The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 1880.

Kumara Times, Issue 1073, 9 March 1880, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 1880.

The Grey River Argus, in commenting through its leading columns on the various necessary works to be brought under the notice of the Hon. the Minister of Public Works during his visit to that district, thus disposes of the pet hobby of our southern friends“As to the Greymouth and Hokitika railway, we do not think it would be good policy to urge on this work, for, as the Hokitika meeting resolved not to have the deviation at any price, we really cannot see what is to make the railway pay working expenses, let alone interest on the money used in its construction,” Had our contemporary been cognisant of the fact that when at the late public meeting to which he refers an amendment was moved in favor of the deviation the very chairman of the Select Committee appointed by the House of Representatives to inquire into this matter, and who was present on this occasion in question, voted in the silent negative, we opine that our contemporary’s opinions on this subject would have been expressed in language of a far stronger, and mere personal character. The Kennedy sailed from Greymouth yesterday, for Westport and Nelson. The local Rifles will hold their usual weekly parade this evening, at the Adelphi Hall. Referring to Mr Dick’s appointment as Colonial Secertary, the Otago Daily Times says : —“ln all respects his acceptance of office is only right and natural. The Ministry, in securing him, have obtained the services of an upright and consistent member, and one whose former official training should render him a good departmental chief, Otago is now fittingly represented in the Government by men of character and firmness. If Mr Dick adds nothing in the way of eloquence to the benches, his presence in the Ministry affords one additional guarantee against land jobbery and such sharp practices as Mr Whitaker, justly or unjustly, is understood to favor. We heartly wish Mr Dick a successful career in his new and honorable post.”

One of Mr J. B. Gough’s great Temperance orations will be delivered by Mr B. S. West, of Hokitika, at the Public Hall, to-morrow evening, to which all are invited to attend. As Mr West is well known as a . most fluent. and earnest speaker, this oration should receive full justice at his hands. Mr W. Linnell, one of the candidates for the vacant seat in the Westland County Council, will address the electors at Hillman's Town on Friday evening next. One of the fCTy funniest cases that ever appeared in the records of a civil Court is reported in the latest number of the London Graphic “ A lady who has unfortunately a very shrill voice and little ear for music was stlnimoned for ‘vexing, troubling, and disquieting’ the Vicar of St. John’s Parish Church, Hampstead* by joining in the choral portion of the service ‘at the utmost pitch of her voice,’ the annoyance being so great that at one time he had thought of closing the Church altogether, and leaving the churchwardens to write to the Bishop. The defendant protested that she had no intention to annoy, her whole heart was in the services, and for twenty-seven years she had sung in the church, and no complaint was ‘.made, until the choir, came. She had never been complained of at other churches, and at the parish church the choir broke down a great deal more when she did not sing than when she did. The summons was.ultimately adjourned for a month to see if the annoyance ceased, the the defendant being told that she was liable to a fine of £5, or two monthe’ imprisonment.”