The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1878.

Kumara Times, Issue 688, 11 December 1878, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1878.

Miners interested in the consideration of the action of the Government regarding the amending of the title of the Kumara Water Hace are requested to attend a public meeting at Mr D. Williams’ blacksmith’s shop, Dillman’s Town, tomorrow evening, at 8 o’clock. The tenders for breaking road metal are required to be left at the Town Hall before noon to-morrow.

j The drawing of Tonks’s sweep on the I Champion race will take place on Friday, i A few tickets can still be had at Gilbert j Stewart’s Hotel, or at Ehlers and Peters’ j National Hotel, Dillman’s Town. I The Rev. James Duller has in the press ■ a work entitled “ Forty Years in New j Zealand,” and which contains, Ist, a per- ! sonal narrative ; 2nd, an account of the Maoris ; 3rd, a history of New Zealand ; and 4th, a description of the colony. A gentleman who visited the Nevis district last week informs the Cromwell (Otago) Argus that there is still a vast quantity of snow in that region, the amount on the Remarkables being greater than is usually seen any winter on these lofty mountains. As showing the disastrous effect on sheep owners in the Nevis district caused by the heavy snowfalls of last winter our informant states that one owner has skinned 900 sheep disclosed by the melting snow, and besides has plucked upwards of 8001 b of wool from the carcasses too far gone for the operation of the knife. These figures, large as they are, do not indicate anything like the actual loss sustained by this particular flockowner, to say nothing of others similarly situated. In the Eaiapoi Court last Monday week a Maori defendant pleaded, in justification of the non-payment of a debt, the not uncommon excuse “ I have got no money.” The Resident Magistrate “When do you expect to have any?” Maori—” Cannot say.” Resident Magistrate—” Well, you ought to be making money now when the whitebait is in season ?” Maori—“ Sale of white fish only comes to 7s a day. Give me a month and I will pay.” Resident Magistrate—“ Yes; I shall probably have to give you a month.” [Laughter.] Maori—“l pay then.” Resident Magistrate—“ Then you must pay the bill in a month, or, in default, have a month in gaol.” Maori—- “ All right, good day.” The Australian cricketers had some amusing experiences in the old country, says an Auckland contemporary. Our London correspondent relates the following : — u I uiet one of them at a picnic, and he told me that in country places they were constantly accosted by farmers and men and women of the agricultural classes, who insisted upon a shake of the hand, because they came from the land where ‘ qur Bill’ was settled, and it always ended with, ‘ Well, you’ll tell him you’ve seen us, you know, and we’re all hearty,’ without even communicating the name of either speaker or recipient of the message, much less the address.” ° The luck, whatever that may be, of some people is truly bad. A young gen- 1 tlernan in a Ballarat lawyer’s office drew i Calamia in one of Miller’s £IOOO sweeps ! for the Melbourne Cup, and thinking that | his horse was too much of an outsider, sold I his chance back to Miller for £25, who thus pockets the principal prize himself. We are more lax than the Australians in some things. The other day, at Ballarat, the proprietor of a show was summoned by the police and fined £lO 10s, with £3 3s costs, for distributing “gifts” to his audience. It was pointed out that at the same time a bazaar was advertised to be held in aid of the funds of the city free library, under the patronage of the AttorneyGeneral, the Minister of Mines, and Professor Pearson, at which “gifts” were to be distributed every night , as an inducement to attend. Speaking of the valley by which General Roberts is advancing on Cabul, the Times says : —“From the published reports of Lumsden’s mission, it would appear that the physical difficulties of the Koorum were far greater than those by the Khyber. Taiwar Khotul is at present quite impracticable for guns, and the Pass over the Shootur Gurdan, or ‘ Camel’s Neck,’ further on, is upwards of 13,000 feet above sea level. So intense was the cold experienced, even in the month of April, that Lumsden’s small escort, only 19 sabres strong, lost one night two horses frozen to death on that ridge. A campaign before winter sets in means an occupation of Idle salient points in the mountain ranges throughout the depth of the cold season. ” It will be seen from this that if General Roberts is to march upon Cabul, his column has tough work before it. In consequence of the dissatisfaction experienced by the ladies of Kumara and district in not being able to get their Dresses made in time for the coming festival of Christmas, D. Davidson and Co. have imported the largest assortment of costumes ever exhibited by any house on the West Coast, comprising all the latest and most fashionable makes in Pekeis, Marcellas, Repps, Lustres, all colors’ Russell cords, &c., Ac.; maids’ and children’s costumes, all sizes and qualities.— D. Davidson and Co., Berlin House, Seddon street, Kumara.— [Advt.] Mr W. Willway having sold his plant and interest in the Dyeing Business to Mr R. Upjohn (who has become practically acquainted with the trade), begs to solicit the kind patronage hitherto afforded him to his successor.—Mrs Upjohn announces that she is prepared to clean and dye hats, feathers, gloves, Ac., in the best style. N.B.—Gentlemen’s clothes cleaned, dyed, pressed, and repaired on the premises.— Advi, , _ Eor miraculous cures by the use of Jtincalypti Extract, read fourth pave [Advt.]