The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1881.

Kumara Times, Issue 1623, 9 December 1881, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1881.

The polling for the election of a member of the House of Representatives, for the new electoral district of Kumaray* which commenced at 9 o'clock this morning, is going on while we write, and will terminate at 6 p.m. Mr Richard John Seddon was the first candidate lo come forward for this district. He was followed by Mr Edmund Barff, and subsequently by Mr J. M'Whirter. The last-named gentleman announced himself a candidate on the 15th ult., but after the lapse of a week, he withdrew from the contest for f easdns which he explained at a meeting of electors at Dillman's Town last evening, and will be found reported elsewhere. Mr Edwin Blake succeeded Mr M'Whirter in the same interest two or three days afterwards ; and Mr Barff, who authorised us on the ißth ult. to state that he would "go to the poll against all comers" was conspicuous by his absence from the hustings on the day of nomination (Thursday, the Ist inst.). There remained, therefore, from that time but two candidates—Mr Richard John Seddon and Mr Edwin Blake, both gdod men and true. The contest is by all accounts to be a keen one, but another hour arid all will be over, at least so far as the vdtiiig is concerned. Admirable arrangements were made by W. A. BartOri, Esq., the" Returning Officer, for the conduct of voting at the Court House, Kumara, and by his Deputy Returning Officer (A. P. F: Etheridge, Esq.) for carrying on the polling at Dillman's Town, where is centred the largest voting power in this district. In Kumara, bands .of men were to be seen here and there, either discussing the merits of the different candidates, watching anxiously the movements of the voters who were on their way to the respective polling-places. The pollingbooth at Dillman's was alongside Messrs Campbell and Kettles' store, facing the Larrikin's road. Moving about in front were groups of committee-men looking after the interests of their respective candidates. At three o'clock this afternoon, 420 votes had been recorded at Dillman's, 120 having been recorded in the short space of twenty minutes (from 2 o'clock to 2.20 p.m.). Proceeding from thence to the Kumara polling-place, we there found similarknotsof committee-men studded about. At 3.15 p. m., 300 votes had been recorded in Kumara, making the large total of 720 up to that hour. So soon as the returns are in from Stafford and Goldsborough we shall issue an Extra. Thfc returns from these four polling-places will probably reveal the result of what appears at present to be a very keen contests

The Rev: E, A. Scott, who left Kumara on Tuesday last, was, immediately on his arrival in Christchurch, appointed to the charge of St, Michael's, the oldest and largest church in that town. The seventeen steamers which at the present time wear the " red funnel " and fly the flag of the Union Steamship Company will be shortly augmented by five new ones, whose aggregate gross registered tonnage amounts to no less than GSBO tons. The aggregate indicated power of these new comers will be also GOOO horse-power, divided as follows —the Manipouri, of 1900 tons, and the Wairarapa, of the same tonnage, are each of 1750 horse-power; the Hauroto, whose tonnage (2000) exceeds that of any other steamer in the fleet, will be of 1500 horsepower, and the Onapere (GOO tons) and Mahinapua (450 t<ms) are to be of 500 horse-power each. In other words, the company will, accidents excepted, then possess a fleet of twenty-three steamships, with a total tonnage of as many thousand tons, or, to be exact, 22.500 tons gross register, and a total power equal to 20,850 horses. Considering the comparatively short time the company has existed (says the Christchurch Press), progress may well be said to be remarkable.

At the National Hotel, Seddon street, and at the Theatre Royal, grand balls are to be held this evening, in celebration of the first general election in the new electoral district of Kuinara.

The 3.5. Kennedy sailed north from Greymouth yesterday. The recent Mayoral election for the city of Christchurch (says the Press) was the cause of a few hats and other trifles being staked on the relative chances of the two candidates, and this in spite of the Gaming and Lotteries Act, a noticeable case of which is reported from the North. Two tradesmen, one intending to support Mr Ruddenklau, and the other Mr Taylor, wagered a new hat on their men, the value not being stated. The sequel need not be told as to which lost and who was the winner, but judge the surprise of the latter when he received delivery of a—shilling Zulu rush hat.

An extraordinary occurrence happened on board the barque Gladstone;during her voyage from London to Sydney. Captain -Jackson reports that on October 22nd a man fell overboard. The lifeboat was lowered, and four men and the mate went in search of the castaway, and eventually rescued him. He was clinging to an albatross, which he had seized as it flew past him.