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Kumara Times, Issue 489, 22 April 1878, Page 2

In continuation of our remarks of the other day, we would poiut out that it cannot fail to-have been noticed by the, most casual observer that an entirely new feature has been introduced into the " Mines Act 1877," viz that provision ia made for the granting of! licences for the " searching for any metal or mineral other than gold," subject to certain regulations, and regulations relatiug to mineral leases follow in the appendices. These are made under the Ist sub-section, of the 51st clause.. Persons desirous of obtaining Buch leases must mark out their claims by pegs or cairns of stones or stacks ot sods and trenches extending ou either I side. A notice must' be posted thus | " Applied for Lease," and must also contain the name and address of the ! applicant. These steps must be taken 21 days before actually making the application ; then the notice containing full particulars (Schedule A) must be published in the nearest newspaper, j and at the same time a sin ilar notice must be posted at the Post-Office most convenient to the land applied for, or at the Warden's Court if it be nearer to such land. A like notice must also be posted at the Mining Registrar's Office. Having advanced thus far and before making his application, a sum of £ls must be deposited as against expenses of survey <fec. If the applicant subsequently withdraw, or refuse to execute or take delivery of the lease, the whole balance must be forfeited. Thus the Government, whilst affording every facility for the development of the mineral deposits of the country, secures itself from absolute loss, and at the same time pxmishes those whose intentions may not be those of bonafide applicants. I Seven days subsequent to the advertisement, applicant must make formal | application to the Warden, whose duty ' it becomes to register it accurately in a i book, and give a receipt for the survey, which by the way, mu3t also contain a J notification of the exact hour at which the application was received. This «hill rl«cide all questions of priority of application. , ;

j To-day being Easter Monday, was obf served as a general holiday insomuch as > that all work was stopped at the claims, • and the shops in town were closed. But , more wretched weather for holiday-mak-ing could not be conceived. Throughout L last night the rain fell in torrents and con- , tinued all day, most effectually putting a stop to the holding of the proposed Easter Sports. In the morning two coaches full 1 of passengers for the Hokitika Races left town, who were, of course, doomed to disappointment on their arrival. The meeting of subscribers to, and ticket-holders of, the Kumara Hospital is ; to be held to-morrow evening, at 8 o'clock, . in the Theatre Royal, for the purpose of electing a Committee of management 1 for the ensuing year. As henceforward • the affairs of the hospital will be con- . ducted on an entirely new basis, it is to be hoped that there will be a full attendance to-morrow evening, and that a Committee of " live men" will be chosen. It may be remembered thaiat the last public meeting one of the members of Committee, Mr S. Croumbie-Brown, stated that he had telegraphed to Sir George Grey representing that a sum of £6OO would pay for additions to the existing building sufficent to meet all requirements, and asking if the Government would grant that sum free of any conditions. This afternoon the following reply was received. "Your telegram of 13th only reached me this day. If £6OO will suffice for new building at Hokitika the Government will find that amount, the Kuinara people continuing to pay half the maintenance of their hospital." The i original proposition of the Government was to spend £I2OO in building a new hospital, of which sum the people of Kumara were required to find £6OO. It is, however, admitted on all hands that £6OO is all-sufficient to provide the required accommodation, and as the Government has now agreed to grant that sum nothing remains but to elect a Committee possessing the confidence of the people, and having at heart the interests of the institution. _We understand the challenge of the Kumara chessplayers has been accepted on behalf of Greymouth, and the Match Committee will meet at Rugg's Hotel tomorrow evening, to select their representatives and make arrangements. We have been favoured by a correspondent with particulars of the play on Saturday night in the Christchurch and Dunedin match, but must hold it over till our next issue. We are indebted to Mr Bulstrode, of the Club Hotel, for the information that at the Christchurch races to-day Jangler won the Leger, with Foul Play second. It was won by one length; time 3 mins. m sees. Trump Card and Standard Bearer were scratched. In the Champagne Stakes, Natator was first, York second, and Nemo third. Longlands won the Autumn Handicap, Mautana second, Jangler third. Mrs Harrison has postponed her ball until Tuesday, 23rd inst., on account of the inclemency of the weather. To-morrow evening, at 7 o'clock, a public meeting will be held in the Empire Hotel, Dillman's Town, to consider the question.of the construction of the tunnel ! tail-race by the Government. The meet- ■ ing is called by Mr John Everett. I The family of MrHanna, of the Victoria ' Hotel, Seddon street, experienced a very narrow escape last night. In a room occu- ; I pied by Mrs Hanna, Miss Jolly, and two : ■ children, anight lamp (kerosene) had been \ I left burning, and Miss Jolly was awakened ' iby a strong smell of burning. On looking ( round she saw that the lamp had fallen I ; into a work-box filled with combustible j material ; and which burst into flame just i i as Mrs Hanna leaped up, and threw a ' woollen garment over it. Before the in- ! mates succeeded in escaping the room was ! full of a dense, suffocating sm>ke ; and there can be no doubt that, had the alarm not been given, fatal results would in the . course of a few minutes have followed. j This morning,, about half-past 2 o'clock, the fire-bell gave out the warning note ; ' the cause of which was the discovery of a chimney on fire, belonging to Mr Rvan Main Road. The Brigade, under Capt' King, was not long in reaching the spot. ■ Mr Ryan in the meantime, checked further progress with a liberal supply of wator Capt. King, deeming it advisable, had the chimney pulled down. The Brigade left i at ten minutes to three. Mr Ryan had . only lately purchased and removed into I the premises. j In the cricket match played between the ! counties of Westland and Grey, on Satur- ! day last, the latter won with the greatest ' ease with 8 wickets to spare. Out of ! eight matches played by Greymouth dur- ! nig the season just closed they won seven, ! the only club they failed to beat bein°- the I Kumara one. ° \ The population of the County of West- i land is 11,653 ; Grey Counfy, 7772. I Referring to the expected arrival of j Professor Ulrich, the Dunedin Morris ! Harald naively remarks that he will not | enter upon Ins duties at once inasmuch as ! it is thought desirable that he should j have the opportunity of making himself acquainted with the geology of New Zealand before he enters upon his duties as I Professor and Director of Mines " Is ! this another job ? j A speccial telegram of the war news I having reached D. Davidson and Co in i time for the Autumn and Winter stoe'e I they availed themselves of the opportunity to be first in the markets and purchase i ' while goods were cheap, leaving others to I buy during peace negotiations, and consequently have to pay much more for them. | i So that D. Davidson and Co. will sell 25 i per cent, cheaper than any house on the l . West Coast. Their large and well-assorted \ stock being now opened and full replenished for the Easter holidays, an early call ' is s .lioitod to the Bori in House, Seddon * street, ivuniara.—[Auvt.] j