The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 1880.

Kumara Times, Issue 1165, 23 June 1880, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 1880.

The Christchurch coach with four bags of mails passed the Bealey at the usual hour this morning. In consequence of Mr Maher wishing to have everything complete in connection with the working of the cages in the shaft, the formal christening of the new engine has been postponed until to-morrow afternoon, when it will take place at three o’clock punctually. At the usual weekly parade of the local Rifles last evening there were six new members proposed and accepted. It was resolved to hold the entertainment in aid of the drum and life band early next month. Fresh tenders are invited for the construction of two sections of the Mikonui water race. The well-known Lynch Family of bellringers and vocalists will, we understand, visit this town early next month, -when they will give their varied entertainment, which at present is drawing crowded houses nightly in Wellington. Full particulars of their visit will be announced in our advertising columns shortly. A curious ocean waif was discovered on the sea beach recently, between the mouths of the Raugitikci and Turakina rivers, in the form of a box about four feet long, with a scantling nailed along one side of it, to which had evidently been attached some ballast. On one end of the box was neatly painted a skull and cross-bones, and on either side the words rcquiescat in pace were painted. The lid was missing, but a closer examination of the case (says the Rang'tikei Advocate) suggested tire idea

of its having been a child’s coffin, thrown overboard from some passenger ship. A statement furnished to the press by the secretary of the General Steam Navigation Company leaves no doubt that the sinking of the Calypso, from New Zealand, off Margate, resulted from a mistake of the second mate of the Hawk steamer. The mistake was made of starboarding instead of porting the helm. The second mate starboarded, hoping to pass clear under the stern of the Calypso, but that vessel having swung round with the tide stood right athwart the channel, and the only possible \fay of avoiding the collision under the circumstances must have been to order port-helm when the Calypso’s siding light was sighted. The Calypso has been inspected by divers, and found to be intact, with the exception of the holes made in her side by the Hawk at the time of the collision.

Rather a good story comes from Dunedin. A few years ago, an artist who resided not a hundi’ed miles from Milton, received an order from a well-known publican in Dunedin to paint his portrait. The painting was taken from a photograph which proved to be a very good likeness of the subject. It was sent to the publican when it was finished, but was returned with a polite note saying that the artist had surely mistaken him for someone else, as the painting had no resemblance to him. By-and-bye the artist came to reside in Dunedin, and by some means found out that the publican had in the meantime dyed his whiskers and hair. The artist offered to make the necessary alterations, but Boniface refused to have anything to do with it. The artist swore he would have his revenge, arid accordingly, next day exhibited the picture in his shop window, with the following : £ 1 The Artist’s Revenge—As he appeared before he died (dyed).” The artist has had his revenge, for through that portrait his business has increased wonderfully.