The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 1880.

Kumara Times, Issue 1092, 31 March 1880, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 1880.

By the Christchurch coach, which passed the Bealey early this morning, there was one passenger and seven bags of mails for Kumara. The sufferers by the late accident, we are pleased to hear, are progressing most satisfactorily, and one if not more of them will be again about in a few days. The children attending Mr Stanton’s school were yesterday treated to a picnic in Mr Murphy’s paddock at Westbrook, which was kindly lent for the occasion ; but, although ostensibly it was organised for Mr Stanton’s- scholars, a large number of children not under his tuition were invited, and gladly accepted the invitation. The good things of this life were provided in abundance, and, after a hearty day’s enjoyment, the children returned to town shortly before dark, giving three cheers on arrival before dispersing. The drawing of Gilbert Stewart’s consultation on the Sydney Cup took place at the Town Hall last evening. -There were a' large number of subscribers present, notwithstanding the lateness of the hour. The winning ticket numbers appear in another column. Should the Press Association act with the same promptitude as on the occasion of the Melbourne Cup race, we shall be enabled to give our readers the names of the three first horses in the Sydney Cup race this evening. At the monthly parade of the local Rifles last evening several new members were proposed and elected, and we understand that in consequence of the steadily

increasing strength of the Contingent, it is in contemplation to request the Government to form it into a distinct company. A drum and fife band is also to be shortly organised in connection with the corps, which rtotloubt 3vill find rtiany members amongst the rising generation. We are requested to state that the necessary alterations having been effected in the premises takeh by Mr Skiltdrl, he lias now'opened his “Bee Hive,” in Main street-.

The Fiji Times of tile lßth ultimo, says : —Her Britannic Majesty’s ship Danse arrived in Suva during the past week, and aftet rapidly Coalirig, left direct for SamOa: The haste which characterised the movements of the Danse, viewed in connection with the attention which has lately beeii paid tdtbC Samoan affairs by the European Governments, would warrant the supposition that her mission is one of more than ordinary political significance. .It certainly appears singular that the vessel-should have called spidose to our door and yet have denied us the honor, of a visit.

The Auckland correspondent of the Adelaide Observer writss :—“Tne Jews here are the most law abiding of all religionists. They quarrel with no one, and are as sincere in their grand old faith as the most modern of believers could be. They are charitable, too, and liberal in their donations to churches and charities alien to their own. I went with another a few weeks ago, making collections for an extension of an Episcopalian Church. We called upon a Jew, who ,was a sporting character. We made buy solicitation, ‘Well,’ he said, c I don’t belong to your set, I never like transacting a certainty. I’ll tell you what I’ll do. I won’t give the guinea you ask, but PII throw you whether I give two guineas or nothing. And I threw with him, when he lost, - and I got a cheque for the moA6y without a word of regret that liiCk was 'dgaihst htnl. In our small country towrtt, whefe no synagogues exist, if thbfe be bply three Jews they will assemble in 4 rooni and one of them will ' read their service, and there will be as strict an observance of a fast-day or a day of prayer as if there was a multitude gathered.together!” Very early in the approaching session the Government (said a January papet) will be asked as to what is to be done with the extraordinary collection of State prisoners whom they have at present more or less on hand. What is to be the fate and the future of YakOob Khan and the Afghan chiefs, of Cetewayo, of the Boer leaders, and of the Irish State prisoners who are at present out on bail ?

The Pacific Christian Advocate, of the 15th February, publishes the following vivid description of a pitched battle which occurred on a recent Sunday in a Presbyterian Church in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, between the partizans of the Rev. Mr Woodside and those of the Rev. Mr Clyde :—“ The battle raged with great fierceness. Many eyes were blackened and many noses much damaged. One elder had his head laid open with 4 poker, and one or two arms are said to have been broken. The female members of the con. gregation encouraged the combatants with loud shouts, and a lively fusilade of bibles and psalm-books was kept up by the skirmishers in the back pews. Finally the police were called in, and the combatants parted, when the fighting ceased. It was really a drawn battle, although the Woodside party claimed that if the police had not arrived the victory would have beeii theirs.” The writer criticises the management of the fight, and says that “ the large 15-inch Bible mounted on the pulpit would have done .tremendous execution if it had been skilfully projected on the heads of the elders near the pulpit stairs j and also that the. foot-stools in the pews were neglected or overlooked entirely.