The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. WEDENSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1879.

Kumara Times, Issue 1014, 31 December 1879, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. WEDENSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1879.

To-morrow being New Year's day there will be no publication of this journal.

The Post Office will be closed to-mor-row as on Sunday, but the Telegraph Office will be open from 10 to 10,30 a.m. and from 5 to 5.30 p.m.

The mail due from Christchurch this afternoon had not being telegraphed as having passed the Bealey at the time we went to press. We are requested to state that the " Old Year out and the New Year in " will be duly given notice of by the fire-bell tonight, so that those who hear its unwelcome tones will know their is no occasion for alarm.

A meeting of the Picnic Committee was held at the Town Hall this morning ; present—E. Blake, Esq. (in the chair), the Rev. E. A. Scott, Messrs Bain, Drummond, Munyard, Seddon, Galland, Metcalfe, and Wylde> After some discussion, it was resolved to hold the picnic to-morrow if the weather should prove in any way favorable. A sub-committee was formed to mark out the sites for the various booths in the paddock and also a committee to canvass the town for dona, tions in kind towards prizes, &c., for the children. The committee then adjourned until five o'clock this evening. A large slip of earth and debris occurred on the road going down the Zigzag last evening, which however will be removed before to-morrow, owing to the prompt action taken by the Borough authorities in the matter.

Messrs Campbell, Home, and Pearn have, been appointed Fire Inspectors for the Borough of Kumara under the "Municipal Corporation Act, 18T6." Should the weather prove in any way favorable the children's annual pienic will be held in Messrs Keech and Molloy's paddock to-morrow, when we trust to see one of the largest gatherings that has ever taken place in this district, not only of children but of " their sisters, and their cousins and their aunts."

The drawing of Tonks's sweep on the Champion Race came off at Greymouth last evening, the winning numbers of which appear in our advertising columns. The drawing of Gilbert Stewart's Sweep, which was unavoidably postponed last night, will positively take place this evening, at nine o'clock, after which hour no tickets will be issued to any person as the committee intend the drawing to take place positively at the hour named.

At a meeting of the Greymouth County Council yesterday, the sum of £l5O was voted to the mother of the late Patrick Doody, who was accidentally killed by the breaking down of a bridge at Greenstone some time since. During the discussion (says the Grey River Argus) it was pointed out that, according to the recent decision in the Waipawa County Council case, the Council was not responsible for any accident that might occur through the breaking down of bridges &c. Under the circumstances the Council deserve every credit for their action in the matter.

The following address, signed by the Presbyterian ministers resident in and around Christchurch, has been presented to Bishop Harper on the occasion of his

golden wedding :—" To the Most Rev. H. J. C. Harper, Lord Bishop of Christchurch and Primate of the Church of England in New Zealand. Dear Lord Bishop,—We, the undersigned ministers of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, beg to offer our most hearty congratulations to yourself and Mrs Harper on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of your marriage day. We hope that you may be long spared to discharge the duties of your honorable position in the church, as a good and faithful servant of our Lord Jesus Christ, and that yourself and Mrs Harper may long be able to rejoice together in the spiritual and temporal wellbeing of your numerous descendants." The manoeuvres of the French army are now taking place in all parts of France. The soldiers are said to endure goodnaturedly the fatigues of mock warfare. The most of them are youngsters, whose sergeants and sergeant majors are beardless lads. In addition to the regular conscripts for five years there are one-year volunteers and six months recruits, the latter having drawn good numbers at the conscription and so saved themselves from longer service.