The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 1882.

Kumara Times, Issue 1653, 16 January 1882, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 1882.

The members of the Kumara Reception Committee are all requested to meet at the Town Hall this evening, sharp at eight o’clock. The letters for Westland by the San Francisco mail are being forwarded by the p.s. Charles Edward. She has arrived at Westport, and is expected to reach the Hokitika River on to-morrow morning’s six o’clock tide, so that the Kumara letters may be expected by the morning coach from Hokitika. The remaining portion of the fumigated mails, per Penguin and Te Anau, via Lyttelton, may be looked for on Wednesday afternoon. Our attention lias been directed to the dangei’ous state in which nearly all the culverts on the boundary track between the upper end of Seddon street and the Hillman’s Town tramway are in at the present time. The track continues to be the only natural pathway to a very large number of dwellings right and left, and, whether it be the business of the Borough Council or County Council to keep it in proper repair—and we observe the matter is to be brought before the Public Works Committee of the former body—it is to be hoped the necessary repairs will be effected before any limbs are broken through its present unsafe condition. Another complaint received is from an aged lady who, when opportunity has presented itself, has been wont to visit the cemetery and adorn the grave of her beloved and lamented husband with fairest flowers; and who “while summer lasts, and she lives here, would sweeten his sad grave.” But who, alas, finds on her return that some mischievous hands have not only removed the flowers but the very roots of them from their sacred bed. This is supposed to be the work of some thoughtless children who may not be aware that a heavy penalty and even imprisonment can be inflicted as punishment for such conduct - crime, it is called.

We Hope this warning will be the means of averting the repetition of such offences and; freeing future intending miscreants from the handsof the law. The Chairman of the Westland County Council, accompanied by Mr Kerr, the Road Inspector, went down to the Teremakau this morning to inspect the approaches to the bridge, that on the northern side having been reported to be subject to danger from an impending slip. The cause was found to arise from water dripping down the hill, which by it diversion the evil could be stayed. Prompt means will therefore be taken to avert such a calamity which might be so caused. A joint meeting of members of the Kumara and Dillman’s Town Minister of Mines’ Reception Committees will be held in the Town Hall, Kumara, to-morrow evening at 8 o’clock. Mr Rolleslon is expected to reach Greyraouth this afternoon, and will probably arrive at Kumara on Wednesday. We are pleased to learn that the Tramway Company have made arrangements by which the journey between Kumara and Greymouth, and vice versa, will be performed in half-an-hour quicker time than has been customary. The weekly parades of the Kumara Rifles are announced to be resumed tomorrow evening. The Gazette just to hand notifies the appointments of William Perkins, Esq., of Greymouth, as Crown Prosecutor for the District of Westland, vice S. M. South, Esq., deceased; and William Gibbs, Esq., as Resident Magistrate for the District of Colling wood, with jurisdiction to £SO, and Warden of all Wardens’ Courts within the Golden Bay Mining District, vice Oswald Curtis, Esq., R.M. There is considerable competition amongst the bakers in Palmerston at present, with the result that bread has fallen in price to 5d per 41b loaf within the past day or two, and a further reduction to 4d is declared to be in contemplation. Madame Lottie Wilmot delivered a farewell lecture last Wednesday night in the Oddfellows’ Hall, Christchurch, to a moderate audience, the subject chosen being “ One Year’s Experience in New Zealand.” After the lecture a spiritualistic seance was held. The Press says the “ manifestations” were of a very mild description. At the half-yearly meeting of the New Zealand Insurance Company the directors’ report showed the following figures : Brought forward from last year, £9725 ; net premiums, £78,503 ; interest and rent, £11,146 ; expenses, £22,477 ; losses, £52,855 ; balance, £24,102. A dividend of 15 per cent, was declared, absorbing £15,000. The full score of Gounod’s oratorio, “Redemption,” written for next year’s Birmingham festival, has been handed over to a representative of the committee in Paris. The Birmingham Committee have paid £4OOO for the oratorio.