Local and General News.

Marlborough Express, Volume IV, Issue 171, 17 April 1869, Page 3

Local and General News.

Objections to claims to vote should be handed in this month, according to the Registration of Electors Act, 1866. The notorious Wellington Advertiser is again defunct, and several other papers in various parts of the Colony are in difficulties.

A building, Jkno.wn as Pearl’s Bond, at Have* lochTTaaTbeen approved and appointed a "warehouse under the Customs Regulations Act, 1858.

It is proposed to establish a new Province, nob County, in the north of Auckland, including the districts of Monganui, Hokianga, Bay of Islands, and Marsden.

It is stated that the County Councillors of Westland drew £75 each for their services during the recent sitting. Where is the Province that can beat this ? \ j*-

/—-The Rev. Mr. Vickers, the new Wesleyan ‘ minister, preached twice on Sunday last at Blenheim, to large and appreciative congregations. There is a large field here for a useful man, and from what we know of the gentleman in question, we believe he will be the right man in the right j place. \ _ 1 During the hearing of a case recently at '"Melbourne, it transpired that the offal, blood, and entrails connected with some bone mills, were carted to East Collingwood, to be used in the manufacture of gelatine lozenges, and lollies. Pleasant!

Is has been discovered that by some unconceivable mistake, Good Friday and Easter Sunday have been held a week too soon this year throughout the Southern Hemisphere. As the time of Easter guides the time of Whitsunday and other feasts, it is difficult to see how the error can now be rectified.

Movements of the Prince.— -The Duke of Edinburgh, we understand, will he accompanied in his visit to the South Island by his Excellency the Governor, but not by any member of the Ministry. His Royal Highness is expected to reach Dunedin on the 20th instant, and will remain about ten days in Otago, leaving direct for Auckland about the 30th.— Independent.

Suez. —The piercing of Suez is drawing to its close. On the Ist of next October, according to the report of the engineers, the canal will be open to navigation from Suez to Port Said. From that day forward—a day which will have its place in the history of humanity—steamboats freighted with passengers will cross the isthmus in sixteen hours ; sailing ships, assisted by tugs, will cross the same distance in twenty-six hours. Twentysix hours, instead of the long days and months which were necessary to go round by the Gape of Good Hope, and to coast round the two-thirds of Africa.

A well-known publican of Picton, in company with bis wife and seventy-two kits of oysters, took his departure per Airedale for Wellington a few days ago in a quiet and mysterious manner. So little confidence was felt as to the date of his return, that the owner of the premises took immediate possession of them with the contents, which will be brought to the hammer on Monday next. Messrs. M'Meckan, Blackwood, and Co.’s steamers were advertised to sail from Melbourne as follows : —Alhambra, 31st March, for Hokitika ; Omeo, sth April, for Bluff; Tararua, 12th April, for Bluff; llangitoto, 17th April, bringing the Suez February Mail, due at Melbourne on the 15th, and commencing the company’s contract with the New Zealand Government, for Hokitika.— Post.

We notice that among the imports by the Falcon the other day, was a block of Oamaru stone, intended for the Wairau Monument. Mr Norgrove is engaged in cutting it from a design by Mr. F. Wakefield at the instance of the Government. The names and professions of the unfortunate victims will form the inscription, omitting the unappropriate text which appeared on the former one.

The General Government Gazette contains an Order directing that the Nelson Provincial Gazette shall be the newspaper or Gazette in which the list or statement required by the 19th Section of the Intestate Estates Act, 1865, for the Provinces of Nelson and Marlborough. Since only one copy of the publication in question reaches this Province, is of little use inserting any notices affecting us. The order does not seem to be aware that the Province of Marlborough has a Gazette of its own.

