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Kumara Times, Issue 1673, 8 February 1882, Page 2

We remind the ratepayers of the borough, and particularly those of them who are interested in the selection of a Licensing Committee, that the nominations for five duly qualified persons to constitute such Licensing Committee for the Borough of Kumara will be received at the Court House till noon to-morrow. They must be addressed to the lieturning Officer (J. M‘Ennis, Esq.). In the event of more than five being nominated, the election will take place on Monday, the 20th February, We understand three nominations have been forwarded from Dillman’s Town for the Licensing Committee for the district of Arahura. Mr Fergus Barrowman has been proposed by Mr G. B, Way, seconded

by Mr S. Agnew ; Mr D. M'Kiiinon lias been proposed by Mr G. B. Way, seconded by Mr W. Evenden; and Mr F. Stanhope; has been proposed by Mr Hugh Brown, seconded by Mr W. Reid. It is probable there will be several nominations from Station! and Goldsborough ; and, in the event of a contest, the election will take place on Wednesday, the 15th instant. The coach from the East Coast, with northern and southern mails, arrived this afterndoh at a quarter-past three. It will be seen from the report of the meeting of the Local School Committee held last Monday evening that the Com l niittee have resolved to carry out in this district the compulsory clauses of the Education Act, 1877, by which parents or guardians are required to send every child between the ages of seven and thirteen years, , and living within a distance of two miles from any public school, to school for at least one-half of the period in each year, during which such public school is usually open. There are a few exemptions, but these are where a child is under efficient instruction in a private school, or is prevented from attending by sickness, danger of infection, permanent infirmity, or an impassable road, &c. The parents or guardians are, in cases of neglect, liable to be summoned before any two Justices of the Peace, and fined 40s each week they may fail to comply with the order issued by such Justices. Quite a scene occurred in the Warden’s Court to-day. Mr Hannan was addressing the Court on behalf of an application for a residence area within the limits of the Kumara Education Reserve, (several similar applications having been refused immediately previous) and took occasion to remark that apparently some pressure was being brought to bear to prevent such applications being granted. The Warden immediately checked him, saying it was a most unfair imputation to cast upon him. Neither private individuals, public bodies, nor even the Government would be allowed to interfere to prevent him from doing what was just and right. If ho was to be influenced in the manner insinuated, he would not be fit to sit on the Bench for another hour or another minute. Mr Hannan returned to the charge, but the Warden declined to hear any further remarks. The weekly parade of local Volunteers took place at the Drill Hall last evening. After the usual evolutions were gone through, the prizes won at the late District firing were presented. A meeting of the committee took place during the evening when it was decided to purchase a silver watch, valued at £lO, to be shot for weekly, together with two other money prizes. The handicap and conditions can be seen on parade next Tuesday. Competition to take place on the 17th and 18th inst. A member of the Loyal Waimea Lodge, M.U.1.0.0.F., Stafford, has favored us with a printed copy of the balance-sheet of that Lodge for the year ended 31st December, 1881. This Lodge appears to be in a flourishing condition, its total worth being £1253 3s Ud, or at the rate of £2O 17s 8-kl each for its GO members. The document before us is a creditable pro. duction, and bears the impress of great care in its compilation. A man named Frederick Humphreys, who has just been released from Hokitika Gaol, was on Monday last, at the Magistrate’s Court, Hokitika, charged with stealing a watch and chain, value £5 15s, from the dwelling-house of Henry Thomas, of Arahura. The evidence of Thomas, Detective Quinn, and J. Turner—the last named deposing to the value of the property—being taken, the accused was committed to take his trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court to be held in Hokitika.

Messrs W. Wade and Co., having resolved to wind up their drapery business, will, on the 18th instant, commence a great clearing sale, offering the whole of their stock at cost price. There are at present (the Argus states) no fewer than 25 sailing crafts from different ports on their way to Greymonth for coal.

The expedition for the observation of the transit of Venus in New Zealand, which is to be sent out from Home, is expected to arrive at Auckland some time in July, so that there will be ample time for making the necessary preparations. The names of the gentlemen composing it are not yet known here. Dr. Hector has recommended the Government to erect the observatory at Napier in preference to Auckland, the reason being that there is a greater chance of obtaining a clear horizon at the former place, where the sun also rises over the sea. As the transit occurs at au early hour of the day, this is a great consideration.

A tender has been accepted for the erection (labour only) of the walls and roof of the Exhibition building at Christchurch, exclusive of the art gallery, for £I2OO.