The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 1879.

Kumara Times, Issue 708, 6 January 1879, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 1879.

It is an acknowledged fact that persons purchasing tickets in sweeps are actuated by the probability of securing a large return for a small outlay, and such being the case we would direct attention to the Clarendon Sweep which will be drawn on Friday next. In this case a first-class hotel, in thorough repair, well furnished, and in a good situation for business, may be obtained by a .small investment, and the lucky winner will be enabled to commence business forthwith.

The benefit of the new mail contract was experienced here on Saturday evoning by the residents generally. Owing to the Christchurch mail coming here direct via the 100 pi hie persons are now enabled to receive their correspondence by Saturday’s overland mail about fortytwo hours earlier than formerly, and Wednesday’s mail over 18 hours earlier.

At the Resident Magistrate’s Court last Saturday, before M. Price, Esq., R.M., Isabella Nidd pleaded guilty to a charge of drunkenness. The prisoner is an old offender, and on the last occasion received a sentence of six weeks’ imprisonment with hard labor, in Hokitika gaol. On her proceeding to offer extenuating circumstances in mitig itiou, his Worship cut her short, saying it would be useless to apeak to iler, and fined her 10s, and costs 2a. Prisoner signified her intention of ‘‘ taking it out ”in gaol. The police were then directed to proceed against her under the Vagrant Act on the next occasion.— A warrant to aprehend Ellen Bremond on a charge of lunacy was applied for and granted, and prisoner was subsequently conveyed to Hokitika.—The Court then adjourned.

Any stranger passing through the main street of this town on Saturday even hi" last would have naturally concluded that the sporting proclivities of the inhabitants were to a degree unanimous, as there could not have been less than fifteen hundred people to witness the match of Doyle v. Everett, in which the former had to run 100 yards while the latter had to run 50 yards with an list.-man on his back the stakes being £lO a-side. After the usual preliminaries, the-men were placed the pistol fired, and the match won by Doyle easily, who beat his opponent by 15 yards. Doyle’s lime was lOsecs. The match, however, was far from satisfactory, as at the last moment Everett substituted for his rider (who was under weight) a volunteer from the crowd, who when mounted on Everett’s back, so firmly gripped his laps that it was an utter impossibility for him to travel, and it was with the greatest difficulty he succeeded in moving a few yards. At the conclusion a similar match was made between the two parties, Everett bavin" another rider, but, as before Doyle beat him by about two yards. Previous to these matches an ** egg ” race was run which exc ted the greatest amusement, on account of the various modes adopted by the competitors in inching up the u e""s ” (stones), as the distance being 100 yards, ard the eggs 2 yards apart, and each competitor having to place one egg at a time in the basket, the amount of ground to be travelled over was more than at first appeared. The prizes were eventually won by—Jenkins, first prize, £1; C dlaghan, second prize,' 10s. Throe others competed. •'

Mr R. Gosson, of Hokitika, notifies iu another column that he will visit Kumara for trie purpose of tuning pianos, on or about the 9th inst. Persons desirous of availing themselves of this opportunity of having their instruments tuned by this thoroughly competent and well-known musician are requested to leave instructions at this office.

Great interest is being taken in the Dunedin Cup Race, and heavy odds have been laid against many of the horse: entered, the last to date being £6OOO to CO against the colt Omega.

The usual weekly parade of the local Ilifle Volunteers will be held to-morrow evening at King’s Adelphi Hall. A few days ago a man named Giovanni Tuena and a girl named Ada Gaamatica were crossing the Buller on the wire rope about one mile below the Lyell, when the cage in the centre of the rope parted, precipitating them into the river. The father, mother, and others witnessed the accident, but could render no assistance. The bodies are not yet recovered. Tuena is aged about fifty, Miss Gramatica about fourteen.

Several offers have been received by the Victorian Government from private persons to start on expeditions in search of the Kelly gang at a small renumeration. The latest offer has been received through the Minister of Education from nine State School teachers of Ballarat, a number of them being members of the Prince of Wales Light Horae, who desire to spend their three weeks’ holiday in pursuit of the gang, only asking, in return, to be supplied with arms and provisions. Major Smith has undertaken to lay their proposal before the Chief Secretary.

It is stated in an English paper that Charles Bannerman, the Australian bat, may perhaps, return to England, as a professional cricketer, in which case he will play for his county, Kent. This will make the hop country already strong, as formidable as any in England, as there can be no doubt whatever from his performances in the late matches at Home, that the crack Australian player, with practice against good English bowling, would become one of the best bats in England. A workman recently purchased in a small provincial town of Germany ten pounds of sugar, but he found that the grocer had mixed with it at least a pound of sand. On the following day he advertised as follows “ Should the grocer who sold me a pound of sand along'with nine pounds of sugar not bring to me the pound he cheated me of, I shall forthwith disclose his name in the papers.” The next day the workman received nine pounds of sugar from different grocers who had similar actions upon their conscience, and feared publicity.

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, &c., in the best style. N.B.—Gentlemen’s clothes cleaned, dyed, pressed, and repaired on the premises. —Advt. For miraculous cures by the use of Eucalypti Extract, read fourth page.— [Advt.] *