Local and General News.

Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 145, 21 November 1868, Page 3

Local and General News.

The p.s. Lyttelton is expected here from Nelson this day (Saturday). Mr. A. S. Collins recently held meetings of his constituents at Collingwood and Takaka. ' A man named Edward Rice committed suicide hyjhnnging himself at Christchurch the other day. The. barque Hera, our first wool ship for this season, left Nelson for Port Underwood on Wednesday at noon.

W The Rev. R Trevor incumbent of the Church of England at Ballarat, has been obliged to resign his post for drunkenness.

Bishop Selwyn has arrived in Sydney. Bishops Barker, Kerry, Tyrrell, and forty clergymen presented him with an address of welcome. Major Atkinson has resigned his seat for Taranaki in the General Assembly, and, with his family, left for England in the last Panama boat. The export of flour to England from Adelaide is progressing, and 600 *ons have just been shipped in the City of Adelaide.

A telegram from Dunedin states that Captain M ‘Kinnon narrowly escaped assassination as the Tararua was leaving Sandridge pier at Melbourne.

Dipthekxa has made its apppearancc in Hawke’s Bay. A child at Clyde died rather suddenly a few days ago, and the cause of its death was stated to be an attack of that dreadful scourge. ! ' s *An amended petition for the incorporation of Blenheim as a Al unicipal Borough has been prepared, and having already received 80 signatures, will be forwarded to Wellington by the next mail.

A telegram was received on Saturday last, by his Honor the Superintendent, stating that Sir George Bowen would visit Blenheim about the 20th December, The Blanche will convey him to Pictou.

A new scale of Resident Magistrate’s Court fees have been framed by the Government, and will come into operation on the Ist instant. The high rates chai-ged for obtaining redress in the R M. Courts in many cases prevents redress being obtained. \ Vant. —The friends of this poor fel\ ■low, whose remains it will be remembered were recently found in the Wairau, will be glad to hear that a subscription, amounting to about £5, has beeu raised at JRenwicktown, with the intention of fencing his grave, and erecting a tomb- , stone, sf'

” The Wairarapa Lake Hotel, near Featherston, Wellington Province, was totally destroyed by fire on Tuesday, Nov. 3rd. We understand that the owner, Mr. Douglass, was not insured. The cause of tie fire is, as yet, unknown. During his tour in this Colony the Rev. Father Hickey is' said' to have collected £1450 for the establishment of a Catholic University in Ireland. In California he collected £2,5i)U ; and in Victoria £1,700 for the same object. The Nelson papers state that three miners, who have been prospecting in the neighborhood of Collingwood, came to purchase stores, for which they tendered 6 ozs. of nuggetty gold, whereupon they were closely watched, and the scene of their operations being discovered a rush ■accompanied by much excitement took place.

i We learn that the new and amended line of 'telegraph has, with the exception of a few short igaps, been completed to within four miles of the A waters river. This week the contractors, under the able management of Mr. Blake, have com uieuced from this end, and are fixing new square poles along the line to meet the other wires at the Awatere. We regret to learn that the remaining contractor, Mr. Belcher, whose brother was lost in the “ Crest,” at Akaroa, as we de ailed las week, is likely, from that and other causes, to be a heavy loser by the work.

