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Kumara Times, Issue 1556, 22 September 1881, Page 2

In another column we reprint from Christchurch and Dunedin papers the new Tariff, which is to come into operation on the Ist October next. There are some discrepancies between the East Coast message and that published by the West Coast Times, For instance, in the latter, the first imports mentioned are “ Bacon and hams, 2d per cwt.,” [iron nails omitted] ; in the eastern messages it reads—" Bacon and hams, 2d per lb.; iron nails 2s per cwt," The duty is probably “Is per

lb, on tobacco arown and manufactured in the colony,” instead of “ Id.” Abd “ the excise duty on spirits distilled in New Zealand” is more likely to be “8s per ga'lim at ]>roof >> than “8d per gallon at. profit.” “ The penalty for fraudulently claiming a drawback, £ 2,” reads in the eastern journals “ £200.”

The San Francisco mail arrived by coach from Hokitika at noon to-day, and was promptly sorted and delivered in town. A violent thunderstorm passed over the town just as we were going to press. The year 5642 of the Jewish Era (Tishri 1) commences to-morrow evening. October 3rd will be commemorated as the Day of Atonement, and the Bth the Feast of Tabernacles.

Tenders are invited by the Westland County Council for widening the remaining sections (4, 5 and G) of the Dillman’s Town Christchurch road track into a dray road. The sections are about one mile in length, and are to be tendered for' separately. Tenders close at noon on October 12th, after which hour no tender can possibly be received. Plans and specifications for the sections can be seen at the Council Chambers, and (on and after the 29th inst.) at Mr Seddon’s residence, Kumara.

The Bank of New Zealand at Westport shipped per Wallabi to Greymouth, for transhipment per Hero for Melbourne, two boxes, containing 16410z5. 12dwts. gold bullion.

The Greymouth Jockey Club Committee met last evening for the purpose of adopting a programme for the Christmas Meeting, 26th and 27th December. The total amount to be run for is £250, of which there are two races of £SO each, and eight other minor events for the balance of the money.

An influential prospecting association was formed in Lawrence last Thursday. The object of the association is to obtain and prospect with a diamond drill.

Some rumors are afloat (the N. Z. Times states) that the writs for the election of the new Parliament will be issued in October, and made returnable in November. It is but the merest rumor. Under the new Representation Bill there is much to be done in the arrangement of Electoral Rolls before the new elections can take place, and hence the elections are not likely to take place much before January or February. Canterbury potatoes were sold by auction in Auckland last week for £1 per ton, bags included and delivered to store.

The following items are from the Lyell Times of Saturday last:—“A painful accident happened to Mr F. Feddersen, of this town, on Wednesday. He was working a sausage nlachine at the shop of Messrs Wolf and Rasmussen, when the small finger of his left hand got caught in the cogs, the top being taken off to the first joint. Mr Bakewell dressed the wound, and Mr Feddersiiii is now progressing favorably.—A considerable number of miners have arrived iii town during the week, mostly from Reeftori, Where a large number of hands have been knocked off in several of the mines in that district. We understand that all hands with the exception of four have been discharged by the Energetic Company. This claim at one time gave employment to upwards of 70 men.—Mr and Mrs Ibbetson and family left for Arnold yesterday morning." With regard to the question of the height of Mount Cook, the SurveyorGeneral in his recent report says :—“ The Westland triangulation has extended down the coast past Mount Cook, and observations'to the summit peak were taken by Mr Roberts from trigonometrical stations at distances varying from twenty to seventy miles. The observations from eighteen of these stations have been computed by Mr Mueller, and the height of Mount Cook above the main sea level is found to be 12,349 ft. This is the mean of all the computations, and no single observation differs more than sft, from the height given. The other observations have yet to be computed, but they are not likely to affect the result more than about a foot, if so much. The height of Mount Cook hitherto accepted has been 13,200 ft., as given by the Admiralty surveyor, or 851 ft. higher than the determination of the trigonometrical survey. There can be no doubt that the Admiralty determination gives too great a height to the monarch peak of the New Zealand mountains. For the future the height will have to be taken as nearly 1000 ft. less than what all the published maps give it." At Knox Presbyterian Church, Dunedin, last Sunday (says the Herald) the Rev. Dr. Stuart officiated in the morning', and dispensed the communion to 503 members. Twenty-six, of these were ad-

mitted for the first time. The Rev. Dr. Salmond officiated in the evening. The collections in aid of the Benevolent Institution amounted to £54 Gs.

