NEWS AND NOTES.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4, 5 January 1900, Page 1

NEWS AND NOTES.

The holiday question was mentioned at the meeting of the School Commlttet last night, but do action was taken, The Borough Oouncil meet to*nlght, when the question of forming the Executive Committee for the Marlborou«h Patriotic Fund will be considered. Neither the Chairman (Mr Bayner) .or Mr F. Birch have nominated v candidates for the annual election cf the Lower Wairan River Board. It was not the intention of the former to seek re eleotion ; but Mr F. Birch overlooked tbo date of nomination, which whs badly advertised. The Board holds the monthly meeting thia evening. On New Year's day people m Picton complained lonely of the heat, but it was nothing to Tuesday. People spent tbe day like the hart, panting for cooling streams, with all the doors and windows open and clouds of dngfe permeating every orifice. On Wednesday the same people were glad of good rousing fires, and thought winter had come upon them suddenly. Yesterday afternoon a young son of Mr J. White bad a narrow Ascapa of being run over m High Street. He v whs riding a bicycle and io passing two drays swerved and fell between them. He managed to throw himself clear, bat tbe burse and dray passed over the bicycln, which suffered considerable damage. • . The Messrs Nelson Bros, hive re* ceived tbe following c*ble from tbe CO. and D. Company, London:— The fn zen roent market is very depressed and there is a fail m value io Dunedin and Worth Islard mutton. The quotations are : Best Canterbury, 3§d ; Dunedm and Southland, 2£l ; Napier and North Island, 2|l. Lamb, first quality, 4£d ; second, 4&d. According to the New Zealand Times, an illustration ot the danger of throwing down lighted matches is afforded by ><n incident which oocurred on Lambton Quay. A man who had just lit bis pipe threw away tbe match, whioh fell into tbe pocket of a little girl's macintosh. In tbe pocket was her handkerchief, wbioh she hastily pulled out, but not before it bad caught fire, and was practically destroyed. On Wedoeßday afternoon many Pioton people heard with regret of the sudden death of Mrs Heines of Waikawa Road. Tbe deceased lady had a slight stroke some months sgo, bat had apparently quite recovered, and seemed to be m her usual health. Yesterday she said to a friend " Ob, I'm dying," and did not speak again, though some neighbors did all they could for her before the doctors came*. Mrs Heines was much respected and was a kind and obaritable neighbor, ever ready to help others by night or d*y. Many will miss her bright and cheerful face. , Tbe Burough School Committee held tbe monthly meeting last night, there bting present Messrs Macey (ohairman), Nicholas, Ohiug, aud Norgrove. Tbe Headmaster reported that the average attendance for tbe last quarter was 315, this being a considerable improvement and due to the fact that the annual examination was postponed till the end of the year. He recommended that Misses Wanden and Harris, pupil teachers, be re-engiged for a fuither term. It was decided to recommend the Bourd to appoint a male assistant teacher (third mattter) instead of two female pupil teachers. The examination reports on tbe Boys' and Cirls' Schools were received from the Inspector. Both reports were inscribed "quite satisfactory." It was resolve 3 to write and ask tbe Headmaster for an explanationas to the results of Standard IV. The Secretary was instructed to convey to Miss Dousliu, the Headmistress, the Committee's congratulations on the results obtained m the Girls' School. Tbe Chairman said that not only had good work been done at the general examination, but, also, Miss Douslin bar), by steady application, succeeded m orrying off two scholarships, which was very much to h> r credit, Mr tt* McOallum wrote tendering his consent for nomination as a candidate for the Boatd ; aud It was decided that he be nominated.' Correspondence from the Boird notified the extension of Miss Farmer's engagement as pupil teacher ; and that other matters brought under the Board's notice had been referred to the Works Committee. Acoouotd were pasted for payment, and the Visiting Committee wae re-appointed. The Onairman was authorised to have the ground cleaned up during the recess. The Paeroa correspondent of\ the Auckland Heiald reports the death of Alexander Untbank, of Waibl, who m the forties brought tbe first troops to New Zealand. He carried most of the early surveyors to Otago. About thirty years ago be retired from the sea, and went to tbe Thames goldfields, then m its infancy, where he ran theSaraka tramline, which was m oonsequecoe known by the name of " Unthank's tram." By this tram firewood was brought down for us at the Bright Smile, Blrd-in-Hand, Queen of Beauty, and Exchange mines. About thirteen years agu be proceeded to Waihi, where be started a baker's shop, from whioh he retired four years' afterwards, m consequence ot failing health. He wae at one time possessed of considerable means,, but lost it through mining speculations at the Thames. Daring his Inter years he had just sufficient left to eke out a scanty sub'isteßce, and lately be enjoyed the benefits of the old age pension scheme. The Briton will have his little joke. The Post states that a claim for registration sent by the Registrar of Elector* to an eUotor simultaneously with a notioe that he had been struck off the roll for not having exercised his vote at the last election, was returned filled m In these terms ;— " Address, South Africa. Occupation, fighting the Boers." Writing from Maitland' Camp, five mileß from Capetown, to a friend m Blenheim, Lieur. Canavan, of the New Zealand contingent, says that one of his horses stood the voyage well, bat the other one had the strangles and was on the sick list. Tbe contingent was camped with the Inniskllling Dragoons and Royal Horse Artillery, and Lieut* Oanavan. speaks highly of the kind assistance given by the former corps. Our fellows were delighted at getting there before the other colonial troops, and it was understood that the authorities, to show their appreciation of the smart despatch of tbe New Zealand oolitic gent, would give them a goodobanoe to prove their metal. The men reaohed the camp on Thursday, and "n Sunday (the date of the letter) they bad re% oeived orders to pack ud at 4 o'clock m thfl rooming andproceed to Naauwpoort. " This," says the letter, "is even mote like business than De Aar, tbe latter being a base camp, so that m two or three days we may be shaking hands with the Free Stater?. The men are la great glee at the sharp move, and, judging by the shooting on tbe ship, should mike Mr Boer remember ta« Maorilandera."