The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 1878.

Kumara Times, Issue 590, 17 August 1878, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 1878.

The Gold Duty Abolition Bill has, according to our Parliamentary telegrams last evening, been thrown ou-, as on Mr George moving its second reading, the Premier’s colleague for the Thames district (Mr Rowe) moved that it be read that day six months, which was carried by a majority of 9. We understand that Barnett and party fere now sinking a shaft between Diiiman’s Town and Larrikins, with the intention, if possible, of going down to tbe main bottom. As this so far has not yet been attempted on this goldfield, the result is anxiously awaited. The inhabitants of this aiid the adjacent townships will have an opportunity of recording their already expressed opinions as to the urgent necessity that exists for the construction of a line of railway between the East and West Coasts of the Middle Island, commencing from Brum fterton and connecting Avith the North Canterbury railways via the Hope Pass. The Greymouth Committee intend to forward to this district copies of a petition to that effect, which, Avhen signed, will be presented to Parliament. We trust that all those interested in the Avelfare of this district will append their signatures, as the benefits derivable from railway communication with the East Coast cannot be overestimated. Copies of the petitions may be signed at Messrs G. Stewarts, Dungau and O’Brian’s, E. Anchor’s and S. Pollock’s establishments ; and .at Dillman’s Town, at Messrs Foldie and Peters Tenders are invited for the purchase of the Okuku Company’s Water-Race, and also tiie claim known as the “Prospectors,” Full particulars appear in our advertising col’uhins. 1

About throe o’clock this morning a patient of the Hokitika Lunatic Asylum managed to effect his escape fr.au that institution. W e learn‘that by placing his bedstead against the wall as a ladder, he succeeded in reaching the window, which he then broke, and almost in a state of nudity at once took to the bush. The attendants were immediately out in search, but up to the time of our going to press his capture had not been effected. At the sale to-day of the stock and furniture of the Albion Hotel, by Messrs F. A. Lsarmonth and Go., the bidding was spirited, and some of'the lines offered were only knocked down after keen competition and good prices. A telegraphic requisition is now in course of signature by persons residing on Crown Lands asking Messrs Barff and George, M.H. R.s., to bring under* .the. notice of the Government the desirability of reducing the half-yearly business licenses from £3 to £2 10s. At present this charge weighs heavily on small traders, who cannot afford to pay the yearly fee of £5 in one amount, and are," in consequence of making half-yearly payments, compelled to pay £6 per annum.

At a meeting of the committee of the Literary Institute held hist Wednesday evening, it Was agreed to incorporate the society under the “Library Powers Act 1876.” The committees attention having been drawn to the fact that certain persons were in the habit of taking books from the library a bye-law was passed by which any person in future infringing the rules will be fined for the tir.d offence Is and for every subsequent one 2h fid. It was decided to charge non-subscribers a fee of 6d each time for the use of the reading room.

The Government organ in Wellington says unguardedly, “On the whole, very little, if any, favouritism can be laid to the charge of Ministers in the matter of advertising.” Well may the Government reply, “Save me from my friends.” Stephenson thought that if a railway train and a cow met, “it would be bad for the coo ;” but his theory is overthrown by an encounter which took place near Timaru, on Friday last, between a cow and a railway train, in which the latter came off second best. The engine was thrown off the line through the obstinacy of the animal, who stood its ground ; two trucks went after the engine ; and had it not been that a coupling gave way, we presume the whole train would have followed suit. None of the passengers were hurt.

A singular case of resurrection is reported by the Wellington .correspondent of the Dunedin Star. In the case of Buckridge v. Wardell, tried at the last civil sitting of the Supreme Court there, it was positively sworn that One Saunders, the vendor of the property to the plaintiff) had died in the Christchurch Hospital. On Friday, Saunders telegraphed that he was greatly surprised to learn of his own death, ana that he is going' to Wellington to give evidence in the case. George Darrell has organised an Australasian Dramatic Company, for the production of Australasian players, written by Australasian authors, to be represented by Australasian actors and actresses. The route will be Sydney, at the Queen’s Theatre, on Saturday, December 21st, 1878. To follow—New Zeland (all the principal cities therein), Tasmania, Melbourne (farewell), Adelaide, and thence direct to London. The company will be engaged for the term of three years and three months.

