The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. MONDAY, APRIL 23, 1883.

Kumara Times, Issue 2074, 23 April 1883, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. MONDAY, APRIL 23, 1883.

We scarcely know whether it is necessary to take notice of a letter from the Secretary of the Kumara Volunteer Fire Brigade, which was read at the meeting of the Borough Council on Thursday evening referring to a report of the late fire which appeared in this journal and which has been erroneously taken to reflect prejudicially on the Brigade : because as the letter is dated Thursday, the 19th, (the day on which the Council sat) it is very improbable that the contents of the letter can have had the full approval of the members of the Brigade. Still, the letter has been read publicly, and we are bound, therefore, so to treat it. The remark taken exception to was that in our report we plainly stated that “ the Brigade, in conjunction with a slight shower (which happened to be falling at the time) did good work by extinguishing the embers.” That, however, is the Secretary’s version, which reads very different from the original. Without making any very lengthy comment on this little perversion, we simply give denial to the assumption that any censure was meant or intended to the Brigade—who did their best under the disadvantage of having no water, and being minus several officers and men (one of whom, the Captain, was also a Fire Inspector) who wore attending the Supreme Court, Hokitika, on the night of the fire. What the Brigade is without water the Secretary himself has gone further to stigmatize than we ventured to do. Surely there is no one who will not admit that the light rain which came on whilst the fire was still smouldering in several places was opportune in the absence of an ample supply of water, and it was no disparagement to the efforts of the Brigade to say that their endeavours were slightly aided in this respect. What we leally did say we will reprint in full, and leave the public and the members of the Brigade to say if our remarks have not been over-con-stiued. Here they are:—“Mr Dove (captain) and some other members of the Eire Biigade were absent at Hokitika ; and the efforts of the brigade, for this reason and through the scarcity of water, were not so productive of good as they might otherwise have been. The brigade did good service in extinguishing the smouldering fires, and light rain coming on towards morning, assisted their efforts in this respect.”

The Fire Relief Fund Committee fneet this evening at 8 o’clock at the Town Hall. The Union Company’s steamer Mahinapua returned to Greymouth direct from Wellington last night after a smart passage of about 27 hours. She leaves Greymouth again to-night. Excepting to those persons who were sufficiently interested to keep a good look at it through the clouds, which nearly the whole night overspread the sky, the eclipse of the moon would probably be unobserved. It was, however, witnessed by a few. The monthly inspection of the Kumara Riffes takes place at the Drill Hall tomorrow evening at 8 o’clock.

In addition to the sale of Mr A. Singer’s stock-in-trade on Thursday next, Messrs Pollock and Bevan will sell all the salvage by the late fire, consisting of tanks, iron, &c. ; also the freehold section No. 80, Main road. The nomination for the Inangahua election is fixed for the 7th May next, and the poll on the 14th following. Messrs Edward Wakefield, Edward Shaw, and William M'Lean, are the present candidates. Mr Dwan has retired in favor of Mr Shaw.

Tenders are required for driving a tunnel tail-race at Hayes Terrace. Specifications can be seen at Mr D. Hannan’s Post-office Hotel. Tenders for same are to be addressed to S. Gilbert and party.

The following quantities of gold were shipped by the Mahinapua on her last trip :—National Bank of New Zealand, 20700z5. 14dwt. ; Union Bank of Australia, 23580z5. 14dwt. ; Bank of New Zealand, 16560z5. 4dwt. ; Bank of New South Wales, 1030ozs. ; Chinese, 2140z5. Total, 73290z5. 12dwt. The Hokitika Branch of the Bank of New Zealand shipped 36000z5. of gold. A most sensational telegram reaches us (Inangahua Times) from Westport. It is therein stated that the newly-appointed manager of the Great Republic Company reports, that stone has been struck in the mine, which will yield a pound weight of gold per ton, and that the reef is said to be of extraordinary thickness. A late Sydney cablegram states ;—“A girl eighteen years of age has been sentenced to death at Armidale (New South Wales) for the murder of a man named Mitchell, to whom she was engaged, upon his refusal to carry out his promise. The jury added a recommendation to mercy, which the Judge endorsed.” 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 gent, Kumara and Hokitika. —[Advx].