The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1881.

Kumara Times, Issue 1540, 3 September 1881, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1881.

In an advertisement which appears above, it will be seen that a requisition was presented yesterday morning to his Worship the Mayor, requesting bim to convene a public meeting for the purpose of obtaining an expression of opinion with regard to the "stonewailed" Representation Bill. Westland is at the present moment placed in a most exceptional position, and is, from a variety of circumstances, at a great disadvantage. Telegrams state that Mr Reid is steadily voting in favor of the Bill, which proposes to disfranchise his own district. He may have reasons of his own for pursuing his present line of conduct, but those reasons are hard to discover. He has been a bitter opponent to the Government, when they were right or wrong, and now without a word of explanation, he coolly gives undivided support to a pet measure of his political enemies, which he thoroughly understands will be most injurious to the district he represents. Again, it may be imagined that there is an outside chance of the bill being rejected by the Legislative Council. Here we are most decidedly at a disadvantage. Mr Lahman is at his post* but where is Mr Bonar? Instead of being in his place in the Council, he is to be found in Hokitika, and for all we know to the contrary, he is likely to remain there during the remainder of the present session. He has given but a Very few weeks of his time to his parliamentary duties in the last four years, and is not likely to trouble himself much about the interests of the district he resides in when his own personal interests are to be considered. The Legislative Council may throw out the obnoxious bill, but they are far more likely to accept it. The representation of New Zealand is nothing to them ; they are appointed for life, and that is all they care about. The people of this district should bestir themselves, and that speedily. A very grievous wrong is about to be inflicted, and the electors of the Kumara district should not preserve silence in the political extremity to which we are reduced.

On Monday next, it is required that nomination be made at the Town Hal], before noon, for another Borough Councillor.

At the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning, before H. A. Stratford, Esq.-, R.M., Walter Williams, on a charge of drunkenness, was dismissed with a caution ; but, for using obscene language, last evening, was fined, 10s, or six days' imprisonment in tlie Hokitika Gaol. On Friday next, the Kumara Amateur Dramatic Club will.give their second entertainment. To-,ensure the success of the efforts- to provide .amusement for the public, it is, of course, necessary that the club should be provided .with wardrobe} wigs, and stage effects, ..and these are necessaries which can only be obtained at a very great outlay. -It is for this object the.performance next week will be given. The.pieces to be presented are gems of the drama, and should command a large house. An increase breadth of 6ft. has been given to the stage at the Adelphi ; and the dressing-room will be on the same floor, thus avoiding delay formerly experienced between the acts.

A fifth share in a five-acre sluicing claim on the Shamrock Lead is advertised for sale.

An accident occurred on Thursday afternoon at Ross, by which a miner named Thomas Hamilton working in the Scotia claim, sustained a severe fracture of the right leg, besides other injuries. Hamilton (the West Coast Times reports) was engaged with one of his mates in driving a tunnel, when the earth gave way, partially covering Hamilton. His mate escaped narrowly from the fall by making a good jump. The injured man was at once removed to the local hospital. It is said that Mr James Mackay, formerly Resident Magistrate here, intends to run for the representation of Coromandel at the general elections if the proposed division of the electoral district of Thames is carried out. Paris is threatened with a water famine, the supply hitherto considered abundant being nearly exhausted. It has been estimated that every shell fired by an army during siege operations costs, with the powder with which the mortar is charged, the sum of £1 15s.

The coal mines of the world employ about 1,100,000 men. For a list of prizes in a Grand Art Union, see fourth page.—Advt.