The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 1879.

Kumara Times, Issue 711, 9 January 1879, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 1879.

The prompt, united, aud decisive action taken by the miners of this gojdfield with regard to the recent proclamation by the Government for taking land adjacent to the Kumara-Kawhaka Water-Race has quickly borne fruit, inasmuch as the Government have, through their engineer, to speak in sporting parlance, already " thrown up the sponge." A meeting between the

Miners Executive Committee and the District Engineer took place on Tuesday evening by request of the Government, when, after hearing the very explicit and convincing arguments adduced by the Committee against the confiscation of their ground, and pointing out thit such a course would not only be fraught with danger to the mining interest at large, but would also tend to the event ual desertion of this district, the Committee were iniortued that under the circumstances the Government would ho rulvised to rescind their lecent objectionable proclamation as issued under the Governor relative to the lands specified. In taking this most satisfactory course for all parties, the Government naturally require that all claims for compensation that have been lodged on account of die laud taken for the Kuinara-lvtwhaka Water-race should be withdrawn prior to the proclamation being rescinded. As the miners in taking action in this matter were only actuated by motives of justice and equity in claiming compensation foi ground taken from them afier having been leased from the Government under their miners' rights, and which in many cases was of a highly auriferous nature, we may reasonably apprehend th.it, when th ■. cause of their ol>j»ction is removed the applications for compensation will cease, or in other words, the restitution of their ground and the withdrawal of their claims will take place simultaneously. Looking at the question in another aspect we find it clearly indicates the auiiferous chiracter of this field, as in this instance we have a large number

i of miners who, although they would be entitled to receive a handsome sum as j compensation for the ground taken I from them, would yet prefer the resti tution of their claims to a temporary pecuniary benefit. Of the ultimate result of the action of the Government we were never in doubt, and we say i most emphatically that where the mining interests are threatened, it is not alone the duty of one man, but of the miners as a body, to take united action in a cause both lawful and justifiable, and thereby obtain, as in the present instance, justice.

At the Resident Magistrate's Court this [ morning, before M. Price, Esq., R.M., and Edwin Blake, Esq., J.P., Reuben I Toms was charged with an assault on [ George Orams on the 28th day of November last. After hearing a laigo amount of evidence, the full report of which will appear to-morrow, the defendant was committed for trial at the next sitting of the District Court in Greymouth, bail being allowed, himself in £IOO and two sureties By an advertisenurnHnsmothercounral it will be seen that the drawing of the Clarendon Sweep is postponed until Monday next; this course being thought advisable as many persons holding tickets, who wish to be present, would be unable to attend to-morrow evening in consequence of the Masonic banquet. At the monthly meeting of the Westland County Council, held yesterday, we find the Public Works Committee recommend—"!. That tenders be called for at once for supplies of gravel necessary on the Greenstone road, the Loopline road, the Ross road, the One-mile Line, and the Blue Spur road. 2. That the Chairman and Mr Dale visit the site proposed for bridge on Loopline road, and deviation on Christchurch road, and report on works necessary to the Council. 5. We cannot advise the Council to defray any portion of the cost of maintaining the road lyin" along the north-eastern boundary of the Borough of Kumara." The Inspector of Works, who was in attendance, reported on the protective works at Stafford Town. He recommended the construction of a stone crate one chain and a half, to prevent the water following its present course straight across the road. There would also be needed additional work on a channel. He recommended that the work should be done by day labor. The s.s. Waipara. returned at 8 a.m. yesterday, from Wanganui Bluff, with the cargo saved from the schooner Mabel Jane, consisting chiefly of grain. The cargo was auctioned on the wharf same morning, by Messrs Learmonth & Co,, j and fetched good prices, the greater por- ! tion of the lots being very little damaged. \ If the present fine weather continues the j schooner will be got off. She is reported I as not so much injured as at first antici- ' pated. The Waipara afterwards went I outside to await the arrival of the Claud j Hamilton, due from Wellington and Nelson, and bound for Melbourne direct. I She returned to port about mid-night, I after transhipping cargo and passengers, j

The examination for the two scholarships in connection with the Westland Education Board commenced at all Saint's Schoolroom on Tuesday. There were eight competitors present, namely, Gerard Mueller, Arthur Banks, and Edward Allen, from the Hokitika school ; Robert Atchison, and Herbert Perkins from the Greymouth school; John Harworth from .the Kaneri school; Bernard Ward from the Goldsborough school, and Win. Boygey from the;Kiunara school. The examination will<fee reported upon" at the meeting of the Board on Thursday. Dr Glenn, of California, with eight headers, 24 waggons, and several threshers, cut and thrashed 1000 acres of wheat in two and three-fourths days. Yield, nearly thirteen and a half bushels per acre. A paper carpet is now made in England designed to imitate parquet flooring, the paper being printed in patterns to resemble different woods from photographs. The crevices are filled with plaster of Paris, and the whole coated with durable varnish.

Mr W. Willway having sold his plant and interest in the Dyeing Business to Me 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.—Advx. _ For miraculous cures by the use of Eucalypti Extract, read fourth page.— [Auvt.]