Local and General News.

Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 143, 7 November 1868, Page 3

Local and General News.

The English Mail via Suez, arrived at|the Bluff on Tuesday morning last. His Excellency the. Governor will probably visit Nelson towards the end of December, 'S Another Sell.— Mr. Haughton, M.H.R. has been appointed Secretary to the Defence Office. * A private of the 14th Regiment, at present Stationed in Melbourne, has come into a fortune .of £7(100. s p.s. Lyttelton arrived from Nelson on Wednesday last, and left on the following day again with a cargo of sheep from the Clarence and Avondale. The- Carandinis —A Melbourne telegram in the Sydney papers of the 22nd ult., states that Signor .Carandini has regained his estates, and will shortly leave for Italy. A Petition has been gazetted, praying that Wellington be constituted a Borough under the Municipal Corporations Act, having 81 signatures. It is to be considered on Dec. 18. Armed Constabulary^ —lso men have been force, and advertisements- 1 appear in the Nelson, papers for others ; they are to bo under 30 years of age, single, and will receive 3s. 6d. a day and rations.

Messrs. Nixon and party left yesterday for the purpose of prospecting the Wairau Valley ranges westward. The subscriptions in aid of this*undertaking are given in another place. r

Shearing commenced yesterday at Avondale. Tenders are called for conveying the wool to Blenheim from Avondale Station and the shearing Reserve. „ The ketch Falcon, from Blenheim, arrived in Wellington at 5 23 p.m. on Sunday last. < She is to be re-painted whilst there this trip, and is not expected to return for a few days yet.

We were indebted to the Indefatigable Lewis for receiving the Nelson overland mail on Sunday last, which in the ordinary course would not have reached before Thursday. He is in hopes of having this contract for the next year, in addition to the three wo announced last week.

We are glad to notice that Mr. Henry Pitt, solicitor, having" determined to take up his residence permanently in Blenheim, has taken the offices of the late Mr. Moffitt, High-street, vacated by Mr. Turton, who has retired from the field.

Monday next, being the anniversary of the birth of the Prince of Wales, will be observed as a public holiday by the Bank and Government Offices. A general holiday will be kept at Nelson, and an excursion to the Rabbit Island is to take place. A Meeting of the Volunteers was held in the Provincial Hall last evening, Mr. Gorrie in the chair, when it was resolved that the Spring Creek members should form a subdivision of the Blenheim Volunteers. The election of officers resulted as follows : —Mr. E Bythell, captain ; Mr J. Kissling, lieutenant; Messrs. John Taylor and R. W. Newth, sergeants ; Messrs. W. White and W. Horton, corporals; and Mr. W. White,! secretary. / The Wellington Evening Post notices the launch of the steamer Murray, the property of Messrs. Paul, of Nelson, from Mr. ThirkelTs slip, where she had been hauled up during the last few weeks in order to receive a thorough overhaul. A new boiler, which has been turned out in a most satisfactory manner out of the yard of Mr. Seager, will be placed in her in a few days, and she will be enabled to proceed to sea in about a for'night’s time. The usual meeting of the Mutual Improvement Society was held on Tuesday evening last, wdien Mr. T. Dickens read an excellent essay on “The Remains of Childhood in Man.” Some brief remarks in corroboration of the essay were made by some of the members. Arrangements were partially made for the forthcoming public display, when the trial of Pickwick for Breach of Promise will take place, with sundry other additional matters. A special meeting of members is called for Tuesday next, when all are requested to attend. On Tuesday week the propriety of iutroducing the Permissive Bill is to be discussed. We learn that Johnson, the lineman at White’s Bay Telegraphic SfaNSa* is engaged in making a practicable bridle track from the beach to the bay, which has hitherto only been approachable either by boat or by a track over the top of an almost inaccessible hill. As he can only work at this road during the intervals when the line is in order it will not be finished for a few weeks. We are told that it will not be nearly as difficult as the old road over the Razorbac.k, which is five milos"faf fclier~by"Teaso ll of Being circuitous. The road though the swamps beyond Mr. Bowler’s homestead is also to be improved Hurmg the summer.

Important Decision.— On Wednesday last the Resident Magistrate stated that he had taken the oportunity of a full Bench, and the presence all the solicitors in the province, to consult them as to the precise meaning of a point of law as laid down in the Resident Magistrates Act, 1868. They were of opinion that the only costs that could be allowed, besides costs of Court, was the solicitor’s fee for attendence in Court, outside the original debt sued for. Consequently all prior expenses for consultation demand, &c., must be paid to the solicitors by their clients, and would not be included in the judgments given against defendants. Tuesday, the 20th ult., witnessed the final departure from Auckland for England, via Sydney, of the Right Rev. Bishop Selwyn, whose name, aapart from his episcopal office, is a household word in connection with New Zealand history. The day was observed as a partial holiday, the Government offices, stores, shops, and all places of business were for the most part closed after 2 o’clock. Divine service was performed at St. Paul’s Church at 3 o’clock, when there was a crowded congregation of persons of all denominations, after which the Bishop was escorted to the steamer Hero by a most numerous assemblage of fellow-citizens, anxious to pay him this mark of respect.— Mail.

