Local and General News.

Marlborough Express, Volume IV, Issue 208, 18 December 1869, Page 3

Local and General News.

The Falcon arrived at Kaikoura at 10 o’clock yesterday morning. A shock of earthquake was felt here about one o’clock on Thursday morning. The Victorian Government have rceived tenders by last mail for the mail service via the Cape of Good Hope. Messrs. Levy Bros,, of Melbourne, have been fined £I,OOO for passing goods through the Customs falsely valued. As will be seen from the detailed report elsewhere, of the Borough Council proceedings, our enterprising fellow-townsman, Henry Dodson, Esq., has been elected Mayor of Blenheim. We (Southern Cross) have been given to understand that another rich lode of copper has recently been discovered on the banks of a navigable river in the North, and at no great distance from its mouth. The ore is extremely rich, crops out on the surface of the ground, and can be easily worked with very inexpensive appliances. Osprey keeps busy in conveying wool to the three ships now in Port Underwood, making trips averaging seven hours there and back, and giving every satisfaction to her owner. The Snorre Sturlassen is nearly full, and is to sail on Saturday next, while both the Sarah and Marie, and the Ballarat are making good progress.

Thrs.s. Murray, Captain M'Gillivray, arrived from Nelson last Saturday. Her owner Mr. Paul, is on board, and intends taking the Murray round to the White Rocks, Palliser Bay, to recover, if possible, the boilers and engine of the Waipara, lost there some time ago.— Post. TkE Provincial Council of Marlborough, will meet on Tuesday next at 11 a.tn. The business will be the election of a new Superintendent in the room of W. H. Eyes, Esq. The candidate requires to have a majority of the whole Council in his favor, that is 11 votes. So far as we can learn the only person known to be in the field is the retiring Superintendent, who offers himself for re-election. Accident to Archdeacon Butt. —A serious accident befel the Archdeacon of Marlborough, on Tuesday last. The reverend gentleman had started to return home after attending the meetings of the Synod, and, shortly after crossing the Maitai, his horse (a newly-purchased one) became restive it is supposed, from carrying saddle-bags, to which he had not been accustomed, and threw his rider, who got his leg broken in the fall. Mr. Butt was conveyed to Wilden, the residence of W. Adams, Esq., where he received the prompt attention of Dr. Cotterell.— Examiner. We were surprised and sorry to hear by telegraph from Picton on Thursday morning, that on the previous evening, about 7 o’clock, a son of Mr. Conolly, solicitor, was struck, by the lightning and killed instantly, a most unusual circumstance, and the first instance of the kind which has come to our knowledge in this colony. A correspondent has since informed us that Mr. Conolly’s second son, Edward, was standing under the veranda at the time named, when a perfect storm, accompanied by thunder and lightning, occurred. The house was struck by the latter, one room being much injured, and part of the roof torn off. The boy named was at the same time struck dead.

The Canterbury Press of the 11th inst. says:— “ On Thursday the mail carrier to Hawkeswood brought news of a horrible character, relating to a woman living near Kaikoura, on the Conway river. It seems she was seen carrying one of her children under her arm, with its throat cut; and in the other hand she had a loaded revolver and a gun, supposed also to be loaded, under the same arm. She had fired at some children belonging to a man named Monk, who keeps the accommodation house at the Boat harbor. She was seen by the Kaikoura mailman on the ranges near the Conway on Tuesday, the 7th inst. The police constables stationed at Kaikoura, with men from Caverhill’s and Hartland’s station, were out, by last accounts, looking for the woman, whose name we have not yet ascertained, and who is still at large. The Lyttelton Times adds that the woman is supposed to have been landed from the Bee last trip, and is in such a state that she may have to be shot before being taken.

