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Kumara Times, Issue 894, 12 August 1879, Page 2

Owing to the importance of the question of the railway deviation through this and the adjoining mining townships, a full report of the proceedings of the late public meeting held in Greymouth in regard thereto, as published by the Argus, J^ehavereprintecHnQurJaiiyiM^^^^^ Wewould draw the attention of the Returning Officer of the Grey Valley electoral district to the fact that, owing to the increase of the mining community at Westbrook, it will be necessary that a polling booth be gazetted there for the forthcoming elections, as it can hardly be expected that the miners should be compelled to travel to the Greenstone to record their votes. A Wellington telegram states that Mr Matthew Price has been appointed second Magistrate for that city with'a jurisdiction in civil cases up to £2O. We can hardly believe that the gentleman referred to is the late respected Warden of this district, as, subsequent to his departure for Melbourne on leave, he was appointed to and took over the charge of the Reef ton district. Among other motions Mr Seddon has given notice of to move in the Westland County Council to-morrow, appears the following -.—" That the first works undertaked by the Council when in funds be—1. The widening of the Larrikin's Track into a dray road. 2nd. The construction of a track from Noonan's tramway terminus, Teremakau river, to the beach, as reported on by Mr T. Kerr, the road Overseer. 3rd. Track from Fourth Ter-

race to Lamplough. 4th. Construction of one mile of track from Blake's Saw-mill to track in course of construction from Dillman's to Chxistchurch road." The Wellington correspondent of the Lyttelton Times, under date 4th August, writes ; —"A gentleman, who speaks Maori and thoroughly understands the Native character, had a long interview with two of the principal prisoners at Mount Cook to-day, who in reply to questions stated their implicit belief that Te Whiti was not a second Christ, but the original Christ reincarnated, and that Tohua was John Baptist. Their imprisonment they allege to be in fulfilment of Scripture prophecy vaguely alluding to certain portions of Revelations. They say they will soon be liberated by supernatural agency. My informant tells me they are evidently quite sincere in this belief." The Lyttelton Times of the sth instant, reports:—" A large search party—horse and foot—besides a number of travellers by Mr Cookson's coach (the use of which was again kindly given by the owner,) left Ashburton on Sunday to institute another search for the missing man Gordon. At a place called Charing Cross, where several roads meet, and near where the missing man's horse and team were found, the Ashburton party came up with the party from the Rakaia and Chertsey districts. A thorough search was then undertaken by both parties, the only result being the finding of the lost man's hat, which was recognised by his little boy. The hat was found im a small paddock by the roadside, but a long and thorough search failed to bring anything else to light. It is now feared that the body will never be recovered." A correspondent of the Dunedin Morning Herald writes :—"With reference to the two men who are apparently buried beneath an avlanche of snow at Burke's Pass, I think the Government should take immediate steps to put a large number of men to work to recover them. I would also suggest that as soon as the bodies are found they should be immersed in a warm bath, and every precaution taken by friction and otherwise, to ascertain whether life is really extinct. It is quite possible, if they have not been crushed by the fall of snow, or sustained bodily injuries, that animation may be only suepended. Other creatures have been known to retain life for a long period when in a frozen state, and why not man as well V An alarming discovery was made at the Leeds County Court on May 15. One of the attendants engaged in cleaning the I Court, found a quantity of lose blasting I powder mixed with the heaps of lucifer matches some cotton wool containing fine powder, and three large bottles filled with blasting powder, uuderneath the seat usually occupied by Mr Mayhall, the high bailiff The police are investigating the matter. The vital statistics of the metropolis of the United States have many interesting points of comparison with those of London. The death rate of New York during the last year was 24'93 per 1000 as against 23.5 in London. Whilst smallpox was fatal in 1426 instances in London, it killed but two persons in New York. Similarly, measles caused but 272 deaths in New York, as against 1510 in London, and whooping coughs 382 deaths as against 4446. On the other hand, diphtheria caused 1007 deaths in New York, whilst in London 558 deaths from it occurred, and diarrhoea caused 2945 deaths as against 3651 in London. Scarlatina caused 1099 and fevers 346 as against 1792 and 1361 respectively in London. Altogether 27,000 deaths occurred in New York in 1878, 12,410 being children under five years of age. The total number of births recorded was 25,729, and of marriages 7629. For several-wesks an exchange kept the following conspicuously at the head of its local column :—" A boy wanted at this office." A few days since the editor's wife presented him with a " boy," which in a highly significant manner shows the value of advertising.