Local and General News.

Marlborough Express, Volume IV, Issue 191, 28 August 1869, Page 3

Local and General News.

The Amateur is to sail from Wellington on Monday next. Southland,—A resolution was passed in the Provincial Council, last Friday, affirming the expediency of re-annexation to Otago. The Parliamentary Intelligence in the Hansards received this week is more than usually interesting to this Province. We have made copious extracts elsewhere. Education. —Mr. Ball has moved in the Assembly a resolution in favor of a comprehensive Colonial scheme of public Education, which was agreed to. This is a move in the right direction.

Tirr second reading of the Public Debts Sinking Funds Act, enabling Government to pay over to the Provinces the released Sinking Funds on their debts, was carried by 22 to 12. Neither of the Marlborough members voted, /'Volunteers. —We are informed that on Saturday last Color-Sergeant S. Harris was elected Ensign of the Picton Company of Marlborough Rangers, vice Ensign Guy, promoted. — Press.

In the Legislative Council, on Thursday last, the Hon. Captain Baillio brought up the report of committee on the petition (relative to the three bridges) from the Corporation of Blenheim ; also on that of Carter Bros.

We have to acknowledge the receipt from G. E. Elliot, Esq., Secretary to the Post Office, of a copy of the tenth report of the Postal Service, to which we will refer next week. The Rev. R. L. Vickers gave a very instructive lecture in aid of the funds of the Wesleyan Church on Wednesday last at the Provincial Hall. The subject was “The Formation of Character.” S. L. Muller, Esq. occupied the chair. We regret to add the attendance was very limited

Chignons, Remarking on chignons, the Climes Guardian says that the newest article used for padding is a football. This novelty is' rapidly growing in favor, on account of its lightness, as the chignon may thereby be increased to any size without inconvenience to the wearer. Duty on Floor and Grain. —The proposed impost on flour and grain was negatived in the House of Representatives last night by a majority of 25 to 22. Though proposed by the Government, it had been declared not to be a measure on which the Government would make a stand. The o ily effect this decision will have o i Liiic 00 1 v cniiixciiti lo liG leave llicul sliori. of their estimates.— lndependent . At the Bankruptcy sittings of the Supreme Court, Nelson, on the 13th inst., in re Elijah Bythell and James Taif, Mr. Pitt said that at a former sitting he obtained a rule nisi, calling < n the detaining creditor, James Dalton, to show cause why Tait should not be discharged from custody. He now asked for further time for the rule to run. Mr. Kingdon said the other side would agree to the discharge of Tait provided he paid costs. In that case, said Mr. Pitt, an arrangement might be made and for that purpose he asked delay for a fortnight. Granted.

The Brisbane Courier contains the following announcement “ Pursuant to the resolutions adopted at the meeting held at the Convent on the 13th instant, his Excellency the Governor in the Chair, the Sisters of Mercy beg to announce that the Bazaar and exhibition of prizes for the Grand Drawing will be held in the Hall of the School of Arts on the 24th August. The grand drawing of prizes, on the Art Union principle, will be held at the same place on the 27th December next and following days.” Ocean Traffic. —One of our friends has called our attention to the following succession of incidents attending the loss of the Omar Pascha, on t e 27th April. A remarkable contrast is shown by the privations endured by the passengers and crew of the Blue Jacket : —Thursday : At 4.30 a. m. fire discovered ; at 5.30 an Italian barque came to assist; at 7.30 a Spanish brig coming to assist; at 10.30 to 12 noon, boats of three vessels transhipping passengers to barque ; at 1.30 p.m., Capt. Grey finally abandoned Omar Pascha ; at 5.30 a British barque bound to London turned up, and took 9 of passengers and chief officer ; at 7 a Spanish brig took 12 of the men, with second officer, promising to land them at Gibraltar, Sunday : Obtained 5 casks water from a French barque. Monday: A German brig, bound to Havre, took 10 passengers and crew, with 4th officer ; same day, the Zealandia, bound for Cork, took the rest of the passengers, crew, &c. We have not space to spare to notice at length the singular proceedings, and sentiments uttered at the Havelock meeting, as detailed elsewhere. The report, however, enables us to see that some of the speakers betrayed great ignorance of the subject they treated upon, and others took the opportunity of giving vent to personal, not to say spiteful, f c clings, while the listeners applauded both sides. Mr. Levien appears to have been the only speaker against Annexation, striving to show them their true interests, and his speech was cheered. The celebrated Mr. Bradshaw,* without informing Mr. Douslin of the meeting or his intention to make the silly exhibition of meanness, seems to have outstepped all bounds of decency, and he also was cheered. We must not overlook the fact that more than one of the actors were Nelson men, including the gentleman who moved the piece of impertinence which concluded the proceedings. We learn that Mr. Douslin has determined to leave them to their own devices in consequence, and has very properly} resigned his connection with the Literary Institute, the Volunteers, the Chair of the Education Committee, and his seat in the Provincial Council.