Racing. —Considerable excitement prevailed in town on Wednesday last upon a match being made between Mr. Lawrence’s light brown filly. Miss Phoebe, and Air. H. Cundy’s hack (no name) for £3 a side, distance, half a mile. The race came off on the Ren wick New Road, above Mr. Wemyss’ residence. A great number of horsemen were present, and money changed hands very freely on the event. Air. Blick was judge. Miss Phoebe was ridden by Master Eyes, and the hack by her owner. Both got away well together, neither appearing to lead for the first 150 yards. Miss Phoebe then took the lead, and won by a good length, both riders using a plentiful supply of whips and spurs. This led to another race between Miss Phoebe and Mr. M'Artuey’s black mare Mazeppa for a similar stake, which was won by the pony easily. A third match was got up between Mr. Lawrence’s dark bay pony Miss Kate and Mr. G. Barry’s gray mare Wild Irish Girl, also for £3, and same distance, which was easily won by Miss Kate. We are informed that a trotting match for a considerable sum, 5 miles distance, is to come off shortly between Mr. Lawrence’s Miss Sarah and Mr. H. Hears’ mare Dorothy. Caution to the Public. —We are requested to give publicity to the following notice : —“ Police Office, Wellington, 15th December, 1869.—Notice is hereby given that a certain quantity of sugar having been sent by Dr. Grace to the Government Laboratory, this day, upon being annalysed by Mr. Skey, was found to contain a considerable quantity of arsenic. The sugar in question was recently purchased by Mr. Henry Yates, of Molesworth-street, grocer, and was sold by him from the 4th to the 11th instant inclusive. The unsold portion of the sugar was immediately handed over to the custody of the police by Mr. Yates on the above discovery.—F. Atcheson, Inspector of Police.— Gisborne.” —Upon receiving the above, we showed it to Mr. Dodson, who telegraphed at once to his agent in Wellington thus “ Did sugar sold by Yates, containing arsenic, form part of the Falcon’s damaged cargo!” to which the reply came promptly as follows : “ No, the sugar sold came by the Gothenburg.” We believe the whole of Mr. Dodson’s sugar and tea which came by the Falcon, was so much damaged by salt water that it was thrown over the platform beside the store, where the empty sacks and gunnies lie at the present moment. The Wangapeka. - Intelligence was received yesterday from Mr. Broad, to the effect that he had, in accordance with his instruction, attempted to proceed with the survey on Monday last, but that, upon the first of the surveying staff crossing the creek, he was pushed back by a man named Noble, one of the ringleaders of the malcontents. Mr. Broad then ordered the police to arrest Noble, but upon their attempting to do so they were surrounded by the t irteen, of whom [the committee that acts on behalf of those in possession of the land is composed, the main body standing in compact order a little in the rear. It being plainly intimated to the constables that they would not be permitted to arrest any of the party, and, the numbers arrayed against them (being so far superior to their own, they were compelled to retreat without having attained their object, and one of them was immediately despatched to town with a report of what had taken place. The Superintendent has placed himself in communication with the General Government on the subject, and no further steps will be taken until a reply has been received from Wellington.— Mail, Dec. 9. Mr. Domett was appointed by the Government to hold a court of enquiry into the Wangapeka land sales on Thursday last at Nelson. All objectors were invited to attend, and the result is looked forward to with much interest.

