The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. MONDAY, JULY 11, 1881.

Kumara Times, Issue 1493, 11 July 1881, Page 1

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. MONDAY, JULY 11, 1881.

The Warden and Resident Magistrate’s Courts will be opened this evening at 8 o’clock.

The delay in the arrival here of the coach from Christchurch on Saturday was caused by the off fore wheel coming off the coach when midway along the loopline between Goodfellow’s and Stanton’s corner ; and, owing to a defective washer or nut, the wheel could not be attached again with safety. Accordingly a messenger was despatched on one of the horses to Kuniara for assistance, which, being promptly rendered, the mails were brought in at about 8 o’clock.

It is stated on good authority that the Government have decided upon making a considerable alteration with regard to the 10 per cent, reduction of last year, and that for the future all salaries up to £2OO will not be charged with any reduction, but that the 10 per cent, will be taken off all over that sum. Thus an official drawing a salary of £3OO a year would be charged only on £IOO.

Two sharp shocks of earthquake, we are informed, were felt yesterday afternoon at Maori Point, being at about the same time at which shocks were experienced at Christchurch and Greyraouth, 1.50 p.m. The direction, our informant states, was from south to north.

An amusing incident occurred just after noon to-day—amusing to all the observers except the owner. A tip-dray laden with household furniture purchased at the auction sale on Saturday was being removed to its intended destination; but when between Drummond’s corner and the Crown Hotel, the catch of the tip seems to have slipped, and the contents of the dray were tipped over into the middle of the street as if they were a cord of wood. The sound was slightly different though—it was as a crash, A few willing hands gathered round, and the dray and its contents were righted; but the furniture became not quite so valuable as when it was originally “ knocked down ” by the hammer.

By a proclamation in the Gazette, the Motueka Highway District, County of Wairaea (in the Provincial district of Nelson), has been divided and constituted into five highway districts, to be called respectively the Motueka Highway District, the Riwaka Highway District, the Lower Moutere Highway District, the Upper Moutere Highway District. The boundaries are specified in a schedule attached. The management of the Motueka wharf has also been vested for fourteen years, in the Wairaea County Council.

Frank Guinness, Esq., has been appointed Receiver of Gold Revenue for the Collingwood Mining District. The Timaru Herald understands that the head-quarters of the National Bank of New Zealand are to be removed from Wellington to Dunedin, and that Mr Dymock is to be general manager. During an interval in the performance at the Theatre Royal, Wellington, which was literally packed on Saturday night, and numbers unable to obtain admission, Mr Carey presented Hearn, the winner of the sculling championship, and White, his opponent, with silver cups. Both competitors, on appearing on the stage, were received with loud cheering. Hearn made

no reply to the remarks of Carey ; but White admitted that he had been beaten by the best man in New Zealand. However, he intimated that at some other time he would again try conclusions for the championship. The account of the race appears in Another column. The Wellington correspondent of a contemporary says that the income Sir Julius Vogel derives from his connection With various public 'companies is far more than he could obtain in politics in the Colony. James White* Frank Kerry Jahe Brown, ahd Margaret Sutton were on Wednesday last brought up in the Ashburton Police Court, before Mr H. Friedlander, the Mayor, The accused (the Press states) were charged with highway robbery, attended by violence, at South Rakaia. Preliminary evidence was adduced to the effect that the prisoners had, on the night of the 4th inst., knocked down and nearly stifled a man named James Kennedy, robbing him of £25. They further threatened to throw him into the river Rakaia, but he contrived to effect an escape, and wired to the Ashburton police ; and constables Rouse and Smart effected a capture of the quartette as they tfeiit into Ashburton by the 4.36 p.m. train from Christchurch on Tuesday. The prisoners were also charged with violently robbing Colin Maekay. A remand was granted to the 13th inst. The Janies Rennedy referred to as above was the same day remanded from Ashburton to Timaru on a charge of embezzlement. The competency of a lad aged seven years to give evidence was decided in the Supreme Court, yesterday (says the Dunedin Herald of the 7th inst). It seemed that the little fellow’s education had been very much neglected, and when he stepped on to the chair His Honor asked him what would hapaen to him if he told a lie. The boy said, “ God will punish me." His Honor then pressed him to say when God would punish him, and finding that the boy hesitated, he said, “You do not know I’’ and the reply was in the affirmative. This was regarded as a crucial test, and the boy stood down. A barrister interjected the remark that he would like to know who knew when God would punish one for telling a He or for any other offence.

One hundred and sixty miles of waterraces between the Rakaia and Ashburton are to be constructed, for the purpose of giving a permanent supply of water to the Canterbury plains. Some 60 miles of this distance are already constructed, and 100 are under way.

On Wednesday last about nine sheep in a flock belonging to Mr George Edwards, Okair, near Kaiapoi, were worried to death by dogs, and several others were injured.

The match flown under the auspices of the East Christchurch Pigeon Flying Club, on Monday last, resulted in Mr Bryenton winning the first prize with the aid of Scud. Mr Ashby’s Don Pedro was second, Bryenton’s Sputter the Dew third, Messrs Walker and Growth’s Glanmore fourth.

Norali Williams, a confirmed drunkard, was recently discovered in the Auckland police cell nearly unconscious, from attempted choking with a silk handkerchief. The police took the handkerchief away, but she made a similar attempt afterwards with a garter.