The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. SATURDAY, MAY 13, 1882.

Kumara Times, Issue 1753, 13 May 1882, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. SATURDAY, MAY 13, 1882.

The County Chairman has kindly favoured us with a .copy of a telegram forwarded by him yesterday in reference to grievances which have been existing for many years, and which when there appeared to be some hope of remedying the evils, the hope has been suddenly checked by subordinates in the respective departments. The appeal is as follows : “ To the Hon. the Colonial Treasurer, Wellington. “ Mr Seddon showed me a telegram you sent him, re advance which you promised of £2OOO for the construction of the Christchurch road deviation, and works and tracks on Woodstock rush. 1 1 1 can assure you the money isahsolutoly necessary at. the present moment. The Christchurch road deviation must be undertaken, as the mail coach now finds the track through the bush up to the axle in mud. The road at the proposed deviation is completely taken away. * £ It is essential to open up the country at Woodstock and now is the time to do it. “I do hope, therefore, you will see your way to assist us. “P. Dungan, “County Chairman. “Hokitika, May 11, 1882.” The mail and Rugg’s coaches left the Bealey this morning at the usual hour, the former carrying Australian and Suez mails. They both arrived at about three o’clock. - We have been requested to remind applicants for licenses at the forthcoming licensing meetings that, in accordance with section 115 of the New Licensing Act, “ Every person applying for a new license, or the renewal of a license, shall state the name of the owner or mortgagee (if _ any) the premises in respect °of which such license is granted or renewed, and such name shall be endorsed on the license. The person whose name is so stated shall, subject as hereinafter mentioned, be deemed for the purposes of this Act to be the owner of the premises.” It will be seen by advertisement that the Royal Australian Circus will be opened on the Recreation Ground on Monday next. The great success which has everywhere attended this circus may be taken as an omen of its being a really good exhibition of skill and dexterity in the varied performances of the troupe. The Central Board of Education sat until three o’clock on Friday morning, by which time (the Argus reports) they managed to get through all the business before them. The question of revision of salaries came up, but nothing was done. Those persons who have been long looking for the re-appearance amongst ns of Mr Jolm Tait, photographer, are informed that he has now arrived, and is prepared to secure their visages in the highest style of the photographic art. Mr Tait hopes the earliest opportunity will be taken by his customers to pay him a visit, ere a repetition of the late inclement weather comes on. Mr W. Kirkpatrick announces that he is now shewing his new autumn and winter drapery and clothing, which are specially selected for this district. An inspection is invited. \\ e (West Coast Times) are glad to learn that Messrs Pigott and Corby, the successful tenderers for constructing the lon<r tunnel, for Humphrey’s Gully Company” have signed their bonds and t'hit the workwill now be proceeded with immediately. After the very favorable prospect, -obtained from the recent test washing, it is gratifying to know that the work will be rapidly advanced, so that the company may be enabled to reap the benefit of their enterprise at the earliest possible moment. Yesterday, says the Press of the Gfch inst., was witnessed a novel ceremony at the Addington cemetery. Zaccbeus Mercer, a member of the Fr„cthought Association of this city, was buried, the sec.dar service provided for such an occasion being read by the president of the society, prefaced by the following remarks personal to the deceased -. “Friends—We are met here to-day to pay the last sad offices to a departed brother. He suffered long and patiently from an incurable malady, to

which he has at last succumbed. While suffering acutely, his mind being free from the disturbing doubts and fears woven by superstition, death for him had no terrors, his opinions enabling him to contemplate his approaching end with calmness and resignation. In confirmation of this, I may state that I hold in my hand a little book, inscribed with his name, which about six months ago he presented to the Freethought Association, he having been one of its first members, accompanied with the request that the secular burial service therein contained might be read at his funeral, which he then foresaw could not be very long delayed, also expressing the hope that as many of his friends, holding the same views as himself upon the problems of life and death, as could make it convenient to attend would assist in paying this last tribute of respect to his memory.” Then followed the burial service from the “Secularists’ Manual” (referred to), impressively read by Mr W. Pratt. There was a fairly numerous attendance. In the case of Harley v. Watty, a judgment summons which came on for hearing at Nelson, on the 26th ult., Mr R.M., the Chairman of the Bench gave a decision of much importance in cases of judgment summons. It has previously been ruled that where the attendance of the Defendant is needed that lie may give evidence as to his means, it is necessary that with the subpoena shall be tendered a sufficient sum to enable him to attend Court, but in the case under notice the defendant, who resides in Wellington, had been given notice that he must appear at the Court in Nelson, and that arrangements had been made for his free passage in one of the Union Company’s steamers. In referring to this the Chairman of the Bench said :—lmprisonment for debt was absolutely abolished. A man could only be imprisoned now if it was proved that he had the means to pay and would not do so. The law allowed the plaintiff to use the defendant’s evidence, that is, he could be examined on oath like any other witness. If the plaintiff wanted to examine him he must summons him and tender him his reasonable expenses to enable him to attend Court. But he had no right to ti’eat him in an exceptional way, as a sort of offender. No one would think of saying that oflering .a passage by a particular steamer was a reasonable tender of expenses to a witness in an ordinary suit, then neither was it so if offered to a defendant under this Act. If his evidence was necessary to the plaintiff in order to enable him to prove that which to get an order ho must prove, viz., that there was a fraudulent refusal to pay, he must tender reasonable expenses in the same wsy as he would to any other witness. Probably in some cases defendants would put the money in their pockets, and not come near the Court. In such cases the Court could, and no doubt would, make an immediate order against them, under the first subsection.