Local and General News.

Marlborough Express, Volume IV, Issue 188, 7 August 1869, Page 3

Local and General News.

The Marlborough Licensing Amendment Act has been assented to by the Governor. W. W. Taylor, Esq., has been appointed Deputy Superintendent of Wellington during Dr. Fcatherston’s absence in Melbourne. The Election by Ballot Act is to [come into operation in September next, consequently the next Provincial Council for this Province will bo elected under it. A very smart shock of earthquake took place at 2.30 a.m. on Wednesday last, the motion appearing to be from N. to S. We do not hear of any damage resulting. In the House of Representatives, on Friday last, the Awatcrc Shearing Reserves Bill, received by message from the Legislative Council, was read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time on Wednesday. Two gentlemen in Wellington, says the “.Independent.” a short time ago had the good fortune to invest a little money in two different claims on the Thames, one being the well-known All Nations, and the other the Long Drive. Fortune has been in their favour, and one investor is now in the receipt from his claim of about £2OOO per annum, while the other is receiving the incredible sum of over £2OO per week.

Flax. —The following extract from a letter f roSTa gentleman on tlie West Coast will be read with interest : —“ In the name of the prophet— Flax. Your friend ’s mill is at work, and is turning out two tons a week ; and, if the present prices last, he will be a swell of the first water before long. I hear that Cummins, at Wanganui, got £3B 16s. for some of his that he sent home in the Asteropo. The sooner we go in for flax in preference to wool the better. Getting a run used to be cor sidered the high road to prosperity ; those who now want to walk in that direction should go in for the Manawatu swamps. Flax swamps will be all the rage ere long.”

West Coast Railway.— We understand that by the last mail to England, his Honor the Superintendent wrote to Mr. Morrison agreeing in the main to the propositions made by Colonel Maude with regard to the construction of the railway. The Mount Rochfort and Brunner Coal Mines are to be made over to the new Company on the conditions that were some time since agreed upon by the Waste Lands Board as those upon which these valuable properties should be let to any company willing to work them.—Greymouth Star.

Prince Alfred arrived at Tahiti on June 19th, where groat preparations were made to receive him, and a degree of excitement prevailed among the natives. We understand that an entertainment is in course of preparation, in order to raise a fund for the aid of ilobert Thompson of the Bush and Old Billy Smith.

We are glad to be able to announce the arrival of Mr. George Cotterell whoso Drawing Room Entertainments have been so favourably received in the City and Province of Nelson. Mr. Cotterell proposes to give an entertainment at the Provincial Hall Blenheim, on Tuesday next, an announcement of which appears in our advertising columns. Wo regret that time does not permit us to quote from the flattering critiques which have appeared in the Nelson papers, and which from private sources we arc assured convey a just view of the entertainments, which are simply wonderful.

The May Wool Sales. —lt is stated in the wool circular of the “New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, 1 May 21, that the only descriptions of wool which form any exception to the reduction at the recent sales otherwise generally established, are good combing half-breeds, the competition for which hy the Bradford buyers was keen at about the same quotations which were current in the earlier part of the year, and a considerable proportion of the shipments from the ports of the Northern Island which fall within that category enjoyed the full benefit of this demand.

