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Kumara Times, Issue 1700, 11 March 1882, Page 2

The coach from Christchurch, with East Coast and Australian mails arrived at the post-office this afternoon, at 3.15 o’clock. Mr Rugg’s coach also arrived at about the same hour.

To-night will be the Last opportunity of visiting the Waxworks Exhibition in Kumara, or of receiving a gentle shock through the mysterious agency of the “electric boy,” or of listening to the charming music produced on the many instruments which Mr Kohler has the natural gift of performing with. It was open to children to-day at the moderate charge of 6d each, till six o’clock. Additional attraction is offered this evening to those who are fond of dancing, no advance in the usual price to see the waxworks being charged.

A public meeting was held in the parish room of the Church of England parsonage last Monday evening, for the purpose of forming a debating society. A code of rules was agreed upon for the governing of debates. Ten subjects were set down for discussion, but only one as yet has been taken up, which is—“ Is total abstinence more conducive to health than moderate drinking V Dr. Porter, we understand, will argue in the affirmative, and Mr Harre in the negative. The debate will take place in the parish room on Monday evening next, at eight o’clock. At the meeting of the Central Board of Education at Greymouth on Thursday evening last ( the election returns of three persons nominated to fill three ordinary vacancies in the Board were received from twenty-four local committees, who each nominated three members; They were read and examined, with the following result

Charles Lloyd Monde . ;i 10 Frank Guinness 9 Joseph Grimmond 9 John M'Whirter 8 Clement Parfitt 8 Fergus Barrow-man G Robert M‘Neill 5 James Mill Morris 2 Alexander Calder Campbell 1 Joseph Taylor 1 The numbers having been declared, Mr Joseph Petrie raised the question of a number of votes being illegal, which he said necessarily altered the nature of the returns. Mr Reid, in order to test the matter, moved that the following persons having received the largest number of votes, be declared members of the Board, viz., Messrs C. L. Morice, Frank Guinness, and Joseph Grimmond. The resolution was carried and the elections confirmed. At the same meeting, Mr Parfitt moved, “ -That in all schools at present under the 88th clause, and having an average attendance of 20 scholars 0 the teachers be paid a fixed salary of £IOO per annum ; in those having an average attendance of 25 scholars the teachers be paid a fixed salary of £125 per annum, and those having an average attendance of 30 scholars at the rate of £l3O per annum. ” The motion was put and lost by 5 to 3 Ayes— Messrs Petrie, Parfitt, Warner! Noes—Messrs Reid, Grimmond, Rudkin Perkins, Duncan. ’• A very favorite stock argument used by large property-holders in various parts of the colony against the mining industry, has always been that working the ground as diggers do, renders it completely valueless for ever afterwards. In regard to this matter, it may be mentioned that the Greenstone is the oldest diggings upon the Coast, and has been continually worked from the commencement, having been more generally “ turned over ” than any other workings. But for all that we find that is now a fine fruit-producirg district; not merely for itself, but sending it away in considerable quantities to many centres of population. It is not too much to say that the peaches grown at the Greenstone this year are equal if not superior to anything grown in any other part of New Zealand, and the inhabitants of “ Sleepy Hollow” would possibly open their eyes a little widely if they were to see a few of them. The young lady of “fourteen summers” who recently caused a little sensation in Reef ton through a warrant for her apprehension being served upon her, was brought to Kumara on Thursday, and yesterday morning forwarded by Mr R U cm in express vehicle to her parents in Christ” church, in charge of special constable Richard James. Contractors are reminded that the tenders for the Lake Poerua contract of the Grey Valley to Teremakau road close on Monday next, at noon, at the Resident Lngineer’s office, Greymouth. A remarkable confession is reported by the Inangahua Herald, of Tuesday last, to have been made in Reefton by a man named Silas Gibson on Saturday evening, It will be within the recollection of readers that some months ago the punt at the Inangahua Landing was cut away (luring a flood. After some delay and however, the punt was recovered, having fortunately stranded without receiving veiy serious injury. Gibson confessed that he was the man who cut it away, and

that he had been advised so to do by a sawyer named William Brown. Both men are in custody and after being brought before Mr Brennan, J.P ; , on Monday, were remanded until the tiext sitting of the Resident Magistrate’s Court; At the first meeting of the Hokitika Licensing Committee on Thursday, Mr Malfroy was unanimously elected chairman. One of those rare and not very pieasantlooking freaks of nature that are occasionally recorded, was to be seen on Thursday in the shop of Mr Cohen, Mawhera Quay, Greymouth. The Argus says :—“ One of Mr Cohen’s cats gave birth to a monstrosity ill the shape of a live kitten with two bodies, seven legs, and two tails. One of the legs came out on’ the back. As there was only one head, it was simply a dual cat from the waist downwards.” Messrs Girdwood, Lalnnan, and Co. will sell at the Preston Yards, Greymouth, on Monday next, some grand seasonable bullocks, prime wethers, and fat lambs and porkers, and a nice lot of store pigs.