Patrick told Ids sweetheart he “could not shape for draining of her.” Good News.—The Melbourne Ar;/ns states, on the authority of a private letter from England, that a superior lot of New Zealand flax has realized the exceedingly high price of £IOB a ton. The loss of the P. and 0. Company’s steamer I Carnatic lias caused a [fall in the Company’s I shares. About twenty-nine persons appear to I have been lost in addition to the mails, specie I (£40,000), cargo, and baggage. The Carnatic was I built at Black wall in 18(53, and registered 1,775 j I tons, and 450 horse-power. The Company inVsuro their own fleet. A Provincial Government Gazette dated Satur" day last, and issued on Wednesday, contains Bye law No. 1 of the Blenheim Borough Council, pub" lished by us in September last ; notices of th° meeting of Council, and the forfeiture of tw° Buns, one in the Kaikoura, transferred by H. UWilliams to Messrs. Keene, 19,500 acres ; a portion of RavonscliH' Bun, near a hill called Jackson’s Head containing 8,830 acres, transferred by Messrs. Turner to W. Woodgate, the depasturing licenses not having been paid since January last. Flax Bei'Ort.— Messrs G. and J. A. Noble report a steadily increasing demand for New Zealand flax, and if oi dinary care is taken in the preparing and baling, they have no doubt it will become an important and profitable trade. Colour and brightness of fibre are very desirable ; the coarse brown woody fibre should in no case be mixed with the better qualities. Messrs Ellis and Hale say :—(SO bales middling cleaned sold steadily at £3l ; f9O bales, very common with straw, £2O to .£'2l; and further imports, especially if well cleaned and dressed, will realise full rates ; good and lino cleaned, .£‘3s to £43 ; part ditto and with straw, .£2O to .£32. A Goon Joke. —The Wanganui Time -s’ tell the following story, and remarks that it beats Cousin Jonathan by chalks. “ Nearly a year ago a (jenHeman in Wanganui compromised with his creditors, and under a legal document promised to pay a dividend every six months from and after a certain day. He has just remitted from the Thames Goldfields one shill in f/ as the first six months' dividend ! ! That, positively, protects him, as the legal document does not specify any particular sum to be paid every six months ! ! ! He demands from the “Trustees ” a receipt for the remittance, and we demand from them our dividend out of the one, shilling Fires at Wellington. A house, the property of Mr. G Crawford, situated at the corner of Willis and Ghuznee-streets, Wellington has been destroyed by fire. The building was unoccupied, and was insured in the Liverpool and London and Globe office for £350. At the inquest, the jury, after hearing the evidence, returned an open verdict to the effect that the bouse had been set on fire by some person or persons unknown.—On December 2nd, at 4 a.m the Cricketers’ Arms, at the corner of Vivian and Tory-streets, Wellington, caught fire, but fortunately was subdued after a little damage was done. Napier telegrams in the Independent of the 11th says new leaders have been struck in the Missouri and Shotover claims In consequence of a leader, supposed to belong to the Golden Crown reef, being struck on the Otago Company’s ground, there is a great demand for the company’s scrip. Eureka and Belfast Companies’ scrip is also in demand. Mr. M‘Lean arrived at the Thames on Tuesday last, and intends visiting Ohinemura. The Mohaka natives when out scouting discovered the Haubau camping-ground, and followed the enemy’s tracks for some distance. One of the party of scouts has been missing for four days ; yesterday a party started to search for him. Masonic Ball.-—A very grand and largely attended Masonic ball was held in the new Masonic Hall, Dunedin, on the evening of the

ISth ultimo. The rooms were most handsomely and appropriately decorated, and the attendance, which was not confined to the Masonic body, was numerous. The authorities of the various constitutions granted dispensations enabling the members of the craft to appear in Masonic dress, and the picturesque emblems and clothing of the various orders tended not a little to enliven the scene, and to relieve the usual sombre appearance of gentlemen in a ball room. A considerable number of Knights,Templars were present, attired in the splendid habiliments of that order. —ln dependent. / The return of Mr. Redwood from Melbourne, /yesterday, has enabled us to obtain some infor- / mation concerning recent sporting matters in ( Victoria, which will be interesting to our readers. Manuka’s chance for the Cup Was destroyed by an accident which happened to him in Melbourne. A good deal of rain fell about a fortnight before the mceeing, and the training ground was so heavy the horses had to do their work on a tan gallop. Manuka in taking a spin with Peeress early one morning, got off the gallop into the heavy ground, and cut his sound fore leg below the knee so severely as to render it a matter of doubt whether the leg will ever again be capable of standing severe training. From his trials with Peeress, Mr Redwood felt confident of winning the Cup, did no accident happen, and the subsequent running at the meeting confirmed this opinion. Mr. Redwood has only parted with half his interest in the horse, and he will be kept specially for the Melbourne Cup next year, if he can stand the preparation, and should he fail, he will at once be sent to the stud, where he will be certain to become a favorite, as it is universally believed the horse has not his equal in the Australian colonies. If Nelson did not succeed bn the turf of Victoria at the late meeting, our representatives in other matters of sport were more 'successsful. As a pigeon shot, Mr. Redwood upheld the reputation ho created in Melbourne, when lie formerly paid a visit to Australia. In public and in private matches, Mr. Redwood met with no one among the acknowledged best shots of Victoria and the neighboring colonies who was his superior with the gun, and before leaving, a challenge to back him at 100 to SO against any competitor, met with no - response Itv foot-racing also, Nelson was well represented in Melbourne, by Mr. J. Bolton, a I nephew of Mr. Redwood, whobeatallthe “cracks” ( that could bh brought against him, and won for / his’"backers a hat-full of money. So, taken j altogether, Nelson did hot present a wholly inI significant figure in the Australian metropolis 1 among sporting men.— Examiner.