t The Rev. Mr. Soutar. ~We much regret to state the Rev. Mr Sou tar, Presbyterian minL ister, and family, will take their departure from amongst us by the steamer on Friday next. The rev. gentleman, although but a short time . amongst us, has not only gained the highest esI teem of his own Hock, but .. also that of all who have had the pleasure of meeting him and listening to his able discourses. Mr. Soutar, we believe, purposes proceeding to Australia, and we arc sure we speak for all when we wish Mr. and Mrs. Soutar and family health and happiness in their new home.— Press. Education in New Zealand. —With respect to education, the tables of the Registrar-Gene-neral of New Zealand, shows that among the population of the Colony, of both sexes and all ages, there were 45,411 unable to read or write ; 15,390 who could read only; and 151,431 who who could both read and write. To these must be added 0,430, respecting whose state of education the schedules returned to the RegistrarGeneral contained no information. The centisimal proportion of both sexes and all ages unable to read was 21.40 ; who can read only, 7.25 ; who can read and write, 71 35. A Novel Excuse. —Bishop Latimer’s story of the “ old, old man ” of Kent, who attributed the Goodwin Sands to the erection of Tenterden Steeple, has found a parallel in an incident which occurred at the recent general election in England : —A local paper says that at the North Wilts election, a fortnight ago, a voter who resides in a small country town not far from Corsham was applied to several times for his vote. This, however, he resolutely refused to give—- “ For,” said he, *• directly after I voted last time the bread rose ! and 1 made up my mind from that time that I’d never vote any more.” At the sale of skins and flax held on Friday, there were not so many competitors as on the first occasion, and prices were a trifle lower. Merino and half-bred skins brought from Is 2d to Is lOd; longwools, 2s to 2s Sd each : merino wool, from the East Coast, Old per lb. For the flax and tow there was a numerous attendance of buyers ; about 30 tons were pitched, and all but one parcel of about 2 tons sold. Prices for flax varied in accordance with quality from £l3 to -£-23 per ton. Tow from £0 10s” to £9 per ton. The next sale will take place on Friday, As the time for calling for new tenders for postal conveyance is drawing near, we sincerely trust that the authorities of the Post Office will remodel at least one route in this Province—that overland to Nelson, which is practically useless, inasmuch as the return of post occupies nearly two weeks. In fact, our experience teaches that thejaverage length of time ocupied by the journey hence to Nelson and back again is 11 or 12 days, while Lewis used to do it in two ! We would respectfully submit that, if it is not considered feasible to amend the present system, it had better be discontinued altogether and save the expense. Annexation to Nelson. —We arc informed that a meeting of members interested in Marlborough was held in Wellington on August 2nd, when Sir D. Monro, Col. Richmond, Captains Baillie and Kenny, with Messrs. Eyes, Stafford, and Renwick, were present, and all agreed to oppose the annexation scheme to the utmost of their power, and stated their desire that the people £of this province should express their opinion on the subject. A preliminary meeting was held here yesterday for the purpose of considering when and where a public meeting of the inhabitants of the Province should be held, when it was decided te hold it in our Provincial Hall on Tuesday next, at 2 p in., when we venture to prophecy the verdict will be unmistakably against the project. The resolutions will be found in our advertisement columns.

Mu. Nelson’s New Offices.— Tins very noticable building being now completed, and ready for opening, a brief description will interest many of our readers. They occupy what is at present a prominent position in Blenheim, adjacent to the Post Office, Court House, and Government Buildings, and to the new Bank, being situate on the westerly side of Market Place. The front, which is rusticated in imitation of stone work, is SO feet long, and about 18 feet high, contains in the centre a handsome recessed entrance 6 feet wide, and fitted with glass pannelled folding doors. On each side are windows, which, like the door, has circular heads. The site being triangular, the clerk’s room on the left of the hall is of a similar shape. On the left is an office for the managing clerk, 15ft Gin x lift, behind which is the private office of similar dimensions, both fitted with bookcases, fireplaces, &c., and like all the rooms arc lined with totara throughout. The structure has a really imposing appearance, and was designed by Mr. W. Douslin, and has been executed by Messrs. Bright and Homes, at a cost exceeding £3OO, and, so far as as we can see, has been well executed.

The culture of tobacco is said to have been successfully attempted in Taranaki, where it is expected to become one of tho leading products of the province. Latest from Waikato. —Telegrams received yesterday evening from the Waikato state that Te Kooti was still eucampcd at a distance of about 10 miles from Tokangamutu Humors of an impending conflict between tho Waikatos and Te Kooti were in circulation, but little reliance we believe can be placed upon them. — Southern Cross, July 31st. The Westland County Council have been informed that there is no probability of their now obtaining the arranged overdraft of .£‘20,000 from the Bank of New Zealand. “ Yet,” says the Grey-mouth-Stor, “notwithstanding this little drawback, the Chairman is proceeding with several important undertakings, trusting that something may turn up which will liquidate all claims upon the County.” We are happy to state that the members of the Church of England at Havelock will have a church of their own at no distant day, as the Bishop, when he was there, approved of the site which had been selected in one of the best parts of the town ; the purchase of the same has been completed. This will bo a great boon to the members, as they have been compelled to hold their evening services in the School, which is very difficult to approach on a dark night.

Gold From up The Grey.— On July 19. a party of miners arrived at Greymouth from over the Saddle, with a large parcel of nuggety gold. They have been working for some time nearly 100 miles up the Grey river, in the rough country at tlie foot of the dividing range, and have been successful in bringing in what is said to be several hundred ounces of gold, principally nuggets, weighing from twenty-three ounces down to pennyweight, pieces. The discoverers of such rich ground are anxious to keep the matter very quiet for a time, but the locality Is sure to come out shortly. —Grey River Anjvs.

