Local and General News.

Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 136, 19 September 1868, Page 3

Local and General News.

The Marlborough Reserved Lands Bill has been read a second time, and ordered to be referred to the Waste Lands Committee. The Canterbury Rivers Bill was read a third time and passed in the House of Representatives on the 9th instant. / We learn that a Choral Society has been formed f here, and that it is intended to give a public concert shortly. We wish the movement every success. y A Petition, requesting the grant of a capitation allowance, from the Marlborough Rifle Rangers, has been reported on in the Assembly, read, and-ordered to be printed. f Archdeacon of Marlborough. —The Rev H. F. Butt was formally installed Archdeacon of Marlborough on Wednesday last, by his Lordship the Bishop,— Examiner. We understand that an estimate is in course of preparation by the Government, as to the extent and cost of the repairs required to the trunk road from Picton, and at the Ferry, with the view of completing the most urgent cases. /On Wednesday last the Provincial Government /vere enabled to pay all outstanding liabilities up /to the end of the last quarter, in consequence of f having received a further instalment of the monies belonging to the province, and held over by the general Government. We believe that a consultation took place among a number of the electors of the district yesterday, which resulted in a telegram being despatched to his Honor Mr. Eyes, requesting him to support Mr. Fox’s policy, as being the most advantageous to this province Falcon’s Telegraph Signal. —The Falcon arrived in Wellington early yesterday morning. The circumstance was indicated by a blue flag bearing a white anchor being displayed over Mr. Dodson’s store, which will remain until she leaves again for Blenheim. A “ Mouse in the wall” informs us that “the juvenile aristocracy of the locality intend giving a select Terpsichorean entertainment during the coming week.” We fear the < hoice of time and season are, like the reported promoters, very uhsuitable; and that the replies to invitations will indicate the fact unmistakably. The Observer says that Father Hickie, in his rapid tour from the Buller to Ross, has in the course of a few weeks realised no less than iCIOOO. No more zealous dr patriotic man could have been appointed to the work than the Rev. gentleman, ■ whose eloquence and . scholarly research, in both profane and ecclesiastical history, have pleased and even , snprised'kll’ those who have had the pleasure of hearing -him."»-He left town on Tuesday week for Christchurch, harrying with him the prayers and best wishes df his followers, and the esteem of the country at large, where we trust his labors will be as successful as they have been here.

We were shown this week a set of plans by

Mr. Dousliu, for a new building about to be

erected by Mr. H. Dodson, adjacent to his present store. It is to be 40 x 25 feet of flooring space, with 14 feet walls, with conveniences for landing goods from the little steamer Osprfii l, (now in course of construction in Wellington) at the river side Tenders for the work are called until the 29th instant.

Mutual Improvement Society. —The usual meeting of the above Society will be held on Tuesday evening next (22nd inst.), when we anticipate a very interesting evening, as we have heard that the new President and vice-1 ’resident will favor the Society with their inaugural addresses, prior to a selection of readings by Messrs. Davis, R. Parker, and Rush, " e hope the members and friends of the society will support them with their presence on this occasion. The Ministerial Crisis. —A telegram in the Examiner says’ —“in the debate on Mr. Fox’s resolution last night, Campbell, Travers, and Heaphy spoke The debate was adjourned. The result is now considered doub fnl, as Mr. M’Lean, the Superintendent of Hawke’s Hay, and Mr, Ormond, the member for Clive, in the same province, have suddenly resolved to vote against Stafford. Mr Curtis spoke well in the debate ; he votes with the Opposition.” Danger at Hawke’s Bay. —A telegram in the Examiner of the 15th instant says : —“ The Armed Constabulary have been withdrawn from Hawke’s Bay, and there is great fear for the safety of the inhabitants. A deputation, consisting of Mr. M ‘Lean, the Superintendent of Hawke’s Bay, and Mr. Ormond, waited on the Ministers, requesting them not to leave that province unprotected. The Government refused to accede to the request.” A peeling was very generally expressed here yesterday that a public meeting should be call ‘d immediately, for the purpose of considering the Ministerial proposals and those of Mr. Fox, and following Nelson’s example to communicate their determination to our representative The only hindrance to such a course being adopted was 'he uncertainty as to whether the debate would, extend over last evening or not Such aci u '..e is very desirable, and we would urge that such a meeting should be Mold on Monday next. A Bill, framed with a view of defining the privileges of the press in publishing reports of public meetings and doings and sayings of public bodies, has been framed, and will be presented to the House by eith :r Mr. Hall or Mr. Vogel. As it is well known that a measure of the kin I is much neede 1, it is to be hoped that the Opposition will not in any way consider it as a Government measure, and that its useful provisions will receive all due and impartial consideration at the hands of members of both Houses of the Legislature.— Post. A very largely attended meeting was held at Nelson on Monday last to consider the proposals of tl.e Ministry, and especially the £9O 000 compensation question. The resolutions were utterly opposed to them in every particular ; some of the speakers considering that province entitled to no less than £250,000. A resolution calling upon the Hon. Mr. Stafford to resign his scat was carried ; an amendment to which being attempted only received 9 votes. The result was ordered to be telegraphed to Mr Curtis, in order to strengthen his hands in opposing the Government.

