MARLBOROUGH.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 265, 4 May 1860, Page 3

MARLBOROUGH.

[prom a correspondent.]

April 30. This month has been relieved of the dulness of the last two—Electioneerings, Licencing Publicans, and the volunteer movement have set us all on the quivive. None of the districts, with the exception of the Lower Wairau, were contested, and consequently things passed off more quietly than otherwise would have been the case. For the contested quarter, however, some rare work was going on, not at all creditable to some of the voters, nor to certain parties busy in the canvassing-work. Some after signing a requisition, had the meanness to shun the man they had brought to the poll: one in particular, sported the white feather conspicuously and' seemed no ways abashed about it either!

The Council meets to-morrow, when some sharp work may be expected. The two parties—the Up Plain and Picton party, and the Beaver Party, are dead set at each other, and are anxious for an attack. As we have no place of public amusement here as yet, I will try it I can't spare a day or two now and again to attend the Council; as I expect it will be quite as good as a play. The publicans were rather taken aback about their licenses, the Wairau being a province and Picton being a capital, of course no bush licence could be granted there—thirty Pounds or nothing —while the poor Publican declared that the business could not afford move than ,£lO. The rotten system, too, of granting a license to men who do not reside in the house themselves but sub-let, or putanotherintoit, was commented on ; but I believe the practice is still allowed to go on. Tiiefactis that here, as in most places, we have far too many public houses. Men foolishly spend their money, and publicans grow rich and get big-bellied over the prey. The meeting called for taking steps to form a militia was the be.st attended of any yet held in the province; which, as the Resident Magistrate remarked, was a good synipton. The desire to bear arms seemed to be universal, and great sympathy was expressed for our fellow-colonists Buffering at TaraQaki. The natives here, I may

mention,'are well 'disposed towards the Pakehag. To-morrow, the ■Pelorus and Wairan Maprica intend waiting on the Resident Magistrate to express sentiments *of attachment, and their dissent ''from all proceedings of W. Kingi." Some petty thieving has of. late been going on : grog was the article generally purloined, and perhaps the'thieves looked upon it more in the light of a lark ; but where this kidnapping consisted in goat-flesh, the business comes to -be seridras<and puts joking to one side. ' . Yesterday, the'" swag "of some poor traveller was found in the Wairau river near the entrance to the Kaituna valley. It was done up in diaper cloth, and contained amongst other things laced shoes, (#th cap with broad lace on it, and a razor and strop. Mr. Hutcheson examined tho river, but saw no traces of any body, and it is to be hoped no person has been drowned, but the swag merely carried away. The rivers this menth have been "up," owing to the late rains, but, are now low again. ' The dullness of the last two or three months is expected not to continue long. The Council, which meets to-morrow, (Ist May,) will surely do some little thing in the way of road making, or improving, with here and there some foot bridges; till greater tilings can be grappled with. This would give employment to some hands thrown idle after shearing and harvest time. Idle hands in the Wairau is an unusual thing, but separation threw most of the road hands out of employment.

, The steamer is sa,djy missed here, and as winter comes on, will be more so, for the " overland route" is getting very slippy and bad. The steamer coining and going so regularly was a great boon, and as a rule her cargoes were landed and delivered in first-rate condition.

Blenhiehi.—By an advertisement in the Marlborough paper of Saturday last, we find that a meeting will be held on Wednesday next at the school-roora Blenheim, for the purpose of establishing a Land, Building, and Investment Society, in that district. We believe it is to be formed upon similar principles to the one which works so favorably in Nelson, and we heartily wish its speedy establishment and success. Mr. M. J. Goodman is the secretary named pro tern.