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Kumara Times, Issue 1418, 19 April 1881, Page 2

The annual report and balance-sheet of the Kumara Benevolent Society, submitted at the annual meeting last evening, appear in another part of this issue.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Hospital Committee will be held at the Secretary's office at 8 o'clock this evening. Contrary to advertised date, there were no sittings of the Warden's and Resident Magistrate's Courts this morning. Leaseholders on the Education Reserve are reminded that the collector is in attendance at the office of the Board, Main street each evening, from 7 to 9 o'clock, for the purpose of receiving rents. We understand the public meeting or the question of mining on the Education Reserve will take place on Friday next. The Hibernian Society may be congratulated iipon the success which attended the efforts of the officers whose special duty it was to superintend the arrangements for the second Annual ball in Kumara in connection with the Green*stone Branch of that institution, which was held at the Adelphi Hall last evening. The spacious room was very tastefully decorated with flowers, ferns, and other devices; there were visitors from all quarters ; the ladies and their dresses and adornments were remarkably chaste and elegant, and the pretty little understandings—well, we were reminded of some lines of one of the poets, which seem appropriate— " Her feet beneath her petticoat, Like little mice, stole in and out, As if they feared the light. And oh ! she dances such a way, No sun upon an Easter day Is half so fine a sight. The weather, too, proved very favorable, the attendance was good, and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves ; so much so that dancing was kept up with great spirit till day-dawn, when the usual country dance terminated a very sociable night's pleasure. The drawing of Gilbert Stewart's consultation on the Sydney Cup will take at the Public Hall to-night, at nine o'clock. No opportunity can be afforded after that hour for securing an interest in this event, so application for tickets should be made without the least delay. Sweeps for tickets will take place till near that time at the usual place, in Main street. There was a large gathering at the Hokitika races yesterday, the weather being unusually fine for the occasion. The Trial Stakes Were won by Mr Frith's Hero, Mr Osborne's York second > the Hokitika Handicap was Won by Mr Jones's Warrigal, Mr Brimble's Whalebone second ; the Selling Race by Mr Harcourt's Yorkey ; and the Publican's Purse by Mr Clarke's Kensington, who defeated his only opponent, Native, easily. A hack race was won by Mr Brosnan's Hard Times ; Mr Rugg's Diomedes being second. According to Baron Kolb tlie average life among the well-to-do is fifty years, among the poor thirty-two years. Clergymen average the longest lives—sixty-six years. Idlers are shorter lived than the industrious, and statistics prove that in countries where consanguinous marriages are permitted there are found to be a greater number of deaf mutes and idiots than elsewhere. A Home paper compliments New Zealand on retaining the native names of its towns. A Southland paper says the smaller townships do not deserve the credit given, else we should have fewer "Gladstones," " Palmerstons," "Beaconsfields," and other more indigenous names. Some of the women of California are successful apiarists, floriculturists, raisinmakers, growers of small fruits, and managers of orchards and poultry farms. For list of prizes in a grand art-union at Hokitika see fourth page.—[Advt.] 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.]