The County Scheme.—We are informed that the notion of spliting up this province into a number of Counties is viewed with disfavor by the Government ; and that both our members are opposed to it, and will use all their influence to prevent such a division If we understand their proposal, it is to divide the province into so many Road Districts, with an ascertained proportion of general revenue guaranteed to each, and to be expended under the control of local boards, accounting to the Provincial Government. Some modification of the present costly system of a Parliament, and numerous paid officials, ' will also follow; but it is difficult to predicate how this will be until the session shall have progressed further. k attention has this week been called to improvements at the Marlborough Bakery, Grove Road. In front of the premises has been erected a store for the sale of confectionery, &c., with refreshment rooms attached for ladies and f ' gentlemen respectively. The front (28 feet long, divided into 3 rooms), has a neat appearance, and is well adapted for the purpose for which it is intended. Mr. Webster was the designer and builder ; Messrs. Raymond and Bartlett did the painting. &c ; and Mr. Wemyss executed all the inside fittings, while Mr. Norgrove has executed some very creditable decorations—noticeably, a royal arms over the door, &c. We trust .Messrs. Brown and Go. reap the benefit of their enterprise. S Education in Marlbrough. —At the meeting of the Diocesan Synod in Nelson, on the 10th inst., Mr. Hunter Brown added the following to a resolution before the meeting, which was carried after prolonged consideration “ That this Synod views with great dissatisfaction-the entire prohibition of religious teaching in the Public Primary Schools in that part of the diocese lying within the Marlborough province, and requests those who have the care of souls in that province, to endeavour to rouse their people to the greatness of the existing evil, and to the necessity of obtaining Legislative permission to teach the Holy Scriptures to those children attending the public schools, whose parents do not refuse theiy consent to their children being so taught.” j Thk Bis Hop of New Zealand. —The many adrtilrers of tfisTiop" SeTwyn "Eave~an opportunity of showing their confidence in him by signing a valedictory address to be presented to him on his departure from the colony next month by Sir G. Bowen in the name of the colonists. The address (the text of which we give below) is to be emblazoned on parchment, with appropriate artistic embellishments, and framed in New Zealand wood. Parchment lists for signature, now distributed, throughout the provinces, are formed in leaves for the purpose of being bound together with an illuminated title, and will be deposited in an appropriate box or casket for presentation with the address. The Hon. Captain Baillie, and his Honor W. H Eyes, M.G.A., are the local committee for this province ; and we are requested to state that [ e -sons desirous of adding their names, can do so on application to J, B. Wemyss, Esq.

f Native Lands Court. —A sitting<n this Court is fixed to he, held at Blenheim on tlie 10th DcCj next, fur the purpose of hearing the claim of Goortre Thoms, to succeed to the inheritance of the late Joseph Thoms, deceased, in two sections of land, called Anara and Opara, in Queen Oharlofcte Sound. Also of Eruera Paipa and others, to Auamahanga, an island in Cook’s Straits ; of Ahaperaharaa Te Aika te Piripawa, near Kaikoura, the land extending from Piripawa to To Waka; also of Kaikoura Wakatu and 21 other natives to Omaruia, near Kaikoura. The maps showing all these lands to be seen in the Land Office, Blenheim. / Narrow Escape.— On Sunday afternoon last, Mr. Patrick O’Sullivan was crossing a ford in the Opawa eu route from Mr. Adam Jackson’s to Spring Creek, when his horse stepped into a quicksand and sank to the shoulder. As the girths gave way the rider was flung into the water, and after a scramble managed to get on a hard bottom, which he left to chase the saddle, cloth, &c., which were fast making their way down stream. Meantime the horse recovered herself and commenced a retrograde movement, crossed the ford, which at this place is a very had one, and made towards Renwicktown. Having recovered the fixings, Mr. O’Sullivan Was under the necessity of wading through the water, which reached to his waist, and running con-* siderahle risk in order to overtake it. Two persons, who had witnessed the accident, succeeded in detaining the horse until he came up, no worse beyond a good ducking. It cannot be too often noticed that the bed of the Opawa in that vie uity contains numerous quicksands, and is extremely dangerous for persons attempting to cross the river.

Bezant. —Many of our readers were taken by surprise when they saw a local in our paper last week, stating that this gentleman was coming to Blenheim, to replace Father Goutenoir, who has been appointed to the West Coast, where he will, we are sure, speedily win many affections as he did in Blenheim. As any particulars relative to his successor will be interesting, we quote the following from the Wanganui Times “ Many will regret to hear that this old and highly esteemed clergyman, after a residence of sixteen years in Wanganui, has received instructions to proceed to Blenheim. Men of all denominations in Wanganui will regret this. In all weather—summer and winter, day and night, Father Bezant appeared to be constantly on foot, silently travelling from house to house on messages of mercy. During the campaigns conducted by Generals Cameron and Chute, he was amongst his flock in the field, and the wounded sick and dying had his constant care. Yet, as if übiquitious, he zealously attended to his large charge at Wanganui. Although our religious opinions run counter to those of Father Bezant, yet, in common with men of all denominations in this community, we admire the integrity, zeal, and self-devotedness of the man. Such men as him will assuredly have their reward. He takes nothing with him, and is £25 in debt for his Chapel, Will the people of Wanganui allow him to leave with that debt hanging over him? He has lived poorly, worked hard, to give him money for his own comforts was useless. All he got went to the poor, although very few.lived more poorly than himself. Would that there were many more clergymen like him in that and many other respects.”