The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. TUESDAY, JANUARY 11, 1881.

Kumara Times, Issue 1335, 11 January 1881, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. TUESDAY, JANUARY 11, 1881.

Messrs Geo. Simmons, sen., and W. B. Galland were yesterday returned as members of the Borough Council. At the time of our going to press the election for the other vacant seat had not concluded.

The ordinary weekly parade of the local Rifle Contingent will be held at the Adelphi Hall this evening.

To-morrow evening Miss Clara Stephenson's Company will make their re-appear-ance at the Theatre Royal, prior to their departure from the Coast. As their stay is limited to three days, 'tile pieces for presentation have been carefully selected with a view to afford the public ail opportunity of witnessing this company in their greatest and most attractive programmes. Although the attendance was far from large at the Theatre Royal last evening, the gifts announced to be given away were fairly distributed. The 'silver watch for the author of the best conundrum on ventriloquism was won by one of our staff, on the award of the two judges selected from the audience (Messrs W.» Barnett and A. Miller). The following is the conundrum referred to: "Why is a ventriloquist like a clever humorous man questioning dunces in public ? —Because he makes the block-heads speak, and amuses the audience." The feats of Hercules were received with approbation, as the strength exhibited by this man of iron jaws was something extraordinary. This evening Lieut. Herman takes his farewell benefit, and as the gifts to-night will be double in proportion to those on any other evening there will be a capital opportunity of securing a good prize, especially as both gold and silver watches and a magnificent tea set will form the three leading ones. Mr D Williams, in his great Chinese impersonation, will also appear this evening, in connection with several other well-known amateurs who have kindly given their services on the occasion of the benefit of Lieut. Herman.

The monthly meeting of the Ivumara Prospecting Association will be held tomorrow evening, at the Town Hall. The installation of the officers of the Lazar Masonic Lodge will take place on Friday afternoon next, the District Grand Master of Westland conducting the ceremony. We are requested to state that early application should be made for tickets for the banquet, as a large number of the craft from other lodges having signified their intention of being present, this will allow of the committee making arrangements should the number attending exceed that estimated in the first instance.

Mr F. A. Learmonth was yesterday elected Mayor of Hokitika the number of votes recorded being Laarmonth, 149 ; Tait, 104 ; and Hudson, 30. The drawing of Hannah's Grand Artunion will take place this evening, at the Town Hall. Immediately after the drawing the successful ticket-holders will be enabled to obtain their prizes, should they wish to do so to-night, at Mr Hannah's jewellei-y shop in Seddon street. The Lyttelton Times states that the hailstorm of last week completely destroyed all the crops on the South bank of the river Ashley which were in its path. They were cut off so close to the ground that in many instances there is not even feed for sheep left. Mr E. Jeff lost 120 acres of growing crops in this way ; Mr W. Cowan had scarcely a vestige of his left, and several other farmers were equally heavy losers.

The total winnings of Robert the Devil during his turf career amount in the aggregate to £20,92G. Mr. Brewer gave 2500 guineas for him at the close of his two-year-old career. As a three-year-old he has won £IS,G47, so that the owners of the horse made a good invesment. A story went the rounds of the pipers the other day how an attendant at the Royal Court of Justice picked up in a corner of a passage some bonds of the value of £3OOO payable to bearer, found out the owners, restored the bonds, and was rewarded with £1 ! and much comment lias been made on the grand encouragement thereby given to honesty.

But the best part of the story has not been told. The £1 was distributed among all the servants who are employed in the building, so that the original finder of the £3OOO eventually received only ninepence.

Mr Henry Varley was once going to Geelong, and as he had just taken his seat in the carriage a man rushed frantically in, mopped his face with his handkerchief, sat down, and began to curse all the railways up hill and down dale. When asked to explain his conduct, he excused himself by saying that he had got into no less than four different trains and found they were not for Geelong-. "Such management, &c, &c." Mr Varley was very shocked by his strong language* and mildly asked him "if he knew where he was going, 'Well, upon my soul, after two days' experience I don't think it safe to say I do.' Ah, young man, you're going to hell." "Good heaven! wrong train again !" and away he cut. I heard a story of Mrs Brassey the other day (says the correspondent of an American paper), that smacked somewhat of the nouvelle elite in other parts of the world. Visiting a fashionable upholsterer's one afternoon, she saw a carved ivory chair. It was a rare work of art in its way, ar-d, as a single specimen, would have graced the drawing-room of any well-appointed house. Mrs B. asked the price. " Three hundred guineas," was the reply. "I'll take it," answered Mrs B. " "but you must make eleven more to match it. I want a dozen*'' A cingular circumstance is narrated in connection with the history of the English balloon Eclipse, which ascended from the Crystal Palace a short time since, in the international balloon competition. Some twelve months ago, Captain Colvaile, of the Grenadier Guards, and his bride made an ascent in this balloon from the Crystal Palace on their wedding day, they being the sole occupants of the eai*, and in cloudland they spent a portion of their honeymoon, effecting a safe landing at Waterbeach, between Cambridge and Ely. A few days ago, while an excursion from out on the Lake Shore Road was spreading itself over Detroit, a pair of lovers seated themselves on the steps of the City Hall, and, of course, took hold of hands. Some of the officials in the building noticed this, and one gentleman offered to bet a dollar that they would squeeze for a straight hour without once breaking their hold. The bet was taken, and a third party took his station where he could watch the result. It was an awful hot day, but that didn't make the least difference. At the end of 40 minutes the two red hands were still tightly clasped. So they were when five minutes more would have struck the hour. Then the young man made an uneasy novement. Leaning over to her flaxen curls he said : ' Smantha, I'm going to let go of your hand for a minute, but you won't be mad, will you, darling 1 1 wouldn't let go till you did, only some sort of a bug is crawling down my back, and I can't keep my mind on you and bugs at the same time !'