Canterbury Races. —The entrances for the Canterbury Cup, and the Canterbury Jockey Club Handicap, to be run on the 12th and 13th of January next, closed on Saturday, and the following entrances were made in Nelson :—Canterbury Cup, of 300 sovs., with a sweepstakes of 20 sovs. added ; three miles : Mr Stafford’s ch g Mapeftfca r .by Malton, 5 yrs ; Mr. Stafford’s hr f Lady Florence (sister to Trust), by Towton, dam Miss Nightingale, 3 yrs; Mr. Redwood’s hr c Manuka, by The Peer, dam Waimea, 3 yrs ; Mr, 'Eecfwood’s ch f Peeress, by The Peer, dam Miss Rowe, 3 yrs. Canterbury Jockey Club Handicap : Mr. Stafford’s ch f Lacenfeed, by Towton, dam Symphony, 3 yrs; Mr. Redwood’s bk g Blackboy, by Priam, aged. —Examiner.

The Last Resource. — Father, {expostulating with his son) : “James, Xam grieved beyond e- - pression to see the cruel .way in which you have been going on lately.'-. .1 have tried you at eve rything, and you everything. I put you in a merchant’s cilice,, and you were igimminiously sent about youyShusmess. I bought you a commission in and you were very quickly recommended tosell out. In despair, I started you as a coal and wine merchant and general commission agent, but you didn’t clear sufficient to pay for your boots and shoes. At last I got you a lucrative post in a mutual philanthropise loan office, but even, they wouldn’t have anything to do with you. It’s painfully clear, to my miud, James, that you are not lit for anything. Under these circumstances, there is but, one thing left now—/ must get you a situation under Government !”

Accident.—-On Monday evening last several kds wore playing together in High-street, and one of them, named Harry Wright, while in the not of running stumbled and fell, on hia right 'arm, and broke it Tic-tween the . wrist and the elbow. He was conveyed, to the Hospital, and Was soon attended by t)r. Tripe, who set the arm, and the little sufferer is progressing satisfactorily.— Press. il ' ’ 1 STATE OP. ApFAIRS IN Christchurch.— The Tima.ru Herald gave recently the following extracts , from a private, letter written in Christctiurch, which furnishes a gloomy picture of a.fairs in that city :—“ The general tendency is towards a large pauperism......... The most appalling articles are written in the newspapers, and ‘ that scoundrel Stafford’ is denounced with such ponderous solemnity—it is a wonder'how Mr. Stafford survives !' People here seem to have a down on Hall, but Hall is liable to chronic J attacks of unpopularity Things are really ■■ stagnant. We often talk of a month of Sundays, now we can see such a phenomenon. The streets • seem quite deserted at times ; hard cash invisible. Even the weather is vile. We have had ■whooping cough all the winter, and now a sort of croupy sore throat that knocks the poor little wretches about sadly. They want a change. Take them to Lyttelton says one. Why the fares are prohibitive ! Four shillings return first-class, and second-class is not fit for children’s company. .........In fact the times are out of joint. The Auckland diggings are progressing, and it is to be hoped will clear out some of the surplus people here. Perhaps I had better leave off.” Modern Magic. —A story has reached us, on what is generally considered as good authority, to the effect that Dr. Hector had repeatedly stated his conviction that a severe earthquake would occur on the night of the 18th inst. He therefore invited several scientific friends to spend the’evening with him, in order to make observations, stating that he believed that the earthquake would take place about midnight. The mystic hour arrived, but brought no earth- -- quake with it, and learned doctor’s friends began to jest with him on the nonfulfilment of his prediction. He however requested them to suspend their judgment for a while, and having gone out on the verandah for a few minutes, returned, and immediately cemmenced a mock incantation . scene, calling around him by appropriate gestures, like another Zamiel, the dread powers of darkness, much to the amusement of nis guests. Their horror however may be imagined when, only a few. minutes after the Doctor had commenced his spells, the earthquake really came ; and we can. hardly be surprised to learn, as the story runs, that, yielding to a sudden and irrational impulse, they unanimously implored him to desist from his unholy work ! It is only fair to state that we find no mention of this occurrence in our Wellington files, but it is said to have furnished subject for much comment in the Capital City.— Hail. Tbs earthquake on the 19th instant appears to have been felt most severely at Taranaki, the destruction of property, chiefly in the way of brick and stone chimneys, having been very great, scarcely a chimney being left standing in the town. The lossinprivatehousesof ornaments, pictures, china, &c., nas been universal, whilst the storekeepers and hotelkeepers have also been sufferers to a great extent, all goods in breakable vessels on shelves having been thrown down and broken and their contents mingled together on the floors. Much apprehension of a tidal wave was experienced, and a great number of those persons who lived at the lower end of the town and near the seashore, flocked up Broughamssreet with their wives and children, even to the military barracks on Maraland Hill, where they were hospitably received. The Taranaki papers roughly estimate the loss sustained at several thousand pounds, but this is probably very much in excess of truth. The s.s. John Penn happened to be: off Cape Egmont at the time, at a distance of about a dozen miles from shore. Tne steamer experienced a sudden shock, startling all on board, and the captain involuntarily called out that the vessel had struck upon a rock. The vessel quivered from stem to stern for several seconds. An; order was at once given to put the helm hard a-starboard, and the lead was thrown, but no soundings were met with. The cause of the shock was then discovered.— Mail. Anniversary Day. —Monday last was kept as a general holiday as being the Anniversary of the Province. The fine weather tempted a large t number of persons out of town on the occasion, i, most of whom visited the Sunday scholars’ picnic \ at Springfield, where there was a large assem- \ blage who appeared intent on amusement in a | variety of ways. Steeple-chasing, cricket, and ; other manly exercises were varied by a game | known as .“ tig,” or “ twos and threesj” rounders, * &c., in some of which the ladies assisted. In Sthe evening a large party were entertained by •one of the enterprising settlers of Spring Creek. fA member of our staff, who visited the grounds during the day, was especially struck by the English appearance of the farms in the locality, and recommends those who have not hitherto ‘ Spring Creek to take an early opportunity of doing so, as the gratification would sufficiently | repay the trouble. The cultivations are numerous f and their owners apparently thriving. Some of I the townspeople visited Picton, where rifle shoots' ing was the order of the day. A number of prizes i were presented as below, and a dinner at the I George Hotel closed the day’s proceedings. The Blenheim Volunteers speak , very well of the kindly reception they met with among the Picton. —a circumstancewe think worthy of record. : , The winners were :—-Ist prize—Silver Challenge Cap and £2, Private W. Esson; 2nd prize— Ladies’ Pune of Two Sovereigns, Ensign D. Guy ; 3rd prize—Merchants’ Prize of £2 10«., Private' Downes ; 4th prize—Second Ladies’ Purse, £l, Private Miller; sth prize—Third Ladies’ Parse, 155., - Color-Sergeant Warner, Blenheim ; 6th prim—Ten ShUlihgs, Private Gilchrist ; 7th prise—Eight Shillings, Sergeant Swanwick ; Bth pristr-Siz Shillings, Private Woods ; fith prize— Kmr QMjwgSi Private W atson; 10th prize—Two SkOUagsaßcTSixpence, Private Bruce; Wooden Spoon, Private Buchanan. The Press says ; “Thelast prize, together with a plate of burgout, caused a great deal of amusement, the recipient replying m a suitable manner. The remainder of the evening was kept up in the usual routine of public dinners, and it was past midnight before the company began to disperse. Thus’ ended one of the most jolly volunteer gatherings we have attended in Picton for many years.”

