The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1881.

Kumara Times, Issue 1635, 23 December 1881, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1881.

Christmas Day falling on Sunday this year, we shall not deprive our staff of their usual holiday, for theirs are few. Intending advertisers will please think of this, and, where possible, insert to-morrow, before two o'clock. A goodly number of the swift-of-foot men have sent in their names to the secretary Kumara Christmas Sports Committee to compete in the great handicap foot-race on Monday and Tuesday next. Their names are—T. Coy, Joseph Stenhouse (Greymouth), Joseph Codver (Maori Creek), D. Callahan, T. O'Loughlan, M. O'Loughlan, T. Jones, H. Jenkins, W. Griffiths, H. A damson, F. Payne, George Woods, W. Williams (Larrikins), Tlios. Green. The number of entries will he very gratifying to the committee and also to the public, as the pedestrians are lirst-class runners and therefore good racing may be expected. No doubt a large proportion of them will also come prepared to contest for the champion challenge silver cup race, the entries for which are not required to be made until 10 o'clock on the morning of the 27th. We may congratulate the committee on receiving so large a number of entries, as it seems indicative of a similar response being made in other events, thus assuring to the general public some" excellent sports. Persons interested are reminded that private offers for No. 3 booth and the luncheon booth will be received by the treasurer till nine o'clock this evening.

The County Returning Officer (A. F. F. Etheridge, Esq.) is prepared to liquidate all claims incurred on account of the rerecent County elections, and persons interested will receive payment on application to Mr J. M'Eniiis, at the Court House, Kumara. The Union Company's s. s. Alhambra will be detained at Wellington until noon to-day, when she will leave for the Coast direct. She will be tendered at the Coast ports to-morrow evening. Passengers for Sydney and Melbourne must be ready to embark at 11 o'clock a.m. to-morrow. Captain Edwin telegraphed yesterday afternoon as follows :—Expect bad weather. The glass will rise nearly threetenths, with south-west to north-west winds, backing to north after 16 hours, and glass falling, and not less than a considerable sea. The Charles Edward is still lying at Westport. Owing to the severe weather prevailing, the Wallace went off to Nelson without attempting to tow her consort to the head-quarters of the company, as had been originally intended. It is announced that Sir Arthur Gordon, Governor of New Zealand, and High Commissioner of the Pacific, will shortly be relieved of the supervision of the colony of Fiji, which lie has exercised. Mrs Ritson having made improved arrangements will be prepared, during the holidays, to accommodate boarders in firstclass style. Fuller particulars will be announced to-morrow. At the meeting of the Stewards of the Greymouth Jockey Club, held last evening, the following acceptances were received: — Oinotumotu Handicap Try-Again, The Field, Kensington. Midsummer Handicap—Kensington, Elfin King, Lady Grey, Whalebone, Greyhound. Nominations were also received as follows :—Hurdle Race—Kensington, Whalebone, Tommy. Brunner Stakes—Elfin King, Kensington, Whalebone, The Field, Lady Grey. The distribution of prizes in the Glasgow art-union takes place in February next. The advantages which this and the London art-unions possess over most others is that every subscriber of one guinea per annum, or even for a single subscription, gets full value for money received in addition to the chance of obtaining a work of art to the value 150 to 200 guineas in the annual ballot of prizes, The presentation work for this year consists of an exquisite line engraving on steel, by William Forrest, H.R.S.A°, of Edinburgh, after the painting " Kilchum Castle, Loch Awe," by the late Horatio M'Culloch, R.S.A. Size of engraved surface, 27h by 17 inches. Subscriptions will be received at this office until Tuesday evening next. The Natives of Rotorua are drinking themselves off the face of the earth. Bad rum and worse brandy will solve the Native difficulty. The Welcome Company, Reefton, during the week ended Saturday, obtained 7980z5. of amalgam from 90 tons of stone. A Portsmouth paper gives the following account of an extraordinary ceremony, combining the marriage and burial services in one. Miss E. Mainwaring, twenty years of age, was buried at Portsmouth Cemetery on Sept. 5. The deceased, who was the daughter of an officer in the army, was about to be married, her trousseau and that of her bridesmaids having been provided, but she was seized with fatal illness, from which she succumbed a few days ago. It was, therefore, arranged to go through, as far as possible, the marriage ceremony before her body was interred, and, accordingly, several wedding carriages were provided for the accommodation of the friends, the coffin being conveyed upon Messrs A. W. White and Co.'s bier from Southsea to Holy Trinity Church, Portsea, followed by her friends in wedding costume, the deceased's wreath of orange blossoms being placed at the head of the coffin. The Rev. T. D. Piatt and other clergymen officiated, and, after reading the marriage service, that for funerals was proceeded with, after which the cortege proceeded to Portsmouth Cemetery, where the interment took place. Mrs Cooney announces a grand ball to be held this evening. Smith and Barkley desire to call special attention to the ari'ival of all shades in tarlatans, evening flowers,- evening gloves and laces, &c. , specially selected for the grand societies' ball, which takes place on the 29th inst. Come and see these unique and superb designs in drapery, as exhibited in the window of the Cash Warehouse. [Advt.]