KAIKOURA NEWS.

Marlborough Express, Volume IV, Issue 175, 15 May 1869, Page 4

KAIKOURA NEWS.

'The extracts from our lively contemporary which we gave last week, appear to have attracted the attention of many of our readers, In the numbers to hand by last mail is the commencement of “Dr. J.B. Williams” paper, of which the editor remarks : “ We bog to recommend to the earnest perusal of our readers the first portion of Dr. J. B. Williams’ lengthy dissertation, which will be found in another page nnder tbe Doctor’s heading of ‘The So-called Pleuro-pneumonia.’ Although onr learned correspondent is well known to be gifted with elegant editorial talents, the length of his ‘paper’ must not make anyone suppose that this worthy son of Esculapius has been suddenly attacked by the incurable disease known by the name of ‘cacoethes scribendi,’ the effects of which have been so vividly described by the poet Juvenal when ho said—‘Tenet insanabile multoa scribendi cacoethes.’ Many experienced farmers, several of whom have watched the pleuro and its progress for several years, assert that Dr. J, B. Williams’ sudden theory is ‘bunkum.’ We trust none of our readers will give in to that hasty opinion. The Doctor is evidently doing his best, and his efforts should be encouraged.” We learn that great indignation prevails among the people of the locality with respect to the -removal—of -Sergeant-Goodair ”A~publxc dinner and testimonial was to he given to him on Friday evening last at Charleston’s Hotel, when a great number of persons were expected to he present. A correspondent says: “The great Kaikoura topic is the removal of Goodall without notice or reason... Not even half-day’s notice was given to remove, and his successor bore the first news of his reduction. What the poor fellow will do in the Kaikoura police quarters I know not; only a small lean-to, not even fit for a bachelor!” Another writer tells us that a petition to the Provincial Council, to be presented next week, is being universally signed, which speaks of Mr. Goodall in highly eulogistic terms. A protest signed by the entire Bench has also been transmitted to the Colonial Secretary.* We have hitherto purposely refrained from noticing the frequent attacks upon Mr. Eyes in the Herald , because they appear to us too violent in their language, nor seeing that the News is his chosen organ, does the duty of defending him devolve upon us, hut for the life of us we cannot see what greater grievance the Kaikoura is suffering under more than the rest of the Province. Every part is alike neglected and uncared for. The impecunious state of the public finances is no doubt the immediate cause, but the real cause and origin of the matter lies with the General Government, which has failed in its duty of seeing that the Province received ifs' iue share of the Customs Revenue paid by its population Itis quite true that Mr. Eyes is our Representative in the Assembly, in name only, and it is in

that department of his duties that he has failed to obtain common justice for his constituents. He is not the member for the Cheviot (Kaikoura) district, yet we do not find Sir David Monro’s laxity condemned in like manner- The following local is apt to readers—- “ The amount of Customs Revenue collected at this port during the latter part of the month was £45 4s. 7d. Had this been a warehousing port sooner, more than £IOO a month would have been collected. But merchants and hotel-keepers got tired of waiting, and imported supplies of duty-paid goods. We are glad to hear that those interested intend importing dutiable goods in bond, whenever opportunity offers. We shall soon be enabled to find how much of the taxes levied in the district has been spent upon it. The balance when struck will show a most distressing result, for every pound we pay we do not get a farthing’s expenditure.” —lt ought to he well-known that nearly all the Customs Duties paid in the Province, (of which a moiety is returned to it,) are paid in the Wairau, while none whatever have hitherto been paid to the South of it! We gather that “a Cricket match between the Kaikoura Club and the celebrated Awatere Eleven has been arranged” to come off very shortly at Plaxbourne. The following are specimens of of our contemporary’s humorous banter. Referring to the recent fresh, he says—- “ Blenheim is entirely under water, we hear. The late rains have almost given that unfortunate city the ‘coup de grace.’ Nothing, a wag telegraphs to us, is now to be seen of the capital ofMarlborough but the upper portion of our northern contemporary’s signal staff. Yes, the flag for the usual sensational ‘ Extra ’ is there flying, and the indefatigable proprietor is acutually preparing another extra full of the events of the day. ’’ — under water of course ! In a paragraph or two, he “ sits upon” Mr. Eyes’ organ, the Nsws, in a most depressing manner which prudential motives forbid our quoting. In the latest number, referring to an event recorded by ua, respecting which it has since transpired we were misinformed, ha improves upon it thus : “ The Express places upon record the exit from Picton of * a well-known publican, in company with se mnty-two kits of oysters.’ * * * The glories of the would-be capital of New Zealand have indeed departed. Macaulay’s celebrated New Zealander, it has often been said, would hold one of Picton’s delicious bivalves in the right hand when looking from the heights of London Bridge upon the ruins of that great efty.” —After this handsome compliment, we trust our offence will be overlooked.

It appears that unlike the trustees of our own Cemetery, who by the way, still remain dormant, those of Kaikoura have arranged that the one under their control shall be

“Subdivided into five portions, for each denomination as follows :—Roman Catholics, Presbyterians, Episcopalians, Wesleyans, and Jews. It was agreed that the whole cemetery be fenced as soon as possible, the separate paths dividing each portion to be eight feet wide, and that the expense of each be borne by public subscription. We believe that the Trustees have offered to head the list with a handsome donation.”

The following locals will interest many of our readers, as well as those of “ that valuable but ill-spelt journal,”—

“ The Hon. S. Stourton, well-known for a conderable period in this district, has enlisted as a private m the Papal Zouaves. It will be remembered that Mr. Stourton left Flaxbourne for the Eijis, and hence for England. Mr. Stourton is quartered at Rome.” “ Efforts are being made, we are glad to perceive, to retain the services of a resident priest at Kaikoura.

“An unusually large school of whales were observed disporting themselves in North Bay last Tuesday afternoon. It was a tempting sight, and one likely to encourage the hitherto dormant energies of the gentlemen whom we heard were about to attempt renewing the past whaling glories for which Kaikoura was once so famous. 1 “Messrs. G. & G. F. Bullen have imported several pairs of pheasants, which, we understand, will be turned loose in some of the wooded gullies near Messrs. Bullen’s station at the Kahautara. The thanks of the community are due to those: enterprising gentlemen for this further proof of their desire to benefit the district. We trust, ere many years have passed, to have a closer inspection of some of the progeny of these feathery visitors.”

“The following extraordinary telegram from Wellington appeared a few days ago in a Southern contemporary —‘ Prince Alfred died to-day at 7 p.m., at Government House. A large number of guests were present at the invitation of Sir G. Bowen, and everything went off satisfactorily.’”