The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 1881.

Kumara Times, Issue 1428, 30 April 1881, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 1881.

The Christchurch coaches left the Bealey at the usual hour this morning, and arrived in due time this afternoon. Mr Blair, Engineer-in-Chief for the Middle Island, accompanied by Mr Martin, Resident Engineer, visited Kumara to-day, on his way to Hokitika. William Adams, injured at the new rush on Wednesday last, and now lying at the Hospital, is progressing as favorably as can be expected. Mr William Linnell announces that in the matter of the Thomas recovery fund Mr R. J. Seddon collected £l2 10s, and the County Council gave £B. The expenditure is as follows Paid to Stewart and party, £lO ; for provisions, £2 15s ; for coach hire, £3; balance in hand, £4 15s—total, £2O 10s. By a Government Gazette to hand last evening, we find Henry Aldborough Stratford, Esq., R.M., is appointed to be Judge of the Assessment Court for the Borough of Kumara; such appointment to date from the sth day of January, 1881. We may remind those persons to whom the Arahura Road Board is indebted that by attending (either personally or by agent authorised in writing) at the County Council Chambers, Hokitika, on Monday next, between 12 and 1 o’clock p.m., that they may receive cheques and bills for the sums due to them by the Board. A meeting of gentlemen interested in forming a company for the purpose of dredging the lagoon, south beach, and work ground in its vicinity for the purpose of gold-mining was held in Greymouth last evening, when a prospecting association was formed to be called “ The Ornithorhynchus Paradoxus Gold-Mining Prospecting Association.” The capital to be £SOO in £1 shares, a fourth of which was subscribed in the room. A correspondent of the Argus telegraphs from Charleston yesterday that the case of Costello v. Croninville, miners, was decided on Thursday, by the Assessors. Intense interest was felt by everyone in the district. The verdict was a non-suit for plaintiff, with costs £22. Notice of appeal has been given. Fisher, who appeared for plaintiffs, is a solicitor, and member of the House, and was received with groans after the decision. Three cheers were given for defendant’s counsel, Haselden, and also for the Assessors. A veteran colonist, Mr Andrew Black, builder, died at Auckland a few days ago. He had resided in this Colony forty-four years, and was present at the formal act of taking possession of the Colony on behalf of Her Majesty. The Governor’s private secretary, Mr Freeman, carried the desk containing the proclamation to the appointed spot, but Governor Hobson had either forgotten or lost the key of the

desk, and called upon Mr Black to force it 'Open, which he did. After the proclamation was read by Governor Hobson, he invited everyone present to come and witness ft by signing his name, and Mr Black, with thirteen others, did so. The Christchurch Board of Agriculture have commenced the cultivation of the mulberry tree, in order to facilitate the manufacture of silk. To show how profitable Walnut growing may be made, a gentleman in Akaroa gathered over 20,000 off one tree, which sold at 15s per thousand, or £l6 for the crop. There is reason to believe that Mr R. A. Proctor will be appointed to organise the various Government expeditions for the observation of the transit of Venus in 1881. Mr Proctor is also mentioned as successor to the Astronomer Royal, whose early retirement is predicted in scientific circles. The new organ in the Sydney University will be the finest in New South Wales ; it has forty-three stops. The Roman Catholics are about to establish a mission at New Guinea, the Rev. Dr. Cani having already left Cooktown for that purpose. Several mining leases at Temora are being applied for by Sydney and Melbourne men, who are about to float companies to work them. An eccentric Englishman, not long a resident of Paris, has just committed suicide, after having devoted twenty years to a strange mania. Every six months he had a coffin made for himself. Each was too long, too short, or uncomfortable in some way, until the last proved perfect. Having fto further object in life, he killed himself. To those in search erf merriment, visit S. S. Pollock’s, and obtain the great Irish song “The Babies in our Block,” or “Little Sally Waters”; price sixpence. [Advt. ]