The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1881.

Kumara Times, Issue 1541, 5 September 1881, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1881.

We have to remind the electors that a public meeting will be held at the Town Hall this evening, at eight o’clock, “to obtain an expression of opinion with regard to the Representation Bill now before Parliament.” His Worship the Mayor will preside. There were five nominations to-day for one seat in the Borough Council, among which we observe the names of two councillors who retired the other day by rotation of office, but who seemed to fail to put up for re-election last Wednesday. Thus there are four nominations for three councillors to be elected next Thursday ; and five nominations for the election of one councillor on Monday, the 19th inst. The five nominations this morning were— Duncan M‘Lennan, John Mulvihill, John Sambell Pearn, Samuel Solomon Pollock, and George Stewart. . The Warden’s and R.M. Courts will open to-morrow morning at 9 o’clock.

In committee on the Representation Bill, Mr Seddon moved the following as a new clause “ From and after the passing of this Act the freehold franchise shall be abolished, and hereafter only persons possessing the residential qualification shall be entitled to vote for the election of members of the House of Representatives, or to become candidates for seats in the said House. ” This was referred to in onr special telegrams, but only a few words of the motion were given. The clause was negatived by 46 to 14.

Love’s Juveniles Minstrels performed again on Saturday evening, but to a not much better house than on the two previous nights. The boys, nevertheless went through their allotted duties with good pleasure and feeling, which called forth frequent applause. They took their departure for Hokitika yesterday morning, and will open at the Duke of Edinburgh Theatre in that town to-night. We (Ross Advocate) regret to chronicle the death of a very old resident at Ross— Robert Thomson, who passed away on Wednesday night last after a lingering and painful illness. The funeral took place yesterday, (Friday, 2nd Sept.) and was largely attended. The services for the dead were read, very impressively, by the Rev. Father Pertuis.

At 5 o’clock on Saturday evening the House of Representatives adjourned, on the motion of Sir George Grey, till 7.30 this evening, having sat continuously since 2.30 on Wednesday afternoon. “ 0 happiness of sweet retired content ! To be at once secure and innocent/’

The full programme of the Dramatic Amateurs’ entertainment to be given next Friday is now published. The charges for admission will be 35., 25., and Is.; children half price. The Wellington correspondent of the Timarn Herald records the following little joke which occurred the other morning about breakfast time ;—“ Mr Seddon affected to be very indignant because the Government would not allow any adjournment for. merils, dfiid expressed himself somewhat in this style—* I ham astonished, Sir, at the hattitude assumed by the Government. I ham, &c., &c.* Mr Pyke interjected in a stage whisper, ‘ Why, you have nothing to complain of. You’ve had your mouth full of ham for the last half hour.’ Feeble, you will say, perhaps—but then you must remember they had been up all night.” We (Reefton Herald) understand that a fine seam of coal has been struck in Mr Arthur Breen’s new leasehold, Soldier’s road. Last Thursday,' while working in the 50 feel shaft the men came on the seam, but wore beaten out by water. After considerable labors in baling, a gallery was put in, and has already been driven 7 feet, without any sign of a footwall. The coal is acknowledged to be equal to any yet discovered in the district.

The many friends of Mr Whitefoord, R.M., will regret to learn that he has met with what at the time was thought to be a somewhat serious accident. At Papanui, on Saturday evening, the 27th ult. (the Press says) he slipped near the railway rails, and his head striking the rails it was found that concussion of the brain had been sustained. He was conveved to Mr Brown’s house till he recovered sufficiently to be conveyed home to Waverley, near Kaiapoi. During Sunday and Monday he had to a small extent recovered from the effects of the fall," but it may be some time before the severe shock sustained to the system wears off.

For a list of prizes in a Grand Art Union, see fourth page.—AdVTi