A petition to the Governor under the provisions of the Protection of Animals Act, 1867, was some time ago originated, having for its object the abolition of the restriction on wild duck shooting in this district except during a certain season, which is universally admitted to be too late for service, while the large quantities of this species of “native game” is highly detrimental to the interests of the agriculturist. For some reason not given, the petition has been allowed to lie dormant till a few days ago, when its promoter, who has really taken great pains to get signatures, requested us to take charge of it. We shall be glad if those of our readers who have not already done so will call at our office, for the purpose, at their earliest convenience.

Sm uggling Ammunition. — The Southern Cross of April sth says it is reported in town to-day that the cutter Mary Ann, Scott, master, has been seized by the Customs authorities at the Thames, for smuggling spirits. It is also rumored that the same vessel has been employed carrying powder to the natives. Another vessel of larger tonnage is also implicated in the matter, she having brought the powder from New Caledonia, and lauded it on the coast. Further particulars will no doubt be elicited in a few days. [Can this be the nameless topsail-schooner, supposed to be French, which put into Port Underwood, but owing to the supineness displayed in communicating the information, or the want of communication with the Customs authorities, was allowed to escape.]

Holloway’s Pills. — Weak and Debilitated Constitutions.—The present weather is trying to the robust ; to the weak and debilitated it is overpowering. Holloway’s pills have long been noted for their corrective and purifying powers, and are the readiest ressoratives of health and vigor. They remove all impurities from the blood, unpove the digestion, and rouse the liver, without interrupting- pleasure, business, or study. Holloway’s pills cool the system, regulate the circulation, moderate excessive perspiration, guard

the constitution in circal movements, and save it from destruction ; in fact, so build up and renovate failing health as to make them the most desirable medicine. They neither gripe nor act violently or inconveniently on the most delicate bowels, and may, therefore, be taken by the aged, or infirm, and safely administered in the nursery. /As our readers will remember, some weeks ago three men stole two pairs of trousers and a shirt from a deserted whare at the Rainbow Station, Tarndale, which happens to be within the borders of Nelson. The manager rode all the way to Blenheim for the police, who went as far as the Waihopai, and taking them in charge, brought them on to Blenheim, where the prisoners, who confessed their guilt, were arraigned, and sent to Nelson to be tried. As we recently stated, they were found guilty, and sentenced to three months hard labor. From the Evening Mail we find that the circumstances called forth the animadversions of the Bench, consisting of Messrs. Sharp, R.M., T. Brunner, and E. Pollock, J.P.’s, The Resi-

dent Magistrate said that ‘‘he could not conceive why the case should not have been dealt with in Marlborough, and that the Court considered it too bad that all the parties concerned should have been brought all this distance, when it was quite competent for the Magistrates at Blenheim to have disposed of the matter.” It would seem that, not content with taking our Customs Revenue, Nelson wants us to keep her prisoners also. If the Court had expressed dissatisfaction at such a trumpery case being made of such moment at all, we could have understood it better. ■'

We learn that the Kaikoura Settlers have indulged in a special address of welcome to Prince Alfred. The Herald asks “ whether Mr. Eyes is the proper person to place before H.R.H. the expression of what they feel towards him, who, while visiting us, represents Her Majesty ?” and tells us that the people “ indignantly declined” to join in the address of the inhabitants of the Province at large. “ The most influential men, including every one of Her Majesty’s Justices of the Peace, Jresiding within it” have expressed opinions to the effect that the district should act solus in the matter, and further, that the address should be forwarded to Mr. Stafford for presentation. We doubt very much whether that gentleman, .however much he may desire to see our Province done away with, will lend himself to such a freak as this ; but rather, so long as the Province .does exist, that he will continue to recognise his Honor the Superintendent as its -head, hi whom he may. We have no personal bias in fivor of Mr. Eyes, but we trust we shall always b« able to draw a line between personal feelings, |ad the respect due to his Honor the Superintendent.

Latest prom Napier. —Telegrams dated on Friday last, state that the expedition organised at Wairoa, for the purpose of attacking Te Warn, is expected to have come up with him to-day. Ihaka Wanga and his men are with the expedition. Te Kooti is supposed to be still at Rua Tahuna; but is constantly on the move—like Israelites in the desert. The Kupapas have been invited, and are going immediately to meet the King at Tokanmutu. — lndependent.

