Untitled

Kumara Times, Issue 1331, 6 January 1881, Page 2

At the Theatre Royal, to-night, Thompson’s celebrated Confederate Diorama will be exhibited for the first time. As a ventriloquist, Lieut. Herman is very highly spoken of by the Press generally, and we have every reason to believe that this portion of the entertainment is highly interesting and amusing. A grand distribution of gifts on a most fair and impartial principle will take place every evening. The Christchurch coach met with an accident shortly after leaving the Bealey yesterday morning, and it was only by the aid of a couple of strong spars lashed under the carriage that the journey could be proceeded with. As it was, some of the passengers remained behind ; the Ven. Archdeacon Harper, came on, and arrived here by the branch coach at 5.30 last evening. From the new rush at the Teremakau some capital reports are to hand as to its auriferous nature ; but we should still strongly advise no one to be over sanguine as to the extent of the discovery at present, until those now engaged have had time to thoroughly test the nature and extent of the lead. There are, doubtless, many of our readers who have some light literature on hand, old periodicals or papers, they could conveniently dispense with, and at the same time confer a benefit on suffering humanity. We are led to make this remark from the fact that many of the patients in the-hospital would only too

gladly pass several weary hours away in the pefusal of arty amusing work or journal had they the opportunity offered, and that in giving this publicity there are many who can, if they feel so ■ inclined, supply the Hospital itl this respect. All contributions of this kind will be thankfully received by the Wardsrnan oh behalf of the patients. According to the Wellington Chronicle the swearing-in of Sir Arthur Gordon was almost aa impressive a ceremony as his reception here on the Queen-street wharf: — “On the lawn fronting Government House was a small table, with a plain chair, and a sixpenny bible ; Sir Arthur Gordon advanced to the table, and the Clerk of Council read aloud the oaths of allegiance to the Sovereign. The Chief Justice, in full robes, administered the oaths, the Governor kissing the Bible and attesting his signature to the official record of his appointment as Governor of the colony. A group of officials formed a circle of observers. The swearing-in being completed, the Governor was retreating into the house when the Premier called for cheers for Sir Arthur Gordon, A weak soft of cheer was given, as if the colony's Ministers and officials had not recovered the shock of a ten per cent reduction in salary.” The HawkeS Bay Herald tells the following story of Maori duplicity and Maori honesty, in reference to some of -the East Coast Natives : —“A Native girl recently appeared at the home of a well-known runholder, and told a pitiful tale of hoar her aged father had fallen and broken an arm. The fracture was most minutely described. The object of the girl was to obtain £l, in order, as she said, that the old man could be carried to Napier to have his broken arm set. The runholder gave the money, full of admiration for the girl’s affection for her aged relative. A day or two afterwards a pedler came around, and it transpired, in the course of conversation, that this girl had spent exactly £1 with him. Further inquiries showed that the girl had no aged farther, and that no one connected with her or her people had broken an arm. The aggrieved runholder went to the chief and represented the facts, suggesting that they should be laid before the Native Committee of the district, f.nswering to oiir Courts of law. He was told that he must pay 5s for a summons before anything could be done. This curious request was complied with, the runholder being anxious to see the result of his application. Two days afterwards he heard that the committee had met, considered the case, and fined the girl £l, in addition to ordering her to pay the £1 borrowed and ‘costs of the Court.’ The £2 5s was sent the runholder, which is, by the bye, a little different to our experience of European Courts of law. He kept his pound and the ‘costs,’ but sent the fine back to the committee.”

The Fiji Times published some valedictory verses on the deparure of Sir ArthurGordon for New Zealand. The first few stanzas give a fair idea of the whole : Not a sigh was heard, not a farewell cheer, As his Ex gave the signal for starting ; Not a toady could squeeze out a crocodile tear While they went through the humbug of parting. No concourse of citizens flocked to the strand ; No public address was presented ; Not a kerchief waved by a lily-white hand And there wasn’t a soul that lamented. They solemnly bore him away from the shore, And the eyes of the people went after, But the only expression each countenance wore Was a broad grin approaching a laughter. It was grief no doubt to a cheerful mien Its sorrowful transports subduing, While the moral young persons from prim Aberdeen Did the whole of the formal 800-hoo-ing. What (asks “ Asmodeus ” in the N.Z. Mail) is the state of mind of a man who can laugh when he has one foot on the scaffold ? I saw Tuhia laugh heartily twice during his trial, once when a witness swore he knew the coat to be the prisoner’s, who had bought it of him nine months’ before, and he had kept his eye on it ever since because there was 17s fid owing on the bargain. The second time he laughed was in accord with the general titter evoked when the trousers were first brought to view. These garments had long since passed the scarecrow period of their existence, and there was not a square foot of whole material in them, while their antiquity was such, and the patches so numerous that a tailor in the jury could hardly tell what was the original fabric. It was curious, too, to watch how different persons who were compelled

to handle the garments did so. Some would take them by the extremities of the finger and thumb, which they immediately afterwards Wiped, while others would boldly grasp the articles as utlconcerned as if they were their own garments, and one man was most assiduous in showing every particle of cloth to the jury. But I cannot find ah ahSWet to the question with which I began this paragraph, which was still more forcibly impressed on my mind whett I heard the condemned man, almost before the sound of “ And may God have mercy on your soul,” had died away, asking to be provided with a pipe ! What faculty does the untutored savage possess by which he can regard an ignominious death with such apparent equanimity.

Two stalwart men were Working at night in a Chicago freight yard. Each had a large kenosene lamp. A quarrel arose between them which ended in a fight. The lamps were used as weapons, and were speedily broken over the heads of the contestants. The oil ran over them and caught fire, but neither would let go his hold, and they continued the struggle with their bodies enveloped in flame, until both were disabled by burning. One died immediately, and the other lived only a few hours.

It is said that the proposed Hew York International Exhibition it 1883 will cost ten millions of dollars, which it is proposed to raise by the issue of stock of two kinds. First, the principal intending exhibitors will be asked to purchase prefential shares, and when they ate taken up the general public will be ilivited to subscribe.