The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. SATURDAY, JANUARY 7, 1882.

Kumara Times, Issue 1646, 7 January 1882, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. SATURDAY, JANUARY 7, 1882.

The coaches from Christchurch left the Bealey this morning at the usual early hour with a goodly complement of passengers ; in Mr Rugg’s coach there were four for Hokitika, and six for Kumara. Mr Rugg’s coach had just arrived as we were going to press, 4.30 p,m. The miners of the district are requested to meet at Reynolds’ Hotel, Dillman’s Town, on Monday evening next to decide on some means of explaining to the Minister of Mines the actual wants of this district. We hope to see a large attendance; The installation of the W.M. and investiture of officers of the Lazar Lodge, No. 1689, E.C., took place in the Public Hall yesterday afternoon, the ceremony being conducted by the P.D.S.G. W. Bro. Hudson, of Hokitika, in a very impressive manner. About fifty members were present. The following brethren were installed for the ensuing twelve months : Bro. G. Gibbons, W.M.; Bro. C. E. Bro. T. R. Connell, Hon. Treasurer; Brch Johii Hannah, Hon. Secretary ; Bro. IS. Rogers, S.D.; Bro. T. Caldwell, J.D.; Bro. G. Anderson, J.G.; Bro. M. Kj oiler, Tyler. A banquet in honor of the occasion was held in the evening, when about 45 sat down to supper, which was provided by Mr Gilbert Stewart in his usual excellent style. The time was spent in toasts and songs, until the wee short hours of the morning brought to a conclusion one of the pleasantest gatherings that have yet been held on the occasions of the installation of the Lazar Lodge officers. If is juSt three months yesterday by the days of the week since a sad misfortune happened to a little boy named William MTntosh, son of Mrs MTntosh, of the European Hotel, when, playing in the vicinity of a brewery, he crept in and partook of what he supposed was a cordial, but which proved to be a strong solution of potash. For some time the little fellow was in a very precarious state, but after three or four weeks there were signs of improvement ; the boy was able to get about and partake of food, though certainly in very moderate and liquefied quantities, and it Was hoped he would eventually recover. But the poisonous ingredient seemed to have so permeated his whole frame that notwithstanding he was a very strong child for his age, now near six, and in consequence nicknamed by his playmates “ the boatswain,” three or four weeks ago a change for the worse came over him and he dwindled -wav to a

mere skeleton. Last evening, about six o’clock he called his mother to him, and said “I’m going, now, mother! ” But lie lingered on till near eleven o’clock this morning, when he finally exclaimed—- “ I’m going, hoV, mother ! I’ni gding to the sky—to heaven! ” and then sank calm in death. Much sympathy is felt for the mother, Who is still in mourning for the loss of her husband. The remains of the child will be interred in the Kumar a cemetery tO-nlotrow afternoon, the funeral leaving Seddon street at three o’clock. The election of a Local School Committee for the current school year for the now enlarged district of Kumara is appointed to be held on Monday, the 23rd inst., at the State Schoolj at 8 o’clock in the evening ; when it is hoped the conduct of the voting will assume a more honorable phase in regard to plump voting than that which has characterised previous school committee electionsi Messrs Girdwood, Lahman, and Co. will sell on Monday next, at the Preston Yards, Greymouth, a lot of prime fat porkers and store pigs. The Argus this morning reports that Mr Hugo and Mr Barrowman engaged in discussion last evening, at the Volunteer Hall (Greymouth), on the question as to whether phrenology or physiognomy is the more reliable indication of human character. A tolerably fair audience attended. After the discussion was concluded four ladies and four gentlemen voluntarily presented themselves upon the stage to afford the lecturer an opportunity of illustrating his skill aS a reader of character. The result appeared to be generally satisfactory. Mr Hugo will deliver a lecture at the same place on Monday for the benefit of the Literary Society. The subject will be‘Facial wrinkles.”’ Coming through the Gorge to Grey-< mouth on Wednesday morning, about 8 o’clock (says the Argus) Mr H. Burgett picked up a hailstone from a mass on the road, and measured it out of curiosity, with the following result :—l|- inches long, 1 inch broad, and | inch in thickness. Sergeant-Major William A. Kiely is gazetted to be Keeper of the Police Gaol at Greymouth. Henry Augustus Levestara (M.H.R)j of Nelson, engineer, has applied for letters patent for an improvement in the rudder of ships or vessels of all kinds. Application to be heard on the 24th March next. The Inangahua Herald of the 30th ult; contains the following reference to a recent benefit :—“Mr T, Muirhead, assisted by a few friends, gave a most successful performance at the Oddfellows’ Hall on Tuesday evening ; and it was a decided pleasure to find an old favorite, after a long absence, so heartily welcomed. In every song Mr Muirhead was loudly applauded, proving that he still possesses the power to attract and amuse an audience.” The following is from the Southland Times of the 24th ult. “ A man named John Fowler was found dead on the deck of the s.s. Arawata, at 7 yesterday morningj bh her passage from Port Chalmers to the Bluff. He was a passenger from Oamafu to Melbourne, and was apparently in good health when on board the steamer on leaving Port Chalmers. It is understood he was a carpenter by trade, and had resided frti? some time at Oamaru. On his person he had cash and securities for about £1700.” A balloon has beeii missing from England recently, in which Mr Powell, M.P. was a passenger. A thermometer known to have been in the ballooh has been picked up on the sands near Portland. There is scarcely any doubt that the balloon and all in it perished.