The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. FRIDAY, JUNE 9, 1882.

Kumara Times, Issue 1775, 9 June 1882, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. FRIDAY, JUNE 9, 1882.

The annual meeting of the Licensing Committee for the Borough of Kutnara was held at the Courthouse at noon today. All the applications for the renewal of publicans’ licenses were granted, but some of them were so subject to the construction of fire-escapes, and alterations and improvements to premises. Further particulars will be given to-morrow. Amongst other Parliamentary returns and reports lately received is a “ Return of the Number of Votes recorded for each Candidate at the recent General Election, Number on Roll, and Population in each District.” It may be interesting to the electors of this district to quote a few figures, and to know that our member, Mr R. J. Seddon, represents the largest number of registered electors of any district in the colony. The Kumara electoral district has by far the largest number of names on its Roll, viz., 22!i7, or nearly half of its population (as per last census)

of 4651. Hokonui, in Otago, comes next, with 2051 votes for a population of 4763. Caversham, a suburb of Dunedin, has the least number of registered electors in propndiontoits population, viz., 747 electors for its 6000 people, or one vote for every 8 persons. The six highest number of votes for individual candidates at the late general election were—W. H. Levin, for Thorndon (Wellington), 772 ; H. Feldwick, Invercargill, 771 ; T. S. Weston, Inangahua, 742; H. A. Atkinson, Egmont, 737 ; J. Petrie, Greymouth, 701 ; R. J. Seddon, Kumara, 700. The lowest number of votes recorded for a successful candidate was 218, which was for Mr J. C. Brown, St. Albans (Christchurch). The committee of our Literary Institute deserve credit for their efforts to make it not only popular but instructive. Amongst other first-class periodicals “Chambers’s Journal,” “ Harper’s Monthly,” and the Nineteenth Century” have been lately added to the works to be found on the table of the reading room. We regret to hear from the secretary that some unscrupulous persons are in the habit of taking away the papers, etc. This is an oft-repeated complaint, and is deserving of the severest censure. It is very often the case that weekly papers are taken away the very day they arrive, and frequently are never returned. We hope the committee will succeed in tracing the offenders, and bringing them to justice. The fall of snow which detained Christchurch coaches this trip is said to be the heaviest since 1867. The passengers by both coaches, among whom were several women and children, were in the coaches all night on this side of the Porter River bed, and, to make matters worse, the shackling of the mail coach broke, causing extra detention. But both arrived safely at their destination, only a day late. We received on Wednesday No. 1 of the Parliamentary Debates, Session 1882. The members of the Kumara Football Club held a general practice in the Recreation Ground on Wednesday afternoon. There was anything but a large attendance of members; but, with the assistance of outsiders, sides were arranged by Messrs Rich and Schulstad. Both sides played with great energy and spirit, and several good pieces of work were done. The game resulted in a tie, each side making six points, Mr Rich’s side obtaining two tries and a forcedown, while the opposing team secured three tries. Some of the members are already showing a marked improvement in their play, and no doubt when they become more familiar with the rules, the improvement will still be more noticeable. We purpose when convenient to publish some useful hints to players. The public debt of the colony of New Zealand is £27,680,000, representing £SO per head.

The Wellington correspondent of the Lyttelton Times says Mr Fitz Gerald’s maiden speech was received with great applause, on the Government side of the question, and he read Mr Holmes one or two sharp lessons in the course of it. In him a great addition to the oratorical powers of the House, has, it seems, been made. His language is well chosen and telling, though in delivery he is just a little labored.

The Grey River Argus states “ The wharf presented quite an animated appearance yesterday, owing to a school of herring in the river, which furnished excellent sport. Some of these fish were remarkably large and plump.”

News of the death of Gilbert Harper, of Charleston, comes with startling suddenness. The Westport Times of tlie 2nd inst. , states that the deceased gentleman was in Westport a fortnight since, attending to his duties as a member of the B idler County Council for Charleston Riding, and he then looked the picture of health. Inflammation of the bowels was, we understand, the cause of death, which occurred after a short but painful illness. Mr Harper, was as a. County Councillor, honest and painstaking. The Rev. Mr Pendray was present at deceased’s deathbed.