The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1880.

Kumara Times, Issue 1048, 9 February 1880, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1880.

The Temperance Herald, or official organ of the Temperance bodies throughout the colony, cannot be congratulated on the class of correspondent’s who contribute to its columns, if the following extracts from their own correspondents letter at TCumara (which appears in that journal of the Ist inst.) are a fair sample of their correspondent’s contributions generally. Referring to the late children's annual picnic at Kumara, their “own correspondent” says : —“ Since the place was rushed, there has always been a children’s picnic on New Yeai’s day, and the general public have subscribed funds to find food and amusement on the occasion. Two years ago there was intoxicatin'* drinks sold on the ground, but last year, principally through the efforts of BrdTDale, \vlib &»a on the coin mhUie, the sale of drink was disallowed. This year however, the committee decided to have intoxic Ring drink sold, although some of the clergymen protested. * * A formal protest was sect in

to the committee signed by two Chief Templars and the Patriarch of the Sons of Temperance Division, which protest was not received by the Committee. We were then attacked by the Editor of the Kumara Times in a leading article, and ho attempted to twist our protest to mean more than it was intended to convey, and showed a spirit of opposition to the temperance movement generally. This article was answered to the best of our ability, and the reply was well received by the public generally. * * About seven hundred children met at the pic-nic, and a large number of adults. There was a good deal of drinking done at the booth, and a few were the worse of drink. One committeeman who takes an interest in the children for the children’s sake, did not like the way some his fellow committeemen were attending to their private stock of brandy, and be took it and threw it in the river, but that part of the performance is not mentioned in our local report.” For an utter disregard of the feelings of a community and an unblushing distortion of facts the Kumara correspondent of the Temperance Herald would doubtless bear off the palm. Because, forsooth, he can only look at the actions of his fellow men through the spectacles of temperance (1) the clergy, laity, and, in fact, a committee composed of all the leading men of the town are to be made subservient to the wishes of a small minority, or otherwise—as in this instance—-their actions are shadowed forth through the medium ot the Press as men whose motives are influenced by drink and whose war cry is “ brandy.” Mark the delicate insinuation conveyed in the sentence “There was a good deal of drinking done at the booth, and a few were the worse of drink”—so ingeniously supported by the introduction of a subsequent paragraph containing a lirtle farce in which of course the demon “ brandy” figures as the chief character. Not a plain straightforward statement of the real facts of the case relative to a slight dispute between two committee men • not an honest candid account of the mature of the beverages supplied at the booth on the day in question, or of the persons who were afflicted thereby (?); but a batch of base inuendos strung together for the purpose of extolling the Temperance cause at the expense of the characters of the committee of the child reus picnic. As to the charge made against ourselves of showing a spirit of opposition to the temperance movement generally, the assertion, like u great many more made by the Kumara correspondent of the Temperance Herald, is as unfounded as it is ungenerous. When reviewing this subject on a previous occasion we pointed out a course that, if adopted by the Temperance bodies of this district in regard to the liquor question at the picnic, would have left the whole matter in. their own hands. Was that opposition to the Temperance cause ? We opine not • and yet for this action we are branded as the enemies of the movement generally. The greatest enemies of Temperance are those who, although zealous in its advocacy, nevertheless defeat the very object they have in view by the injudicious and offensive manner in which they deal with any public question outside the pale of their own recognised functions, and in this category may be classed the Kumara correspondent of the Temperance Herald.

We would draw the attention of the County authorities to the approach of the bridge over the little Kapitea Creek on the loop-line road as the late flood has washed away a portion of the approach on the western side of the creek and left a very awkward rise of nearly a foot to get on the bridge at the cost of probably a broken spring or axle. There was again a good house at the Theatre Royal on Saturday night on the occasion of the second perforinaneb-of the Gaiety- Variety Troupe and the various items of the programme elicited frequent applause. This evening there is an entire change of programme from the overture to the concluding farce, as also an additional dance—“ the Sailors Hornpipe,”

by Miss Irwin. In reference to these dances it is only justice to the troupe to state that a slight, (although in our opinion unnecessary) objection having been taken to the ballet costume of one of the ladies, another dress of a different character was at once substituted on Saturday evehing for the offending one in question. As the troupe are under engagement for another town and this will probably be their last appearance, this evening should be taken advantage of by every one desirous of seeing this company before their departure, more especially as to-night’s programme embraces all their choicest selections both vocal, dramatic, and terpsichorean. The numerous friends of Mr Sub-In-spector O’Donnell will be glad to learn of his well earned promotion, he having been appointed to succeed Mr Inspector Hickson, as Officer in charge of the Selwyn district, to be stationed at Christchurch. Those well-known photographers, Messrs Tait Brothers, will open their studio in this town on Monday next, .when they announce they will be prepared to take all orders, irrespective of weather, with which they may be favored.