The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. MONDAY, MARCH 7, 1881.

Kumara Times, Issue 1382, 7 March 1881, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. MONDAY, MARCH 7, 1881.

The mail coach from Christchiirch arrived half-an-hour before contract time on Saturday afternoon, Riigg's coach, from the same place, coming in about five minutes ahead. Opposition on this road, if not remunerative to the proprietors of the coaches in question, is beneficial to the public, inasmuch as the inward mail from Christchurch is now often delivered greatly in advance of the usual time heretofore.

We learn that an accident, nearly attended with fatal results occurred to a -clergyman (whose name we are unable to 'ascertain) at the Taipo river on Thursday l-ast It appears that the reverend gentleman, to enjoy the beauties of the scenery between here and Ohristchurch, had undertaken the journey on foot, and, while staying at M'lnerney's Hotel for a day or two, he made good use of his time io examining the adjacent ranges. When returning from one of his pedestrian ramblings in crossing the wire bridge at the Taipo (his attention at the time being attracted to some cattle crossing the river lower down), his foot struck one of the boards throwing him down, the oscillations of the bridge precipitating him under the

side wire into the rapid torrent below. Fortunately one of the two stockriders who were driving the cattle observed the accident, and, by riding his horse into the river, he was enabled to throw the end of his stock whip to the reverend gentleman, who succeeded in grasping it and eventually reaching the land. Here he fainted away from the injuries he had received fi'om the boulders in the river and the stockrider had to proceed for assistance, which speedily arrived in Mrs M'lnerney, by whose help the injured gentleman was conveyed to her house and promptly and kindly attended to, and, we are glad to learn, is at present progressing satisfactorily, Our informant states that a groom was requested by the stockrider to come to the assistance of the halfdrowned and injured gentleman when laid on the bank of the river and he replied "he had no time to look after drowndedmen." If, as stated, this is a fact, the sooner this disgraceful specimen of the human race who will not lend a helping hand to assist a fellow creature in distress is removed from near a river where an accident may occur at any moment, the better for the country at largo.

Mr A. Singer announces his usual grand Easter art-union of jewellery, the first three prizes on this occasion being in the current coin of the realm, consisting of 100, 50, and 25 sovereigns respectively.

It is very probable, says the Auckland Star, that a sculling match for the championship of New Zealand will take place shortly. It will be remembered that shortly after the last Auckland Regatta, Albert White of Mercury Bay, issued a challenge to row against any man in New Zealand. He shortly afterwards received a telegram from P. H. Duncan, Tattersail's, Christchurch, expressing his willingness to accept the challenge. White then telegraphed offering to row him in Tauranga for £IOO, and allow him £25 if he lost the match. No reply was received to this, and White yesterday sent another telegram to Duncan. In it he expresses surprise at not receiving any answer to the previous communication, and then offers to row him for the championship and £IOO, White to get £25 in the event of his losing. It is expected that a reply will be received to-day, and should it contain an acceptance, the arrangements for the race will be made at once.

The following paragraph appears in the Dunedin Morning Herald of the 24th ult.:—Yesterday's proceedings of the Resident Magistrate's Court were interrupted by an incident which is doubtless unparalleled—at least in the annals of the Dunedin Courts. A solicitor in one of the cases elected to give evidence, but whilst on his journey from the bar to the box, either from bodily infirmity or more questionable causes, he exhibited a desire to quarrel with the chairs. His Worship, evidently desiring to maintain etiquette in Court, indignantly exclaimed, "Mr and you are even in a less fit state to go into that box and give evidence. I will not take you or your oath—you are intoxicated. I warn you against ever again making your appearance in this Court in the state you are now in. I shall brina the matter before the Judge of the Su-, prenie Court in some way." The case was then adjourned for a week.

Sir F. Roberts, the conquering hero of Candahar, and so styled "Saviour of Afghanistan," says the Good Templar Gem, is son of of a clergyman of the Established Chnrch, Waterford, Ireland. His brother, Samuel U Roberts, is one of the Commissioners of the Board of Public Works in Ireland. Sir F. Roberts is a member of the Order of Good Templars and a staunch teetotaller. He has a Good Templar lodge attached to every regiment under his command. Sir Garnet Wolseley is also a total abstainer.

The Baldwin Locomotive Works have just entered into a contract with Colonel G. A. L. Roberts, of Titusville, for the construction of a passenger engine which shall be able to run eighty miles an hour and maintain this rate of speed for 100 miles without stopping. The locomotive is to weigh thirty-eight tons, and will comply with standard gauge. The driving wheels will be 6ft. in diameter. The forward trucks and those of the tender will be made of paper, which, it is said will endure more strain and wear than iron or steel. The wheels will be all of the pattern known as the broad tread which will enable the engine to run on roads of either 4ft. B\in. or 4ft. 10in. gauge. It is stated that Golonel Roberts, who has visited Europe several times and studied the railway systems of that country, is building his new engine for use upon the European continent.

A patent has recently been issued to Daniel Ruggles, of Fredericksburg, Va., for a method of precipitating rain storms, which, judging from a well-known precedent, is not entirely chimerical. It has frequently been noticed that heavy cannonading is followed by a fall of rain. Profiting by this suggestion, Mr Ruggles has invented a method of producing a concussion, or sei'ies of concussions, in the upper regions of the atmosphere, which he believes will induce rain. The invention consists, in brief, of a balloon carrying torpedoes and cartidges charged with such explosives as nitro-glycerine, dynamite, guncotton, gunpowder, or fulminates, and connecting the balloon with an electrical apparatus for exploding the cartridges.

To those in search of merriment, visit S. S. Pollock's, and obtain the great Irish song "The Babies in our Block," or "Little Sally Waters"; price sixpence. [Advt.]