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Kumara Times, Issue 1661, 25 January 1882, Page 2

The coach front Springfield, with East Coast mails, left the Bealey this morning at the usual early hour, and arrived at the Kuntara post-office at 3.15 this afternoon.-

The Hon. Mr Rolleston and Mr Oliver Wakefield left Hokitika by coach for Christchurch yesterday morning. We ai’e informed on what may be considered the very best authority, that Mr Warden Stratford will very shortly be transferred to another part of the colony. We have not yet heard what district he will take charge of. In the Resident Magistrate’s Court this morning Lucy Luca sued Ellen Petersen for the sum of 3s, the value of a pane of glass said to have been smashed by the defendant. Plaintiff swore distinctly to having seexx Ellen Peterson pick up a stone, throw it deliberately at the window, and break the glass. A large stone was produced, which was said to be the one which did the damage. For the defence, it was plainly shown in evidence that the defendant was in a room in another house at the time the window was broken, that she never stiri'ed hand or foot at the time the stone was thrown. Judgment was given for the defendant, axid plaintiff was ordered to pay costs amounting to about £2. Several uxxdefeixded debt cases were disposed of, and in one ixx which the defendant admitted the greater part of the debt, the plaixxtiff was nonsuited. The Kunrara Rifle Volunteer's held their usual weekly pai’ade last evening. It was aixxxounced that the company would parade on Friday xxext for the annual inspection of arms, &c., when every member is to be present, with all Govex'nment property on issue to him. The fix’ing for the district prizes is to take place on Satux-day next, the 28tlx ixxst., instead of Tuesday, the 31st., as originally ordered. The case of Martin and Caldwell v. the Westland Coxnxty Council, will be heard on Saturday next, at Greymouth. Mr Henry Ralfe, clerk of the Courts at Charleston, and who only two . or three years ago was but a cadet in the service at Kumara, is making rapid strides in usefulness, both in his official and private capacity. He has been promoted twice during the time we speak of, and now he is about to be transferred to Palmerston, Otago. In noticing his removal from Charleston, Mr Warden Revell expressed very great regret at the action of the Government in removing him. And the Herald writes : “ During Mr Ralfe’s residence here he has ever been of a most courteous and obliging disposition, and has proved himself a most efficient officer. In his social life he has been identified with our Literary Institute, the present upward position of which is due to his personal efforts, he having as its honorary secretary always been the willing horse, to work up anything or any matter for the benefit of the institution. How successful his efforts always have been is well known to all. He has also been a good working member of the District Hospital Committee. In losing Mr Ralfe’s services, both committees will feel that the loss cannot be easily replaced.” The New Zealand annual Wesleyan Conference was opened last week in the Durham street Church, Christchurch. The second reading of the new stations appears in our telegrams. The Grand Art Union of books, statuettes, oleographs, oil paintings, Ac., was drawn at the Town Hall, Hokitika, last evening. Clearing 4ft. lOiin. in a standing high jump is a feat not often seexx amongst the athletes ixx any part of the world. Yet on last Monday week (the Argus states) J. Galiamin backed himself for £3O to clear that height in a standing high jump, and did it so cleanly as to give rise to the impression that he could do an inch or so more. Callanan, previous to that had a match with Dan Twohill for £5, the latter getting an inch in the standing high jump. Callanan won comfortably. It is said that he is open to make a match to clear sft. in a standing high jump. The state of the health of the British ti'oops maintained in .Natal is reported to be very bad. An enteric disease has broken out amongst them, and has spread to such an extent as to cause serious alarm. An agreement lias been entered into between William Hill, of Shag Point, and F. J. Oliver, of Victoria, to run a footrace of three distances—namely, 100, 150, and 200 yards—for £SO aside, on the Caledonian Society's ground, Dunedin, on Wednesday, the 22nd February. The North Otago Times of yesterday states that £2O aside has already been deposited with the stakeholder, Mr R. Davis, of Palmerston. Hill will receive a start of three yards in the first distance, four ixx the second, aixd six in the third. During the past year the debt of the United States has increased by £12,500,000.

Fox’ some years previously the debt, which stands at about £420,000,000, has been steadily decreasing. Among the victims at the burning of the Ring Theatre, .Viennti, was one entire family of seven. The father arrived home on the Thursday after six months’ absence, and celebrated his birthday by taking all to the theatre. Many bodies lack hands or feet which were torn off in the struggle for life. One beautiful young lady lost both arms. A young man thus tells the story of his escape front the theatre : ‘ ‘ On Thursday afternoon I met my sister at the railway station. She was returning home from Vienna. I greeted her with the words, 1 1 have a surprise for you. I have two seats for the Ring Theatre. ’ At half-past six we took dxfr seats in the first row of the gallei’y. When the fire came out through the curtains I felt a fearful heat in my face. My sister, leaning her head on my breast, sobbing, said, 1 Moritz, we must die now !’ Quick as thought I grasped her, trembling as she was in every limb, and dx-agged her with me. In spite of the smoke, we reached the stairs arid escaped ; but we were almost alone.”