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Kumara Times, Issue 1388, 14 March 1881, Page 2

Neither of the coaches due from Christchurch on Saturday last had arrived here at the time of our going to press. Both coaches left the Bealey early on Saturday morning, but finding it impossible to proceed in consequence of the heavy flood in the Bealey river bed, they returned again to the township. The heavy rain on Saturday last proved most disastrous in more ways than one, as not only was traffic between here and Hokitika temporarily suspended, but a considerable amount of damage was done to the various roads and bridges that will entail a large amount of time and expendi* ture to repair. The Government dam, as usual, broke away, the Water that escaped therefrom in its passage down the Kapitea Creek carrying away a portion of the bridge at the foot of the Kapitea hill on the main road to Hokitika and depositing it about 200 yards down the the creek. At Pipers Flat and also in the Waimea considerable damage was done by the water overflowing the creeks, .the well known big dam also sustained serious injury. Several culverts, and about one hundred yards of the gravel track on the local rifle range were washed away. A large slip took place on the Zig-zag, and the town generally presented the appearance of a recent inundation. A special raeeiing of the Phelan Relief Fund will be held at the Town Hall this evening, to adopt the balance-sheet in connection with the receipts and expenditure of that fund. The Court Minstrels, who, through inclement weather, were unable to open at the Theatre Royal, on Saturday evening, will make their first appearance to-night. The entei’tainment as announced by the programme is a most varied and humorous one ; and, judging frem the reception this company have met with elsewhere, will afford a good evenings enjoyment. We are requested to state that there will be an entire change of programme every evening during the Minstrels visit to this town. The County Chairman left here early yesterday morning for the purpose of inspecting the damage done by the floods the previous evening. On reaching the Kapitea Creek it was only with the greatest difficulty and the employment of ropes he was enabled to cross as the water was running dangerously high both for the rider and horse. Having given instructions for the ford to be made good immediately, to enable the coaches between Kumar a and Hokitika to cross, he proceeded to the latter town, and will visit the Christchurch road to-morrow. In another column tenders for the reconstruction of the Kapitea bridge are called for, A meeting of the Kumara Cricket Club will be held this evening, to arrange for a match with a Hokitika team on St. Patrick’s Day. The following “hard” paragraph about H.M.S. Emerald’s cruise in the islands, appears in the Sydney Bulletin :—“All the newspapers have had the wrong story. The Emerald proved herself a terrible avenger. They captured “One Small Nigger,” it’s true, but have made at least 1200 darkies bite the dust. Shrapnel did the fatal work. The crews saw what they did see. One tiling was re- r gretted. At dusk one evening, a canoe was chased. Not a soul lived under that withering musketry fire. The canoe had been “ manned” by women—that was the regret. Every Island lost several hundred men. The truth leaks out sometimes, this time through “ that one little nigger.”

Mrs Laura tie Force Gordon, the first female lawyer who ever addressed a jury in California, defended not long since a man accused of murder. The San Francisco Chronicle, in speaking of the occasion says ;—“Mrs Gordon wore a black dress, and her only ornament was a rose at her throat. Her apppearande caused excitement, and was several times, applauded. Her client was acquitted.”