The Kumara Times. Published Every EVENING. THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 1879.

Kumara Times, Issue 890, 7 August 1879, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every EVENING. THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 1879.

The brief telegraphic report of the Engineer-in-Chief of the Middle Island which appeared in our issue last evening relative to the railway between the East and "West Coasts furnishes another and very powerful argument in favour of the deviation of the Hokitika and Greymouth Railway line. In recommending- Arthur's Pass as the route combining the greatest advantages, Mr Blair has recommended a line which, on this side of the range, is open only within the last twenty miles to two distinct routes being followed to reach its destination. One of these is bv bridging the Teremakau crossing via Bruce's paddocks, skirting the edge of Lake Brunner, and thence by the Arnold Paver to Brunnerton. The other, and one that would be less costly and more remunerative, is by running parallel to the Teremakau river, thence through the head of Larrikins into this town, where it would connect with the Hokitika and Greymouth Railway. Should the line referred to in the first instance be adopted, the cost of bridging the Teremakau River may be fairly estimated at between £30,000 and .£3.5,000 ; and further, the route is through a country in which at present the amount of passenger or goods traffic it could furnish can hardly be under estimated. Taking, however, the other line, the construction of a bridge would 1)0 unnecessary, as the one contemplated for the Hokitika and Greymouth Railway line would'serve both purposes. Then, again, by making Kumara the central terminus of the East Coast line, the passenger trallic of the line would be largely augmented, and the pioposed deviation would also shorten the main line by live miles—which, if the deviation is not carried out, would be necessary to connect the main line with the Beach one Although we do not for one moment say that the recommendation of the Engineer-in-Chief will be adopted and carried out in its entirety, still it devolves on all having an interest in the deviation of the Hokitika and Greymouth Railway line from its originally intended course along the Beach to take iuto consideration the eventual route to which the report refers, and to urge upon the Government the desirability of constructing these branch Hues so that they may prove not only remunerative, but a benefit to the people who are taxed for their construction.

The Borough Council will meet at the usual hour this evening at the Town Hall, to hold their ordinary fortnightly ingTiie Kumara Minstrels are requested to meet at King's Auelphi Hotel, at eight o'clock to-morrow evening. The special correspondent of the LyMelton Times " In the Galiery and about the Lobbies," writes : —" I believe i may say I am authorised by Mr Bartf to contradict

the rumour that he proposes intending voluntarily to retire from public life.— The member from Hokitika has recently made a discovery that it is no exaggeration to say will send a thrill of—what shall I say—well, emotion throughout the whole civilized world. It is that noises from wood (in a word, spirit-rapping) are caused by an application of one part of iodine, and—l really forgot what, but I fancy Mr Barff said two of whisky—to the lower side of a table. As Mr Barff may have mentioned this to others, it might account for the report that he was about to withdraw his portly presence from the floor of the House, and go into the spiritualist business." The Garibaldi, whilst going out from the Hokitika river yesterday in tow of the Lioness, grounded on the north spit, where she now lies hard and fast.

Forty-six of the Maori prisoners were ; received into the Dunedin Gaol on Saturday, all of them being sentencd to two months' imprisonment, with hard labour. At the conclusion of the term they will each be required to find sureties to keep the peace in the sum of £I2OO, in default of which a further term of twelve months' imprisonment will be inflicted. They are a fine body of men, and many of them pretty familiar with the English language. They appear orderly and seem disposed to conform to prison regulations. The workmen employed on the excavations now in progress at the West Melbourne swamp have (says the Argus) made some very curious discoveries. We were shown recently by Mr Burton, of the Yarra Family Hotel, a gigantic oyster, measuring 9Mn. x 7-Un., and weighing 41b. sJoz., which had been found at a depth of 14ft., embedded in the mud. At the same spot was also unearthed a large egg, at least three times the size of an emu's egg, and a quantity of fisli bones of very unusual calibre. Unfortunately the egg and the fish bones were destroyed, but the oyster was preserved, and will be forwarded to Professor M'Coy, whose report upon the matter will be looked forward to with interest.

It is estimated that the loss of wages occasioned by the Durham strike amounts to £640,000, £240,000 of which was borne by the miners. Each miner has lost £G in wages in a strike which resulted in gaining 1| per cent, better terms than those offered by the owners at first One and a quarter is 3d in the pound, so that they will have to work 9.]- years to recover the £6 sacrificed by the strike.