Etjorivs an; :.«i r.g in " » ; > ■ •‘V;sx a company for carrying ou u -lie> o. - •«• tensive scale. The site of the works :s to . e -a the Hutt road. Mutual Improvement Society. —On Tuesday evening last a discussion was commenced upon the subject—“ Ought the Permissive Bill to be introduced into the Colonies ?’’ Mr. Rush stated that the Bill was introduced into the British House of Commons in 1864, but was not successful in yetting carried. Its object was to prevent the opening of public houses in parishes or districts where a majority of two-thirds of the electors were opposed to it. The opener was supported by Mr. Morley at great length, and opposed by Messrs. Augustus and Rae. The debate was evidently not brought nearly to a close, therefore Mr. Johnson moved an adjournment. It was afterwards decided to continue it on Wednesday evening next. Considerable interest was shown in the course of the proceedings, and some little excitement. Several ladies graced the meeting with their presence. The Peel and Connor Minstrels have been playing at Jameo’ Assembly Rooms with some little success since Wednesday week. We paid them a visit on Saturday evening last, when the dancing of Messrs. I’eel and Connor was something surprising. The latter, in the plantation dance, excelled anything we have before seen in that line Mr. Peel, who was the successful competitor for the silver belt at San Francisco, achieved deserved fame in step-dancing. Messrs. Warren and Leslie sustain other departments of the entertainment very creditably. The circumstance of another place of entertainment being open concurrently acted much to the disadvantage of this company. -We learn from a notice elsewhere, that our local Antipodean Minstrels propose giving them a friendly benefit this evening, for which a very attractive programme is prepared, including the performance of the Manx W onder, which is, we believe, a most laughable affair. A local song is promised for the occasion. Land Sale. —On Wednesday last at noon a sale of Crown Lands took place at the Land Office. The public sales were very limited in number—consisting of sections 85-90,. village of Tua Marina, 5 acres 1 rood 14 perches, £25 Ilia. 3d., being 2s. 6d. over the upset price, to Mr, BarratALiie; section 6, Havelock Suburban, 2 roods O perches, started at ■£& 6s. 3d., excited a little competition, and was sold for £7 14s. to Mr. F. G. Downes. We understand that some of the land put up was purchased afterwards, among which were 17 sections (61-77), district of Awatere, situate between the river Penk, the Glenlee Run, and the Shearing Reserve, comprising 4317 acres 2 roods, the upset price of which was £1295 ss.

The Member for Wairau. —A requisition to Mr. Eyes, of which we give the text below, lies at Mr. Dodson’s store for signature by those who hold the opinion that Mr. Eyes ought to call a meeting of his constituents. We think that, had the document been worded slightly different, it would have met the views of a larger number of the public, all of whom we believe consider he ought to meet them without delay :—“To W. H. Eyes, Esq., M.H.R. We, whose names are undersigned, being electors of the Wairau, request that you will fix an early date to inform us of the reasons which led you to disregard certain resolutions in which you were requested to support Mr. Fox’s policy, in which he proposed to distribute the surplus revenue on a population basis, and make each Province pay the interest on its own debt.” The Wairau —On Monday last, notwithstanding the fall of rain during the day, the Opawa suddenly fell quicker than usual. The usual rate of fall is about 4 inches during the 24 hours, but, between 10 p.m. and 5 next morning, it fell fully 15 inches, to the general surprise, Mr. Dobson, who is engaged taking the levels to the Breach in readiness for Mr. Balfour’s arrival, tells us that his duties led him to the Breach on Wednesday, when he found that an alteration had taken place in the bed of the river. As is known to all who have seen it, the water divides into two streams below the Rock—one, the strongest, running under the South bank, goes down the Opawa, while another diverges towards the Breach. This latter he found had divided, and about two-fifths of it had opened the bar, and is now running down the old channel of the Wairau, with a growing tendency to increase its volume. This, in all probability, was the cause of the sudden fall above alluded to. The creek known as Murphy’s Creek is, we are told nearly filled up, and very liitle water is passing down it. It is truly a great pity that this work—entered into with such good-will by the public—should thus become a failure, but we have at least the satisfaction of doing our best The ford a little lower down than the creek is entirely washed away.

