The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1881.

Kumara Times, Issue 1574, 13 October 1881, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1881.

The names of the successful tenderers for the contracts for widening the present track from Dillraan’s to Christchurch road into a dray road are given in a special telegram from Hokitika to-day. There are three contracts, each about one mile in length. Three months are allowed for their completion from the date of signing the contracts. When they are finished, the distance to Christchurch from Knmara for vehicles will be shortened by between five and six miles, and with far more even gradients than the present road. At the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday, before H. A. Stratford, Esq., R.M., three unimportant civil cases were disposed of. Another serious misfortune occurred yesterday to a boy a son of Mrs Martin, who lives on the Main Road near the Court House. Norman Martin, nine years of age, was returning home from school in company with some other boys, when they found, or obtained (at present there is some doubt which) three dynamite cartridges. Not knowing their dangerous nature, yet thinking it looked something like a rifle cartridge Martin struck a match and applied it. The cartridge exploded,

severely burning the boy’s face, but, fortunately, doing no injury to his sight. Surgical assistance was called in, the burns dressed, and although portions of the missile penetrated the boy’s clothes to Ins shoulder, neither of the sears are of a very serious nature, being little more than skin deep. When discovered, one of the other boys was found nibbling the end of another of the cartridges, narrowly escaping instant death. At the evening sitting of the Westland County Council yesterday, Mr R. J. Seddon (the Chairman) moved—“ That in the opinion of this Council a Conference of the County Councils of Westland, Grey, Inangahua, and Buller, should be held to take into consideration the following matters : —l. To induce Government to defray a portion of the cost of maintenance of main roads from Westport to Okarito, and over which her Majesty’s mails are conveyed free from cost. 2. To devise other and more equitable means for raising county revenue. 3. To take united action in endeavouring to induce Government to procure and lend out diamond drills, wherewith County Councils may prospect and develop the vast mineral resources of the West Coast, Middle Island. 4. To deal with matters which, in the opinion of the Conference, would place local self-government on a proper basis.” The resolution was carried on the voices.

After the lecture last evening, at Gilbert Stewart’s Hotel, Madame Wilmot held a sitting in circle, which, we are informed, was a successful one. She will hold a seance again this evening, at eight o’clock, for the investigation of spiritualism and mesmerism.

Mr A. A. Cameron’s sweep on the Melbourne Cup is announced to most positively close and be drawn during the fourth week of this present month, between probably the 24th and 29th October. Early application for tickets is therefore necessary. These are obtainable at Mr J. M‘Donald’s Globe Hotel, Dillman’s Town.

We (West Coast Times) are pleased to hear that the position to which Mr Just, late head master of the Stafford School, has been appointed is a more im. portant one than that gentleman anticipated. It is in fact, that of first teacher in one of the largest schools in New Zealand. The attendance averages over 1000, and there are often 1100 children present. There are also 31 teachers engaged. We join with our Stafford friends in congratulating Mr Just upon his improved standing as a teacher. The Wallace, from Hokitika to the Grey, was the only arrival or departure at the ports yesterday. A very fine sample of new potatoes, grown by Mr J. S. White, gardener, at Ohoka, were shown on Saturday last, in Christchurch.

The special correspondent of the New Zealand Herald thus describes Titokowaru :—“He looks active and strong. He is rather below the medium size, but wiry ; would not be bad looking if it were not for the loss of one eye. He says should there be fighting the Maoris would not fight in a body, but scour the country in small bands. For his own part he has had enough fighting, but would go with his people. The old boy’s favorite liquor is ginger wine when out, but when at home he likes rum ad lib. Some years since he begged sixpence from me, yesterday a shilling; so great a warrior, so mean a suppliant; childlike, so bland in time of peace, bloodthirsty in war, and cunning.”

A bombshell, doubtlessly fired by the Federals during the late American civil war, was recently found in a log at a sawmill at Birmingham, United States. The circular saw was ploughing through a large white oa,k log, when it struck a hard substance, which broke the teeth and suddenly stopped its progress. Upon examination they found buried in the stock, to the depth of at least eight inches, a large percussion bombshell, which, according to the calculation of those familiar with the growth of timber, had been there sixteen or seventeen years, and the tree had grown over it until there was but a slight scar left. Fortunately the saw struck the shell, which still contained its load, so as to cause no explosion. Rowland Hill was always annoyed when there happened to be any noise in the chapel, or when anything occurred to divert the attention of his hearers from what lie was saying. On one occasion, a few days before his death, he was preaching to one of the most crowded congregations that ever assembled to hear him. In the middle of his discourse he observed a commotion in tbe gallery. For some time he took no notice of it, hut, finding it increasing, he paused in his sermon, and, looking in the direction in which the confusion prevailed, he exclaimed ; “What’s the matter there? The devil seems to have got among you.” A plain, country-looking man immediately started to Lis feet, and, addressing Mr Hill in

reply, said; “No, sir, it arn’t the devil as is doing it; it’s a fat lady wot’s fainted ; and she is a wery fat ’un, sir, as don’t seem likely to come to again in a hurry.” “ Oh, that’s it, is it !” observed Mr Hill, drawing his hand across his chin; “then I beg the lady’s pardon and the devil’s too.”