Exciting News prom Ohinbmuki —This morning news arrived in town from Mr. Andrews, of Ohiuemuri, to the effect that the utmost alarm existed there in consequence of a report that Te Kooti was going to visit the place. A native runner brought the news of his being at Patetere yesterday with 400 men at his back, and that he would be at Ohineroa today en route for Tauranga. It is expected that he will diverge a little from his course and call at Ohincmuri. Te Kooti is said to have remarked that Taupo having been abandoned by Europeans, now was the “time to kick up a row” before the troops arrived. Te Hira has consented that each one of his people may do “what he choose with his land.” But Te Hira is an old hypocrite, who changes from one minute to another. Te Kerei has given up his laud, and has received a part payment. All the leading chiefs are in favour of ceding their land in a similar manner.— Times, 30th July.

Gold.— We were yesterday shewn a small nugget, by some supposed to be gold recently found not many miles from Timaru, The specimen has been tested with aqua-fortis and other liquid tests, which made no impression upon it. It certainly to us did not look like gold, being of too steely and metallic an appearance. We are informed, though, by a gentleman to whom it was shewn that gold would have that appearance if mixed with but a very small portion of platinum. The piece of metal was of a cube shape and it did not have the appearance of being water-worn. Where it was found- in a rotten slaty rock—the discoverer says the crevices of the slate rocks arc full of the metal. The locality is kept a secret. We were also shewn a peice of quartz taken from the reef alongside which Thew and party are now sinking at Opuha. The specimen was taken from the reef about 20 feet from the surface of the ground. It appears to be, hovyeAer, barren quartz, and not of a character likely to be gold bearing.—Timaru Heriild.— [We have by us several specimens of a similar kind, found by Mr. Ockley, at Wairau Valley. Some were sent to Dr. Hector a few months ago, but no report of them has yet been received.]

Popular Readings.— The second Reading of the season took place in the Provincial Hall, on Monday evening last, when S. L. Muller, Esq., R.M., presided. The selection for the evening comprised “ The eve of Waterloo,” from Byron’s Childe Harold, and the address of Alcibardes to the Athenians, from Addison, by Mr. Kissling ; Mr. Norgrove gave a portion of Sheridan Knowles’ play of “ The Wife,” a tale of Mantua. In consequence of the absence of a gentleman who was appointed to assist, Mr. Rae, as his substitute, gave Mrs. Caudle’s Umbrella Lecture, and Burns’ “ Twa Dogs,” and Mr. Johnson “Hobson and his wife,” a Lancashire dialectic sketch, and Hood’s “Bridge of Sighs.” The attendance was moderate, many being absent in consequence of superior attractions. Votes of thanks to the Chairman and readers brought the proceedings to a close at a quarter to ton o’clock On Monday next the third reading will be held in the same place, when 11. Dodson, Esq., will preside The readers for the evening will be Dr. Muller, Mr, Dickens, Mr. Shannon, and Mr. Litchfield. The latter gentleman will read a paper on Spectral Illusions, and a poem from Longfellow. Latest from Tauranga.— The correspondent of the Southern Gross, under date July 27, says : —“ A confidental messenger from Maketu, who arrived to-night, has informed me that in three days from this time the road between Maketu and Tauranga will be unsafe, as it is the intention of the Matapihi people to commit some murders. When it is stated that this is the ordinary channel through which our official information is received, this piece of intelligence need not be received with incredulity, nor your correspondent suspected of exaggeration. The behaviour of some of the natives on the beach is becoming offensive. Ranapia, an old agent of the Civil Commissioner here, to-day quite insulted that gentleman in public. Information has been received here from the Maori wife of a half-caste resident; that the attack on Tauranga is imminent, the woman in question having received a warning to quit her home at once ; in consequence of which she is seeking a dwelling at Te Papa. I have since learned that it is intended to concentrate the troops on the coast line of the Bay of Plenty—7s at Whakatane, 50 at Matata, and the remainder at Tauranga. Col. Harrington left last night for Matata overland.”

On Thursday, Mr. Hall was to move in the House of Representatives, that a respectful address be presented to the Governor, praying that his Excellency will be pleased to appoint a commission to inquire into and report upon the machinery employed in different portions of the Colony for tho preparation of New Zealand (lax, as well as upon the varieties of such flax which it may be most desirable to cultivate, upon the best method of cultivation, and the probable result of the same.