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Kumara Times, Issue 1996, 22 January 1883, Page 2

Our late cablegrams this afternoon from London, New York, and Berlin, bear date only yesterday. The two former are of thrilling interest. We remind ratepayers generally that the election of a School Committee for the ensuing year will take place at the Kumara State School this evening, at 8 o'clock punctually. The examination of State School teachers of the Westland District was commenced to-day by Mr Smith, the Inspector. Some twelve or thirteen teachers male and female, from various parts, presented themselves for examination, and the procedings will occupy some days. For this cause the opening of several State Schools has been deferred from to-day. ,

• We acknowledge receipt of a " Catalogue of Mr Chas. Spencer's Series of Views of the Hot Lake District," accompanied by two finely-executed photographs, taken from different points of observation, of the Sulphurous Lake, White Island, off Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, East Coast North Island. Some two or three years ago, it will be remembered, Mr Spencer passed through Kumara after taking, at great personal risk to himself and his companion, a series of views in the Okarito district, for Messrs Burton Bros., the Dunedin photographers. All Mr Spence's pictures of the Hot Lake scenery are cut to a uniform size of 6j to 8£ inches ; the prices unmounted are 2s each, or 20s a dozen ; or by the 100, £7 10s; mounted, they are 6d more, or £9 the 100.

Two thousand six hundred and fortyfour shares in the Long-Tunnel Gold Mining Company, belonging (as it would appear by the advertisement) to three shareholders, will be sold by auction at noon on Tuesday, the 30th inst., unless all calls and expenses due thereon are paid prior to that date. Tenders are required for fencing a section adjoining this office. By a fire which occurred at Ahaura last Thursday, the following losses were occasioned :—J. Russell, blacksmith, £300; partially insured in the New Zealand office. James M'Laughlin, £250; uninsured ; total loss. William Banks, £160; well covered by insurance in the New Zealand office. Robert Paul, £l5O ; uninsured ; total loss. The Argus says " the fire originated in an uninsured empty building belonging to MrM'Loughlin. Messrs Banks and Russell's properties were totally destroyed. Hamilton's and all the adjoining premises were in great danger for a time; but owing to the exertions of the inhabitants the danger was averted. The women even worked with extraordinary willingness and energy and largely contributed to the success in overcoming the devouring element. As to the origin of it no one knows. The general public seem anxious that an inquiry should be held, and it is just possible there may be one." The total amount to be given away at the Greymouth annual r"ace meeting in March next is over £420.

The return cricket match, Schoolmasters v. All-comers, was played at Greymouth on Saturday, and resulted in an easy victory for the former in one innings with two runs to spare. The All-comers made 31 and 41, without a double-figure score, whilst Clements, for the Schoolmasters, made the good score of 37, being eventually caught by Hindmarsh. Our compositor puts it "Mind-marsh."

The nominations for the Peninsula electoral district were made at Naumann's Hall, South Dnnedin, last Monday, the 15th inst. Four candidates were nominated—viz. : Dr. Moran, and Messrs Larnach, Donnelly, and Wells. All the candidates addressed the meeting. The Returning Officer called for a show of hands in favour of the candidates, which resulted as as follows : Dr. Moran 27 M. Donnelly 20 W. J. M. Larnach 18 John Wells ... 3 A poll was demanded on behalf of Mr Larnach, and the polling takes place today. A telegram states :—'' Mr Wells having resigned in favor of Mr Donnelly, the contest is between Bishop Moran, Messrs Larnach and Donnelly. Great interest is taken in the election. The general belief is that Mr Larnach will win, and the Bishop will be at the foot of the poll. The Roman Catholics and denominationalists will support the Bishop, the Orangemen have decided for Mr Larnach. The Trades and Labour Council espouse the cause of Mr Donnelly. The somewhat unusual application here for a tales on behalf of the Crown was made at the Supreme Court, Dunedin, on Thursday afternoon, in consequence of a jury panel being exhausted. Two jurors were required, and his Honor directed one man who had been ordered to stand aside by the Crown to take his seat in the jury box. There was still one short, and the Court doors having been locked, the Registrar made a selection from the body of the building. From all parts of Otago, except in one or two small corners, the best news comes as to the anticipated yield of the harvest. Cutting has begun in the north, but it will be a week or two more before it is

general in the south. The crops of oats especially will be large. In the Tokomairiro Plain the wheat crops are well in ear, and both wheat and oats show abundance of straw.

The Christchurch Press states that while Captain Fairchild was at Waipapa Point in the Government steamer Stella during his recent trip round the Middle Island, he took advantage of a calm day to visit the wreck of the steamer Tararua. He found that the hull had been broken to the level of low water, bub that the engine projected about 3ft. They were in a nearly upright position, and there was no difficulty in standing on them. Beyond this the scene presented nothing worthy of note.

There is lying at the Timaru Post Office at the present moment a letter which, for nearly twenty years, has led a wandering life and never been claimed. It is addressed as follows:—"Care Mr Hebard, Timaru, Royal Hotel, New Zealand. For Honora O'Conor." It was posted in Adelaide on May 4th, 1863, and it seems, according to the post-mark, to have reached Dunedin twelve days later. From there it was sent first to_ one place and then to another (always excepting Timaru) until it found its way to Watson's Hotel, Dunedin. After lying there a considerable time, it was returned to the Post Office and marked "Timaru." About a fortnight ago it at last reached its proper destination, and the Postal officials are anxious to know whether " Honora O'Conor " is still alive to claim it.

A girl of fifteen named Minnie Thomas was drowned while bathing in the Wairoa river, near Napier, last Wednesday. A young lady of twenty-two stripped and tried to save her, but nearly lost her own life in the attempt.

Further deficiencies have been discovered in the Kaiapoi municipal accounts. All the books relating to the dog tax accounts are missing, except one, which shows receipts to the amount of £46 10s for the first half of 1882 ; while the cashbooks and ledger give the receipts for that period at only £37.