The Kumara Times. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1877.

Kumara Times, Issue 285, 3 September 1877, Page 2

The Kumara Times. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1877.

We are compelled to hold over several letters to the Editor, and other matter. The - Amateur Dramatic Club’s complimentary benefit to Mr W. Bishop takes place on Thursday In the programme published on Saturday night there were several omissions. A ■correct programme will appear in tomorrow’s issue. ■ • The monthly meeting of the Fire Brigade will be held this evening, at Bulstrode’s Club Hotel. The Church of England Building Committee is summoned to attend a meeting at Bulstrode’s Hotel this evening, at 8 o’clock. Miss Kennedy invites her friends and the public to a ball to be given on Friday, the 7th inst, at the Bank Hotel, , Seddon-street. \ Messrs Seddonßros. call for tenders for clearing half an acre of land in Union-street. On {Saturday night, about half-past ten, a hut belonging to Mr Hugh Clegg, at the rear of F. and G. Sullen's premises, caught fire. It was a slab hut, with calico roof Its owner was asleep. Captain King, of the Fire Brigade, was the first to notice the fire, and with the assistance of Mr King, of Messrs Bullen, soon put it out. We regret to have to say that on his return from the hut Capt. King fell into a. gravel pit, some five feet deep, spraining his foot and bruising hia leg. Yesterday afternoon a party were . taking a drive in the Albert car belonging to Mr King, of the Adelphi Music Hall. When they were about 2 miles on this side of Greenstone, their horse fell dead, and some of them were thrown out of the vehicle. No injury was sustained by -any of the pleasureseekers. About 6 o’clock fast evening a chimney, belonging to the hotel connected witfi the Theatre Royal, caught fire. The blase was sufficiently large to attract immediate attention and the alarm of “ fire" was speedily raised. The fire brigade under Lieut, 'Bishop were promptly on the spot with their appliances, and, in a few minutes after “their arrival, tie fire was extinguished. The top of the chimney, which was an iron one, burst with the heat caused by the burning soot. Had the accident occurred aft a later hour the consequences might have been more serious than they were, as the roof of the adjoining building was of ehlngle. We would remind our readers that when the borough bylaws are in force householders will surely be fined for letting their chimneys take fire. Mr Sharw, the Resident Magistrate, was fined 10a in the Reefton Court, for allowing bis chimney to catch fire. We have received from Thomas J. Waters Esq., of Auckland, a copy of a letter recently received by him from the Rev. Father Nivard, formerly of the Thames. The letter, which is unfortunately teo long to admit of its insertion in oar columns, describes in harrowing terms “the sufferings from famine endured by the Chinese, amongst whom Father Nivard is now labouring. Mr Waters concludes his letter to us thus: —“ There may be some persons in your district who knew Father Nivard, and tbhey may be willing- to respond to the .appeal made by him to all bis old friends. Any contributions will be thankfully received' by jfrie, and forwarded to Father Nivard’s agent in China.” Contributions-.,should be sent to T. J. Waters Esq. Waste Lands Office, Auckland. The following is the text of a petition lying for signature at the business places at Dilhrian’s and the Larrikins: —To the Honorable the PostmasterGeneral, Wellington.—We, the undersigned miners, storekeepers, and others residing at Dillman’s Town and the Larrikins, on the Kumara Gold-field, numbering about 2,000 diggers and others, wish to lay before you the inconvenience we suffer, and the loss of time we incur in having ito travel to Kumara for our letters, a distance to some of us of fully two miles. The prayer of our petition is that you grant us a branch Postoffice at Dillman’s Town, with a daily mail to Kumara. We wish respectfully to instance Black’s Point, two miles from Reefton, another mining centre, which has its tri-weekly or daily mail, with a population of about SQO only, whereas this locality numbers fully 2,000. —And your petitioners will ever pray, &c. | Yesterday afternoon, about 4 oVloek, the chimney of a private house, occu-

pied by Mr Caird, in Main-street near Comfoot’s sawriniil, caught fire. A miner from the lead, fortunately passing at the time, rushed in and speedily put the fire out. J This afternoon, about 3 o’clock, a chimney caught fire in the European j Hotel. The alarm had scarcely been . raised ere the Fire Brigade, under Capt. I King, with their apparatus were on the I spot. A line from a water hole to the . chimney was at once formed, and in a • few minutes all cause for apprehension i had ceased. The “ Ticket-of-leave Man” was again performed on Saturday night at the Theatre Royal, and performed in a - mauner which would do no discredit to professionals. Indeed this production of the drama , in Kumara has afforded an opportunity of comparing our amateurs with professionals, which has proved most satisfactory. Mr Inglis and Miss Lyster in the part of Bob Brierly, and Sam. Willoughby respectively were of course thoroughly at home. Mr Costello’s “Jem Dalton” was carefully played. Mr Bishop’s “Ilawkahaw” exhibited all the selfpossession which should belong to the part. Hia disguise was a most effectual one. Mr Morgan, both in accent and by-play, simulated excellently the Fagin-like Moss. Mr Lanauze made a j respectable “Mr Gibson.” Mr Mogi. dridge as “Maltby” was duly fussy. I Mrs Henne was as effective as usual as i “May Edwards,” and Mrs McGee made up and persisted in garrulousness as though the part of Mrs Willoughby i had been written for her. Both ladies i thoroughly realised their roles, and to i their efforts in no small degree the success cf the piece may be ascribed. I We would hint to some of our amateurs : that the acoustic properties of the ■ theatre are but poor, and that consequently, if the audience is to hear what r is said on the stage, it is requisite that I every syllable be uttered clearly and with well-opened mouth. The afrerpiece was again the “ Conjugal Lesson. In this Mrs Henne and Mr Jolly had very onerous duties. They fulfilled them perfectly, however, and sent away their audience thoroughly satisfied of • their dramatic talent. We ought to mention the singing of Miss Lizzie Mogdridge, a debutante of tender years, who sang very nicely “ Molly darling.” ■ The new act drop was used on Friday ; ?H»ht for the first time. It is a great ; improvement to the theatre, and reflects ; credit on the artist, Mr Inglis.