LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS

Marlborough Express, Volume LXVIII, Issue 150, 27 June 1934, Page 4

LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS

A cyclist riding along Grove Road yesterday was: collided with by two dogs and hurled oflf his machine. This is the third time this has happened at the same spot, and the cyclist is getting rather tired of it. Two generous donations of meat have been made to the Marlborough Relief Committee oy well-known farmers. Mr A. Rose, Spring Creek, has given a carcase of beef, and four sheep have been sent in by Mr Geo. Harris, of Kenepuru heads. Further donations of stock would be welcome. As a rule the tui is a shy bird, preferrinig the solitude of the bush for his melodious reeitals. In the ipast week or so, however, its bell-like notes have been heard in Blenheim, and at the week-end golfers: at Pollard' park heard, and finally located, the songster in one of the pine plantations. Residents: in Eltham road also report the presenee of one or more tuis. Possibly the reason for this unusual excursion to town iby these ibeaiutiful native singers is the destruction of their forest haunts or else an absence of natural food in the bush due to the drought. In acknowledging the Marlborough Automobile Association's donation of £10 towards its funds, the secretary of the Lake Rotoiti Domain Board (Mr E. H. Thomson) states that the Board is at present endeavouring to utilise unemployed labour in clearing noxious weeds and levelling the open spaces round the lake. Two men are engaged in improving the track through the bush to the head of the lake, and if the Unemployment Board is agreeable it is hoped to keep them employed for a considerable time in improving the facilities for campers and motorists generally. Last year Mr H. J. Staice, of Marshlands, dre w the attention bf the Oaptain Cook Memorial committee to the fact that the wood of the carriages upholding the two cannon of Cook's period' which were presented by the British Admiralty in 1928 and placed at the foot of the monument at Ship Cove was rapidly decaying, and offered k> reconstruct them in iconcrete. The offer was readily accepted, and the carriages were remioved to Marshlands for that purpose. The work, which was of an intricate nature, has been completed, the original construction having been faithfully reproduced and all the old iron wcrk being carefully re-used. The committee met yesterday to receive Mr Stace's report, and it expressed hearty appreciation of the attention that Mr Stace had given the matter, involving as it did considerable time and expense on his own part. The excellence of the work, as it had been carried out by Mr G. Furner, Messrs Chaytor and Co's. carpenter at Marshlands, was also acknowledged. An account for £15, covering the bare cost, was passed for payment. The committee decided that, before returning the replieas of the carriages to the monument, a visit should be made to Ship Cove at an eariy date for a close r study of the general scheme of improvements now under consideration. Yesterday's meeting, which was held in The Marlborough Express offlce, was attended by Messrs R. P. Furness (chairman), H. R. Dix, H. J. Stace, E. J. Hill, S. I. Vercoe and W. R. Allen (the secretary).