The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 1880.

Kumara Times, Issue 1146, 1 June 1880, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 1880.

The sitting of the Licensing Bench which was announced for this. morning was, atnoon, adjourned by the Clerk of the Bench, to the 17th inst. The Bench at present consists of Messrs Mackay, R.M., (Chairman), and Messrs Arnott and W. S. Smith, of Greymonth. The sitting at Greenstone is also deferred till the same date. We understand that Mr E. Barff, having been appointed a member of the Kumara Licensing Bench without his knowledge, he forwarded his resignation to the Minister of Justice by telegraph last evening. The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Hospital Committee will be held this evening at the Secretary’s rooms. The monthly inspection parade of the local Rifle Contingent will take place at the Adelphi Hall this evening. The gross proceeds realized at the concert in aid of the funds of St. Patrick’s school, on the Queen’s Birthday, amounted to over £4O ; the expenses we understand were very shiall, The Kumara Prospecting Association will meet to-morrow evening, when it is to be hoped that some definite steps will be taken for carrying out the object for which the association was lately rc-orga-nised, Referring to thisquestion in our last issue, a emrespondent suggests how the funds of the association might be largely augmented by an entertainment of some description and the suggestion we strongly recommend to the consideration of the committee. The object in view is a most laudable one, and one also that is closely connected with the prosperity of the din-

trict; and should the committee adopt the views of our correspondent in regard thereto, wo feel assured they will find many talented amateurs, both dramatic and vocal, wlio would only too willingly voluntarily give their services on the occasion. The drawing of Hannah's grand artunion took place at the Town Hall last evening. The winning ticket numbers, which are prefixed to the names of the prizes, appear in another column. The “golden” prize of 50 sovereigns fell to the lot of Mr John Cameron, of Hokitika ; the second prize to Mr Wills, at the Greenstone; and the third to Messrs Hugh Cameron and John Hannah. An explanation has been suggested regarding the departure of the suspicious vessel from Aden on the 24th ultimo, which has some air of probability. It is thought that the vessel may be the Gervil, instead of Gervie, and may be bound for Port Breton, New Ireland, and be one of the vessels engaged in the New Ireland colonising expeditions. In that case she would have on board stores and arms, ammunition and provisions, and would also have French, Italians, Belgians, Swiss, and Germans on board. The Auckland Free Lance thus playfully sums up a gentleman who has recently been foraging for news on the Plains : “ What a gifted race of people are those peculiar individuals yclept ‘special correspondents !’ I notice that one distinguished specimen has just received his conge at Parihaka, aud I extremely regret the fact. No more shall we be electrified by his wondrous effusions, no more listen to his marvellous recollections. Did it rain, he was again on the prairies of South America. A cold morning, and once more he donned the snow-shoes, and dared the grizzly bear in his lone retreat. A blazing hot day, and our hero was} again in sultry Madagascar, basking in the smiles of some dark beauty. Did he camp out in the titree, and a sanfly nestle on his nose, he dreamt once more of that terrific encounter with the fierce lion of the Indian jungle. No wonder, with all these varied recollections, that he is alike the envy and pride of his compeers. ” The Fiji Times contains particular's of the murder of Mr Johnston, of the firm of Johnston and Chaffin, a citizen of the United States, by the natives on the north-west side of the Island of Aoba, on the night of March 4. It appears they had retired to rest in their house at the usual hour, when Mr Chaffiin was awoke by the report of a gun, and Mr Johnston exclaimed “ I am shot, look out for yourself,” which ho did, and succeeded in escaping. The murderers were not the tribe belonging to the villiage in which he lives, but are the same tribe that some little time ago killed the Government agent, the chief officer and boat’s crew of the Queensland labour schooner Mystery. The Derby is, after all (says the Home News), to be transferred to Gravesend. This year is the last when the race will be run at Epsom, the property on which the racecourse stands having passed into the hands of a gentleman who does not care to encourage, racing. The Gravesend course will be the best in England when finished, though that will not be till very nearly the middle of the present year. As a consequence, the Derby will have been run after next May at Epsom for 100 years in succession, and will then cease. The old days of going down to the Derby by road are accordingly well nigh at an end. An English paper of March 20th says : “ The directors of the Brighton Aquarium have received advice from Messrs Elder, the eminent shipping firm, that a pair of young sea-elephants, Macrorhinus proboscideus, are on their way from Port Chalmers by the Timaru to the Brighton Aquarium. This remarkable member of the Phocidce has never yet been seen in Europe, nor are the any skeletons or stuffed examples of it in this country. It grows to an enormous size in three years, attaining a length of from eighteen to twenty.five feet, and its bulk and fatness are prodigious. The males have an elongated proboscis which extends to a foot in length, and is flexible like to the trunk of an elephant, whence the name is derived. Suitable quarters for the reception of the strangers are being prepared at the Aquarium.” The following is recommended as a cure for sleeplessness Wet half a towel, apply it to the back of the neck, pressing it upward towards the base of the brain, and fasten the dry half of the towel over so as to prevent the too rapid exhalation. The effect is prompt and charming, cooling the brain, aud inducing calmer, sweeter sleep than any narcotic. Warm water may be used, though most persons prefer cold. To those who suffer from overexcitement of the brain, whether the result of brain work or pressing anxiety, this simple remedy has proved an especial boon.”