The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 1881.

Kumara Times, Issue 1425, 27 April 1881, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 1881.

We learn that the School Commissioners have arranged to meet the deputation from Kuraara, on the subject of the Kumara Reserve, on Tuesday next, at 4 p.m. On this same subject the West Coast Times reports :—“ We understand that Mr Jack, at the close of the last meeting, gave notice of his intention to move, at the next meeting of the County Council, that the Govennnent be strongly recommended to lift the Education Reserve at Kumara, and proclaim an unoccupied reserve for educational purposes elsewhere ; with a view of relieving the miners and business people of the Kumara district.”

The overland mail from Christchurch left the Bealey at the usual hour this morning, but had not arrived at the time of our going to press, 4.35 p.m. Mr Rugg’s new coach, which left Kumara yesterday morning for Christchurch with 16 passengers, arrived at the Bealey in good time yesterday, 6.45 p.m. The burgesses of Kumara are reminded that the Borough Council will hold a sitting in the Town Hall, at two o’clock to-morrow afternoon for the purpose of hearing and determining all claims and objections to the Burgess List delivered to the Town Clei k prior to the 15th inst. Tenders are invited by the Borough Council for building a new fire-bell tower, and for repairs to the Town Hall, specifications of which can be seen at the Town Hall. The Union Steamship Company’s new twin-screw steamer, intended to trade between Hokitika, Greymouth, Westport, and Wanganui, is, we learn, now on the way out from Home. She has a carrying capacity of 300 tons dead weight on a maximum draught of Oft., and will, therefore, be admirably adapted for West Coast ports. We wish her a successful voyage out. Another steamer, having a carrying capacity of 500 tons coal on a draught of lift., and intended to trade exclusively from Westport to ports on the East Coast, and so develop the coal resources of that port ; is in the course of construction, and may be expected to arrive about November next.

A large 'Dumber of miners are prospecting on the flats in the neighbourhood of the new rush, situated mid-way between Paroa and Marsden.

Mr A. Singer’s art-unioii of tvatches and jewellery is postponed till the 24th May (the Queen’s Birthday). Glaziers’ diamonds are only of general service to persons in the trade. Any person having found one lately will see by advertisement that Mr Jolly is the rightful owner of one that has been lost. The Chinese now on board the Hero for this Colony are to be distributed as follows : —230 for Greymouth, 30 for Hokb tika, and 160 for Dunedin. The net result of the Greymouth Easter Carnival was about £7O, which amount will be handed over to the Benevolent Society. As £7O were paid away in prizes, the result may be considered highly satisfactory. The Poverty Bay Herald says :—“The Napier Education Board by its much carefulness and great economising contrived to save from its revenue a sum of £2OOO, which sum it was intended should be set aside to assist superannuated teachers. The Government learning that the Education Board at Napier was in funds, but not inquiring by what process of economy it had accrued, took the very improper course of docking the portion of subsidy due to it, and so leaving the Board in a pecuniary fix ; for the Board had entered into contracts for the enlargement of school residences, which it will not be able to pay. It is even said that salaries due to teachers will not be forthcoming ■; but this we can scarcely credit. It is, however, certain that had the Board at Napier spent the whole of its money, the full subsidy would have been paid ; but inasmuch as it was anxious to provide for future contingencies, we see now what has been its reward. ”

The Bay of Plenty Times has the following : —“ A volcanic eruption has taken place on White Island, resulting in the conversion of the flat which formerly existed on the far side of the hot lake into an active volcano. The new crater reaches from near the landing to Big Ben, the name of one of the blow-holes on the island, which is also showing unusual activity. The steam from the crater is visible for a considerable distance at sea. The long stretch of land lying between the hot lake and the shore on White Island has been covered with a fine black deposit from the new crater formed on the far side of the lake. The change in the face of the country is very remarkable.”

The Sydney Mail tells the following tale of a publican who kept an hotel in the lower town, where the peculiar aroma of the Flowerylanders is strong and ever present. He had small dealings with the almond-eyes, finding them close, remarkably close, but honest. But on a certain clay his confidence was rudely shaken. John faced the bar, and blandly as usual, requested “two shilling blandy.” It was given him in a bottle, and the bottle went Up his capacious sleeve. But as he sought for the money against the mysterious folds of his nether gear, his face grew blank. “No catchee money ; by by catchee money ; then catchee blandy.” He put the bottle—rather, a bottle—upon the bar, and retired. An hour elapsed, and he did not return. Then Boniface took up the bottle, intending to replace the liquor in the original flask ; but ere doing so he applied it to his nose, and then, with sundry strange raurmurings, cast it out to the street. Had a miracle been wrought, or was John’s sleeve as a conjuror’s box 1 The contents of the bottle was not even one-star brandy, but very mild tea. “ Atticus” in the Melbourne Leader narrates that there was some very heavy gambling on the night after the Australian Cup was run. The players were wealthy squatters, one of whom lost £40,000 at the sitting, and paid every penny of it. What would the Rev. Mr Davis say to this ?

South Australia seems to bo going ahead. Its exports last year exceeded in value those of the previous year by over half a million sterling. The increase on the previous year over its predecessor was £BOO,OOO, the two years therefore show an increase of £1,300,000.

Sheik Mograbin, an Egyptian dignitary, has been condemned to death for murdering and plundering rich ladies, whom he enticed by pretending to cure the most difficult diseases. Poor patients he sent away unharmed with some specific, while those wearing jewellery and costly dresses he made away with. He confessed to eighteen of such crimes. For list of prizes in a grand art-union at Hokitika see fourth page.—[Advt.J

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.]