TwHffnr.Kv Troupe.—On Monday last Master JolffuTy Foley took a benefit at the Provincial Hall, and gave further proof of possessing more ~talent than is usually found in children so young ’ as he is. Tuesday, the same pieces were performed, but on Wednesday, the last night, and benefit of Miss Kate Foley, there was an entire: change of programme. The performance commenced with the absurd farce of “The Omnibus,” —one of those foolish productions written for the purpose of allowing one character to absorb all the interest of the audience. Master Foley, as Pat Rooney, played the part as well as could be expected. Miss Kate Foley, the fair beneficiaire, had little to do but look charming, and this she did to perfection. A double jig, by Master and Miss Foley, was followed by songs by Mr. Anderson and Miss Kate. “ Coma Home, Dear Father,” was sung very pathetically by the la'ter, who received an encore. Master Johnny sang “!Nip Si Pip,” to the amusement of some of his hearers ; and, upon being called upon a second time, gave another illustration of his vocal abilities. The “Loan of a Lover” concluded the entertainment, and Miss Kate Foley played the part of “Gertrude” so well that the character stood out in bold relief from the others. The songs incidental to the piece were given quietly and effectively, and the part was so well played, altogether, with a total absence of straining after effect, that the young lady stamped herself as an accomplished actress. Should the Troupe pay us another visit we expect to see them well patronised, since they have shown that something more than a mere repetition of word a is to be enjoyed at the entertainments they give.

A named Jamea Henry Kema, son of a Melbourne merchant well known in the early days of the colony, has been committed for trial frr bigamy, he having married four wives since Ibdo. With the last he succeeded in getting' a sum of .£2OO, for which, it S seemp he married her.

W.E regret to hear, that some .unpleasantness b -.i arisen between the. Rev. W. Lee and his congregation which is' likely .to eventuate in a breach between them ■ ,We hope that, before any s:eps are taken, the resnlt of-this .’matter will be wetl considered. 1

"Mr.J. B; Talbot, of Peachy Belt, near Adelaide, in May last, sowed a quantity of the smallest and rustiest,.wheat that be could procure, as ah experiment for the .purpose of testing Secular’s theory that red rust was caused by an excess of nutrition. The plants which have been raised are strong and healthy, and show no trace of rust.

We observe by the Hokitika papers that the Totara district is in a pitiable plight. The whole of Jones’ Flat is swamped out, and there seems no prospect of an arrangement to drain it. Lately the water has risen about six inches a day, and gradually, is driving all the men out of the third bottom. At present two steam engines and ten whims are idle.— Westport Times, Nov. 9.

A requisition to the Superintendent of Nelson was presented on Friday last, asking his Honour to call'a public meeting of the inhabitants of the province to express sympathy with the sufferers iii the" North Island, and declare a willingness to support the Government in any course of vigorous action for the suppression of the rebellion. The Superintendent convened the meeting for Monday evening last.— Examiner. Captain Middleton, of the barque Dayspring, has been tried and sentenced to one year’s imprisonment. The Dayspring arrived at Melbourne, having had frightful mortality among her passengers (Chinese), and her captain was committed for trial on a charge of manslaughter, the passengers having died from disease caused by improper and insufficient food and want of proper ventilation -—Colonist.

Telegraphic intelligence has reached Wellington that the Waimakariri Eiver has again been playing some of its usual antics, and threatened the safety of the City of Christchurch. A very heavy mass of water was running through its numerous channels, and the tendency of the mighty current seemed to be to edge still more towards the upper breaches A considerable •amount of excitement was consequently the result.— Post.

Mrs. Dudley Ward.— This lady left Wellington on Monday last, with Mr. Ward, for Otago, and we cannot permit her departure without expressing the public sense of her many estimable qualities. Her benevolence has been of the most active kind, and many a poor family will miss her. We only express the public feeling in wishing her and her husband health and ’happiness in the new sphere of usefulness t > to which they have been called ; but in so doing ;we do not the less deeply regret their departure from Wellington.— lndependent. Volunteers. —The Otago Witness says, “the present number of Volunteers in New Zealand, according to estimates laid before the General Assembly, i5’4,967 ; the numbers in the several provinces being as follows Auckland, 993 ; Otago, 874; Wellington, 866 ; Canterbury, 833 ; Westland, 683; Nelson, 413 ; Hawke’s Bay, 139 ; Taranaki, 113 ; Southland, 133; Marlborough, 0 [!]! : The capitation grant allowed in the estimates for this year, treating cavalry and infantry alike, is 255., which in the case of the latter is only half of the sum allowed last year, and which was then found to be considerably insuffeient to meet the expenses incurred by the men.” Our readers will perceive that, because the Marlborough Volunteers do not receive any Government, aid, the press of the colony do not consider that they have any existence.

