The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. SATURDAY, AUGUST 2, 1879.

Kumara Times, Issue 885, 2 August 1879, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. SATURDAY, AUGUST 2, 1879.

In the latter part of last year, on the motion of one of the members for this district in the Westland County Council, a resolution was passed for the construction of a track from the south of the Teremakau to the Greymouth and Kumara Tramway line. Subsequently tenders were called for this work, but, whether owing to these being found in excess of the amount authorised, or for some other unassigned reason, none were accepted, and the matter has since remained in statu quo. The construction of this track is one ot those necessary and requisite works that require the immediate attention of the Council, the more so as a large number of people are, through its tion-completion, subject to great inconvenience and personal discomfort. Another and most material argument in favour of the Council carrying out this work is the fact that for the last ten years, the residents on the south beach have been contributing to the Provincial Treasury in the shape of rates, and during the whole of that time up to the present the benefits they have received therefrom may be totally summed up under the heading of “ Nil.” Situated as the residents of this south beach are—isolated, as it were, from the rest of the world—they are deservedly entitled to some consideration at the hands of the Council, and it is to be regretted that a matter on which such a small outlay is involved, and which would prove of inestimable benefit to a number of people, has not ere this been taken in hand. The connexion of the south beach with the tramway line by this track could, we are creditably informed, be carried out at a very small cost, and, in the ihterests of the district they represent, we trust the members repieseutiug this constituency will give the matter their early attention with a view to procuring the construction of this work by the Council at an early date.

The San Francisco mail arrived at Greymouth by the s.s. Kennedy this morning, and will reach Kumara by this evening’s tram. There are no passengers from beyond the Bealey by the Christchurch coach today for Kumara, but a telegram states that the mail is heavy ; it will arrive in town this afternoon, shortly before five o’clock. The s.s. Waipara tendered the Maori at Hokitika this morning, and will take passengers out again to-morrow morning to the same boat. The entertainment at the Theatre Royal last evening on the occasion of the benefit of Mr Scluiltzc was a groat success, as not only was the house crowded, but the progranie was carried out in a manner that deservedly entitled it to the marked approbation it received at the hands of the audience. Want of space precludes us from noticing the various items at length in this issue, the detailed notice being held over until Monday The bill to be introduced by the Hon. Mr Gisborne relative to the Kumara Education Reserve will, wo understand, embrace the recommendation of Dr Giles that, in addition to the yearly rental, each leaseholder will be compelled to take out a business license. This is what may be called a reduction on an extended scale considering that the lease holders have appealed against the present rentals as being exorbitant.

We learn from a private telegram received in town that Mr R. C. Reid does not intend again seeking the suffrages of the Hokitika constituency should a dissolution take place. A splendid consignment of bullocks, sheep, and pigs, landed this morning at Grey mo nth froiu the steamer Wallabi will be sold by Messrs Girdwood, Lahraan and Co., at the Preston Yards Greymouth on Monday next. The sale will commence at 11 o'clock sharp. The Rev. W. West will deliver a lecture at the Presbyterian Church to-mor-row evening, on “The signs of our times, and their bearing on the Second Advent.” The morning service will be held at the usual hour. The freshly-invited tenders for the Stillwater contract of the Brunner Railway close at noon on Monday next, at the Public Works Office, Dunedin. We would draw special attention to the fact that Mr Dupre, of Grey mouth, has arrived with a magnificent selection of all kinds of jewellery, which are now on view at the commercial room of Gilbert Stewart’s Hotel. From personal inspection we may state that the assortment, of watches especially, far surpasses any we have yet seen on the Coast, from the keyless stop fifty guinea gold to the English hunting lever of a more moderate price. As Mr Dupre will only stay this evening, persons desirous of interviewing hiin relative to the extraordinary actions of their time-pieces should avail themselves of this opportunity, as Mr Dupre’s experience in this braiich of trade is too well known to require comment. Donald M‘Gregor, the man who was recently admitted to the Christchurch Hospital suffering from gangrene, occasioned through exposure, died at the institution on Saturday morning from tetanus. The poor fellow was in a wretched plight when brought to the Hospital, and on Friday evening last lockjaw set in and terminated fatally. Deceased was 51 years of age, unmarried, and had no friends or relatives in the Colony. Mr Dodd, a London diamond merchant has examined two diamonds found at Echunga, South Australia. He says there can be no doubt that diamond fields exist in the vicinity of Exchunga, and that in years past the gold diggers passed over unheeded hundreds of diamonds, believing them them to be useless crystals.