The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. TUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 1880.

Kumara Times, Issue 1037, 27 January 1880, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. TUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 1880.

The election of a Local School Committee for the ensuing twelve months, was held at the school-house last evening, when the following persons were elected : Messrs Seddon, Campbell, Wylde, Griffiths, Metcalfe, Galland, and Mogdridge. The report of the outgoing Committee is held over until our next issue. The telegraph wires, although interrupted early this morning, are again in fair working order, connection being obtainable with several stations. The Hokitika District Lodge of the M.U.1.0.0.F. commenced its annual sitting yesterday afternoon, at the Lodge Room in the Adelphi Hotel. During the the evening a banquet was held in honor of the visitors, at the Clarendon Hotel, at which a large number of the brotherhood attended. The banquet, which reflected the greatest credit on the caterer, Mr Gilbert Stewart, was all that the most fastidious epicure could desire ; and after full justice had been done to all the good things provided, the evening, was spent in a thoroughly convivial and enjoyable manner. The District Lodge again resumed its sitting to-day, and the business will probably occupy one or two days more. A public meeting will be held at the Town Hall this evening "to deal with the Education Reserve question in accordance with the new Act" From the great interest that has been previously taken by the residents on the Reserve in the matter, there should be a large number present this evening. The continuous heavy rain of yesterday has caused considerable damage throughout the district. All communication is stopped between here and Hokitika, through the Arahura river.rising to an exceptional height and carrying away a portion of the bridge together with about two chains of the approach on the northern side. The Teremakau also rose very rapidly, and although the bridge and embankment withstood the violence of the torrents of water that was running down the river another of the dolphin bays was carried away last evening. The Christ church coach, which left Hokitika tins morning, was unable to reach Goodfellow's. Mr Rugg's coach with the mails left here , at the usual hour to meet it at the Loop line' junction. Some slight injury was done to the approach to the bridge' at the Little Kapatea creek, which we underi stand, is now being repaired. A remarkable instance of recovering lost property under the most singular circumstances occurred to a miner named i Rainbow a day or two ago. Having disposed of his gold, for which he received £l4 in one pound notes, lie proceeded up Seddon street home, where, however; on arrival, he missed the roll of notes from his pocket. At once proceeding back, in coming down the street he observed a piece of paper being blown along by the wind, which, on seizure and inspection proved to be one of the missing notes. Anxiously examining the road on both sides he was gratified to hear, after travelling a little farther, the landlady of But-

lers Hotel (Mrs Cooney) inquire if he had lost anything. On his replying in the affirmative, she informed him that her little girl had picked up nine single pound notes and a gold receipt, the notes on examination proved to be the numbers following the one he had in his possession. Continuing his search, he was next interdgated by Mrs Upham as to his loss, and she also handed him three more of the missing numbers which one of her children had just found, this making £l3 out of the £l4 he had dropped in the •street. The incident in question speaks volumes for the honesty of both the children and their parents in this town. It is stated that in consequence of the wet weather prevailing in Sydney on Dec. 27 the New Zealand Court at the Exhibibition was flooded, that all the exhibits had to be removed, and that some of them were considerably damaged. At Emerald Hill, Wade, lately a fireman on the steamer Suva, endeavored to enter a house where a servant girl named Driver, lived. She was once engaged to him, but had broken it off. She refused to admit him, whereupon he twice fired at her with a revolver. She escaped to a neighbor's house. Wade, after trying to gain admittance, blew out his own brains.