' Bank of, New Zealand.— We have received the 14th Beport of the Directors of this Bank, as .presented'at the half-yearly meeting, recently held at Auckland, from which we extract the following result of the past half year’s operations, which, cphsidering the many causes which have combihed.to'lessen Banking profits during that "period, they trust will be deemed satisfactory The net‘profit, after making liberal provision for every bad and doubtful dependency, and the customary" appropriations in reduction of ; bank -premises and furniture accounts,’ amounts' to balance of undivided profit at 31st March, £8,042 10b. 7d.i leaving how available for division, £46,054 16s. 4d. ; of which the directors, recommend the following appropriation A dividend at the rate of 10 per cent, annum, and a bonus of ss. per. share, equal to 5 per cent per annum, which will leave a balance carried to profit and loss new account, of £8554165. 4d. The dividend and bohus is how payable at the-lgeveral branches; ’

/The Wanganui Herald of the 4th says:— “ Before' the militia started on Sunday, several of the inen objected to go Unless they were.provided with blankets. Colonel Gorton told: them that they would have to provide their own blankets—“ those were his orders, ’ r and, if they did not go they would be put in the guard-room. The men were beginning to mutiny, which Col. Gorton ho sooner saw thari he exclaimed, Men, I will tell you what I’ll do—l’ll lend you blankets ; and you must return them when you pome back.” ' For this spontaneoitf outburst of generosity the' youngsters'raised a cheer “for Gorton” —the first, p.erhapa,- thatever’ greeted his ears; but it is a fact'that/cannot be denied that/Col. Gorton was absolutely’ cheered' for offering: to lend the blanket|/ The ‘ e blanket question” is a great difficulty,/ and we hope, soon/to see: it BetUed ,;//aithbhgh, after promising to le/ud blankets, we heaf/tnat several qf the “ better-to-do” militiamen were told that/.they would have, to purchase them. ; It is not eufficient that rnilitinmen should receive one half, the pay of the Armed' Constabulary, and leave, their business into the "bargain, but they must/invest in a blanket to keep them warm, for the Government arc not able. The militia yoiiths (48) who inarched out oh/Sunday will/ acquit then;salves, no doubt, valiantly under the cool and able generalship of Lieut.-Colonel Gorton. God help them all when they coine under fire f— they will then get It hot enough without militia blankets.”

The Books.— The story of the three black" crows has been illustrated by the Otago Witness, which renders a recent paragraph in the Express as follows : —“Books have been successfully introduced into the Province of Marlborough. There is a small colony of them at Flaxbouruo, which seem disposed to take up their abode there permanently, if unmolested ; and a pair are also said to have been seen in the Wairau Valley.

