The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 1881.

Kumara Times, Issue 1422, 23 April 1881, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 1881.

There was a crowded meeting at the Town Hall last evening to hear the various speakers’ opinions on the Education Reserve question, in acccordance with the requisition to his Worship the Mayor to call such meeting. The proceedings were of a most orderly character, and the resolutions and the speeches were well to the point. We regret that we are necessitated to let the report stand over till our next issue. The coaches from Christchurch both arrived in due time this afternoon. The Banks were closed to-day—St. George’s Day. At the Resident Magistrate’s Court this morning, before E. Barff and J. O’Hagan, Esqs., J.Ps., Michael Gannon, for disorderly conduct in Seddon street early this morning, was fined 10s, or in default 24 hours’ imprisonment. The same prisoner was also charged with assaulting and resisting Constable Folly in the execution of his duty, for which he was sentenced to fourteen days’ imprisonment in the Hokitika Gaol, with hard labor. We publish two extracts from a letter to a private correspondent from Mr H. Phillips, late head teacher of the Kumara

We publish two extracts from a letter to a private correspondent from Mr H. Phillips, late head teacher of the Kumara State School, which will doubtless interest many of your readers. The letter is dated Thames, April 9, 1881 ;—“After a most searching examination of the school last J une—so searching that I could not account for it—l was sent for to the office in Auckland, and, after an interview with

the chief Inspector and Secretary, 1 was informed that the Board had appointed me Training Master for the Thames District, and, shortly after, my appointment appeared in the Board advertisements. I I have all the assistants and several of the head teachers under my supervision. Of course the work is very hard, having to attend to my own school, which musters over 500, in addition, but the screw is considerable and the honour great. The result of the examination for the teachers under my training was 75 per cent, passed, whilst in several subjects we completely beat Auckland, one of my pupil teacher’s obtaining the highest marks in the province. This result is exceedingly gratifying.” In another column the Borough Council of Kumava notify their intention of making a general rate *of one shilling in the £ for the year ending March 31st, 1882, which is to be payable in one sum on Saturday, the 7th day of May, 1881. Notice is also given that the Rate Book and an estimate of the proposed expenditure of the Council during the period for which the rate is to be made are open for imspection at the Town Clerk’s office. In Gilbert Stewart’s consultation on the Sydney Cup, Mr James Kiely, of Nelson Creek, takes first prize, having made good Progress ; second prize, Strathearn, is found in the vicinity of Wellington ; and the third, a Wandering Jew, is domiciled with Mr J. Halligan, Hokitika. David Charles M‘Gahey was brought before the Reefton Bench on Wednesday morning, charged with the murder of John Bell, and was remanded until yesterday. The sum of £lO 10s was realised by the Hospital Committee from the Costume Cricket Match on Cass Square, Hokitika, on Thursday.

A lump of almost pure gold, weighing about eleven pounds was taken out of the Success mine at Coromandel recently.

After New South Wales we have more sheep than any of the Australian Colonies. At the end of 1879 the figures stood as follow :—New South Wales, 29,043,492 ; New Zealand, 13,069,338 ; Victoria, 8,651,755. The first prize for sulphur, both in its raw and manufactured state, has been awarded by the judges of the Melbourne Exhibition to Mr Wilson, of Tauranga, who sent various samples there for exhibition.

An exchange says : It is the commonest thing to find Australians, in every class of life, settled in New Zealand. It is an exceedingly uncommon tiling to find a New Zealander settled in Australia. There never has been any ‘ exodus ’ worth speaking of yet, and we do not think there is going to be any now.” The Onehunga correspondent of the Auckland Herald writes:—“A singular freak of nature, consisting of a sheep with six perfectly formed legs, was brought down from Waiuku by the s.s. Manukau, and placed in Captain Cunningham’s yard, where it attracted a good deal of attention. The two extra legs are growing out near the lower part of the sheep’s shoulders—one projects between the fore legs, and the other curves round the off fore legs. They are about nine inches in length, and do not appear to interfere with the sheep’s movements in any respect.” The Road Boards in Otago are sending out postal cards demanding payment of rates, instead of sending round a collector.

The manufacture of walking sticks from the native supplejacks, is another industry that has recently sprung into existence in Wellington. The out-put from the Kaitangata coal mine is said to be five hundred tons per month. As many as sixty men are stated to be employed upon the premises.

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. [Abvt.] For list of prizes in a grand art-union at Hokitika see fourth page. —[Advt.]