The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1880.

Kumara Times, Issue 1116, 28 April 1880, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1880.

A few days ago a correspondent, signing himself " Supple Jack," and one whom it will not be transgressing journalistic etiquette to say has been connected and conversant with the workings of this goldfield from its infancy, pointed out very clearly the course that should be adopted to ensure its further development. He suggested that the former Prospecting Association should be reorganised With this end in view, and that a thorough canvass, not only, from end to end of the district should be made, but also of the two chief port towns from which all the supplies for this goldfield are drawn. With our correspondent in this matter we join issue, as the reasons are manifold why" prospecting should again be undertaken in a systematic manner in this district. The mainstay, and, in fact, the oiiiy bond that has held so many together in this locality is the auriferous nature of the ground • and as the supply of the precious metal steadily decreases, so, hand in hand as it were, will the population diminish also. The miner, probably, in laboring in the bowels of the earth in search of his daily bread, thinks but little of -the benefits he is at the same time conferring on others, although, were it not for this class of men. in a district where agricultural pursuits are almost unknown, the business portion of the community would soon require to leave in search of " fields and pastures new." On the other hand the miner, as a pioneer of a district or country, expects that when he has been successful in his efforts and has struck the golden mineral for which he may have been weeks and months prospecting, that he will no longer be compelled to swag his future supplies, as he takes it as a natural sequeuce that the business portion of the community will shortlv follow in his footsteps. Under these circumstances the mining and mercantile communities are indispensible to one another, and in all matters affecting the general weal of the district there should be a unanimous course of action adopted by them. This especially is the case in the Course suggested by " Supple Jack," the prospecting of the country. If the miners on the one side, will, by placing in the field some good practical hard-working men as parties to prospect new ground under the auspices of a committee, while on the other the business people provide the necessary funds to carry out this work in a manner that will thoroughly test the auriferous nature of the country around, we have no hesitation in affirming that the community as a whole will eventually reap the benefits derivable thereby. To advance this desirable object we would suggest that public meetings be convened at once, both in this town and at Dillman's, where those favorable to this matter could express their opinion; and, at the same time, we apprehend that as the Kumara Prospecting Association is still in existence, they will only too"

gladly co-operate in any oirpet that is for the prosperity of the district, v

Messrs. Blake, Foldie, and Linn ell were to-day duly elected as members of the Arahura Road Board. The Christchureh coach, with four bags mailb but no passengers for here, passed the Bealey at an early hour this morning. There was a good muster of the local Rifles at the monthly inspection last evening, there being 1 officer,-2.sergeants, and 34 rank and file present, who, after inspection by Lieut. Spence, were put through the manual exercise and some company drill,

A meeting of the Borough Council was held yesterday afternoon, to. determine all claims and objections to the Burgess List that had been made previously to : the 15th inst., but as there were no objections, the Burgess List, as made, waa adopted and signed by the Mayor and two of the Councillors present; in accord-i ance with the Municipal Corporations Act. ■■; ■

We are glad to learn that the'visiting committee of the Local School Committee this afternoon attended, the State School, and, after strictly interrogating the ', child whom we referred to in our last issue as having been severely.beaten, found that the complaint made to us by her parent was perfectly groundless and without the leasti foundation, the child having .been simply chastised by a stroke across, one of her hands with a cane in .the • usual manner.- .. ~;: ;■■■ • •

The' original Georgia Minstrels will make their first appearance before' a iCumara audience on Saturday evening, next'. Prom the long dearth of any ment of this character in the towjj, taken in connection with ; the fact that! we observe this troupe are spoken of,,in. terms of the highest praise by the Press in other parts of the colony, there is every .reason; to believe they will receive a large share of the public patronage. r

The Rev. W. West will deliver'a lecture to-morrow evening, at--St. Andrew's Church, Third street, on "The Scottish Covenanters," <in aid of the Organ Fund. The-subject; which is a peculiarly interesting one, should attract a large audience. The Otago Daily, Times has been favored with an inspection of two specimens of the Lake Wakatipu freestone, which has .secured' the first prize for building stone at the Sydney Exhibition. It is harder than Oamaru stone, darker in color, and much heavier. The nature of the stone admits of its taking a very, fine polish, and specimens td be seen;in the Queenstown* Cemetary demonstrate • that exposure to the atmosphere only hardens the o'utside. The chiselled letters on some of the tombstones seven' years old appear as fresh as if newly outilThe specimens submitted to us have! been manipulated by Mr E..:McCaffrey,, of Queenstown, who also prepared the stone exliibited at Sydney.' Bte informs us that the rock can be quarried in'2o foot lengths if needed. Once the railway tariif enables the stone to be tarnsported at a cheap rate the handsome Lake Wakatipu freestone will doubtless be extensively utilised in the construction of all buildings of a superior character.