.Diocese of Nelson on the West Coast. —The Hokitika Times says “During the session of the General Synod of the Church of Eriglsiid at Auckland, the question of boundaries between'' the dioceses of Nelson and Christchurch came under discussion. It had been proposed by the Diocesan Synod of Nelson that the whole of Westland should be taken under tlie ecclesiastical supervision of the Bishop of Nelson ; but after full consideration of the matter, the General Synod divided against the proposal, and it was determined that the boundary line between the Dioceses should be the river Teramakau on the West Coast, and the river Hurunui on the East. Westland, therefore, south of the Teramakau, belongs to the Diocese of Christchurch, This arrangement will come into effect wiih the ensuing year, and after January next the Bev. G. P. Beaumont will cease to have connexion with the district north of the Teramakau, except that it may. probably be necessary to continue his ministrations there for a short time whilst the Bishop of Nelson is otherwise providing for it.” The Distillation Act comes into operation on the first of January next, and the Commissioner of Customs, by notice in the Gazette, calls public attention to some of its clauses, one of which is, that “ it shall not he lawful .for any person to erect and set up any still, stillhead, worm, or ether apparats whatever, intended or suited for any process of distillation, or for heating or cooling purposes in any brewery, without laving first given notice, in writing, to the chief Inspector of Distilleries of his intention so to do, which notice shall also set forth the number of gallons which such still is capable of containing, the name and residence of the owner thereof, the place in which it is intended to erect and set up the same, and the purpose for which such still, stilhead, worm, or other apparatus whatsoever as aforesaid is to be used ; and every person who shall erect and set up any still, stillhead, or other apparatus whatsoever as aforesaid, without having first given such notice as aforesaid, or shall knowingly give an incorrect notice, shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding five hundred pounds nor less than fifty pounds, unless such person shall at the time hold a valid license under any act in force for the time being relating to distillation ” The Late Massacre. — Under the heading of “ What is to be done,” the Colonist of Friday last very properly says ;—“ Let the Ministry and the Governor of New Zealand set forth (he dire extremity to which we are reduced, in despatches io General Chute and the Governors of New South Wales and Victoria, and ask immediate aid in the shape of all the available soldiers that these colonies possess. Within three weeks they could be lauded in New Zealand General Chute knows the country, for he has gone over it. The innocent blood of women and babes crying up to heaven c. nnot fail in securing sympathy in every British heart, and the consideration that similar cruelties aro imminent, ..will secure alike speedy despatch as characterised the conduct of the Governor of Tasmania when, after the Wairau massacre, twenty-five years ago, he sent, in reply to an application from the people of this colony, a detachment of troops which had just arrived from England at Hobarton. And in supplement to this assistance, or rather as the ultimate main body which shall put clown' the war, the suggestion of Mr Cracroft Wilson, that application be made for a regiment of Ghoorkas from India, is one that merits attention and immediate action. The Ghoorkas are amongst the most active of our Indian soldiers, are the most faithful and fearless, with a strong antipathy to all other races of a dark skin. They are accustdmed to bush warfare, having had long experience in the dense jungles of India. They are lithe and light; their wants are few ; they can carry nearly a fortnight’s provisions with them, for all they want is a little rice and water. With such a force a year or two in New Zealand, with the restrictions already too long put on our soldiers totally removed, and the Maori rebellion would show some prospect of being quelled.” Mr. Wells, M.H.B. for Nelson Suburban, met his constituents at Wakapuaka on the 10th inst., when he favored them with his views upon the past session. He defended the Ministry in a long rambling speech, of which little is worth quoting. He made long extracts from the speeches of Stafford and Hall, and enlarged upon them in his own fashion. Marlborough, did not quite escape notice ; he told his hearers that “the estimates of the Province of Marlborough showed for public works nothing; for education nothing ; for the departments so much ; and these last —the pay of the officers—took all the revenue The General Government had to propose to the House to grant a certain allowance to both Taranaki and Marlborough to'pay for gaols, police, &c., otherwise they could not have gone’on at all. Now, the General Government says we cannot go oil with this system any longer ; wecaii-t pay those sums and continue (o- meet- oUj* eiigage-! meats.; the country can’t do ife When the Bri)-. vincial debts were consolidated, there w&s ! an* amount standing: against, the. £250,000 of overdrawn sums,.;., an 4 was-, wiped off last year, so thfit then left free of debt, but this had got very much' :infco ,was .jarprudent Province, and had.Jnot poprqwed and the people in it were apt to say. that ( as 'vrtf had not gone in debt we shduld Ipe' differently’ •treated, and not made to bear the burden, . the’ other Provinces’ debts. It’ w'as ; 'perfectly .true that the Provinces with property’ahd Means! should, hot be made to bear the expefisps Tbt’tKhfle Provinces which have nothing';"and, 'therefore,' they cannot go bn with the present system/'^hich 1 .issimply,paying thp cost of. the .other Provinces, out of what, are the rights of the.-ProvincqfL Mdth) property. The system, is moat.costly.”; .This came with a peculiar grace iro'm a .member for a province which has, since its commencement,; and still continues to,draw, our ; He ! should have told his audience bow. much Marlborough had borrowed ! The decision of the meeting was, however, unfavorable to the hon. member, who stated that it was not his intention again to stand for the district.

