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Kumara Times, Issue 1760, 22 May 1882, Page 2

A return tabled in the House on Friday last, shows that of 120,972 persons on the electoral rolls, only 69,920 voted at the last general election. The tender of Joshua Goodfellow, of Wellington, has been accepted for the construction of a bridge over the Matira River. There were nine tenders in for the work. The Union Company’s steamer Alhambra w;is tendered at Greymouth at eleven o’clock last night, taking out a few out-ward-bound passengers and a quantity of gold, and bringing in the mails and some cargo. After being tendered at Hokitika this morning, she proceeded on her voyage to Sydney and Melbourne. The Union Company have decided to extend the period of granting Exhibition excursion tickets to the 30th of June, available for return till the 31st of July. In reference to the ascent and altitude of Mount Cook, Dr. Hector writes to a Wellington paper“ The Rev. Mr Green, who made the ascent of Mount Cook in March last, informs me that the reading of his barometer in the highest elevation he attained was 19-05 in. This, corrected for temperature, and compared with the barometer reduced to the sea level from the same date and position, indicates the altitude to have been 11,962 ft. According to a recent measurement by Mr G. J. Roberts, of the Trigonometrical Survey Staff, the altitude of Mount Cook is 12,349 ft., so that Mr Green’s highest point was within 387 ft. of the summit, assuming that both measurements refer to the same peak.”

We (Inangahua Times) are glad to say that mounted-constable Bamford has sufficiently recovered from the late very serious injuries he received to resume duty, and on Monday last was able to don the blue. It is to be hoped that, after the three narrow escapes he has had, he will in future be more fortunate, and that his chapter of accidents is now filled up. The postal authorities, recognising the valuable services rendered by Captain Kennedy, the popular commander of the Union Company’s steamer Hawea, in thn quick delivery of the inward English mail along the Coast, more especially in connection with the last very rapid passage made by the s.s. Hawea from Manukau to Wellington, presented Captain Kennedy with a draft for ten guineas.

Two boys were in a boat in Dunedin harbor last Tuesday, one fell out in trying to recover an oar ; the other grasped him, but was himself pulled in. A man named Phelan was passing and swam out about twenty-five yards, saving both boys. The Mosgiel Woollen Factory Company, in order to enable them to supply increased demands, have leased the Kaikorai Woollen Mills.

There are 494 street lamps in the city of Dunedin, and their annual cost is £4197 12s.

The name of R. T. Waters, Prince of Wales Hotel, Dunedin, telegraphed amongst insolvents some days since, has appeared in some of the papers as Walter. As (a telegram from Dunedin states) there is an hotel-keeper of the latter name, it is advisable to make this explanation. A princely estate is noted in a Press Association telegram from Napier on Thursday last “Mr Miller reports the sale of all the remaining portion of R. H. Rhodes and Co. ! s Rissington estate to Mr Rechab Harding, of Mount Vernon, Waipukurau, for £125,000. The property comprises 56,500 acres of freehold and 12,000 leasehold, 36,000 sheep, 800 cattle, 63 horses, and all implements, plant, stores and furniture. Adding this sale to the portion sold a short time ago by Mr Miller, the amount as realised is £215,000. The valuation put upon it before being offered was £210,000. The sale to Mr Harding is the largest transaction ever effected in Hawkes Bay.”

In the State of Ohio there resided a family consisting, of an old man of the name of Beaver, and his four sons, who had often laughed to scorn the advice of a pious though very eccentric minister who resided in the same town. It happened that one of the boys was bitten by a rattlesnake, and was expected to die, when the minister was sent for in great haste. On his arrival he found the young man very penitent, and anxious to be prayed with. The minister, calling on the family, knelt down and prayed in this wise—“O Lord, we thank Thee for rattlesnakes. We thank Thee because a rattlesnake has bit Jim, We pray Thee send a rattlesnake to bite John ; send one to bite Bill; send one to bite Sam ; and O Lord, send the biggest of Thy rattlesnakes to bite the old man, for nothing but rattlesnakes will ever bring the Beaver family to repentance.”