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Kumara Times, Issue 1441, 11 May 1881, Page 2

The Westland portion of the San Francisco mail is being forwarded by coach from Christchurch, and not by the Murray as was at first intended. The telegraph line is down between this town and the BealOy, so that We are not in a position to give the usual notice concerning the coaches, and we are very doubtful of the possibility of the mails due this afternoon '(including the San Francisco mail) arriving at anything like the appointed hour, as the rivers musk, owing to the heavy rains, be in high flood-. ‘A ‘Special meeting of kite BbroUgh Oodncil was held at the Town Hall yesterday Afternoon ; -present—His Worship the Mayor (in the chair), Councillors Pearn, Campbell, Horne* Galland, and Burger. A report from the Finance Committee in reference td the balance-sheets and statements was read) and, on the motion of Cr. Pearii-, seconded by Cr. Campbell, adopted. The Auditors’ Report with balance-sheet and statements was also similarly dealt with and finally Settled, Five tenders were received for supplying gravel and that of Mrs Kelly was accepted. We are pleased to hear that a goodly number of tickets have been disposed of for the lecture this evening at the Theatre Royal, by the Rev. Mr Flavell. A large audience is a great encouragement to a good lecturer, as it is to preachers and theatrical performers ; and the subject is one of extreme interest. His Worship the Mayor will preside on the occasion ; the lecture, commences at eight o’clock. Messrs Hibbard and Dick, at Abbotsford, near Waihola, Otago, are the successful tenderers for the supply to the Government of 100 tons of New Zealandmade Portland cement. The Herald says : —“ The price at which the tender hts been accepted should have the effect of attracting attention to this latest addition to our local industries, as the quality of the article is assured, and it can be mamvifactured and placed on the market at if anything less than the price at which tire imported article can be landed. The clay is obtained in unlimited quantity in the neighborhood of the works, and the lime is brought from Waihola Gorge.” The Wyndham correspondent of the Otago Daily times, telegraphing oin the sth inst.-, describes details Concerning some of the bodies which have been washed ashore from the t ararua wreck “Five bodies were found within two miles of the wreck, one, that of the stewardess, being found almost directly opposite where the vessel lies. Four have been identified beyond question-, and a fifth is believed to be known from his dress. The two thrown up during the night of the 4th were passengers, one named John Dodson and the other Chas. Holt. Dodson is about sft 7in in height, of about thirty-four years of age, dark hair, whiskers, and moustache, shaved on the chin, and clothed in a striped grey tweed suit. He had £2l odd upon him and a Bank draft on the Union Bank of Australasia, Melbourne, for £4O. It was dated Dunedin, April 27th. It was by this he was known. Charles Holt was known by a passage ticket found in his pocket from Wellington to London. It was dated 22nd April. He had sixpence in his pocket and a silver watch. He looks to have been twenty-two years old, is clean shaved, with dark hair, and of stout build. He had on a peculiar pair of boots, laced up, with elastic sides. Of the other three two are known to be the stewardess (Miss Aitken), and the second cabin steward (William Davidson). They were recognised by the chief mate, Mr Lindsay. There was nothing in the way of documents upon them by which they could be identified. The stewardess was left on the beach by the sea and found about ten o’clock ; the second cabin steward, Davidson, was got out from the sea with a good deal of difficulty. He had £5 odd on him, and some jewellery, such as three gold rings, a scarf pin, a locket, Ac. The fifth body is that of an old man, about fifty, but his features are too far washed away to allow of his identification. He is sft Sin high, and shaved

on the chin with darkish whiskers, but the hair is entirely off his head. He has dark woolen ‘trousers on and a tweed coat, and as hft Sleeves were rolled np it is thought he was a fireman who had been at work. He had only hal£-a-crowh on him and no documents. The Reefton Herald, referring to M‘Gahey’s removal to Hokitika to reappear at the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Reeftoii-, ih eight days, says ;—“This stupid piece of circular sailing will cost the colony something like £4O, and for absolutely no reason iii the World, for the lock-up in Reef ton is just as secure as that of Grey mouth (where the prisoner was located two nights) and both are much more secure than a coach or Other mode of conveyance could be.” Gur West Coast morning conterapoi’ary put the cost down at £lO 16s. A London correspondent, speaking of Civic expenditure, notes the fact that a Lord Mayor’s dinner costs £27,000, of which no less than £17,000 is for wine. More than 250 years ago, Holland Offered a reward of £2OOO to the discoverer of the passage found by Professor NdrdCngkjold, and it is expected it will nC$- be paid to him, although he knew nothing Of the offer when he made his voyage. An old wdihah died recently dt a village ift Forfarshire, who for 13 years had beett in receipt of parochial relief. After her death nearly £46d was discovered in her cottage, and several valuable articles of plate. The net cost Of the war iii Afghanistan including that of the frontier railways-, was about twenty-one crores of rupees, or £17,500,000 sterling. A farmer’s dog at West Lincoln, Illinois, set his teeth into the fellow who was tdkifig a girl out through a window for the purpose of elopenleht, aVkl held On until the father came. Fo£ list Of prizes in a grand art-nnidn at Hokitika see fourth page. —[Advt.] To thOSe id search of merriment, visit S. S. and obtain the great IfiSli song “The iff our Block,” or “Little Sally Watefs”; price sixpence. [Advt.]