The Taranaki.— Weleam that the passengers by this ill-fated vessel, when recently wrecked in the Tory Channel, originated a subscription, with which a handsome tea and coffee service has been purchased for presentation to the wives of the .Messrs. Bowden, in grateful recognition of their timely hospitality. Among the subscribers were the Bishop of Lichfield and Lord Burghley.

Inquest, —An inquest was held at the Courthouse on Monday last, on the body of a man found in the Matai river on Sunday last, not far from the junction The body was identified as that of Charles Powell, aged about 35 years, who had been an inmate of the Nelson. Lunatic Asylum, about a year ago, but had been discharged as cured eight months since. The deceased had been working at Havelock, from whence he had travelled overland, and it is conjectured, on nearing Nelson, had undressed for the purpose of bathing, his clothes being found on the bank, some distance above the place where the body was discovered, with £l6 in the pockets. From some cause unknown he appears to have met his death while in the water, probably from cramp, and to have floated with the stream far below the place where he entered it. The jury returned a verdict of “Found Drowned.” —Nelson Colonist.

Forbes v. Clinton. —The Perth Courier, of a recent date, has the following notice of the late decision in this case :—“ On Monday, the Judges of the First Division of the Court of Session, aided—in consequence of an equal division of opinion which at one time existed—by three Judges called in from the Second Division, delivered a unanimous judgment, reversing the decision of Lord Jerviswoode, in the Fettercairn succession case. The question depended on the construction of a deed of entail executed in 1811, by Sir John Stuart, of Fettercairn. The first heir of entail who possessed under this entail, was Sir William Forbes, of Pitsligo, son of the celebrated banker of that name, and husband of Sir John| Stuart’s only child, who was already dead in 1811. Sir William died in 1828, and the estate was possessed by Sir John Stuart Forbes, Bart., till his death in 1866. Sir John was survived by an only daughter, married to the 18th Lord Clinton ; and the question now decided arose between this lady and the present Sir William Forbes, of Pitsligo, who is a nephew of the late Sir John Stuart Forbes—being eldest son of his third son, the late Charles Hay Forbes, Esq., of Canaan Park. The decision turns altogether on the meaning of the entailer, which is expressed in highly technical language ; and it is only interesting to the general public as settling in favour of Lady Clinton the succession to a considerable estate in Kincardineshire, which is chiefly remarkable as having belonged and given a title (by its then name of Middleton) to the unpopular Viceroy of Charles 11. The estate was bought in 1777 by the entailer, who was one of the Barons of the Scotch Exchequer." This case is likely, we believe, to bo carried to the House of Lords.