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Kumara Times, Issue 1426, 28 April 1881, Page 2

The Christclmvch mail coach, which was delayed yesterday by the flooded state of the Rough Wainihinihi river, reached Goodfellow's shortly after seven o'clock last evening ; but the mails for Kumara and Greymouth did not arrive here till about half-past ten this morning. The Rev. Mr Flavell, who comes to take charge of English church affairs during the absence of the Rev. E. A. Scott, was a passenger to Hokitika, and may be expected in Kumara to-morrow evening. Another of those misfortunes which are unfortunately so common to the mining industry of this district happened yesterday at the new rush at Revell's Terrace, Greenstone. William Adams, a miner who is near his threescore years, was sinking a new shaft when a portion of the side-wall gave way, crushing him severely. He was brought down last evening on a stretcher to the Hospital here by relays of men, and although he is suffering acutely to-day from pain across the glands, no serious consequences are at present apprehended. Messrs Seed and Batkin, two gentlemen of the Civil Service appointed by the Government to inspect the various departments with a view of retrenchment, arrived this morning from Greymouth, and, after inspecting the Court-house and its precincts, were intending to proceed by the mail coach to Hokitika. But our "irrepressible " M.H.R. was desirous that these gentlemen should in their own social and governmental sphere have a more comprehensive opinion than black and white can ever convey of the extent of our goldfield and its workings, and accordingly shortly after one o'clock drove them up to Dillman's Town and Larrikin's, where they might combine information witli pleasurable sight-seeing. M'Gahey, charged with the murder of John Bell, at Larry's Creek, on the 16th inst., was brought to Kumara by tram this morning, from Greymouth, in custody of Inspector Emerson, and forwarded per one o'clock coach, in charge of Constable M'Donnell, to Hokitika, for safe keeping, being remanded for eight days to appear again at the Resident Magistrate's Court, Reefton, when he will be formally charged with the murder. At the adjourned inquest at Reefton on Monday, the principal evidence against the prisoner seems to have been the discovery of a bush-made ramrod picked up out of the mud near Bell's cowshed which was sworn to belong to M'Gahey. The jury, after retiring for upwards of two hours found "That John Bell met his death on April 10, 1881, at Larry's Creek, having been killed by a blow on the back of the head, and that the blow was struck by David Charles M'Gahey." The verdict was the verdict of thirteen of the jury, G. W. Brown, R. j. Scoltock, and Adam Ross not concurring in the verdict. Considerable sympathy is expressed by the Reefton people for M'Gahey ; and a subscription is being got up for the purpose of sending his wife away from the locality.

In reference to the Union Company's new twin-screw steamer intended for trading between the West Coast ports, mention of which was made in yesterday's issue, by our files this morning we have fuller interesting particulars, supplied by Mr James Mills, general manager of the Union Steamship Company. The West Coast steamer is to be named the Kanieri. She is 116 feet long, 14 feet beam, and is built by Messrs Denny and Co. To ensure extra buoyancy, the material of her construction has been of steel. The Kanieri is a ten-knot boat, and is provided with high-class accommodation for forty passengers in the saloon and as many in the steerage. The company are having a large steamer, to be called the Manipori, built upon lines very similar to those of that queen of steamers, the Rotomahana. The company are also having a third steamer, but of much smaller size, built to run in the trade between Tauranga and Opotiki ; and are also having three new steam launches built.

The Comedy and Burlesque Company were prevented from performing "The Ticket-of-Leave Man" at Hokitika last evening owing to Miss Morgan, the leading lady of the company, having at the last moment refused to take part in the performance. At eight o'clock Mr Love stepped in front of the curtain at the Duke of Edinburgh Theatre, and gave those present to understand, in unmistakeable terms, that " the blame was entirely attributable to the lady referred to, who had disappointed them that evening, as well as on previous occasions, when the inconvenience had been overlooked by the other members of the company." Some days ago, we (Christchurch Press) reported that a fashionable Native marriage had taken place at St. Stephen's, Kaiapoi. It is now stated, as a fact, that something like fifty or sixty parcels of bride's cake, duly marked " With Mr and Mrs Tare Tehoika's compliments," weighing from two ounces to half a pound, have been transmitted by post to different parts of the island. The packets were duly enclosed in neat parcels and tied with lavender colored ribbon with true lovers' knots.

The Dimedin Morning Herald understands that the Dimedin Jockey Club are considering the advisability of getting a new racecourse. At a meeting of the club held on Friday evening last, an offer was received of 100 acres freehold land, said to be suitable for a racecourse.

Mr Fish was unable to be present at the meeting of the Dunedin Harbor Board last Thursday, having met with an accident the evening before by which two or three of his ribs were broken. An ample excuse, no doubt.

The following "shark story" is told by a Sydney paper :—" On Sunday afternoon, whilst walking along the old halfpenny bridge across Blackwattle Swamp, Glebe, I saw some boys standing close to the water's edge. Whilst watching a valuable retriever dog, belonging to Mr G. T. Brown, an engraver, of the Glebe, swimming about in the water, a monster shark, about 14ft in length, was seen to approach, and almost immediately afterwards seize the unfortunate dog, biting it in two pieces. He then made off with the head portion. The shark was not satisfied with this exploit, however. On the tail end of the dog floating ashore, the boys drew it out of the water and began to examine it. Whilst the boys were holding the remains close to the water's edge, the shark to their utter amazement, swam close up and snatched the piece out of their hands, obtaining a firm hold of the tail in doing so. On getting out into deep water another shark came up, and a fight for the booty ensued, the original possessor coming off victorious. This same brute then went to another part of the bay, and performed a similar operation on another dog."

Some trifler lias been amusing himself with endeavoring to discover the exact amount earned by the famous prima donna, Adelina Patti, during every minute she is engaged in singing before the public, and he has fixed the amount at 30s. The gentleman in question must be very far out in his calculation, as the following figures will show : —Four years ago Adelina Patti's salary was £2OO per night (it is more than that sum at the present time); in return for this she would sing four songs, occcupying saying ten minutes each, which would raise her earnings to £5 per minute. This amount she has frequently exceeded, as, for instance, in St. Petersburg, where, after being banished by the Czar for her conduct to her husband, the Marquis de Caux, she refused to return under a salary of £IOOO per night. She got it in addition to one of the most enthusiastic receptions ever accorded to a public singer.

New York has a population nearly as large as that of Ireland. It is now 5,000,000, and Governor Cornell predicts in his message that it will be 10,000,000 in the next generation.

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.]