The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. TUESDAY, MAY 17, 1881.

Kumara Times, Issue 1446, 17 May 1881, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. TUESDAY, MAY 17, 1881.

We remind section-holders on the Kumara Education Reserve that this is the last appointed day for signifying to the School Commissioners your willingness to purchase your sections. The Commissioners having decided to accept one-half of the current year's rental from those section-holders who decide to purchase, the remaining half-year's rental will be payable, in the event of failure to complete purchase of section, upon the day to be fixed for the sale by auction. The declaration to purchase is to be made on a printed form provided for the purpose. The agent will be in attendance at the Education Board Office, Main street, .this evening, from 6 to 9 o'clock, to receive rents, &c, and afford all information.

The fortnightly meeting of the Hospital Commitee takes place this evening. The usual weekly parade of the local Rifle Contingent will take place at the Adelphi Hall this evening. We understand the members have resolved hot to participate in the intended competition at Gfeymouth. on the Queen's Birthday, as it would entail a loss of three days on the part of those going hence, which at this time of the year, when there is no dependence on the weather from day to day, is not sufficient inducement. But there will be a match on that day on the Kumara range, open to all members of the Contingent,, the entries for which close to-night. The Rev. Father Mahoney addressed large congregations at St. Patrick's Church on Sunday last, at both the morning and evening services ; and it must have been most consoling to the reverend gentleman to see such a ready and generous response to his appeal for contributions towards restoring the losses occasioned by the destruction of St. Mary's Church, Nelson, and its contents. The amount raised in Kumara during the services reached the very liberal sum of nearly £4O. This shows the general sympathy manifested •for one of the oldest, best respected, and most venerable of priests in New Zealand—the Rev. Father Garin—who in his ripe age and many months' infirmity met with this dire misfortune. If the Catholics in other parts of New Zealand come forward as did the Oatholics of Kumara last Sunday, 'the grey hairs of the venerable old priest will not go down with sorrow to the grave, 'through : this calamity ; but enough money will be raised to build the church and restore the things that have been lost twice '-Over. A notice of gratitude from the Rev. Father Mahoney appears in another column. Messrs Wade and Spence, auctioneers, and general commission arid insurance agents, Hokitika, having purchased the sale rooms and the goodwill of the business lately carried on by Mr F, A. month, will hold their first sale by auction in Kumara to-morrow, at the room of MiW. Nicholson, in Main street, when they will submit to competition, by order of the Public Trustee, all the personal and trade effects of Thomas Adams, a tailor (and now unfortunately a confined lunatic in the Hokitika gaol) ; also, at the same time and place, men's, women's, and children's boots and shoes. Another fatal case of diphtheria is reported as having occurred at Ross. A boy named Thomson, brother to the boy buried a fortnight since, was the victim. Readers will remember, in perusing the account of the Tararua catastrophe, mention being made of the brave conduct of a fireman named James Maher, who swam from lire vessel to the reef several times, for the purpose of searching for a safe lartdihg-piace for the passengers. We now learn that this plucky fellow is a brother ci Mf John Maher, of Addison's Flat, and that he resided at the latter pla'ce arid th Westport for some years. The Morning H'6rakl improves the figures we lately quoted of the population of Dunedin by taking in the municipalities of Mornington (2875) and West Harbour (1213) which are only divided from the City proper by the Town Belt* Dunedin is therefore now able to claim a population of 41,884 —an increase in three years of about 7000.