The Matoaka.—The Matoaka from Canterbury, had not been heard of in England at latest dates. Seventy guineas premium and upwards had been paid on her. Another ship, upon which ninety guineas had been paid, the Lochnager, has turned up safe having been driven into the North Sea by the late severe gales. Forty guineas premium was paid lately on the Mistress of thy Seas, from Bombay, and she has since arid vofl. — Examiner. jAlasonic. —The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of New Zealand, S.C., was held at the Masonic Hall, Dunedin, on the Ist instant, the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master, Brother Pyke, presiding. The following officers were installed for the ensuing twelve mouths James Mills, B.W.S.P.G. Master; William Caldwell, P.S.G. Warden; G. F. Dernier, P..1.G. Warden; A. R. Livingston, P. G. Treasurer; J. Lanseigne, P.G. Secretary ; J. Gore, P.G, Bible-bearer ; 11. W. Grieve, P.G. s. Deacon ; S. T. Kerr, P.G. Director of Ceremonies ; H. M‘Donald, P. G. Steward ; J. Sibbald, P.G. Marshal ; W, T. Dermer, - P. G. Sword-bearer; W. J. Burton, P.G. Jeweller; R. Jopp, P.G. Tyler. A petition was presented for a new lodge to bo formed at Cromwell, and a dispensation was granted. j? Provincial Treasurer’s Accounts.—A Provincial Gazette, published this week, gives an abstract of the Accounts for the Quarter ending September 30th. Receipts. —Goldfields, 13118 s; Rent of Reserves, 25/ 17s. ; Publican’s Licenses, 100/; Auctioneers’ do , 30/ ; Balance of vote of General Assembly, 1868-9, 268/ 18s ; From vote of General Assembly for current year, 750/; Incidental Receipts, 73/ 11s. lid. Expenditure. —On uncompleted contracts, 1868-9, 199/ 13s. lOd. ; Departments—Superintendent’s 179/ ISs ; Treasurer, 25/ ; Provincial Council, 22/ 15s. (id. ; Harbors—Picton, 27/; Wairau, 30/ ; Havelock, 12/ 10s ; Gaol, Picton, 146/ 19s. 4d. ; Lockup, Havelock, 9s. fid. ; do., Blenheim, 1/ ; Police, 265/ Bs. fid. ; Medical and Charitable Aid, including Hospital, 165/4s. Id. ; General Contingencies, 56/ 95.-, Printing and Advertising, 11/ 15s. fid. ; fuel and lights, 1/ 10s. ; Postages and telegrams, 4/ Ss. Sd. ; newspapers, 13s. ; purchase of land, Watene and other natives, 10/; survey of land given for roadwork, 30/ ; interest, Bank of New Zealand, 122/ 10s. ; boat for Clarence Ferry, 22/; repairs to roads and bridges, 59/ (is. fid. The total receipts for the quarter were 1,522/ ss. fid., and the expenditure 1,394/ lls. lid. The debit against the Province at the commencement of the quarter was 2,919/, and that carried to next quarter was 2,991/.