I The Hokitika Evening Star of October 21st, states :—“We regret to learn that there is much sickness in town just now, the jirevailiug diseases beintr low fever, sore throats, and bronchial affections, and that the medical faculty are engaged day and night with but little attending the calls of their numerous patients.” A similar disease prevails largely at Cobden and Grey mouth.- ' j- ■, The following letter from an inmate of Lyttelton debtors’ prison is published, in the Canterbury Sir,’—i [think you have taken the rong,steps, with me to get your money since you have put"me ingail i never be able to pay you thought that my intention was not to pay you but you ear mistajiCQ but this is a greate mis stake af yours keeping me here at the same iam happy,i have nothing to do and plenty to eate we, have the best of every, thing both eating and drinking a bottle of porter every day plom podding and rost bef plenty of bookes to reade and newspapers every day i don’t know what ena one wish for mor in this world If you se me you say this is fine plase i my self fat as bullick” A disgraceful scene lately took place in the Independent Methodist Church, Christchurch. The minister, who it appears has recently become a Swedenborgian, took a public opportunity of defending his change of Views. The church was densely crowded, and at first the audience were pretty orderly. At the close of the first part of his address, however, they began to interrupt him, and at length, according to the Press, a large part of his hearers got into a state of almost frantic excitement, and abused their late pastor in no measured terms. The cause of this riotoas conduct appears to have been their dissatisfaction with his conduct in transferring the building; but whenever he attempted to explain they refused to listen to him, and hooted him down in a most disgraceful manner.— Mail. Another illicit still was discovered in Auckland on the 27th ult. in the possession of one Steenson. who was fined £l5O, with the alternative of eight months’ imprisonment, with hard labour.

Modekn Romance. —The following rather amusing incident recently occurred near Melbourne “An elderly individual of the squatting order, possessing flocks, herds, and a balance at his banker’s, but decidedly adverse to spending money, became suddenly anxious to marry Cautious, however, even in a matter where so many make fools of themselves, he selected a young lady with money, and after some little time was accepted. Having to leave town, however, shortly before the wedding, he sent up to one of his stations for a young nephew, who, in a chronic state of impecuniosity, and being bullied, was employed there as an overseer, getting, of course —as is always the case when one serves a relation—far less salary than any other person in a similar position. Arrived in town, this young gentleman was old that while his uncle was absent it would be his duty to assist the bride elect’s family in the preparations for the wedding, a certain sum of money being placed at his disposal for that purpose. Endowed, no doubt, with excellent moral principles, the nephew was still flesh and blood- rather good looking flesh a id blood too -the selected young lady was pretty and fascinating ; and the resale was that on the very evening the uncle was expected to return, the nephew gave up resistance as no longer possible, and eloped with his aunt that was to be in the most unblushing manner. The money for. the wedding, by a singular coincidence, was in the pocket of the coat he wore at the time, and was not returned to the'.uncle, whose state of mind may be imagined. It is impossible to contend that the nephew’s conduct is strictly in accordance with morality ; but, after all, everything is fair in love, war, and electioneering, and as the young lady’s fortune is at her own disposal, the angry uncle cauuot punish the defaulting nephew without showing himself up at the same time. —Grey River Argus.