The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 1880.

Kumara Times, Issue 1153, 9 June 1880, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 1880.

The Colonial Treasurer’s Financial Statement was delivered last night. A portion of the same appears in this issue, the remainder being unavoidably held over. The Christchurch coach passed the Bealey this morning, at the usual hour, having one passenger and four bags mails for Kumara, which may be expected to arrive here shortly after four o’clock. At a meeting of the Local School Committee held at_ the Town Hall last evening, the following members were present : Messrs Campbell, Wylde, Griffiths, Mogdridge, and Galland. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Mr Patrick was appointed to take charge temporarily of the Westbrook School, pending his permanent appointment, which the committee had recommended to the Board. It was resolved to ash Mr Bassall to explain the reason there was such a falling off during the last quarter in the attendance at the Greenstone School. The Secretary was instructed to draw the attention of the head-master Kumara State School (Mr Wilson) to clauses 89 and 90 of the Education Act, and also request him to furnish the committee with the names of all children who have not attended the school during the last six months. It was resolved to procure blinds for the use of the Greenstone School. The Committee then adjourned. We have to acknowledge receipt from the Government Printer of the first batch of Parliamentary papers laid on the table of the House this session. At a meeting of the Grey County Council, held yesterday, the tender of Patrick Ryan and party for a track from Greenstone to the new settlement, the amount being £192, was accepted. Mr Peter Adamson announces that -he has reduced the price of the “staff of life,” but those desirous of taking advantage of this reduction must be prepared to make the transaction a prompt one in a pecuniary sense. Sir George Grey has often told us that 16 people held two-thirds of England and Scotland, and the rest were all serfs. By a recent Parliamentary return, it is shown that in England and Scotland there are no less than 36,000 owners of land from 100 to 1000 acres in extent, holding over ten millions of acres among them, and 6500 owner of 1000 acres and upwards, holding thirty-four millions of acres among them. In the American Journal of Science and Art, Professor Marsh describes the largest land animal yet known to have existed on the globe. Its name is Atlantosaurus immanis. The thigh bone of this creature is over eight feet long, with a thickness at the larger end of twenty-five inches, though the bone has no true head. A comparison of this bone with the femur of a crocodile would indicate that the fossil saurian, if of similar proportions, had a total length of 115 feet. That the reptile was 100 feet long when alive is at least probable. The other bones of this animal that have been found, are proportionately gigantic; caudal'• Vertebra• '-has a

transverse diameter of more than sixteen inches. All the bones of this reptile yet discovered are in the Yale College Museum. They are from the Upper Jurassic of Colorado. Harper’s Magazine is responsible for the following story :—ln some of the Western States it is usual for the people to engage ministers for a term, of years, he having the option of terminating the engagement by giving a certain notice. The members of a Baptist Church had engaged a minister in this way, but before half the term had expired wished to get rid of him. He, after a time, obtained an appointment as chaplain to the State prison, so gave notice that he would leave, and on a certain Sunday he would preach his farewell discourse. The people, delighted that they were about to get rid of the minister of whom they were tired, turned out in great numbers to hear his last sermon. Their delight was turned into consternation, however, when he gave out his text, which was taken from the second and third verses of the fourteenth chapter of St. John’s Gospel—“l go to prepare a place for you ; that where lam there ye may be also.”