The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 1881.

Kumara Times, Issue 1386, 11 March 1881, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 1881.

The presentation of prizes to the children of the State School who were successful in gaining them by the total number of marks they earned in the various branches of education they studied prior to the late vacation, will take place at the Theatre Royal this evening. The chair will be taken at eight o’clock. The prizes for the Infant and Primer classes will be presented in the School at 3 o’clock

this afternoon. Parents are specially invited to be present. We are glad to learn that at least One Prospecting Association on the Coast has borne fruit in the shape of striking gold in a previously unprospected locality, as the gratifying news was yesterday reported to the Greenstone Prospecting Association by the party of men they had employed that they had struck good payable wash. The locality in question is the left-hand branch of the Three-mile-Creek at the back of Mr Biggs store, the prospects obtained being above 2 grains to the dish, and the sinking twelve feet. As several other shafts are going down, a few days will thoroughly test the ground; Messrs Perkins, Petrie, and Lord, of Greymouth, were yesterday elected to the three ordinary vacancies on the Central Board of Education ; Mr Warner, also of Greymouth, being returned to fill the extraordinary vacancy. Persons cannot be too careful in the use of dynamite when using it for blasting-, stumps especially, when in close proximity to the streets of the town. This morning a number of people in Main street were suddenly alarmed by hearing a dull explosion, followed by a crashing of wood and glass, and, a second after seeing a heavy knot of wood about 201 b weight, descend in the street opposite Rugg’s right-of-way. On examination of the cause of the alarm it was found that a person in close proximity to the rear of Mr Rugg’s premises had blasted a stump in his garden, a portion of which had taken off a piece of board from the front of the bowling saloon while another portion had smashed one of the Kumara Hotel windows. The twelfth competition for the Ladies’ Gold Challenge Medal by the first squad took place this morning, the highest scorer being Volunteer Uphara, with 74 points. Should this score not be beaten by any member of the second squad tomorrow, Volunteer Upham will be the absolute owner of the medal, as he has already won it twice before ; the conditions being that it must be won by the same Volunteer twice in succession, or three times otherwise. Tenders are invited for erecting a vestry-roem in connection with Holy Trinity Church. Specifications of the work can be seen at the Beehive Store Main Street, where tenders will close on Tuesday night next. At 2 p.m. yesterday (says the Inangahua Times of Monday) one of the heaviest thundei’stoms ever : expesienced passed over Black’s Point. For upwards of an hour the rain literally poured down in torrents, flooding the gutters in a few seconds, and temporarily covering the streets with a sheet of water. The storm passed away as suddenly as it came, and the remainder of the day was beautifully fine. Strange to say that Reefton, which is only some half mile away from Black’s Point, was almost wholly untouched by the storm. Indeed so completely local was the rain-fall that many who witnessed it are inclined to believe that it was the fag end of a water-spout. The Oamaru Mail of Saturday says : We have heard of several good yields of wheat this season in the district, but the best result so far has been obtained by one of the Elderslie tenants. He finished threshing a field of 120 acres of velvet wheat yesterday, and the result was 1658 sacks of first quality. Each sack contains bushels, thus giving a yield of over 60 bushels. The Canterbury Press says :—“ The dairy farmers of the Peninsula are bestirring themselves in reference to obtaining a better price for their dairy produce, and with that object in view it is intended to form an association to export cheese to London. It was hoped that the s.s. Norfrlk would be able to carry home a trial shipment, but it is doubted if that steamer will return direct. If not, it is thought advisable to try and procure suitable spade in one of the grain ships that will shortly leave for home, and should the cheese sent reach London in good condition, it will be arranged to send nearly all the Peninsula cheese to the old country, with a view of obtaining higher prices than rule in the colony.” 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.]