The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. MONDAY, JUNE 13, 1881.

Kumara Times, Issue 1469, 13 June 1881, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. MONDAY, JUNE 13, 1881.

Although by post-office notice the English, European, and American mails were made up and forwarded to the head office, Hokitika, at 12.30 p.m. to-day, they do not leave that town until tomorrow' morning, from whence they are forwarded by coach to Springfield, and from thence direct to the steamer at Lyttelton. But letters posted up to ten o’clock to night for countries mentioned will be forwarded to-morrow morning by the same route to the Christchurch postoffice, where they are sorted again and despatched, if in time, to Lyttelton, to catch the same steamer to Wellington, Auckland, and San Francisco. But while there is a possibility of thus forwarding letters after the appointed hour, which applies whenever these mails are sent overland, there is no certainty that such correspondence would be in time. We mention this for the convenience of persons who may have omitted, in the busier portion of the day, to post their communications, and feel inclined at such times to risk the later opportunity. Splendid weather and a clear sky brought out numbers of people from their homes and firesides to witness the total eclipse of the moon last evening. Long before the rays of the setting sun had lost their effulgence the silent orb of night was seen rising over the snow'y ranges in the east with a murky shadow, as ’twere a thick black cloud, covering the southeastern limb, and the penumbra or lighter shadow' covering the rest of its surface.

Gradually as it kept rising above tire horizon, the denser shadow crept over it until the whole disc was Covered ; this was at about a quarter before six o’clock. The duration of totality lasted one hour and nineteen minutes. Of course but for the light refracted by the sun through the earth's atmosphere on to the moon, the last-named body would be quite invisible during the period of atotal eclipse; and this accounts for the incandescent iron color which is at such times discernible, 'and was last night so in very marked degree. Shortly after eight o’clock the moon began to emerge from the dark shadow, and also to make its egress from the fainter one, and in another hour this eclipse, which happened at so convenient a time to most people, was all over. Intending tenderers for the supply of timber for the restoration of the dam in Kapitea Greek are reminded that tenders must be lodged at the Kumara Water-race Office, Dillman’s Town, by noon to-morrow.

The Hokitika Harbour Board give notice in the Government Gazette that when a red light is exhibited from the flagstaff on the North Spit, even though the beacon lights are up, the bar is dangerous, and not to be crossed. The Chairman of the Hokitika Harbor Board has received telegraphic information of the successful floating of the first issue of the Board’s debentures on very favorable terms, £6OOO worth having been sold at 97, interest 5 per cent. The Stella arrived off Hokitika yesterday for the purpose of conveying the Maori prisoners, 31 in number, to their homes. They are to be shipped on board at eight o’clock this evening.

Mr Weston addressed the Beef ton electors on Saturday night, and, according to a correspondent of the Grey River Argus, nothing could exceed the enthusiasm with which he was received. The hall was packed as it never has been packed before, even on the occasion of the visit of Sir George Grey. Mr Weston spoke for two hours, and at the conclusion he was greeted with a storm of cheers. A resolution that he was a fit and proper person to represent the constituency was carried unanimously, every person in the room voting for it. The Rangitikei Advocate states that the Turakina Maories prophesy a two year’s famine, and are quite as specific as was Joseph to the king of Egypt in telling their pakeha friends how to make provision for the great dearth that is at hand.

A clue has at last been gained as to the perpetrators of the robbery of a large quantity of jewellery from the shop of Mr George Hooper, Cashel street, Christchurch, which took place some four or five weeks. The police have .been doing all they could to discover the burglars, and have at last succeeded in apprehending a man named John Anderson, who was brought up at the Dunedin Police Court on Wednesday last, charged with the robbery of the jewellery. A man named John Connell was also brought up, charged with receiving £7O worth of the stolen goods. Both prisoners were remanded for eight days. The English cricketers will play matches in New Zealand as follows Auckland, November 24th, 25th, 26th ; Wellington, December Ist, 2nd, and 3rd; Christchurch, December sth, 6th, and 7th ■ Timaru, December Bth ; Oamaru, December 9th ; Dunedin, December 10th, 12th, and 13th; Invercargill, December 15th and 16th. They then go on to Melbourne, playing there from December 26th to January 3rd, and again, after a tour through Australia, on March 3rd, 4th, and sth.

An interesting ceremony took place at St. Mary’s Church, Wanganui, on the evening of the 2nd inst., when six ladies were admitted to the novitiate of the Sisterhood of St. Joseph. During the ceremony, Bishop Redwood is reported by the Herald to have delivered an impressive sermon. He spoke of the sublimity and utility of the religious life, and the value in the sight of God of the vows of poverty, obedience, and chastity. The life of our blessed Lord, and of His holy mother, in its simplicity, purity, and obedience, was the life upon which the novices were invited to enter. What was the life to which they would attain ? They would, both in their active work and their example, particularly in the education and training of the young, for which the Sisters were so celebrated, imitate Christ, and win golden opinions from all sorts of people. A number of Liberal opticians, cordial admirers of the Hon. Mr Gladstone, have expressed their high appreciation of his worth (the Mercury says) by presenting

him with A masterpiece of their handicraft in the shaps of a pair of spectacles. The frames are of the best gold, the glasses of the best Brazilian pebbles, and the handsome case in which they are placed bears Mr Gladstone’s name on the outside. The gift was forwarded, along with a beautifully illuminated address, which concludes as follows : —“ We beg to assure you of our appreciation of your favor in accepting these helps to second sight, and to express the hope that you may live long to enjoy the use of them, so that we may profit by your vision.'’ Madame Boema, who is said to be “ certainly one of the finest singers that has ever appeared on the colonial stage,” will visit New Zealand shortly, and give a series of concerts. She comes under engagement to Signor di Vivo, Who is popularly known as manager of the lima di Murska Concert Company. Over 35,000 people are reported to have attended twelve concerts given by the Boema Concert Company in Sydney. Madame Boema is a native of Prague.

Signor Cottoni, the basso who lost his life at the Opera House in Nice, was a young and promising singer. It was not the first time he had been under fire, for he was nearly burnt to death at the conflagration of the Theatre des Arts at Rouen. He was to have taken part of the Ghost in “Hamlet” on that occasion, and he was compelled, in his full suit of armour to jump from a second floor window into the street. He was caught on some mattresses, but he was so much hurt and shaken that very slight hopes were entertained of his recovery. He did get well, but fate appears to have marked him out US the victim of the devouring element, for, after escaping at Rouen, he has now been burnt to death at Nice, with the three members of the Kennedy family, of which we made mention in a late issue.

The Peruvians are massacreing the Chinese by the hundred in various departments.

Some months ago the publisher of the Phonograph, a shorthand magazine, offered pi-izes for miniature shorthand. The system was to be Pitman’s, the writing to be legible to the naked eye, and to be on one side of an English postcard. The first prize in this competition was awarded to a Mr G. H.-Davidson,' whose postcard contained 32,303 words, including the whole of Goldsmith’s “ She Stoops to Conquer,” an essay on John Morley, and half of Holcrolt’s 11 Road to Ruin.