The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1882.

Kumara Times, Issue 1684, 21 February 1882, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1882.

Very little interest was manifested during the polling yesterday for the election of five persons to constitute the Licensing Committee for the Licensing District of the Borough of Kumara, The poll opened at 9 o’clock in the morning at the Court House, the sole polling-place, and proved a monotonous and weary day for the Returning Officer, who had to record the votes. At six o’clock the door was closed, when it was found 78 persons out of 180 whose names were on the roll had voted, with the following result ; Holmes, James ... 62 O’Hagan, John ... ... 50 Price, Ed ward Jamos Tandy n 52 Campbell, Alexander Calder 46 Toms, Reuben ... ... 3S Williams, David ... ... 24 Barrow man, Moses 21 Bell, George Andrews ... 11 M‘Kinnon, Dugald 11 The first five were declared to be elected. The polling fur the election of five members to constitute the Licensing Committee for the Licensing District of Hohonu takes place to-morrow (Wednesday). The polling-places will be at the Court House, Greenstone; Mrs Lawrence’s dwelling-house, Westbrook. The hours of polling will be from 9 a.m. till 6 p.m. The names of the candidates will be seen in our advertising columns. A meeting of the Borough Council was held this afternoon at two o’clock, relative to a communication received from Mr Warden Stratford.

To-night the so-called “Penny Readings" commence at the Public Hall, Main street. Dr. Porter, Mr R. J. Seddon, and other gentlemen (among whom is the Rev. J. Holland, we believe) are announced to give the first of these readings. Two of the three are likely to be of a very amusing character. Songs, comic and sentimental, are to be introduced ; so that the entertainment will not be wanting in variety. The chair will be taken at 8 o’clock. At the Resident Magistrate’s Court this morning, before E. Barff, and A. C. Campbell, Esqs., J.Ps., Malachi Taylor was charged on the information of the Inspector of Nuisances with allowing two goats, his property, to wander at large in Seddon street. Evidence was taken, and it was proved to the satisfaction of the Court that the accused had one goat at large on the 15th inst. A fine of 5s was inflicted. The Hospital Committee meet at the Secretary’s room, this evening, at eight o’clock. The Warden’s and Resident Magistrate’s Courts will be opened to-morrow. In reference to the challenge to Martin O’Loughlin, Joseph Stenhouse w'rites to us as follows : —Through a mistake, I omitted two words. The challenge should have read “ to run six distances from 100 to 600 yards,” not “100 to 600 yards,” as stated in advertisement. However, I have explained it in a letter to O’Loughlin. Tenders are required for building a four-roomed cottage on the Dillman’s Town x’oad, plans and specifications of which can be seen at Mr M'Grath’s store, Dillman’s Town. Tire following are the handicaps for the District Plate and Goldfields Handicap, to be run at Reefton on St. Patrick’s Day, Friday, 17th March.

Fishhook, Zoe, and Tainbourini passed through Kuinara on Saturday last. The first-named is a Dunedin Oup winner. The addition to the Rakaia railway bridge (40 chains), making a total length of 120 chains, has just been completed. It is now the longest in the colony. The telephone system is gradually coming into use all over the Colony. The longest line we have yet heard of in ISTew Zealand is Messrs Cunningham and Co.’s, from Christchurch to Timaru, which has been successfully in operation for two or three months, and is likely to be extended to Oamaru. The wire to Timaru cost £ISOO. Conversation is carried on with great ease, and during the grain season a great saving of time results. Hanlan and Boyd are to row on the Tyne for the championship and £SOO a-side on the 3rd April next. The Dunedin Post Office clerks were startled out of their equanimity lately (the Herald states) by a fair dame who walked up to the stamp window and requested to be supplied with a ticket for one of the “sweeps” or “consultations” going on. Tlie official applied to indignantly repudiated the notion that any business of that nature could be transacted in her Majesty’s Post Office, and declined to render any information as to where such iniquitous documents could be procured. Referring to the scrip excitement now apparent in the Reefton district, a corresp indent of the Xelson Mail writes thus:— Anyone acquainted with the symptoms of mining speculative fever can foresee that following upon the present restless excitement will supervene a period of exhaustion and weakness. This time will most likely arrive after the patients have swallowed two or three doses of “calls.” Those who have taken the disease in a healthy form and have resolutely' stuck to shares in well-proved mines will not only survive, but be better than ever they were ; but those who, in their wild longing for scrip, partake freely of “ speculative bubbles” will have to seek that refuge for the financially weak and weary provided for them by a humane

Legislature, under the provisions of the Debtors and Creditors Act. Speaking generally, there is every promise of a bright future for the Inangahua district. So much is already proved that there seems to be nothing wanting but patient work and prudent expenditure of money to open resources of lasting wealth. Otago has the biggest dredge in the world, and the Colony, it seems, can boast of the biggest rope also. A recent London Times says : —“A rope of extra large size has recently been made for a firm in New Zealand, where it is to be used in hauling up ships when they run aground on the soft mud bottom there, which they occasionally do. This rope is a 21-inch white Manilla hawser, 120 fathoms long, and composed of nine strands of 316 yarns to the strand. Another rope for the same purpose is a 15-inch hawser of the same material and length, and composed of nine strands with 164 yarns to the strand. When it is remembered that 12-inch ropes are largest ordinarily made, the magnitude of those just described becomes apparent. The two ropes were manufactured by Messrs Frost Bros., of Shad well.” It is said that the life of Mr Porter Rhodes, whose name is familiar in connection with the monster diamond he recently picked up at Kimberley, is a perfect burthen to him. He can trust his big stone to no one else. During the day when on view in Bond street, says the Home News, its owner has it always in sight. He is himself the bearer when the gem is to be sent for exhibition to royalty or to any bigwig in the provinces, and as he travels he dreads a Lofroy in every fellow-passenger. The story goes that he went to show it to the Queen on a day when all locomotion became impossible from wind an snow, and that he spent a miserable twenty-four hours at some wayside station with a hundred thousand pounds in his pocket and nothing to eat. The constant anxiety is telling on Mr Rhodes’ health, and unless he can soon dispose of his treasure it will be all that is left of him. The size of the stone is, after all, no protection against thieves. Desperate men who would steal it would also break it up rather than lose the chance of realising the value of their “swag.” The successful competitors at the entertainment given by X.Y.Z. were 74, 68, 56, 58, 102, 51, 69, 76, 54.— [Advt.]

DISTRICT PLATE. st. lb. Half Caste 9 10 Zoe 9 5 Bie-a-Wee 8 12 Lillipie 8 10 The Bat 8 10 Rustic 7 7 Maid of Honour... C 7 Rosina 6 0 GOLDFIELDS HANDICAP. Fishhook 11 0 York 10 10 Rawdon ... 9 10 Daniel O’Connell 9 10 Satellite 9 1 Half Caste 8 10 Zoe 8 4 Orient 8 4 Bide-a-Wee 7 11 Lillipie 7 10 Forester ... 7 0 Rustic 6 12 Rosina 5 7