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Kumara Times, Issue 442, 25 February 1878, Page 2

To-day is being observed as a general holiday by the Government offices, banks, business places, and miners in consequence of the visit of Sir George Grey and party.

Balls are to be given this evening, at the Theatre Royal, the Albion Hotel, and the Masonic Hotel.

Messrs Cassidy and Clarke, the wellknown coach-proprietors who are dissolving partnership, announce their property for sale on the 28th inst. Their advertisement, which came too late for insertion in to-day's issue, will appear tomorrow.

Tenders for the construction of sections 3 to 6 inclusive, of the Erin-go-bragh Water race will be received up to 6, pm. tomorrow, at Greenstone and Hokitika. '

The drawing on Lynch's Sweep on the Melbourne Cup took place on Saturday evening. Two horses come to Kumara.

The few remaining tickets in Tonks's Sweep on the Dunedin Cup may be obtained at Gilbert Stewart's Hotel, or Bulstrode's Club Hotel.

The sale of horses in connection with Bulstrode's Calcutta Sweep on the Dunedin Cup takes place this evening at the Club HoteL

Mr Stephen Massett, whose intended appearance at the Theatre Royal was announced in Saturday's issue, fully warranted all that was then said of him, and it is only to be regretted that, owing to the short notice given, the attendance was not large. Mr Massett, however, faithfully went through the programme laid down, and whether in the pathos of "the death of poor Joe," the refined comedy of his Dickensonian readings, or the more broadly humorous sketches from personal experience, he carried his audience entirely with him. Mr Massett's imitation of public speakers and singers of world-wide fame are simply inimitable, and we can only wish him a broader stage and more extensive patronage than he found in Kumara.

At the last sitting of the Resident Magistrate's Court, Mr Price gave an important ruling regarding the locus standi of advocates under the Mining Act. The profession, represented by Messrs Perkins andHawkinSjobjectedontechnicalgrounds to the appearance in Court as advocates of • Messrs Barff and Byrne ; but his Worship, after ably reviewing the tendency and intent of legislation on the subject, admitted the claims of the Messrs Barff and Byrne to be heard by the Court, and ordered that they should be registered under the Act of 1877.

The bridge over the Hokitika river is to be erected at Kanieri.

Mr Gisborne addressed a large meeting of his constituents at Ross on Friday night, and at the conclusion of his remarks, received a unanimous vote of confidence.

Mr Gilbert King, who fo» 13 years has resided in Greymouth as the representative of the Bank of New South Wales, was entertained at a farewell banquet given to him on Saturday in the Melbourne Hotel. Mr King is being removed to "Wanganui. The following nominations have been received for the Greymouth Jockey Club Handicap :—Septimus, Doncaster, Morning Star, Mamama, Venus Transit, Banker, Nutcracker, Eclipse, Falcon, Native, Jasper, Thunderbolt, Elfin King, Kensington. The Saturday Advertiser concludes an article on Colonial Upper Houses, by saying that "we did not need forty-three gentlemen to act as a Birmingham House of Peers, at a cost of £IO,OOO a-year. Three or four Examiners of Bills would

be a better protection against imperfect legislation, and they would not cost a third of the money." Through express trains are to be run between Christchurch and the Bluff, doing the journey in sixteen hours. A three-year old steer has been discovered in the Waikato amusing itself by butting logSj of wood on to the railwayline.

A good story about almanacs is going the rounds of the newspapers. In an up-country district in Napier a man had purchased one of these invaluable handbooks, published by a local newspaper. Relying on its accuracy he made a bet that Lord Derby had once been Premier of England. The bet was referred to the decision of the editor of the paper where the almanac was printed. A. paragraph appeared stating that Lord Derby had never been Premier. The publisher was astonished a few days later when he received a telegram to the following effect : —" Then look at your d almanac and weep."