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Kumara Times, Issue 1739, 27 April 1882, Page 2

Despite the inclement weather last evening, a meeting of the Kumara Benevolent Society was held in the Town Hall. Present—His Worship the Mayor (chair), Rev. W. West, and Messrs Rudkin, Pollock, and Smart. The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed, it was resolved that the Rev. Mr Hoskin be appointed a member of the society. The state of the funds were reported as follows :—ln bank, L3O 14s ; due from Government, Ll2B 11s ; total, L 159 ss. Various accounts amounting to L 63 8s lid were passed for payment. A bill of Ll 6 17s from Mr Foley, Westbrook, was held over for further information ; also an account from Mr Herring for LI 17s. As there was not sufficient funds in hands to meet all liabilities, the secretary was instructed to pay the accounts “pro rata.” Messrs Emerson, Pollock, and Rudkin, were appointed a committee to canvass Seddon street for subscriptions. After some routine business the meeting adjourned till Monday next.

Tenders are called for the supply of 60,000 feet of timber in logs for the Greymouth and Kumara Tramway Company. Tenders close at 3 p.m, to-morrow. Specifications can be seen at the Tramway office, Greymouth, or at the sawmills Teremakau.

The Union Insurance Company have promptly settled the insurance on the Church of England parsonage. The fire only occurred on the 4th inst., and yesterday Mr A. Skilton, one of the churchwardens, received a cheque in full for the amount of the insurance.

The coaches from Christchurch were well filled on Wednesday, the mail coach bringing 13 passengers and Mr Rugg’s coach 12. Both coaches arrived before the heavy rain set in.

The rain on Wednesday night and this morning was a thorough downpour and resulted in swelling the Teremakau to a higher level than on the previous flood. Last evening the streets of Kumara wore a desolated and deserted appearance—not a soul seeming willing to encounter the storm.

We understand that there are over 600 people on the Woodstock rush and that buildings are going up in all directions. A reliable authority who has just arrived from the new rush says that the diggings may prove a moderate one but that it ean never support the present population. The Grey River Argus says :—The Wednesday half-holiday arrangement that has been in force amongst nearly all the leading business people of the town for some months, was terminated yesterday by general consent. Experience proved that the arrangement was not always as convenient as could be desired, and necessarily led to the formal break-up of the understanding entered into. The revenue of the Hokitika Borough Council for the financial year just closed—from Ist April, 1881, to 31st March, 1882 —was singularly near the estimate, as the following figures will show;—Estimated receips £1535; actual receipts, £I64Q. In addition the shilling rate produced £866, and £2OO was received in the shape of a Government subsidy. The total revenue was therefore, in round numbers, £2700.

The Christchurch Telegraph insinuates that when Sir Arthur Gordon made up his mind to send for Mr Whitaker, he was, they believe, “quickened by a telegram from the Home Government that Grey was not exactly the man for the place.”

The New Zealand Herald, under date April 20, in referring to the position of Sir George Grey and the Governor, says “ All parties have, we think, a right to complain of what the Governor has done. The position is which Sir George Grey has been placed in not a very comfortable one. His Excellency has dealt with him as chief of the Opposition iiv consulting him, not on the political position generally, but on the strength

of the Opposition party. Mr Hall has a right to complain that ever since the general election his Excellency has been harassing himself as to the strength of parties and teasing his Ministers. Mr Whitaker and the other Ministers have a right to complain that his Excellency lias solemnly declared, after prolonged investigation, that parties are ‘evenly balanced.’ The position of the new Ministers is prejudiced by that j udgment. They are like criminals at his Excellency’s bar. They are in the position of an accused whose guilt is morally certain, but to whose conviction one little link is wanting, and so the Governor ‘gives them the benefit of the doubt.’ Perhaps it matters very little after all. His Excellency is about to visit Fiji at once, and on his return will proceed to England ; but occurrences such as those of the last few weeks must lead us to consider more attentively and more favourably than ever the contention of Sir George Grey that the Governors of these Colonies should be elected by the people.”