The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1880.

Kumara Times, Issue 1049, 10 February 1880, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1880.

A special meeting of tlie Hospital Committee will be held at the Secretary’s office this evening to .arrange the preliminaries in connection with the entertainment to be given by the Gaiety Variety Troupe, in aid of the funds of the Hospital, on Thursday evening next. The usual weekly parade of the local Rifle Contirigent will be held at the Adelphi Hall this evening.

At a meeting of the Irish Relief Fund Committee held last evening, it was resolved that the suh-corrtmittee his 'holified that the subscription lists will be closed on Saturday 21st inst., and all subscriptions are requested to be handed in to the treasurers on that datei It was also resolved that, since the public of this district have subscribed so liberally, no entertainment be given in aid of the funds, and the secretary be instructed to write to the Rev. Mr Root, thanking him for his willingness to lecture on behalf of the Irish Relief Fund. The meeting was then kdjOurned till Monday next. Although the attendance at the Theatre Royal last evening Was small, the programme presented by the Gaiety Variety Troupe was one of the best they have yet placed on the stage. The one item alone of “Barney’s Courtship,” by Miss Potter aftd Mi- Gill should have been sufficient to attract a large audience, as this is undoubtedly a gem as a musical scene, both performers by their splendid bye play and vocalistic dialogue earning the hearty approbation of those present. Then, again the “ Sailors Hornpipe” (in character), by Miss Irwin, was another feature in the programme that could not fail to secure public recognition for the artistic manner in which it was elecuted. The farce that concluded the entertainment of “ That fellow that looks like me” afforded great amusement the “ darkey” especially in his business contributing to the general mirth by the manner in which he rendered the cha l racter and setting an example that would surprise many of our local amateurs. The same programme will be repeated tonight and one which we can unhesitately state is well worthy of public patronage. A telegraph station is now open at Bargaville, in the county of Hobson. We are indebted to the courtesy of the Postmaster for the following information :—The Southampton route to London been discontinued. In future, only °ue mail will be despatched, namely, via Brindisi 5 postage, 8d per |oz. Letters marked “via Suez” and stamped 6d per will be detained and sent via San Francisco. During an interval of the performance of the Gaiety Variety Troupe at the Theatre Royal last evening, Mr Montagu Browne, the manager, announced that the company intended giving a special performance on Thursday evening next in aid of the Irish Distress Relief Fund, which announcement was received with applause. Subsequently, however, it was ascertained that at a meeting of the Distress Fund Committee held the same evening a resolution had been passed by which the Committee were of opinion that the district had already been sufficient canvassed for that object and that any further entertainments were not desirable on its behalf. The Hospital Committee were then interviewed and Mr Browne made a similar offer on behalf of the funds of that institution, which offer it is almost needless to observe was gratefully and instantly accepted. The ful] programme for the occasion will appear to-morrow, and knowing the ready response always made to an appeal on behalf of our local Hospital we Lave little doubt the generous action of the Gaiety Variety Troupe will be thoroughly appreciated and recognised by a bumper house on Thursday next. It will be remembered that recently the Government invited tenders for the supply of coal in connection with the railways of the Middle Island for the year 1880, The result has been that the Walton Park, Kaitangata, Shag Point, and Greymouth Companies are the successful tenderers, and with the exception of those on the Bluff line, the locomotives of the Middle Island will during this year consume colonial coal only. Newcastle coal will be used on the Bluff line, there being no coal pits, at least of a suitable character, in that locality ; and it also will supply the fuel for the Port Chalmers steel hammer. At Hillside and at the Christchurch workshops, Greymouth coal will be used. A Miss Novaro has been playing Julia in the “Hunchback,” and her newspaper critic while admitting that she delivered her lines with eloquence and taste, hinted that her appearance was against her perfect success of the character. But Miss Novaro had a husband—an old army surgeon, one Dr Robert Miller—who probably enough had been captivated by the young lady’s “appearance,” and therefore thought something of it. Dr Robert Miller “ went for ” the critic in a style that would not have disgraced even Mr Grant. In a letter full of italics, and capitals, he ’ informed the newspaper that he had been in the stalls oh the night in

question. The audience were amazed he declared. One person benind him, when she first came on, cried “ Good heavens ! She beautiful V’ He heard another say, “Why, she’s like an angel !” and the whole theatre sat spellbound by the witchery of her loveliness. Not only that bul Dr Rebel'S Miller went on to inform 1 the captious critic ujirth a delicate point 1 of which, being the lady’s husband, he was, perhaps not ill-calculated to judge. Her form, he said, was the nearest approach to the divine. fie had taken honors in his university in anatomy, and he could assure the critical world that Miss Novaro’S limbs were perfection* and her entire modelling a picture. The doctor was evidently one of the fondest, foolishest of old men but it is questionable whether Miss Novaro was entirely fortunate in having such a champion. Those naughty newspaper men are so apt to laugh at men who disagree with their judgments. John Grant, a faithful servant to the Queen and Prince Consort, expired on November 18, at Rebrake, close to Balmoral, in his 70th year. He Was for 20 yeai’S head keeper at Balmoral, and in this capacity was in constant attendance on the Prince Consort, With whom he was a great favorite. When the coffin was lowered into the grave half-a-dozen large wreaths of immortelles were laid On it by the QWCCh and other members of the Royal Family.