The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 1883.

Kumara Times, Issue 1982, 5 January 1883, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 1883.

At an extraordinary meeting of shareholders of the Long Tunnel Company held at the Public Hall on the 3rd inst., an alteration was made in the company’s bylaw No. 1 by which two more names were to be added to the list of directors, so that there will now be seven directors, instead of live as formerly. At the same meeting Messrs W. Barnett and G. R. Rudkin were elected as the new directors. The directors then held their usual fortnightly meeting, when ten applications for the appointment of a mining manager to the company were considered, the result being that Mr P. Burns, late of Greenstone, was appointed to that office.

A fourth share in Moran and party’s sluicing claim, Dillman’s, changed hands lately at the respectable amount of nearly £4OO. The purchaser, Mr Donald Shaw, though at present in Rimu, is well acquainted with the Kumara goldfield, and this purchase may be regarded as a practical man’s opinion of the value of the ground now being worked either into the sludge-channel or by means of the many tail-races which have been constructed by private parties.

The Union Company’s steamer Mahinapua leaves Wellington this morning. She will arrive at Greymouth to-morrow evening, and leave on Sunday on her return trip. We have received the Union Steamship Company’s Pocket Guide for January, 1883.

It is elsewhere notified that property tax, in respect of property for the year commencing Ist April, 1882, will be payable on Thursday, the 25th inst. The same may be paid at any post office which is a telegraph station or money order office. The 10 per cent, penalty will be added to all tax unpaid on Thursday, the Bth February.

Tenders are required for the erection (labour only) of a six-roomed house in Third street. Plans and specifications of the work may be seen at the residence of the Rev. J. Hosking, Wesleyan Minister, Main road, where tenders are to be sent. The rush at Humphy’s Terrrace, near Stafford (the West Coast Times states) is assuming larger proportions. There are now about thirty parties either putting in tunnels, or making preparations to do so. The length of driving will be from 40 to 100 feet. There is as yet no authentic information as to the prospectors’ returns.

Eighty persons left the Lyell on Saturday for the purpose of attending the Reefton and Grey races, and it is said that fully £IOOO was thus drawn from local circulation. The Lyell in consequence was very dull during the week. During the last two days of the Reefton races (the Times states) hundreds of persons visited the spot to which the remains of the veteran Fishhook had been conveyed. The stewards relieved the owner of the expense of removing the animal, which was drawn into a hollow in the middle of the course where he could be inspected by those curious to view the hero of so many victorious turf battles. We understand that Mr Walker, of Wanganui, has telegraphed for the fore feet of the horse, which he wishes to preserve as a memento, and the request has been, or is to be complied with. “ Beacon ” in the Otago Witness writes : “ Every sportsman will regret to hear of the death of Fishhook, Dan O’Brien’s old favourite, and one of the best horses we ever had in the country. He was bred by Mr Ballance, up Wanganui way, and was by Traducer out of Laurel, being the mare’s first and indeed only good foal. He was foaled in 1872, and commenced his running career in L 364-5 since when he has run 51 races, wanning 27, running second in 7, third in 4, and unplaced in 13. His total winnings in stakes amount to £2787.” The writer then gives a long full list of Fishhook’s performances. The largest amount of gold exported from Otago in any one year was in 1863, when 614,3870z5., valued at £2,380,750, passed through the Custom house. The previous year, 1862, the quantity was 399,2010z5. and in 1864 it was 436,012 ozs. The quantity each year has rapidly decreased from these large figures, until for 1880, the whole amount w r as only 113,6660zs value £457,705. The total quantity exported from the start in 1861 until 1880, nearly 20 years, is 4,018,8850 z. value £15,818,948. The value of wool for the same period exported was £15,746,856, leaving a small balance in favour of gold.

A shipment of grapes, consigned to a firm of Melbourne importers, recently arrived from England by the steamer Aberdeen, says the Age, and in view of the possibility of their being the means of spreading phylloxera throughout the colony steps were being taken to prevent their being landed. The matter was referred to Mr L. L. Smith by the Secretary for Agriculture, and the former at once communicated with the Commissioner of Customs, requesting that special instructions should be given to watch that the grapes were not landed. Mr Graves gave the necessary orders to the landing surveyor - , and the result of an interview that officer had with the importer was that the grapes were transhipped to New Zealand in the steamer Ringarooma, on the 13th inst. In that colony there is no Phylloxera Act, and it is believed the grapes would be allowed to land, in which case the importer will not lose the value of his shipment.

A Morar correspondent writes to the Indian Pioneer :—The wolves are carrying off children at a terrible rate. A poor little child was taken away and eaten (only the lower part of one leg being found) from the lines of the 27th Punjaub Infantry a short time ago. Another child was carried off and eaten (only the head being found) from the door of the house of a poor, old, half-blind coolie. Last night an ayah’s child was carried off from inside a wall enclosure in an officer’s compound, the wolf Jumping over two children, and taking a third lying close to its mother, who, poor creature, ran shrieking after it. The poor children are apparently always seized by the throat, so their cries are not heard.

The Wonderful Wertheim Sewing Machine may be had upon Time Payment, easiest terms for any part of the country, no matter where you live. _ With perfect ease and simplicity they will make very fine double seams or fells, will kilt, braid, make their own braid and stitch it on at the same time, bind, cord, ruffle gather, sew on ribbons and trimmings, tuck, hem to any width, bind scallops, and fold dress material with raw edges, bind on the bias, embroider curtains or antimacassars, stitch heaviest tweeds or moleskins, muslin or calico. Every kind of family or factory sewing. The Wertheim machines wind their own bobbins without guidance as level as reels of cotton. They are guaranteed for ten years, but will last a a lifetime. Easy to learn, light in running, strong, handsome, and durable. Catalogues, samples of work, and particulars free by post from James Renton, sole agent, Kumara and Hokitika. — [Advt.]