The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. FRIDAY, MAY 28, 1880.

Kumara Times, Issue 1143, 28 May 1880, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. FRIDAY, MAY 28, 1880.

The opening of the second session of the seventh Parliament will take place today, at noon, at Wellington. Of the Coast members, only Messrs Masters and Reid will probably be present, as the remainder have not yet left for the scene of their labors. Just before going to press we received by telegraph a portion of His Excellency the Governor's speech. The inward mail from Greymoutn was delayed this morning about an hour and a-half by the breakage of one of the axles of the tram carriage. During the meeting at tollman's Town last evening one of the speakers who had mounted the table which did duty for a platform, said "The first step, gentlemen," and, unconsciously suiting the action to the Word, his disappearance from the elevated position immediately ensued, amidst the hearty laughter of the audience. There seems to be but little prospect of an early termination of the South American war, if any value is to be placed on oaths. At the beginning of the struggle, 757 officers of tthe Bolivian army, all above the grade of sub-lieutenant, swore the following frightful oath, with a request that posterity would take note of it: "We, who carry a sword at our girdle,

which our fatherland has confided to us to defend it and preserve intact its 'honor, swear a thousand times over hot to sh'eath that swork before avenging the outrage which Chili has committed oh Bolivia. And to fulfil these oaths we are prepared for every sacrifice, beginning by the renouncement of salaries, and subjecting ourselves to camp rations oft the same scale as the soldiers. Thus be it, and let posterity judge us." Posterity will no doubt form its judgement on the matter as requested; but it will feel rather annoyed if the result of this "hard swearing" is a heavy debt, Caused by the prolongation of the war;, to be handed down to it with the oath. A beggar who recently died at Dinan, from cold a privation has left in an old box several thousands of francs, and in another box a considerable number of bank notes. Seven kinsmen have come into possession of this unexpected property.