The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. MONDAY, JUNE 7, 1880.

Kumara Times, Issue 1151, 7 June 1880, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. MONDAY, JUNE 7, 1880.

Situated as tbe people of this Coast are in regard to their mail services with other parts of the colony ; dependant almost solely on the mail service between the East and West Coast for communication; and also, taking into consideration the fact that the northern and Australian outward and inward mails are now almost invariably trans-

milted by this route : it becomes the imperative duty of the Postal department to see that this service is conducted in a manner by which ihe delivery of the mails are insured with the least possible delay. At the present time such is far from being the case, as rapidity of, transit appears never to have been taken cognizance of by the Postal’department, or, if so, the maximum rate of speed of the mail coach must have been specified as not to exceed five miles an hour,; In referring to this subject, however,; we do not, for one moment wish to cast the least reflection on the contractors, Messrs Cassidy and Clarke, who undoubtedly, so long as they perform the journey in the stipulated time of their contract, are entitled to take every advantage of the latitude allowed them by the department which is a party to that agreement. When the question of the distance between Hokitika and Christchurch is taken into careful consideration in connection with the splendid road that exists for the major part of the way, and the number of horses employed in the conveyance of the mails under the present system, it becomes at once apparent that the service is a most sluggardly one. The total distance from Christchurch to Hokitika is 149 miles* Of this distance the mails are transmitted 45 miles by railway to Springfield, thus leaving 104 miles to be traversed by coach. Now, as to the rate of transmission. Leaving Christchurch at 7.40 a.m., the mails reach Springfield by train at 11.25 a.m., where they are transferred to the mail coach, and, allowing both weather and roads to be favorable, they arrive in Hokitika in the evening of the following day at 6 o’clock, taking in all about 33 hours in transmission. When, however, we take the time occupied by the mail coach into consideration in traveling between the Cass and Hokitika, it is at once palpable that the mails are simply dawdled across the country at a rate of a little more than five miles an hour. Between the Cass and Hokitika the distance may be set down at a little over 70 miles, and yet, forsooth, the unfortunate passengers who may be en route for this Coast by the mail coach are aroused from their slumbers at 2 a.m. to continue their journey at 3 o’clock, at which hour we are informed, the mail starts punctually; and after submitting to this discomfort, they may, if fortunate, arrive at their destination the same evening, after having been fourteen hours on the road. Fourteen hours to travel a distance of seventy-iwo miles, with easy stages and four good teams of horses to cover that distance is simply ridiculous. Then again, looking at the effects of this detention of the mail, we find that under the present circumstances the mail not arriving at the chief post town until the post office is closed, those not possessing private boxes, should the mail arrive on Saturday, are compelled to wait until Monday for their correspondence. Similarly, the mail for Greymouth, which is conveyed by a branch service, arrives too late for transmission by that day’s tram, and our northern neighbours have also to lose twelve hours in the receipt of their letters th rough the same cause. The people of this town are also placed in exactly the same predicament, as the mail not arriving until half an hour before the for the day, it can hardly lie reasonably expected that those awaiting correspondence thereby can afford to attend the post office expressly during that half-hour, and consequently their letters are unobtainable until the following day. Having pointed out what we consider the defects of the present mail service between the Coast and Christchurch, we may also refer to one matter that would go far to remedy them. By the construction of ihe road between Hillman’s Town and the Christchurch road, the mail coach would be enabled not only to travel through the centres of population to Hokitika, but also would avoid that long and heavy strain now inflicted on the horses in ascending the i>iii known as “Odd John’s,” which in itself necessitates at

the least an extra half-hour’s expenditure of time. By this means also the branch mail sendee to G-oodfellow’s Junction would lie Saved, as the last stage from Christchurch, instead as at present being at the Kawhaka, could leave from this town. We recommend the whole matter to the attention of the Postmaster-General 'in the hope that some action will be taken by which the mail service between here and Christchurch and vice versa will shortly be so amended that it will be performed, as far as rapid transmission is concerned, in a manner that will be as satisfactory to the public as it will be creditable to the Postal department of the colony.

The San Francisco mail was expected to reach Greymqnth on this morning’s tide, and will in all probability arrive here by this evening’s tram. Intelligence was brought into town yesterday afternoon that a miner named Brigalia had attempted to commit suicide at Callaghan’s. Dr. Acheson at once proceeded to the scene of the occurrence, and found the unfortunate man had, with a razor, cut his throat from ear to car. Although Brigalia lost a large quantity of blood, Dr. Acheson discovered that the most vital part had not been severed, and, having dressed the wound, he recommended Brigalia’s removal to the hospital; and we understand he Was, in accordance therewith, conveyed to the Hokitika Hospital this morning. What might have proved a most disastrous fire occurred about 7 o’clock this morning, in Main street, on Mr Hodges’ premises. It appears that Mr G. Dyer, who was passing, hoard the cry of “fire ” given from inside the building, and, observing smoke issuing from the roof, he immediately gave the alarm with the firebell in a most energetic manner. A large number of persons were quickly on the spot including the police force, and a supply of water being at hand, the flames were quickly extinguished, Mr Toms, Chemist, who lives in the adjoining premises, being particularly active in mounting the roof of the burning building and aiding in the suppression of the flames. On examination subsequently, there is very little doubt the fire originated close to the chimney, where one of the studs had been smouldering probably all night, and this morning, bursting into flame, this had run up between the lining and wea-ther-boards catching the dry shingle roof, which instantly took fire. We notice that the late Mr W. H. R. Goodrich will be buried at Hokitika on Wednesday next, with military honors, he having been for a number of years a member of the First Westland Rifles. Although Mr Goodrich was a young man at the time of his death, he had a very large circle of friends, as his quiet unassuming manner and genial disposition gained for him the goodwill and esteem of all with whom lie came in contact during his residence in this town on the opening of the Kumara goldfield. Last Saturday evening there was a large gathering of Good Templars at the Public Hall, Kumara, when the Grand Lodge degree was conferred on thirty-three sisters and brothers of the order. It is probable, wo understand, that this will be the greatest number of candidates for this degree that Mr Cameron, G.W.T., will meet anywhere on the West Coast. The united meeting of the subordinate lodges, subsequently held, was a grand success, nearly all the members of the Greenstone Lodge attending. Bro. M ‘Gregor, of Hokitika, and Bro. M'Drowall, of Greymouth, wore also present. Bro. Cameron proceeds to Greymouth to-morrow. A peculiar accident occurred at the Theatre Royal, Bolton. It seems, according to the Figaro, that the ingenuity of somebody had invented a “vampire trap,” or, in other words, a trap at the foot of which was a mattress, suspended by four ropes. This mattress was, it seems, with combined ingenuity and forethought, swung over the “well,” so that if any accident occurred to the ropes, anybody jumping down the vampire trap must be precipitated into the well, a distance of some 18 or 20 feet. Matters being thus ordered and settled, the fun began. The harlequin descended and broke one of the ropes, going of course, at once down the “well.” He was then followed by the clown, who fell on the harlequin, and lastly by the manager, Mr J. F. Elliston, who, not inappropriately, played the part of Simple Simon. When the casualties came to bo reckoned, it was found that the poor harlequin had severely injured Ills spine,that the clown had escaped with a fen - braises, and that Simple Simon had

fractured his ankle. Additional interest to the scene was gained when it was discovered that the mattress had fallen on a stage Carpenter, and had injured his head. And this is what the public arc pleased i# call “amusemeilt.”