Here is something like successful goldmining : —95 tons of quartz from the South New Zealand claim, at Gympie (Queensland), have yielded 816 oz. gold, as the result of a fortnight’s crushing. The No. 1 Phoenix Company have 52000 z. of amalgam, which is expected to yield 27000 z. of gold. A patch of 300 oz. of gold has been struck since the washingup.

The NewZealandracehorses Sir Modred, Somnus, Idalium, and Hilarious, since their arrival at Flemington, have been doing walking exercise and going through a course of medicine preparatory to commencing their Cup preparation. Mr Redwood writes me (“ Sinbad,” sporting contributor to the Press) that he is sending Raupo, Toi Toi and Waiiti to Musket. The yearling colt by Cassivelaunus out of Raupo, who injured himself galloping in the paddock, has since died. Spritsail has a filly foal, and so far has Fair Puritan, both to Anteros. Mr Redwood has nine mares in foal to him. In work at Spring Creek are a big horse of Mr Murphy’s (breeder of Malvini) ; a ch g bought by Mr Redwood at Middle Park and the filly out of Toi Toi. The weather, however, has been so bad up there, that so far they have been restricted to slow work. Mr Redwood seems to have a very high opinion of Cassivelaunus as a sire. He says : “Afew words about the young ones. I like them and feel sure that if Cassivelaunus got good mares he would get good racehorses. Mine show a lot of quality, and show plenty of size without being at all coarse. They have nicely kind heads, good bone, and firstclass feet. They are nice colored ones, too. Thep all have nice action, and the colt out of Raupo I lost, galloped just like old Cossack.”

The Bishop of Exeter, in England, recently opened a coffee tavern in Exeter, and was assisted at the ceremony by the Mayor, who, although a brewer, stated that he believed it would meet a long-felt want. He would not admit that coffee was as good as beer, but he did agree that too much beer was a bad thing for some people.

An accident of a very painful nature happened (the Christchurch Press informs us) on Saturday last to a daughter aged eighteen months of Mr Richard Smith, °of Le Ron’s Bay. The tramway which conveys the timber from the mill passes close to Mr Smith’s house, and there is also a large stack of timber between the house and the mill, which prevents the trollyman from seeing anything on the line near the house. The little girl abovementioned, having strayed from the house the line just a§ a load of timber was coming from the mill, the wheels of the trolly passed over both its hands, completely severing one below the wrist and lacerating the fingers of the other. On Dr. Singleton arriving at Le Bon’s Bay he advised the removal of the little sufferer to the Akaroa Hospital, where it was found necessary to amputate one hand at the wrist joint. The doctor thinks he can save the other hand.

The Waiwera hot springs and hotel, belonging to Mr Robert Graham, have been sold to a Southern Company for abdiit £15,000.

A writer in a Melbourne journal states that a firm in Melbourne lately received from Sandhurst, as part of a remittance, three Bank of England £lO notes, bearing date May 3l and June 11, 1831. The notes are in good Condition, and do not bear the appearance of much circulation. Their history and reading of their long disappearance from the public use would doubtless be of interest if they could be traced and told. The use of the money represented by notes to the Bank of England counts up considerably—£3o at 5 per cent compound interest for fifty years amounts to something over £343. A terrible drought is imminent in Western Australia. Much stock is already dying for want of water.

The Australian Diamond Drill Company are putting down drills in several parts of the colony. The British claim for damages during the bombardment of Sfax amounts to 60,000,000 francs, and the claims of other nations to a similar sum.