Education*.— Education* and a great division of it developed into science, are two of the grandest principles pervading associated human action in this age so far as material benefits are concerned. They are a great part of the basis of civilisation and the moving intellectual power of modern progress. Wo meet nations in competition, and we shall be left behind if wo do not take care. The mechanic, the farm-worker, the artisan of the Continent, well educated, are pushing those of England hard, though the latter have a heritage of experience, knowledge and skill. Look at the liberal support given to education in Now South Wales, Victoria and other Australian colonies—how shall we be to them, abreast or in tbe rear? Knowledge is jjuwci. It is economy—therefore power. It makes power more effectual—therefore greater power. Greater power, greater production. Greater production, more comforts. And education is given when children are of but very little use, and it costs but little. Education is a question of police. Bonus new industries—then bonus the great principle of progress in such matters,— the means of getting knowledge. Everyone is supposed to know tire law ; but how can they unless some provision he made for their learning it ? What so inexpensive as teaching to read. I very much wish that the Council may look at it in a practical light for the moment, and at least make some temporary provision.

“ By ‘ birchen’ methods wooden notion’s driven. By brisrht intelligence bii-'ht views are -riven.” - “A Liberal Conservative ” in the Independent

Election Riots. —A correspondent at the Thames informs us that the scenes enacted at Shorthand during the late election for the Superintendency were outrageous beyond description. It appears that “ the Thames Advertiser was the only paper in the Province of Auckland that advocated the Cillics cause, with the exception of the Daily Hews, a small paper newly started in Auckland city. The writer had a vote for the Thames, and was factiously struck off the roll, hut fortunately he had a vote for Auckland, which he was enabled to give for Gillies. After the election it was found that Williamson had a large majority in that district, owing to various means taken to prevent Gillies’ supporters from giving their votes. About 5 in the evening the Fenians formed a procession, carrying a very large green Hag, and marched down to the Advertiser office with the intention of pulling it down.” The writer was in the office at the time, and he says, “ the fact as to their intentions was soon realised, for they brought up opposite the door. In the meantime reinforcements arrived with bricks, and the work was quickly commenced. Bang, bang, went the bricks through the windows, and on the top of the roof. The blood-thirsty villains _ showed no mercy. After doing all the mischief they could the mob went away, and carpenters were put on at once, who barricaded all the windows and skylights. Mr. Shaw, of the Times, kindly sent a letter offering the use of hm plant and men if we required it, but we declined as we could manage without, having about 30 columns of type standing at the time. We expected another attack at midnight, and were prepared for it, each of the men having a loaded revolver. Mr. James Mackay, and all the influential men of the Thames, stayed by us with loaded rifles and revolvers ready to shoot the first man that dared venture inside the office. When the steamer arrived from Auckland the tables were turned, and instead of Williamson having a majority it was found that he had not potted anything like Gillies. Our paper, the Advertiser, spoke out fearlessly and boldly for Gillies, not minding the consequences. On the Saturday previous, while Williamson was addressing the electors, the mob took two of our reporters (one of whom, Mr. 8., you know) and threw them right off the platform on to the ground. They left the room in consequence. Mr. Williamson tried to persuade them to come back, but they refused.”

Brutal. — A very savage and brutal assault was committed on board the Storm Bird, lying alongside the Wellington wharf last Saturday. Two men known as “German Charlie” and “Jemmy the Fireman,” had some falling out about missing money, when Jemmy seized Charlie with his teeth and tbit two large pieces out of his lip and chin. The pieces, having actually on them the hair of the man’s beard, were picked up and shown at the Police Court, where an information was laid for assault, after Charlie had his wounds dressed a tthe hospital. Jemmy whose real name is James M'Kenna, having been arrostcd by the police, was placed in the dock and sentenced to 14 days imprisonment, the leniency of the sentence being on account of the provocation given by plaintiff.— Post.