The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 1880.

Kumara Times, Issue 1080, 17 March 1880, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 1880.

The Kennedy with the inward San Francisco mail left Nelson yesterday. A large number of excursionists left by the early tram this morning for the Greymouth races, and Mr Rugg’s special coach, which started for the same place shortly after six o’clock, was also crowded with passengers.

The official declaration of the result of the County Council election appears in another column..

The Christchurch coach, with five passengers for Kumara, passed the Bealey at the usual hour this morning. A Telegraph station is now open at Rolleston, County of Selwyn. To-day, being St. Patrick’s Day, the banks and principal places were closed, and the town wore the appearance somewhat .os of a general holiday. Besides the excursionists to the Greymouth races, the other coaches to Hokitika were well patronised, and a party of horsemen went out to see for the first time thati magnificent sheet of water, Lake Brunner. Mr Bladier, exhibited, near the Crown Hotel, a choice selection of apples, pears, and

other fruit grown by him at the Arahura, which, having some amusing appellations attached to some of them, attracted the attention of many, both to see and purchase.

A -fire, which was fortunately observed before any serious consequences ensued, took place at Mr Barnett’s, chemist, in Seddon street, on Monday evening. It is supposed that a candle which was left burning in a room in the house, fell out of the candlestick, and, the flame catching the paper, the room was at once enveloped in fire. It was, however, soon noticed, and, a good supply of water being to hand, the tire was quickly extinguished. Some amusing remarks and replies were afforded in the Resident Magistrate’s Court On one witness being asked “Did you exercise any coercion over the plaintiff 1 ?” he replied, amidst roars of laughter, “I never chastised him on any occasion.” A celebrated learned, counsel then improved on the last levity by stating that “the defendant baked himself,” which immediately brought the learned brother on the opposite side to the fore with the remark that the counsel for the plaintiff was grasping at a case in which there was not “ the scintilla of a shadow of a ghost of a chance.” The art union on behalf of the Ahaura Catholic School will be drawn at the school-room, Ahaura, on Easter Monday. Madame Marie Duret, the talented actress well -known in New Zealand, is lying ill of paralysis in San Francisco, in distressed circumstances.

Mr Arthur Clayden writes to the Times, stating that a meeting has been called at Lord Harberton’s house of the Association entitled “The Female Servants for New Zealand Association,” formed to facilitate the removal to the Colonies of a portion of the redundant, and more or less cultured female population. He mentions. that an advertisement for nursery governesses in Tiraaru brought 1200 applications.