The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. SATURDAY, JANUARY 22, 1881.

Kumara Times, Issue 1345, 22 January 1881, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. SATURDAY, JANUARY 22, 1881.

R 'will be seen from an advertisement in another column that it is the intention of the Comity Chairman and MrM‘Whirter (one of the members of the County Council) to visit Dillman’s Town on Wednesday next, at noon, to meet miners and others interested in the question of widening the Dillman’s Town to Larrikin’s track into a dray road. The great sculling race for the championship of the world takes place this afternoon (or, we should say, at an hour corresponding to about 11 o’clock to-night) on the river Thames, provided no unforeseen circumstance should arise to prevent its being carried out. By the latest advices Hanlan is still the favorite, although Laycock’s style is greatly admired. The result of the race cannot possibly be known here until to-morrow evening, and even then it may not be to hand, as, being Sunday, telegraphic communication is limited to half-an-hour, We observe by our cablegram-; that the weather at Home has become finer and milder. 1

Although the attendance at the Theatre Royal last evening was not large on the occasion of the repetition of “ Struck Oil” by the Comedy and Burlesque Company, this splendid drama was quite as well played as on the night of its first presentation, the leading characters being frequently and heartily applauded. This evening the company will make their farewell appearance in the gorgeous pantomime of “ Cinderella; or, the Little Glass Slipper;” and, in justice to the most complete, well-organised and talented company that we have ever had the pleasure of witnessing the performances of on this Coast, We can but hope that the public this evening will accord them a bumper house on the occasion of their last appearance. We may mention in connection with the burlesque this evening, that two young ladles of good repute whose charms can only be excelled by their manners have consented to appear, in the fervent hope that their efforts will be appreciated to an extent that will allow of their re-appearing with the company in Hokitika.

The tea meeting and concert in connection with the visit of the Venerable Archdeacon Harper, held at the State School last evening, was a grand success, the attendance being very large and the arrangements all that could be desired. After the edibles had being done full justice to, Mr A. Skilton gave a brief acafccount of the financial position of the chnrfch, and introduced the Venerable Archdeacon Harper, who then addressed those present. Some capital songs and glees were subsequently well rendered by members of the choir and others, the coecert terminating with the National Anthem.

A meeting of the Phelan Relief Committee was held at the Town Hall last evening ; present—Messrs M‘Benzie (in the chair), Dungan, Maher, Clarke, and Duggan. After the minutes of the last meeting had been confirmed the Chairman proposed, Mr Clarke seconded, and it was carried—“ That Mr Maher be requested to wait on the Rev. Father Martin, for the purpose of soliciting his assistance and influence to get the children of the late John Phelan admitted free of charge to St. Mary’s Orphanage, Nelson.” It was also resolved—“ That a sub-commit-tee, consisting of Messrs Pearn, Maher, and Duggan be appointed to report to the next meeting on the most suitable place to establish Mrs Denis Phelan in business in this town, together with the amount of outlay necessary for that purpose.” The meeting then adjourned.

We learn that an entertainment will be held in aid of St. Patrick’s School, on the 17th March (St. Patrick’s Day), which will be of an unusually interesting and amusing character. The programme of the entertainment Will appear in a future issue.

A popular lecture entitled the “ Life of the Duke of Wellington” will be delivered by Mr Malcolm, of Brunnerton, about the middle of next month, in aid of the funds of the Wesleyan Church. By an announcement that appears in another column it will be seen that Miss Hannan has opened a school in Main street for the instruction of the younger branches of the present generation. The building which she proposes to utilise as an academy is a most suitable one, as it was formerly the chamber of the Borough Council, and is well ventilated and lined throughout ; and as Miss Hannan has had considerable experience with children, there is little doubt her maiden attempt in scholastic instruction on her own behalf will meet with success. It has been arranged that in future the steamers of the P, and O. Company will leave Melbpurne on Wednesdays instead of Fridays as heretofore. This arrangement came into force with the departure of the R.M.S. Cathay, which will left on the 19th instead of the 21st inst.

