The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. WENDESDAY, AUGUST 10, 1881.

Kumara Times, Issue 1519, 10 August 1881, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. WENDESDAY, AUGUST 10, 1881.

The second trial of W. B. Galland at the District Court, Hokitika, yesterday, for indecent assault at Kumara in October last, was concluded at half-past five o’clock in the evening. After one hour the second jury brought in a verdict of not guilty. “Some time,” the West Coast Times says, “was occupied in getting twelve good men and true empanelled, for both the counsel for the prosecution and the defence exercised freely the right of challenge, no less than thirteen being rejected by the former and twelve by the latter. The consequence was, that four of the jurymen engaged on the first trial, and who were released from duty at eight a.m. recommenced their labors at ten. This was unavoidable, and was regretted by his Honor Judge Broad.” Of course when it became known by a telegram which appeared in this journal last evening that four of the first day’s jurymen were again empanelled on the second jury, and ten of the original twelve had already resolved on a verdict of not guilty, it was not difficult to foretell what the verdict of the second j uvy would be ; and, without in any way finding fault with the result, we must confess surprise if the law does not make better provision than to allow of the same jurymen actinoon a second trial of the same case when no fresh witnesses are called and the evidence is substantially the same. A second trial under such circumstances can only be regarded as a perfect farce. The Christchurch mail coach left the Bealey this morning at the usual early hour, but had not arrived here at the time of our going to press. The net cost of the San Francisco Wail Service for the past year was £BIOO for the conveyance of 443,283 letters, 130,443 books, and 1,110,34!) newspapers to the

colony ; and 483,900 letters, 23,314 books, and 433,048 newspapers from the colony. The net cost of the Suez-Brindisi source was £9404 for the conveyance of 97,484 letters, 37,978 books, and 255,782 newspapers to the Colony, and 57,307 letters, 2074 books, and 10,679 newspapers from the colony.

An unfortunate accident happened at Blake’s sawmill this afternoon by Which we are sorry to say Mr Richard Bell had his leg broken. He was immediately removed to his home, which is on the other aide of the Main road, where every attention that surgical assistance can avail is being administered. We regret to learn that a man named Thomas Ward, who was on his way on horseback from near Okarito to-day to attend the District Court at Hokitika, got drowned whilst crossing one of the numerous creeks that intersect the southern district.

The Government refused the application made yesterday, by Mr J. C. Brown (M.H.R., for Tuapeka) that the Goldfields Abolition Duty Bill should be made a Government measure. It was ordered to be committed for Thursday. The Goldfields Committee reported on it, recommending the total abolition of the duty. The Wellington correspondent of the West Coast Times telegraphs that “it is vei‘y doubtful if the bill will be carried, as the Minister of Mines said the Govei’nwould oppose the measure. Several telegrams have been received from County Councils asking to retain the gold duty, and a deputation from the Inangahua County Council had urged its continuance, as that County Council had borrowed largely on gold duty, and had little other revenue. ”

Replying to questions in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon—Government recognise the justice of the claim for the establishment of a high school on the West Coast of the Middle Island, and the application would be kept view, although there was little probability of a Bill for the purpose passing this session.—Government would inquire into the probable cost of a bridge to connect Greymouth with Cobden, and if reasonable provision would be made for its construction, but did not intend to place anything on the Estimates this session for that purpose.—The claim of James Thomson, Arahura, Westland, had been disallowed by various Governments, as being unfounded, and Government would take no action regarding it.

In the House on Monday, ori a motion to go into Supply, Mr Thomson said that while approving of the uniform reduction of ten per cent on all salaries, as carried last year, he did not think the circumstances of the Colony justified their restoring salaries to the old scale. He therefore moved, as an amendment, that in the opinion of the House, there should be a reduction made of ten per cent on the aggregate or total amount of salaries on the Estimates of all salaries above £2OO, such reduction to be apportioned by the Government. The Houst? divided on the amendment, which was negatived by 27 to 15.

The Public Petitions Committee report on the petition of Robert Studholme Thompson, West Coast, Native interpreter, for compensation for alleged wrongful dismissal: that petitioner has no claim against the colony.

To-morrow evening there will be a tea meeting in the Presbyterian Church, at half-past six o’clock; and, after tea, addresses are to be delivered by the Presbyterian ministers of Hokitika, Greymouth, and Kumara, and also by the Revs. E. A. Scott (Church of England) and R. Fennell (Wesleyan ministers). In the course of an address at Wanganui Bishop Redwood made the following remarks, which are of interest to members of liis Church : —“ You have alluded very kindly to my success whilst in Europe in the great purpose for which I went there, chiefly to obtain a supply of clergy for New Zealand. In that I believe that I have succeeded beyond my hopes, and that there will henceforth be a continued stream of priests for the diocese. Several are to be ordained on Saturday next, in all probability, and will be in New Zealand before many months have elapsed. Every year 1 hope will show the same result. It is particularly gratifying to me to tell you of five or six young gentlemen from New Zealand who are being educated in Europe and give great satisfaction, surpassing the boys with whom they are studying. These young men, I hope, will ultimately be amongst the most efficient and zealous priests in the Colony. ” a he So rata s total cost since stranded was about £50,000. Value of the vessel, i say £120,000. Saved, £70,000. 1

The Bank of New South Wales has purchased the vacant corner section in Devon street, below the Herald office, New Plymouth, at £l7 10s per foot; The Bank intends erecting a handsome building on it at once.

A serious affair has Occurred as Ataika gmufields, neat Auckland-. There were three Englishmen, brothers riamed Lilley, a Frenchman and his son, and an Australian living in one whare. A quarrel ensued between Young Lilley and the Frenchman. Lilley moved his goods from the whare, then burst a tin of kerosene open with his knife, and threw a cupful of oil over the whare, and some over the Frenchman and on his son and the Australian, the two latter being in bed. He then struck a match and set the whare on fire. The Frenchman aiid Australian got out of the flames barely in time to save their lives, as the whole whare was soon a mass of fire, a large quantity of kauri gum contained therein intensifying the conflagration. The matter was reported to Constable Hammond, who went in pursuit, but failed to capture Lilley, Seventeen thousand persons inSzegedin, Hungary, and the neighborhood of that city in consequence of the late floods there are still subsisting on charity.