The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 18S2.

Kumara Times, Issue 1665, 30 January 1882, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 18S2.

The annual meeting of the Hokitika district M.U.1.0.0.F. commenced here to-day, and was held at the Oddfellows Hall, Main street, at two o'clock. The delegates from the Hokitika Lodge were P.Gs. Holmes and Greville, and P.V.G. Walker ; from Ross, P. G. Longton ; and from the Stafford Lodge, P.P.G.M. Benjamin. A large amount of correspondence was read and received. After the Purple Lodge has been held this evening, a collation will be served at Mr Gilbert Stewart's. The Christchurch and Melbourne mails arrived in Kumara at two o'clock yesterday afternoon. In reference to the mail coach, the West Coast Times reports : "The mail coach from Christchurch had rather a rough journey of it on its last trip over the ranges. Though the rivers were observed to be rising fast on Saturday morning, no great difficulty was encountered until reaching the Otira, which was divided into two streams, and down which the current was running fast, and was rapidly increasing in volume. Arthur Davies, the driver, managed to get across the first stream without much difficulty, but on reaching the second, one of the pole horses got into deep water with a rough footing, and stood a fair chance of being drowned, had Davies not jumped into the river and cut the horse loose. Nor were his troubles then over, for he had then to land his passengers, and get the coach out of its precarious situation which was no easy undertaking. In accomplishing this, one passenger got a ' header' in the cold Otira, and a second passenger, a Chinaman, also made a slip in beyond his waist. After much trouble all were landed on the southern bank, and ultimately got on the length of the Taipo, late that evening, where they stayed all night, reaching town early on Sunday morning. The passengers give Davies great credit for the plucky manner in which he acted throughout the journey, which was one of the roughest that has been experienced by him for years." Mr Rugg's coach was more fortunate, having crossed the Otira and Kelly's creeks before they rose to the same extent as when the mail coach crossed ; and so succeeded in reaching Kumara about 9 o'clock on Saturday evening. The Hon. W. Rolleston arrived at Dim* edin on Friday night and intended to visit the interior on business connected with the Mines Department ; but a telegram from Dunedin yesterday states that he had to return to Wellington immediately, and forego his intended trip to the interior. A serious accident occurred on the Greymouth and Kumara Tramway last Thursday, whereby the driver received an ugly wound in the leg. It seems (the Star says) that in coming down a slight grade, the bolt connecting the break came cut, and the luggage van coming on to the horses heels caused them to take fright, and in the struggle Mr Sutcliffe, the driver, received an ugly cut on the left knee. The Arnold bridge is to be closed to all traffic from Monday, February 6th, to Monday, February 13th. The English Eleven who are on their way to Auckland, will play a match in the Waikato, getting £BO and expenses. Volunteer W. Jones, of Wakari, takes first prize (£8) in the Otagq District Prizefiring competition just concluded, with the excellent score of 74 out of a possible 84, Lieutenant Miller, of the South District Rifles, takes second prize (£G\ with 73. At the inquest held before Dr. Trevor on the body of Henry Thorns, laborer, who was found lying dead in bed at the Barhill Hotel, Chrischurch, a verdict of "Death from natural causes" was returned, deceased having suffered from heart disease.

A meeting of the members of the Kuniara Choral Union is advertised to be held at tlie Public Hall on Monday next. Mr John Brown, farmer, aged thirty■thvee years, who (the Press of the 25th reports) resided near the South belt, Ashburton, was found yesterday morning in the chaff-house, hanging to a beam, his feet barely a couple of inches from the ground. Underneath, him lay a kerosenetin, and on this deceased appears to have supported himself, kicking it away at the last moment. Dr. Murdoch was at once sent for and arrived without delay, but he 'found that death had resulted a Couple of hours previously. Deceased, who lived with a married brother, appeared to enjoy his Usual health and spirits at breakfast yesterday morning. Mr Speight, the unsuccessful candidate for the Thames, was on Christmas Eve presented with a purse of 100 sovereigns by some Thames people. The Sydney Cup this year has sixtynine entries, including all the best horses that have been running during the season* Herr Boase, with a party of English gentlemen, members of the Alpine Club, has arrived at Melbourne, and proceeds shortly to New Zealand to explore the principal mountains of the colony. The temperature in the sun on the 19th instant, at Adelaide, was 160 degrees, the highest ever registered in the shade, at the Observatory at 12 o'clock. The heat up-country was intense. Hanlan, the champion sculler of the world, arrived at Liverpool from NewYork on the 18th January. An explosion occurred in one of the i collieries at Newport, South Wales, and [ four miners were killed, while several others received injuries of more or less serious natures. MM. Molesehott and Fabini find reason to believe that the elimination of carbonic acid from animals increases under the influence of light, and that light acts not only through the eye, but over the whole surface of the body. Two lowa children who have pink eyes can hardly see in the daylight, but can pick up a pin in the darkest night. A Naval officer writing to the Western Morning News, states that a horrible story is current at Sfax which appears to have good foundation. An Arab shot and killed a Frenchman, and was captured and brought to drumhead court-martial. On being interrogated he confessed to having killed the Frenchman, giving as his reason that his prophet told him that it was the proper thing to do. The commandant of the French forces retorted that it was a very wicked thing, and as there was a difference of opinion he should know which was right. The Arab was thereupon sentenced to be lashed to the corpse and buried with it, and this was done.