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Kumara Times, Issue 2013, 10 February 1883, Page 2

The mail coach which left here yesterday morning, and which usually arrives at the Bealey between five and six o'clock, in the evenings, had not reached the Bealey at 10 o'clock this morning. But at about 5.30 a.m. the coach from Springfield, with the Westland portion of the San Francisco, the East Coast, and Australian mails, started to meet the coach hence, which was in all probability detained at the Wainihinihi again, as the rivers were in high fresh yesterday. The coach and mails may be hourly expected. An accident happened Father Walsh this afternoon. He went out to Cape Terrace on horseback, and finding a culvert in the track had caved in, he dismounted and led the horse over, but in so doing the horse trod on his foot, inflicting a severe wound. The reverend gentleman however, managed to remount, and returned to town, where remedies were promptly applied to the wound. Mr Hendy desires us to correct a statement made in our report on Thursday last of the investigation by the Hospital Committee. It was stated that Hendy said "He never gave Menzies any liquor, except one small glass of ale." Mr Hendy denies having said this. What he really did, he says, in the matter of liquor was that when attending Menzies, the latter said he "would like a glass of ale;" to which Hendy says he replied : " Well, you shall have a glass of ale, if you are allowed." Hendy then fetched a small bottle of ale, but on his way back into the Hospital, met the Wardsman, whom he asked if Menzies could be permitted to have a glass ; and, the Wardsman replying in the negative, he (Hendy) and a patient shared the contents of the bottle ; but Menzies had none. Thus, it seems, by the timely intervention of the Wardsman the intention was frustrated.

At the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning, before W. Barnett, Esq., J.P., Edward Murpby waa charged and convicted of drunkenness, and fined 10s and costs of Court, or 24 hours' imprisonment.

The nomination of candidates for the Licensing District of Arahura took place at the Court House, Stafford, at noon today. Mr F. Stanhope, of Dillman's Town, is the only person of whose nomination we have yet heard. Mr R. Cross, who commenced last Thursday to edit a chess column in the Hokitika Weekly Leader, will be very glad to be furnished with good games from any chessists who would like to have the same analysed. He asks if it is poseible to get up a match between Kumara and Hohitika'? Perhaps some of our local players can answer this question. Captain Edwin wired the following weather forecast at 12.45 p.m. yesterday : " Watch barometer ; bad weather is approaching ; wind backing to east and south-east; glass to rise a little, but will fall again within 12 hours. There is every indication of a very high flood in the rivers after 1G hours."

A meeting of the Central Board of Education was held at Greymouth on Thursday evening last ; present—Messrs Perkins (Chairman), Grimmond, M'Whirter, Morice, Petrie, Reid, Rudkin, Taylor, and Warner. A letter was read from the Secretary Kumara Committee, stating that Mr W. A. Patrick had taken charge of the Westbrook School, and requesting that his appointment may date from January Ist. It was resolved —"That Mr W. Patrick's appointment to the Westbrook School date from January Ist." Letters from the following committees concerning the Boards new school salaries and staffs were read and received :—Kumara, Totara, Paroa, and Cobden. This seems to have been all the business which transpired in connection with this district.

Tenders for the tarring of the Arahura bridges will be received at the County Council Office, Hokitika, up to 4 p.m. on Tuesday next, the 13th iust.

Applications for shares of the £6OOO grant voted by Parliament last session towards public libraries throughout the colony have at last been filtered down and definitely classified. Over 350 are found entitled to participate in the benefit of the rate. This, when divided, will yield a subsidy at the rate of 5s 2d for every £ of income. It is intended accordingly to allot the grant on this basis. The subsidies voted by the County Council to the Literary Institutes of Westland, will probably be paid towards the end of next week. A meeting of persons interested in forming a company to establish a coffee palace in Greymouth was held there last evening. Mr Parkinson moved—" That a company be formed for the establishing of a coffee palace, such company to consist of 1000 shares of £1 each, aud to be registered under the Limited Liability Act." Mr Lord seconded the motion, which was carried. After the meeting was over, 123 shares were subscribed in the room.

Hanlan, the champion sculler, has written a letter announcing his intention of visiting Australia after June next. " iEgles," in the Australasian, writes : A lady and her son of some twelve summers were visitors at a small sheep station in New Zealand, worked by the owner himself. With the latter the boy frequently went about, as attention was required at different portions of the property. One day they set off together with a bullock dray on a comparatively long expedition. Half an hour afterwards the boy returned by himself. The wife of the station owner looking up as the lad approached exclaimed, "There, I told Fred (her husband) the bullocks could never cross Muddy Creek." The visitor (astonished), " How can you tell what he is doing?" "Easily enough. He has sent your boy back so as to be able to swear comfortably at the bullocks." Messrs Girdwood, Lahman, and Co. will sell at the Preston Yards, Greymouth, on Monday next, bullocks of choice seasonable quality, heavy-weight cross-bred wethers, lambs, and fat pigs. The Greymouth Star of Wednesday had the following:—"On dit that a special audit is being talked of in connection with a certain local body on the West Coast."

An amusing incident took place at St. George's Church, Shreswsbury, recently. A bridal party had been waiting at the church for some time for the bridegroom, who did not turn up. The clergyman took compassion on the bride, and volunteered to go and look after the bridegroom. He went to his mother's house, and asked where her son was. She replied, "He is safe enough. I have him safe under lock and key upstairs, and I shall not loose him. He is under age, arid has no right to marry." The clergyman went back to the church and sent home the heart-broken bride. Afterwards, however, the wedding came off, the mother having withdrawn her opposition.

Latest astronomical observation has discovered vast canals connecting the great lake -and inland seas of the planet Mars, which Mr Proctor declares to be the work of intelligent labourers.