The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1881.

Kumara Times, Issue 1505, 15 September 1881, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1881.

Parliament is to be prorogued on Wednesday next. The Estimates are passed. In the Mines Department is included the maintenance and management of the Waimea-Kumara water-race (£2900), and the repairs of the damage to same caused by flood (£1500). The death is announced in our special telegrams of Mr W. S. Moorhouse, M.H.R. for Ashley, The deceased gentleman occupied a very high position in the ranks of New Zealand statesmen, and his decease is a loss to the colony, as well as to a very large circle of friends, particularly in Canterbury, where he has long resided.

We understand that an appeal has been lodged against the decision recently given in the case of M‘Mahon and party against O’Brien and party, when the latter wore adjudged to have the certificate of their double-area at Cape Terrace cancelled, because they were supposed not to have complied with the exact letter of the law with regard to trenching their ground. The result of the appeal will be most eagerly looked forward to, as at the pretime there is a very wide-spread feeling of insecurity prevailing among the miners. Miners of this district and the public generally will be pleased to leam that Government has given instructions for the immediate completion of the sludgechannel and the Kapitea dam repairs. Tenders for the new dam are also to be called so soon as the plan is complete.

At the meeting of the Westland County Council yesterday a motion by Mr Dale “That the Council notr proceed to elect a Chairman in the absence of Mr Seddon,” was ruled out of order, Mr Dale also moved “ That the action of the Finance Committee, in instructing Mr Kerr, and other rate collectors, to proceed with the collection of rates, be confirmed.” It was remarked that if the Council did not collect payments soon, they must suspend all operations. There were 1200 in the Arahura District on the roll, and every person could demand fourteen days’ notice. The motion was carried. Mr Hirter moved, “ That this Council is of opinion, that no application shall be made to put the Gold Duty Abolition Bill in force in this district, until an opportunity of consulting the miners had been given.” There being no seconder, the meeting lapsed. The Gold Duty Abolition Bill is in the Council but not likely, we leam, to pass. The new approach to the Teremakau bridge, along First street from Seddon street, is finished to its junction with the Zigzag or Greenstone road, although we observe there has been a slip of shingle, which will take not long to remove. The contractors are now proceeding with the work of improving the road lower down, by cutting off an awkward point, altering the levels, and constructing a bridge over the creek ; this latter is 12 or 13 feet high, and the level of the road has here been raised about nine feet. This will be a great improvement on the original gradient of the road.

The second reading of the Representation Bill was carried in the Upper House by a majority of six—l 4 against B—last Friday. In a leading article in an old Kimberley (Cape Diamond Field) newspaper, the steamers belonging to the Cape Town Union Steamship Company are referred to in a not very flattering manner, and among the remarks we find mention of the Teuton which vessel was recently wrecked near Algoa Bay, with the loss of many lives. “The frequent breakdowns of the Syria can then only be accounted for by concluding that either the Syria herself, or her machinery, is in a very unsatisfactory condition. Under any circumstances, her passages are too lengthy for these days of rapid locomotion, and the sooner she is disposed of the better it will be for the prestige of the company. Nor is she the only vessel given to dilatory movements. The Asiatic, the Teuton, and one or two others have by no means distinguished themselves of late. It may be said that as a rule they are in under contract time—though even this is not always the case—but we may remind the companies that something more than that is looked for by the public.” A few additional particulars of the appaling wreck of the Teuton are given in our cablegrams to-day. More than usual anxiety attaches to the news of this wreck, so far away, because several West Coasters who left these shores some weeks ago, it it supposed would about this time be making their way to Kimberley from Cape Town.

In reply to a question in the House on Monday, it was stated that the trial of Jas. M ‘Galiey, who has been lying nearly six months in Hokitika Gaol, awaiting trial for murder, would take place on the 26th inst.

In the course of the debate on the Representation Bill, Mr Seddon said that the member for Grey Valley had been appointed solicitor for the AmberleyGreymouth line. Mr Weston denied the statement. Mr Seddon went on to say that in that case the Canterbury Press was a liar, as he had read it in the paper referred to. Mr Seddon was called to order by the Chairman, and, on persisting, was peremptorily ordered to desist. He then went on to contend that the power proposed was one which should not be left in the hands of the Government of the day. A public meeting was held at Reefton on Friday evening last, which affirmed the desirability of forming a Diamond Drill Company for Inangahua.

News has reached Reefton of the death, by drowning, of David Condy, on Saturday last, in the Duller river, about twelve miles above Lyell.

The sixth volume of the “New Zealand Stud Book ” is, we are informed, published, and the “ Turf Register ” will shortly follow. Some idea of the enormous extent of cultivation carried on by Mr James Shand, in Otago, may be gained from the fact that during the present season that gentleman (says the Herald) will have under crop 800 acres of wheat, 1200 acres of oats, and 1000 acres of turnips.

With regard to the sudden death of the Rev. J. Summer’s, which occurred at Hampden at twenty minutes past seven on Thursday, the 18th inst., the Oamaru Mail says : —The reverend gentleman had entered his church to assist in the singing class, and after being there a few minutes he appeared to faint, and those present moistened his lips, but he expired almost immediately. He appeared in his usual good health, but he had previously been heard to complain of suffering from palpitation of the heart. The Coroner does not deem it necessary to hold an inquest. The Rev. Mr Summers was between 60 and 70 years of age, and came to this colony from Victoria about five years

The Rev. C. H. Spurgeon has, it is understood, been at last prevailed upon to seek a change of scene, and will take a trip up the Nile. Mr Spurgeon has suffered much of late from rheumatism. On the 29th August a man named John Cragg, who hawked fish for Sorenson, fishmonger, Port Chalmers, while driving a spring-cart along the Deborah Bay road, fell out and was thrown upon his head, whereby he sustained concussion of the brain, followed by compression, which resulted in his death on the 31st August. The Herald says he was attended by Dr. Morgan, who held out no hopes of recovery from the first, and his body was on Thursday last removed to the morgue. Deceased was 52 years of age, and arrived in the ship Waipa eighteen months ago. “ All sweeps drawn on the course go to the horse first past the post” has been the reply given by many sporting authorities in answer to queries on the subject. But we (Dunedin Morning Herald) question whether it ever entered the heads of these authorities that a horse having lost its rider, run the course, and led the rest past the judge’s box, should be entitled to sweep money. Such a coincidence happened on Saturday, 10th inst., at the Forbury Hunt Club Meeting. In the Consolation Handicap, Turk threw his jockey immediately after the start, went the whole course (barring we believe one hurdle), and won by about a length. We did not hear of any disputes, but in the face of the universally accepted law as above, we believe the holders of Turk in sweeps drawn on the course were literally entitled to the money.

The London Daily News, wi'iting on the Australian steam lines, says ;—“Melbourne is at this moment a greater solace of strength to England than Bombay, even though we may never dream of bringing Australian requirements to Malta.”