Gibbs Gordon, formerly clerk’s assistant in the Legislative Council, in a fit of delirium tremens got out of his bedroom window at M‘lutosh’s Hotel, Wellington, on Friday night and broke his neck. He had recently £7OO left him. He was secretary to the Jackson’s Bay inquiry two years ago. A project is on foot, and will soon be made public here, which, as far as I know (writes the London correspondent of the Otago Daily Times), is quite novel. It is to form a company in Scotland for the cultivation in North New Zealand of the tea plant and the silkworm. One Mr William Cochrane, of Perthshire, has it in hand. He has been, I believe, a teagrower in China, and is satisfied from his study of the subject, that North New Zealand is well adapted for both of these industries, and that they can be success-

fully Carried on - 'together. I have reason to know that Mr Cochrane has been in communication with Dr. Hector upon the subject, and that the scheme will be before the public ere long. The mysterious disappearance of H.M.S. Atalanta has drawn attention to the existing means for communicating intelligence between ocean-going ships in distress and the land. A sealed bottle, however useful it sometimes proves, is not the best device that that could be adoped. The “Sea Messengers” of Mr 3-. A. R. Vanderbergh, of Portsmouth, are a decided improvement on it. These consist of little boats, to which a small, bright flag can be lashed, and they are visible for a considerable distance at sea. They are capable of carrying GOlbs of freight, and hence a quantity of jewels and other valuables could be entrusted to them for the benefit of the friends of those about to perish in the doomed ship. A list of the the passengers on board, together with remarks on the cause of the the disaster, and printed instructions in seven languages for the edification of the finders, is also put inside the “messenger” before it is committed to the deep. These messengers have hitherto done good service, but they have not been so generally adopted oA board ships as they ought to be. Perhaps a coating of luminous paint, which would render them more conspicuous at night, would be an additional advantage.

Mr Charles Loring Brace, the Well known American author and philantrophist, has just published a pamphlet in which he argues that merchant Vessels should be unmolested in time of war, and advocates the entire inviolability of private property on the seas.

There is one country in Europe which rejoices in having no army, no navy, and no foreign policy—namely, Switzerland. As soon as this example begins to be generally followed the millenium may be considered to have set in.

An English marriage in Cyprus is not an everyday occurrence, and such are the difficulties thrown in the way that it is only a wonder they ever occur at all. It would appear almost incredible, but it is nevertheless true, that although we have now been in possession of the island for more than two years, no provision has been made for the marriage of British subjects in the island. On Friday, 22nd October, Captain Baker, Ist Battalion, 20th Regiment, who is Assistant-Commis-sioner at Nicosia, was married to the eldest daughter of the Rev. W. Ferguson the Presbyterian Minister at Liraasol. Owing to the want of legislation on the subject, the ceremony had to be performed on board one of Her Majesty’s ships, and Captain Mann, R. N., very kindly placed his cabin on board Her Majesty’s ship Rapid at the disposal of the wedding party. Fortunately for all concerned, the sea was like glass and the ship as steady as a rock ; the sailors had dressed the ship very tastefully, and the scene was really a very picturesque one, all the wedding guests (of the male persuasion) being in full dress uniform. The service was performed by the Rev. A. Garbcushian. As the bride and bridegroom left the side the sailors gave three ringing cheers, which were heartily joined in by the officers. The Royal Engineers had erected a decorative porch outside Mr. Ferguson’s house and made a small pier for landing from the boats.

The Royal Engineer photographers have lately performed a clever feat. It was determined recently by the military authorities to endeavour to “stalk” a balloon in the air, with a view to discover how far an enemy’s fire would be dam gerous to the aeronaut. With this view one of the war balloons was sent up near Dungeness some weeks ago, of course with no occupant in the car, and a military photographer was instruct to depict the result of the experiment in his camera. The latter was so far successful that he at any rate managed to get an impression of the bursting shell and collapsing balloon upon his plate. The balloon was permitted to rise to a height of 800 feet, and then the photograper was stationed with the cannon^—or rather, howitzer—at a range of no less that 2000 yards. A shell was burst so cleverly in front of the balloon that it sank as grievously wounded almost as Ctesar, with 25 wounds in its body. The photograph shows the wounded balloon still in mid-air, and the shell bursting about 200 yards on its left. Probably the worst blunder ever made by the telegraphists was one that occurred in the case of a St Louis merchant, who, while in New York, received a telegram informing him that his wife was ill. He sent a message to his family doctor, asking the naturne of the sickness, and if

there was any danger, and received promptly the answer— ‘ No danger. Your wife has had a child. If we can keep her from having another to-night, she will do well.’ The mystification of the agitated husbaftd was not removed until a second inquiry i-evealed the fact that his indisposed lady had> had a chill.