We have to acknowledge the receipt from J. B. Bennett, Esq., Registrar-General, a very voluminous volume of Statistics of the Colony for 1567, including the results of census taken in that year. A considerable portion of the contents is not now published for the first time, having been issued in July last under the title of Certain Results of the Census. The delay in completion appears to have been occasioned chiefly by the pressure of work in the Government Printing Office, and partly by the tedious and laborious nature of the work.

Accident.— On Saturday last, as one of Mr. Cross’s sous was driving a trap down the hill at the port, the horse jibbed opposite Mr. Cross ’ house, aud backed towards the roadside, smashing the rails of the fence, and sending horse, cart, and the load over the cliff down on the rocks below, some thirty or forty feet. Mr. Cross had fortunately leaped out before this occurrence. The horse was but little injured, and the trap also suffered small damage considering the height of the fall.— Colonist.

We learn that Mr. Warren, the owner of the Birch Hill estate, has determined to improve the yield and quantity of wool by a judicious culling of the flocks, and by introducing new blood. Mr. Guilford has purchased upwards of 3,000 head for their skins alone at the very nominal rate of Is. each. Many of these are said to be tit for the butcher, but there are not customers for the meat. It is a pity no enterprising person is forthcoming who would start a boiling down establishment somewhere in the vicinity j there is a decided opening for a remunerative local industry. The following was the result of an experimental boil-ing-down of 50 merino ewes which took place at Mr, Luxford’s establishment at Wellington. The ewes were small and in ordinary condition, averaging about 401bs. each. According to the Wairarapa Mercury, the following were the prices realised :—IOO legs of mutton, at 2d per lb., ss. ; 10 dozen hearts, tongues, and kidneys, at 4d. per dozen, ss. 4d. ; 6771b5. tallow, at 4d. per lb., £ll ss. Sd. ; 50-sheepskins, at Is, each, £2 10s. ; making the gross amount realised £l9 6s. Against this has to be set the charge for boiling down fifty ewes at Is. each, £2 10s ; and three casks, at ss. each, 155., or £3 ss. altogether ; making the net amount realised by the transaction, A-T6 Is., or 6s. each. A Warning to Wearers of Crinoline. — Fight Extraordinary. —A fight occurred recently in which a man, a women, and two dogs were singularly mixed up. Lieut. Goldey had his attention attracted by the cries of a boy, who complained that his leg had been hurt by a fall. Two women stopped and expressed sympathy with the boy ; and while they and the lieutenant were endeavoring to alleviate his condition, two dogs go to fighting. One dog ran round behind one of the women, and the other dog pitched at his antagonist, taking the shortest course—under the dress of the woman. The result was, the last-mentioned dog forced his head through the hoops worn by the woman, and in this position seized the other dog. As the dog, who was fastened in the hoops, plunged forward, away went the woman with him ; aud as he attempted to pull the other dog either way, the woman had to come along. The woman screamed terrifically, and her companion did likewise. A crowd assembled, and the woman whose skirts were entangled by the dog cried lustily that she was being eaten up. Lieut. Goldey chased about the woman until he obtained hold of the dog by the hind legs, and he pulled him with all his strength, but the frame of the hoops had curled tightly round the dog’s neck. Lieut. Goldey now reached his hand towards the dog’s head, and the animal became infuriated ; the consequence being that dog, man, and woman rolled on the pavement in a heterogeneous mass, the other dog all the time jumping around to seize the enemy. The lieutenant finally gave a terrific jerk at the hoops, which parted at the waist, and the dog started off, dragging the woman a short distance, when she became disengaged from them, and the dog went , off with the skirt, his head still in chancery. The woman demanded a new skirt from the lieutenant, in which she was backed up by her friend, whereupon the lieutenant, having become exhausted at the dog-fight, beat a retreat, he not desiring to have a woman-fight—Philadel-phia Press.