The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 1882.

Kumara Times, Issue 1642, 3 January 1882, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 1882.

In addition to the general festival at Messrs Keech and Malloy’s yesterday, there was a picnic at the Catholic School grounds, which we intend giving a report of to-morrow. The races which were to have taken place to-day at Hokitika were postponed till to-morrow in consequence of the inclement weather. The Hospital Committee are particularly requested to attend the meeting to be held in the Secretary’s office this evening, at eight o’clock, when financial and other business will be transacted. After being detained by floods in crossing the Waimakariri and Bealey rivers, the Christchurch coaches arrived here on Sunday evening, shortly after six o’clock, A heavy landslip about a mile and a half up this side of the Otira Gorge prevented their earlier arrival here on Saturday night. Archdeacon Harper was a passenger to Hokitika. Children having subscription lists and sums of money collected for the picnic are requested to hand them in to Mr J. Woodward, the head-master Kumara State School ; and all persons having accounts against the Picnic dommittee are requested to present them to the Secret tary, Mr W. B. Robinson, on or before Thursday next. There was larger display of fireworks on Saturday night, the eve of the New Year, than we have seen in Kumara before. Chinese lanterns decorated several hotels ; and rockets, blue-lights, wheels, and other devices were to be seen now ascending, descending, and revolving, to the amusement of many, and particularly so to tile rising generation. At the annual fete of the Friendly Societies of Christchurch, held in the Agricultural Association’s grounds oil Boxing Day, no fewer than eight fair competitors faced the starter of a Married Woman’s Race, 100 yards. The first prize consisted of a box of tea, presented by Mr Rankin ; second, 1001 b. bag of flour, presented by Mr Kerr; third, presented by Mr Bone, value 10s 6d. Mrs Wakefield was first, Mrs Morrow, second, Mrs Halliburton third. The race was gamely contested throughout, and won by only a few yards after an exciting finish. The spectators were very demonstrative in their applause, favoring their respective friends with encouraging remarks. The total number of Volunteers in England and Scotland, provided for in the Army Estimates foi‘lßßl-2, was 245,548 England, 199,949; Scotland, 45,699. The trustees of the Flemington racecourse, after paying all the stakes and expenses in connection with the recent races, will have a balance of about £IO,OOO to the credit of the club.