The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. MONDAY, MAY 3, 1880.

Kumara Times, Issue 1121, 3 May 1880, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. MONDAY, MAY 3, 1880.

The Railway Commissioners left Hokitika by special coach this afternoon, and, on arrival here tins evening, will probably take evidence relative to the practical and remunerative nature of a line between the East and West Coasts,

We observe that Mr Wylde, jun., acting under instructions from the Government, is at present engaged in making a survey of. the route for the proposal new approach to the TOremakau bridge, tenders for which will be called, we understand, immediately the survey is completed.

There are 33 acceptances for the chess handicap tournament, which commences to-day, and when the returns of the committee are to hand, it is expected there -will be found 36 out of the 40 that entered who will compete. Tenders are invited for additions to the Kumara State School-house, plans and specifications of which may be seen at Mr Seddon’s ; and also tenders for lining St. Patrick s School, the specifications for which may be seen at Mr O’Hagan’s in Main street,

Attention is directed to the fact that Mr A. Cameron, of Dunedin, will shortly open his fourth consultation (D), on the Queen's Birthday Handicap to be run in Dunedin.

A letter from St. Petersburg to the Temps, says that the news received from the interior of the Russian Empire is heartrending. Famine and diphtheria are decimating the population. The provinces of Saratof and Kief, which annually export enormous quantities of grain, scarcely had any crop at all last year. The calamity is aggravated by the want of fodder for the cattle, the peasants being forced to sell them at any price, In the Causasus the famine is still greater. Here people are committing suicide, selling their children, and taking other extreme measures to stave off starvation,