A Conservative peer was expressing to Lord Beaconsfield the anxiety with which he looked forward to the Premier’s prolonged absence from England. “It won’t be a long business,” was the reassuring reply ; and, after a pause, Lord Beaconsfield added, “We mean to carry the position by a koo di mang” (coup de main). The peer in question moved away, muttering as he went, “ They may shy what they like about his being a foreigner, about his character being unEnglish ; but, at any rate, there is one thing that is unmistakably British, and that is—his French.”

One of the best known and most popular of the riflemen of the United States, General D ikin, died suddenly'last May, at the early age of 47. His name will be inseparably connected With the sudden and brilliant use of high class rifle shooting in America. He was one of the American team of 1874, of the famous Dollyinount team in 1875, and Captain of the v/inning team of List year.

In one of the sancta at Woolwich Arsenal a rocket is now being produced which, instead of a line to rescue the ship-wrecked mariner’, carries a charge of nitro-glycerine in its head, and is capable, by simple contrivances, Avhich greatly increase its accuracy and power of fiigiit, of accomplishing all that a shell can do, at a hundredth part of the expense and Avit'.i a hundred times tne effect. T.ieae rockets require no coimilicated firing machinery. They can be shoAvered on to a body of men, into butteries, forts, and towns, with the rapidity of a breech-loader—in fact more rapidly. Within half-an-honr’s time a bombardment Avith those missiles would shatter the str uigo-st fortress, and lay a whole town in ruins.

Owing to fearshaVing been expressed As to the Avater supply at Malta being equal to the demand made upon it by the increased garrison, orders have been sent oat for tw> powerful condensers in the dockyard to be prepared for the service of the troops should there be any likelihood of a scarcity; The hml )n Spectator’s new form of the “ Jingo ” rhyme is pithy and sententious :

“We don’t Avant to fight : but by Jingo if avc do, We won’t go to the front ourselves, but Ave’ll send the mild Hindoo-. ”

The writer of the following paragraph, clipped from a Home paper, cannot have a very just estimate of the description of immigrants required by this Colony : “lam sorry to say that two eX-captains of the Line may be seen almost daily iii the neighbourhood of the Clubs, in a state of great destitution. Could not a subscription be set on foot to send them to New Zealand, where possibly they Could procure a decent living A young Australian at one of the English Universities, a first-class cricketer, was lately asked to play in a match at a particular date. He was just about acceding with pleasure to the request, when h’e inquired against whom the match was to- be played, andhyaa informe*! the tralian Eleven. He promptly declined, on the ground that he would not play against his countrymen. How patriotic ! , The World gives its account of what it calls a most miserable episode that occurred at the Newspaper Press Fund dinner oft May 18th. Lord Dunraven, in a speech full of genial humour, gave the toast of foreign and American journalism, coupled with the name of Mr ELM. Stanley, and the toast was received with great cordiality. Mr Stanley, in his reply, appeared deliberately to set himself the task of effacing this cordiality. From being sardonic, his remarks became offensive, and there arose the strange sound of energetic hissing. Quiet was temporally restored at the energetic instance of a well known English journalist, who sprang to his feet "and shouted “ Shame !” But Mr Stanley could not take a hint so marked, and with inexplicable obstinacy pursued a course of irrevelant offensiveness. The storm of hissing broke forth again uncontrollably, and was not to be stayed until Mr Stanley sat down, leaving his observations unconcluded.

For miraculous Cures by the use of Eucalypti Extract, read fourth page.— [Advt.] Scipio said that “a valiant and brave soldier seeks rather to preserve one citizen, than to destroy a thousand enemies.” Gollah on a similar principle, destroys the thousand pains of rheumatism, sciaticia, and lumbago, by his “ Great Indian Cures,” the bonder of the nineteenth century. Testimonials may be seen in another Column, and medicines may be procured at all Chemists. —[AdVt.]