./Export of Flax. —The total qu ntlty of flax 'exported from the Colony during the quarter ending on the 31st March last was 2SO.| tons, representing a money value of £7,G14. Of this amount Auckland contributed £5,480; Lyttelton, £1,640; Dunedin, £454; and Wellington, £SO. The value per ton was thus £2O Os. 7d. A most attractive programme is announced for Tuesday evening next, when an entertainment is to be given at James’ Theatre Royal for the benefit of one of our old settlers. The Brass Band gives it services, and the Ethiopian Seranaders are to make their first appearance, when a liberal allowance of local hits and skits may be looked for. _ Borough Election. —We understand that Messrs. Parmar, Hudson, Norgrove. and Sinclair have been nominated to fill the places of the three retiring Councillors. In accordance with the Act the Mayor will make the announcement formally at noon this day in front of the Town Hall, which will afford the candidates a good op- J portuuity for stating their views to the electors^ The Rebel Prisoners. —What is going to be done witli the I’ebel prisoners is a question which is now very often asked, and yesterday evening several people answered the enquiry by asserting that the City of Newcastle, with her living freight, prisoners and guard, is under orders for Auckland, and likely to sail for that port in a few days. We are not aware whether there is any foundation for the rumor.— lndependent. Our Wanganui contemporaries do not seem at all sorry that Colonel Whitmore has been removed from his command. The Times says : “ Our readers in these districts will be happy to hoar that this highly strategetical officer has been relieved of his military command, and that his scientific strategy will cause no more conflagrations in these districts. It is said that Mr. Booth will be held on until after the conviction of his friend Tauroa.— Post. Telegrams from Dunedin in the Post of the 16th says :—The steamer Maori, 170 tons, intended to trade between here and Lyttelton, arrived from Melbourne, after a passage five days.—The Government are prosecuting Ivinncaley a released Fenian, for being illegally in the Colony of Victoria. —General Chute’s retention of the troops is approved in Melbourne. —A diamond, weighing half a pound, was found at Armidale. —American news, via Sydney, states that the Cuban Filibustering expedition failed. The cholera is raging at Cuba, and two thousand soldiers have died from it. The insurrection totally quelled. understand that a party of gentleman ‘’’consisting of Messrs, F. W. Trolove, F. W. Lovegrove, and Johnson, (crack shots) arrived here on Monday last for the purpose of enjoying a few days rabbit shooting. Their skill may be judged from the fact that on Tuesday, they shot about 200 ; but as they left lying them that were shot, they could not tell the exact number. On Wednesday they took a man with them who skinned the rabbits as they were shot; and on counting them at night, they numbered 240 ! On Thursday, they were again shooting, but we ] laTO ~oh hpard what number of “silver greys” bit the dust. We hear they intend getting the skins cured.—Kaikoura Herald. jP Mr. Macandrew has given notice that he will move in Committee of Supply on the postal estimates, the following resolmtions (1.) That, in the opinions of this committee, it is inexpedient to continue steam postal subsidies, either Interprovincial or Intercolonial, after the expiration of existing contracts, (2.) That the Government be requested to advertise for tenders for a monthly steam service between San Francisco and New Zealand ; and in the event of their receiving a suitable offer for the performance of such service, within .£20,000 per annum, the Government is hereby empowered to close with such offer, for such term of years not exceeding as they may see fit, in which case the contribution of this 'Colony towards the Suez line shall be discontinued. Inland Mails. —From an announcement in another column our readers will learn that, in addition to the existing services, it is intended to institute two new ones—one between Havelock and Homewood fortnightly, as to the use for which we are not aware beyond what Captain Kenny stated in the Assembly; and one for Nelson direct, via the Kaituna and Havelock. We have so often complained of the indirect and sluggardly route at present in use, that it is with pleasure we notice a prospect of improvement. Our inland settlers will reap a benefit from the service, from which they have been this year debarred, by the opening up of a line of communication. Our experience teaches that the postman is a very great help to settlement and civilization. <> — / Popular Readings. —The fifth of these weekly 'entertainments took place on Monday evening last, when J. B. Wemyss, Esq., presided. The attendance was less than on any former occasion. The programme was as follows : —The garden scene and its antithesis, the scene in the kitchen when Claude Melnotte reveals himself, from the Lady of Lyons (Mr. Rae) ; the Wonderful Wean, (Mr. Falconer) ; the Death of Little Nell, from the Old Curiosity Shop, (Mr. Johnson); Truth in parenthesis, (Mr. Gorrie) ; selections from the Cottar’s Saturday Night, (Mr. Falconer) ; a Lancashire sketch, entitled “Jone o’Bobs and th’ Hay-bag, (Mr. Johnson); Nothing to Wear, (Mr. Rae) ; Lamb’s origin of Roast Pig, (Mr. Gorrie) ; Toll’s speech, (Mr. Johnson). At the close it was announced that the next reading, which would be the final one, had been postponed in consequence of a variety of other public amusements falling due, until when all those gentlemen who have taken part in these Readings will appear, and read selections not exceeding five minutes in length. The customary vote of thanks concluded the meeting. % The p.s. Sturt, Captain Fairchild, arrived this morning from her trip to Cape Campbell and) French Pass. She also looked in to Tory Channel. The operations for lifting the Taranaki are still going on, but more slowly than was at first anticipated. She has been moved in end, about 240 feet altogether; at present she is being lifted against a steep hank, which renders the process extremely difficult, hut when once this is surmounted things will go on much faster. A portion of one of her masts,_ which has been broken off, was brought over in the Stormbird this morning*

A Gun is exhibits 1 in Sin Ftancisco that is said to lire 500 shots a minute.