NEW ZEALAND NOTES.

Rodney and Otamatea Times, Waitemata and Kaipara Gazette, 18 September 1903, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND NOTES.

Very considerable interest was taken in the polling on the proposal of the Nelson City Council to raise a loan of £55,000 for a complete drainage scheme. The result was 431 for and 550 against, so the proposal was re-: jeeted by a majority of 119.

The fishermen hare raised the price of fish, and their demand has been agreed to by the dealers. The price of fish has been raised several times lately, and those who go to buy fish now will have an opportunity of contrasting the price with what it was some years ago.

It has been arranged that the farewell to be given by the citizens of Wellington to the Countess of Ranfurly will take place in Parliament Buildings' on November 2, and some mejnbei-s are of opinion that- the intention is to endeavour to get the work of the session oyer before that time. i

At a meeting of the executive of the New Zealand Alliance a resolution was passed condemning the action of the House of Representatives in adding a clause to the City Electorates Bill, which will mate the taking of the local option poll impossible in cities. 'The executive- also expressed the-hope that the Legislative Council will take.steps to restore to the people of the cities the rights which' the other Chamber has taken away.

Professor Marshall, brother of the Rev. J M. Marshall, the missing man, went to Dunedin to see Mr Milne, who said he saw the Rev. J. M. Marshall in the streets there. The professor has telegraphed to the Christchureh police as follows:—" Mr Milne is positive he saw ray brother on Saturday, the sth." Mr Milne wnsa pupil of Hie inissing man aud knew him very well. A body, found in the Avater at the back of Woods' Wbolston Tannery, proves to be that of the Rev. J. M. Marshall, chaplain and first-assistant master of Wanganui College, who recently disappeared. All doubt as to the fate of Mr Marshall has now been set at rest. The body had evidently been where it was discovered since the day on which Mr Marshall was missed.

Twenty-five members of the New Zealand band returned from England by the Gothic including Lange (Thames). The men complain strongly of mismanagement of the tour, which, they say accounted for its financial failure. The band arrived in England at the wrong time of the year. So far as their performances went, the band was most highly complimented, and in most cases comparisons made with Sousa's famous band were in New Zealand's favour. The bandsmen have received no pay siuce June 11, prior to which they received £3 a week. They came back third-class. The men who remained in England were Herd (conductor). Wilton (treasurer), Tombs, and Nicoll.