LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS

Marlborough Express, Volume LX, Issue 229, 28 September 1926, Page 4

LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS

It was stated this morning that the Junior High School in Blenheim will be defin i tely opened on February 6, 1927. After a full reoonsideration of the question , tlie Nelson City Gouncil resolved that a further conference of local bodies be held to diseuss the advisnbility of forming an eleetrie power board for the district. The civic recepfcions tcndered this morning to the Hon. R. A. Wright at P'ictotL and Blenheim are the first which he has ever enjoyed. He remarked at the Blenheim lunetion that while he had given many receptiono aa' Mayor, he had never been in the position of recipient before. As a result of a. motor accident, a man named Mr T. Taplin was admitted to the Wairai: Hospital at about mid-night on Friday night. He is suflering from a fractured left arm and is making good progress. The cause of the accident is not cleai'. but it is understood that Mr Taplin was a member of a party in a car and that he was injured when the machine was pulled up Suddenly. In regard to the electrification of the Lyttelton railway a Dominion (Wellington) reporter was informed last night that the only steps being take n at present relate to preparation of the plans and specifioations and not to im.mediate construction. The preliminary work outside the finalisation of the. plans will occupy a good deal of timo, aird the Public Works Department ahticipates that it will be Maroh before the work itself is put in hand. Speaking at the cjvic reception tcndered to him this morning the Hon. R. A. Wright got his nretaphors somewhat inixecl. He was referring to the difficulties most public bodies found in making euds rneet and quoted the cas© of the Wellington City Cbuncil. "Althcugh we had an ineome of a million a year," he declared, "it aiways beoame the duty of the Mayor, over the last three nionths of the financiaL yeat, to whip the cat in all directions in order to make the acco jnts balance!" Advice. lias been received by Mr J. McD'onald, of the Wairau Pa, from the Maori Advisbry Board of the N.Z. Rugby Union, that the shield for presentation to the French Rugby Federation for competition in France has been completed and handed to the Rt. Hon. the Prime Minister, who-, while. at the Imperial Oonfererioe., and in his capacity as Native •Minister, will make the presentation on behalf of the Maori people, The. total cost in eonnection with the shield was £40, and, as the tropliy is being presented as a gift from the Maori race, snbscriptions towards the fund are being solieited. One of the first gum trees ever planted in Renwicktown stood on the property of Mrs Walter Brooks until yesterday, when, in pursuance of an ediet issued by the Power Board, it was felled after nine hours hara work by a gang of men comprising Messrs Brooks, Hill, Nicoll, and employees of the Power Board. This magnifioent tree was planted, it is stated, by the late Mr Gustav Bary about 70 years ago on the site of the old Woolpack Inn, Renwick's first public, house. When felled, the tree was lneasured and proved to have a diameter of 6ft. lin at the butt oue way and 5ft. 2in. the other. As the tree was between 80 and 90 feet in height, its fall was mighty, and oaused great excitenrent amongst tlie school children. Renwick, it may well bN said, has lost one of its oldest landmarks. Figures obtaincd by a reporter this afternoon from the Marlborough County Glerk (Mr A. J. Maclaine) indicate that the Gouncil's deeision to again allow the 5 per eent. discount for the pirompt paymont of rates will be fully jusitdfied this year. The current ra.tes became due and payahle on Septeflmber 1st, and so far a- sum of £6000' has been oollected. Last year £13,000 in rates was received before the ' last rebate day, and tliis year it is hoped to beat that total. Of conrse, it rests with the ratepayers whether a fresh record will be established or not, but they have everythi rig to gain and nothing to lose by paying their clues on or before Friday next, the last rebate day. Judging by last year's experience, the County Glerk is anticipating a big rush over the ne$t few days. The fi ti a 1 night of the senes of lectures comlucted by the W.E.A. was field in the Miasonic .11 all last evemng, wfien Alf s M. E. Wood rendered an attractive musical programme to an enthusiastie audience of over 200 members .and friends. The first part of the programme consisted of solo items hy Miss Lane, Mrs O. Parker, Miss Bennett, M'r G. H. Gray, and Mr A. E. Hobhs, and in tfie second part Liza Lefimann 's Song Oycle, "In a Persiair Garden, " was given with Mrs Wood at tfie piano, and as solists Mrs E. Reid, Mrs G. H. Gray, Mr Gray, and Dr Hall. This delightful work was beautifully rendered, and the audience showed their keen appreciation hy enthusiastie applause*. At the conclusion of the programme Archdeacon York moved a hearty vpte of thanks to Mrs Wood and the voealists who had given such a delightful musical programme. Mr G. H. Seddon, the W.E.A. secretary, also adclressed the audience and pointed out that the movement* hacl made great strides in Blenheim this season, and the lecturers, Mrs Wood, Mr S. I. Jones, Mr A. F. O'Donoghue, and Mr Sheat, had given very interesting and instructive courses. It hehoved the members t,o follow up the good work of the season hy helping to j ncrease the membership from 113, the roll to-day, to possibly 213 for next season. Mr Seddon is leaving Blenheim next month, and his departure will be much regretted, as his keen entbusiasm as secretary has been largel.y responsible for the splendid increase of membership and the very satisfactory season conduct«d„