The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. "THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1881.

Kumara Times, Issue 1580, 20 October 1881, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. "THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1881.

At a meeting of the Waste Lands Board, Hokitika, yesterday, a letter was read from the Town Clerk, Knmara, asking that the Cemetery Reserve, as fenced, might be vested in the Borough Council; and it was resolved “ That the matter having been referred by the Knmara Borough Council to the Government, the Land Board does not feel called upon to take any steps in connection with it.”

Mails for the Australian Colonies close at the Bluff to-morrow, Friday) at 11 a. m. At the meeting of the Grey County Council, last evening, the following tenders were accepted :—For road from Greymouth via Rutherglen to Marsden, No. 1 section, O’Donnell Bros., £325 ; Section No. 2, Kyren Hanlan, £139 4s. Track over Blue Spur, near Teremakau, Michael Clancy, £3O. A telegram from Mr T. S. Weston, M.H.R., informing the Chairman that Lire Premier wired him that £1054 would bo paid to the credit of the Grey County Council in a few days, was received, and a vote of thanks accorded to Mr Weston for the trouble he had taken in the matter.

After her lecture on Sunday next, at the Theatre Royal, Madame Wilmot will, if wished, discuss the subject—-“ Freedom of Thought, or Atheism.”

The West Coast Times reports that “ a deputation yesterday waited on Mr J. M‘Whirter, to urge him to contest the Kmnara seat. It was pointed out to him that a very large support would be accorded to him, and that his prospects of election were almost assured if he was nominated. Mr M‘Whirter promised to give a definite answer in a few days.” The Borough Council will hold their usual meeting this evening.

The friends of the late Mr Thomas Hutchison will regret to learn of his death after a somewhat painful illness of six or seven weeks. Deceased was known to most people in the Valley who move about at all, as he had been a driver on the Greymouth and Knmara Tramway ever since it has been open. He was (the Argus states) also well known in Otago, having been one of King Cobb’s noted whips during the proprietorship of Mr Hoyt. Deceased had for some time been suffering from pulmonary disease, superinduced doubtless by the exposure inseparable from his occupation ; but the proximate cause of death was acute laryngitis.

It Would appear (says the Argus) that some of Mr Perotti’s friends are desirous that he should allow himself to be nominated for the Grey Valley as a candidate for Parliament. From a letter received from Mr Perotti, at present at Reefton, it is understood that he is willing to place his services at the disposal of the constituency, provided he is honored with the promise of a reasonable amount of support from the electors.

A sculling match has been arranged between Trickett of Sydney, and Plaisted, an American oarsmen, who obtained fourth place in the contest that occurred at Seekonk, Providence Rhode Island, for the Hop Bitters prize, in June, 1880. The race was to be rowed on the Bth inst., at St. Louis, the capital of Missouri. The Hokitika Grand Art Union has been positively fixed to be drawn during the Christmas holidays. The delay has arisen in consequence of several of the prizes not having arrived in time for the drawing on the 30th November. Last Saturday afternoon, about 3.30, a fall of earth occurred at the brick works of Mr J. Wakefield, Opawa, burying a laborer named Joseph Smelling. On being extricated it was found (the Press reports) that one of his thighs was broken, and severe internal injuries sustained. He was at once removed to his residence, Harper’s road, and Dr Hunt was speedily in attendance, and remained with the man till death terminated his sufferings at half-past five o’clock on Sunday morning. The same authority reports than an inquest was held at the Southbridge Hotel on Friday afternoon last, before Captain Willis (Coroner) and a jury of fourteen, touching the death of Charles Hemmings, aged sixteen months. The evidence went to show that the child, during the temporary absence of the mother, was left in charge of his brother, aged fourteen and a sister. They went to get some water to water the flowers, and while away the deceased managed to get to a tub with about 4 inches of water in it, and,.overbalancing himself, fell in head first. When the children returned they found him in the tub, quite dead. Dr. Malone having given his evidence as to the cause of death, the jury returned a verdict of “ Accidental drowning. ”

On Friday last, on a piece of ground near the Royal Hotel, Ashburton, a quoit match took place between Mount Somers and Ashburton. The weather was unfavorable, a strong nor’-wester - blowing. The match was won by Mount Somers by sixteen points. A return match was also played at cricket between these two places on the 12th inst., resulting in a victory for Mount Somers. The scores were—Ashburton, 118 ; Mount Somers, 118 with three wickets to fall.

The anniversary of the Loyal Southbridge Lodge of Oddfellows, No, G 042, was celebrated by a picnic on Thursday last, and a dance in the evening. The anniversary of the Loyal Rangiora Lodge of Oddfellows was celebrated last Friday by an excursion by rail and coach to Sumner. A dance was arranged to be held in the Institute Hall, Rangiora, in the evening. The Evening Mail, issued by the Melbourne Argus proprietary, is to be a halfpenny paper. The Evening World, a new paper, also comes out this month. It is owned by the Punch proprietary. In one grove in California there are 1380 trees, none measuring less than six feet in diameter.