The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. FRIDAY, MAY 21, 1880.

Kumara Times, Issue 1137, 21 May 1880, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. FRIDAY, MAY 21, 1880.

Mr R. J. Seddon will address the electors at DiUman's Town this evening. Although Mr Seddon only addressed the electors of the locality a few days ago, we understand that lie considers, after the way ho has been misrepresented iii the columns of our contemporary the West Coast Times, that, in- justice to himself and the electors, he should again express his opinions on the government of the colony, so that they will be enabled to judge him out of his own mouth. A deputation of the Prospecting' Association waited on J. Mackay, Esq., the Warden of the district, last evening, for the purpose of ascertaining if he would coincide with the objects of the association and report to the Government favorably thereon, with a view to their procuring the grant mentioned for prospecting parties under the gold-mining regulations. The deputation, which was introduced by his Worship the Mayor, after giving a lucid explanation of their intended proceedings, were informed by the Warden that he should be only too happy to meet their views ; but at the same time he pointed out that before taking any action relative thereto, he should like to see the support the association would probably receive, which could bo arrived at by the number who signed the deed of agreement between the association and the subscribers. The deputation after thanking the Wawlen then withdrew. The attention of tiie local Rifle Contingent is directed to a district order, under the hand of the officer-commanding the district, Which appears in another column, and also to a company order issued in compliance therewith. ■

The 'following telegram, relative to our report of Mr R. J. Section's speech of Saturday iiight last appears in the Grey River Argus of this day':—" The Kumara Times reported toy speech correctly. I declared independence of the Opposition proper, but belonged to the New Zealand party. I gave the same dpmionfe in Holdtika,and quoted from the Kumara Times, and stated I adhered to those opinions, and expressed that fact which has been suppressed. Mr King, the seconder of the confidence vote, is correct in his interpretation. The legislation necessary for the Colony under the present circumstances is too weak to carry. The Opposition could not form a Ministry to stand. An appeal to the country is necessary; then, perhaps, a party could be formed superior to both. The no : confidence motion was qualified. I remain not but independent, and consider the present Government superior as administrators, but I differ with them in large political questions. I did not correct either the Kumara or Hokitika speeches.—Richard John Seddon." Probably the West Coast Times will erldeavour to father this telegram on us, on the same principle that with its usual blundering assumptions it immediately jumped to the unwarrantable conclusion that Mr Seddon was "our own" correspondent who forwarded the " special" telegram relative to his meeting in Hokitika. The clearing-sale of D. Davidson and Co. was largely attended to-day, and the various lines offered excited keen competition. The sale will again be resumed to-morrow!- under the able auctioneership of MrF. A. Learmonth, of Hokitika. An entertainment is announced as shortly to take place for the benefit of Mr George King, formerly of this town, who is now, we understand totally blind in Melbourne, under the most distressing pecuniary circumstances. v from the number of friends Mr King could be credited with while here,, and his'popularity also as a captain of the local Fire Brigade, there is little reason to fear that a benefit on behalf of such a charitable cause can be anything but a success. A deputation representing the Yictorian farming interest waited on Mr Service a few days ago, to ask whether the Yictorian Government were prepared to place an additional duty on imported feeding grain to the extent of 2s per cental It was pointed out that at the present price farmers could not compete with New Zealand. Mr Service said they were asking for relief in the wrong direction. He did not think that the step they aaked him to take was likely to result in the'prosperity they wished to bring about, and expressed an opinion that the whole system of protection must break down, and that he could see clearly the folly of trusting to artificial means to maintain high prices. He did not give them the slightest encouragement.