The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1879.

Kumara Times, Issue 1001, 15 December 1879, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1879.

The Children's Picnic Committee will meet at the Town Hall this evening at eight o'clock, when the various tenders that have been sent in for supplying the children with meals etc., at the picnic will be considered. As the chief business in connection with the forthcoming picnic will be dealt with to-night, it is to be hoped that every member of the Committee will be present. A special meeting of the Loyal Albert Lodge of Oddfellows will be held at the Adelphi Hall this evening, to consider some business of great importance. Tenders for the supplying meals for the children at the picnic on New Year's Day, as also for tlie right to erect a refreshment booth and two fruit stalls on the ground, close this evening at 7 p.m. William Duncan, Esq., of Hokitika, has been gazetted one of the School Commissioners of Westland, vice Matthew Price, Esq,, resigned. Through the lists handed in by the scholars of Mr Stanton's private school containing the subscriptions towards the picnic being numbered only without the collectors names, the amounts as acknowledged by the Treasurer in our last issue were credited in two instances to the

wrong persons. The following were tlie boys who collected the various suins named, and handed them to Mr Blake, the Treasurer :—Masters M'Lean, £1 13s ; R. Quealo, 10s ; R. Burrell, 3s j P. and C. Fitzsinimons, Ss. The coach which loft Hokitika last Friday week had a very hazardous trip in consequence of the flooded state of the rivers. The coach left as usual at D o'clock on Friday morning, but owing to the flooded state of the Arallmu was not able to go the usual route by Blue Spur and the Hauhau, but through the "Waimea and loop line. On arrival at Rangariri that river was found to be in flood and utterly impassable. The coach was then driven back to the Kawhaka. Another start was made on Satarday morning, and after many difficulties, through small landslips, &c, Rocky Point, about three miles from the Taipo, was reached, but owing to a large landslip further progress was impossible. The connecting coach left Kowai Pass on Friday, and proceeded to the Cass. The other coach not having arrived, Power, the driver determined to go to the Bealey. On reaching the Waimakiriri it was found to be in heavy flood, but Mr Keating at the Ferry, (the Press reports) rode on horseback and piloted the coach safely across. Mr Keating re-crossed the river, and Power went on to the Otira Gorge, and from thence to the Taipo, crossed the Taipd, and took the passengers on board, and returned to the hotel. Power started again on Sunday morning, and reached the Cass, the water, in recrossing the Otirtf, running through the coach and over the horses' backs. On arriving at the Waimakariri on the return trip the river was found to be in a worse state than before. The leaders were washed off their feet, but the invincible Power managed to pull them up, and reached the opposite bank in safety. The coach left the Cass at 9.30 on Sunday evening and reached Broken river at 11.30 p.m. The indefatigable driver was obliged, reluctantly to return to the Cass. The Cass was again left at 7.30 on Monday morning, and Sheffield was reached in time for the 4 p.m. train. The driver of the Hokitika coach was stopped on his return by the Wainihinihi. The passengers by the coaches were loud in their praises of the pluck and endurance of both drivers. A new sensation is about to be introduced at Sydney, and in due course of time will find its way to New Zealand. Messrs D. R. Hawley and A. Binslay, known in America as the world-renowned aerial monarchs, have arrived in Sydney, will ascend in a balloon, and when at a great height will go through trapeze performances dii a trapeze attached to the bottom of the car. The balloon will be free, and entirety at the mercy of the winds. One of the heroes of the Franco-German war of 1879 has been attracting attention at Paris in the person of Segreant Hoff, who refused the epaulets arm" commission of an officer because he said he was neither born nor bred a gentleman. He refused also 20,000 francs for conveying despatches to Metz through the enemy's lines, and slew twenty-seven Prussians with his own hand. The Government gave him the Legion of Honour and has just appointed him guardian of the Barrier do l'Etoile. Cardinal Newman and Premier Bcaconsfield, when they were boys of nine and five, played about the same London square—Bloomsbury. Newman was grave in demcailour, wore his hair close cut, and walked and talked and moved in a way which in young people is called " oldfashioned;" The younger was a rarely handsome little Hebrew, with a clever head covered with long, black, glossy ringlets, and movements full of life and energy. A new sword-bayonet for the MartiniHenry carbine is being issued to the Royal Artillery, and will be supplied to the Militia and Volunteers of the same branch of the service. Unlike the old bayonet, which is curved, the new one is quite straight, and being two or three inches longer, it places the short carbine of the artillerymen on an equality with the rifle of the infantrymen in the range of thrust. Each one of the bayonete forms at the back a cross-cut saw of powerful action, aiid altogether they arc regarded as far Superior to their predecessors. Let those who boast "that they are not marrying men*' tremble. The Consul General of the Rhine has passed a decree " since celibacy is contrary to nature, and fills the state with evil morals," that henceforth the support of abandoned children shall be provided for by the deduction of a quarter of the pay or pension of every employee who is a bachelor.