The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1879.

Kumara Times, Issue 994, 6 December 1879, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1879.

The effect of the present inclement weather has caused a most serious injur}' to the district, inasmuch as we regret to state that the Government clam of the i Kumara water-race, owing to the heavy pressure of water burst last night. The damage at present cannot be fully estimated, but, to give an idea of the volume of water that escaped we may mention that it came down the Kapitea Creek last cvening'm a solid wall 10ft high. Should i fine weather set in, although it may give I an opportunity to repair the dam, at the j same time the water in the Kapitea Creek ! will be insufficient to supply the demand made on the Government race, which is naturally heavier than usual prior to the Christmas holidays. The Teremakau bridge may be said to have received the first trial of its substantiality last evening when the river was in a higher i-iood than it has been the last twelve months. Although the water was up to the paddock 0:1 this side, and the current was of the greatest velocity, the bridge, as also the dolphin bays, thoroughly and satisfactorily proved the fact that they were competent to withstand both the volume of water and broken timber that was hurled against them. The Christchureh. coach, which left Hokitika yesterday morning with the San Francisco mails, only proceeded as far as the Kawhaka, as although the driver attempted to cross the rough Vv'ainihinihi, seven or eight miles further on, last evening, ho had ;igjiin to return to Haylock's j as that, xivoi- was in heavy flood. At dayj light this morning another start was made I from the Kawhaka, but with the present j inclement weather it is very doubtful when J the Chnstehuch mail-;, which are due here j this aftei-noun, will ho received. 1 A me-.jri-.ig n, p:;v,-.>],;; Favorable to the ; crgauisati'tn . 1; ;>„ Committee to form ,i I fund under the title of "The Broad ; Miners Memorial Fund" is convened by ; his Worship the Mayor, at the Resident ! Magistrate's Court, thio evening. Al-

though probably Saturday evening, is a most inconvenient one for those engaged in business to attend a public meeting, at the same time v.'e trust to see n<>t only the mining but the mercantile community represented in support of opening a fund for the bereaved widow and children of our late respected Warden, as a testimony of the esteem and respect he was held in by all classes of the community. The lecture announced to be delivered by Mr Lalor, 8.A., at the Theatre Royal, this evening, is postponed until Monday next, in consequence of the inclemency of the weather. Sweeps on Stewart's Champion Consultation will be held at the old Clarendon Hotel this evening. A late telegram states that clause 13 of the Property Assessment Bill, the main portions of which are given in another column, has been struck out, and clause 18 amended. We are glad to observe from a telegram received by the West Coast Times from their " Own Correspondent'" at Wellington, that the services of our Borough Engineer have been so highly appreciated that he is now spoken of as Mr " Wylde (the Registrar General)." The negligence of our "special"' correspondent, at the same place in not forwarding us this interesting item of local importance is deserving of the highest censure. We reprint the following local from our last issue, as the transposition of a line rendered the sense of the whole notice ridiculous : —From a notice that appears in another column it will be observed that Messrs Tait Brothers, photographers, of Hokitika, intend visiting this town next week, and will open their studio in Main Road, for the purpose of taking any portraits or views with which they may be favored with orders. From the absence of any photographer in this town for a length of time, this will be an excellent opportunity for those who desire to "secure the shadow ere the substance fade." The favorable notice Messrs Tait Brothers' views have received in the Sydney Exhibition thoroughly justify the belief that those entrusting orders to their care may feel assured of having them executed with every satisfaction. Chen Shu Tang, the Chinese ConsulGeneral in California, gave himself a birthday entertainment the other day which cost SOOOdols. A theatrical performance was kept up all day, all the dresses and decorations being imported from China. Luncheon was offered all the day long by a host of attendants, and a dinner of forty courses was served in the evening. Many American ladies and gentlemen were invited to the festival. Cardinal Manning now seventy-one years old, is a vigorous and active man with a rarely fine and noble head and face. His strength was shown by one day's experience two weeks ago : He said mas 3 in Liverpool in the morning, went to London and christened the little Earl of Arundel and Surrey in the afternoon, and returned to Liverpool and addressed a large meeting in the evening.