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Kumara Times, Issue 902, 21 August 1879, Page 2

By tile first tram this morning for Greymouth, another and well-known resident of the coast, in the person of Mr Cornfoot, took his departure for "fields and pastures new," A large number of c.ti-

zens attended at the tramway station to wish Mr Oornfoot and his family " God speed," and a pleasant journey. The Ghmtchurch mail arrived in town shortly after seven o'clock this morning, the Greyraouth portion being despatched by the early morning tram. The usual fortnightly meeting of the Borough Council will be held at the Town Hall this evening; A meeting of the Kuniara Minstrels will be held at King's Adelphia Hotel, to-night, to make final arrangements for the entertainment in aid of the funds' of the Literary Institute. It is probably immaterial to the majority of peeple whether the mail coach is drawn by one or a dozen horses, but it is nevertheless compulsory on the contractor to convey the mail between this town and Hokitika in a vehicle drawn by four horses. This may appear of little moment, but it must be taken into consideration that in tendering for this service the number of horses engaged makes a material difference in the estimated cost, and had other persons known the inovation would be permitted they would have been enabled to tender at a far lower figure. The Ross correspondent of the Lyttelton Times telegraphs under date of the 16th inst as follows :—As Mr Hirter, a County and Borough Councillor, was walking down the main street of Ross while the fire brigade was practising, another Borough Councillor, Costello, a publican, seized the hose and directed it full in Mr Hirters face from a, distance about three feet. The jet of water has injured Minster's left eye so seriously that it is doubtful whether he will not lose the sight of it. Legal proceedings are threatened. A reply has been received by his Worship the Mayor from the Hon. Mr Johnston, of Wellington, in answer to a requisition from a number of influential Hokitika and Kumara citizens, asking him to allow himself to be placed in nomination as one of the representatives of this district in the General Assembly.' Mr Johnston", declines the honor, on the grounds that he cannot at present leave Wellington. The person Who forwarded the following telegram from Hokitika, which appears in the Ghristchureh Press, of the 19th inst., has evidently been actuated by political influence, to make suoh a fabulous statement. The telegram is as follows : "There are six candidates' announced at present for the Hokitika district, viz., Messrs R. C. Reid, Hamilton Cuming, W. M. Purkiss, 'and P. Dungan, in the Grey interest; andE. BarfF (late member) and R. J. Seddon on the Opposition side." As neither Messrs Barff or Seddon had at the time given any public notification of their intention of contesting the election, it is obvious that the reference to their views on the Grey policy were specially invented for electioneering purposes by the forwarder of the telegram. A telegram under the heading of Press Association, Wellington appeared in the the West Coast Times a few days ago referring to the candidature of Mr R. 0. Reid, and also a copy of a letter addressed to that gentleman by the Premier notifying that he was graciously pleased to endorse Mr Reid's views and qualifications for one of the seats in the General Assembly. As this telegram was omitted from all the other journals subscribing to the Press Association, curiosity prompted a gentleman in this town to ascertain if possible from the Manager of the Press Association the reason of this inexplicable omission. The following reply received to day was handed us for publication : "No such telegram was forwarded by or through the Press Association. I never heard of the letter referred to until the receipt of your message, for which thanks." Mr Barff intends to open the eering campaign in this district by address-, ing the electors at Dillman's Town, on Saturday evening next. We understand that a numerously signed requisition was presented to Mr R. J. Seddon this afternoon, requesting him to stand for election as one of the members for this district in the General Assembly. We have little doubt Mr Seddon ' will acquiesce with the wishes of the electors in tins respect, although at present we are in ignorance as to the nature of his reply.