Mary of Cambridge), who were returning from their visit to Yorkshire.— Home. News, February 3.

By tables published in a recent Gazette, we are glad to find that the returns of • Imports and Exports of Marlborough for the last year, showji very considerable increase. The Imports for 1867, were £16,490, being an increase of .£3,244 on the preceding year. The Exports were £52,875, being an increase of £7,716, on 1866. There were one or two people, at the concert the other evening, who were so vain of having learnt to whistle, that they could not refrain from exhibiting their powers in public —a practice which would be “better honoured in the breach than the observance.” We hope it will be discouraged in future by those sitting near them, since it is very annoying to all present. Lecture. —On Tuesday evening a lecture was delivered in the Wesleyan Church, by the Rev. Robert L. Vickers, of Nelson, the subject being “ William Carey.” The rev. lecturer in an able manner sketched the life, character, labours, and missionary ardour of Carey, and gave also an interesting account of the times in which he lived. The lecture was listened to with the greatest attention, and at its close a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the lecturer, and also to the Rev. A. Russell, who occupied the chair on the occasion, The proceeds of the lecture are to be devoted to the Wesleyan Sabbath School Library, towards which object other lectures will, we understand, be given in due course. Mr. Manning.— The Melbourne Hemld, of the 24th March, says:—“The notorious Manning, the editor of the New Zealand Celt and projector of the mock funeral, was recently a teacher in the Roman Catholic schools at Wangaratta and Tarrawingee. Some years ago he was a reporter on the Ballaarat Times, and is believed to have been the writer of an article for which Mr. Seekamp, the proprietor, was sentenced to a long term of imprisonment. When the stockade was erected, Manning- took an active part in exciting the miners to resist the authorities, and his abject appeals for mercy, when ho was dragged out of his bidding place shortly after the capture of the stockade, will never be’forgotten by those who heard them ”

Fenian Outkagg. —The West Coast Times, of March 31st, states “We are informed by a gentleman who arrived from the north a day or two ago, that a man named Robert Scawright, a carter, residing at Brighton, Fox’s River, was brutally assaulted by a party of men calling themselves Fenians, at that place. Our informant cannot state the precise date, but it is almost certain that it occurred about the 19th or 20th instant. He further states that the police were very dilatory in the execution of their duty, and it was upon the threat of instant dismissal being held out as the alternative that they arrested the ringleaders, three in number. The men were brought before the Magistrate, but, as a kind of reign of terror appears to exist in Brighton, no witnesses could be induced to come forward, and the men were discharged. The man Seawright lies in a very dangerous state. Wo are also informed that Mr. Melville, of Westport, hotel-keeper, was assaulted on the day of the Fenian procession there, but have not been able to ascertain the particulars.” Provincialism. —In the Canterbury Provincial Council, the following resolutions have been carried :—That in the opinion of this Council there should be a Provincial Council, chosen by the people of inis province in the same manner as the present Council is chosen. The Council to have control over all matters strictly provincial. That the Council should elect the Superintendent, who shall sit in the House as chairman, and act as general controller of departments, but should have no power whatever of engaging the revenues of the province for payment of any contracts or works without the express sanction of the Council; provided always that members of the Council should be eligible for election as Superintendent. That there should be a permanent staff of officers for conducting the business of the departments. There should be an Executive Council of members of the Provincial Council, as colleagues of the Superintendent. The Council to vote only halfyearly supplies, and, in matters provincial, to have power to raise taxes for provincial purposes —management of waste lands, railways, roads, bridges, and public works, education, immigration, police, gaols, asylums, and harbors ; provides, that 23 per cent, of the land fund be given to the districts in which the revenue is raised. The principal, we may say the only, debate that took place on these resolutions, was on the question whether the Superintendent should be elected by the Council, which was carried on a division by a majority of 20 to 9. A motion, that in the opinion of this Council, it is expedient that the present, system of Government by a Superintendent and Provincial Council, as established by the Constitution Act, be abolished, was negatived by 24 to 5. — Mail.