The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. FRIDAY, JANUARY 4, 1884.

Kumara Times, Issue 2294, 4 January 1884, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. FRIDAY, JANUARY 4, 1884.

We learu that at an early hour this morning, Mr P. Dungan, County Chairman, paid a visit to No. 2 dam, Loopline road, to see what was the actual state of things in connection with the dam. It is satisfactory to know that the work recently taken in hand by the contractors for stopping the leakage alongside the box will be finished to-day. It is also to be hoped that the dam, when again filled with water, will be found to be perfectly free from leakage. As a buggy was passing through Kumara this afternoon, driven from Dillraan’s Town by Mr Thomas Brown, and occupied also by Mr and Mrs Joseph Caldwell, two children, and two other young persons, the horse suddenly took fright and bolted at a great pace down Seddon street, and coming violently against the kerbing at the turn at Spindeler’s corner, the vehicle was overturned and all the occupants thrown out. With the exception of Mrs Caldwell, who had two teeth knocked out and two cuts on the chin, all escaped with a few bruises. The buggy, which belonged to Mr Mulvihill, has sustained considerable damage. The party were intending to drive to Arahura. The following telegram was received yesterday afternoon from Captain Edwin : “Watch barometer; bad weather is approaching from any direction between west and south and south-east; glass to rise fast and colder weather; sea heavy soon.” The death is announced of Mrs Dixon, wi c e of the head master of the Hokitika State School, on Monday last ; also of Mrs Winchester, wife of the head master of the Ross State School, which occurred somewhat suddenly, on Wednesday, after only a few hours’ painful illness. Messrs Cassidy, Binnie, and Co., the contractors for the delivery of mails overland between the East and West Coasts of this island, are offering great inducements to excursionists this season. During this and the next month return tickets are being issued between Kumara and Springfield at the small sum of £5, i.e., for the double journey. Tickets so issued are available for return from any time until the last day of March, 1884 ; and excursionists can break the journey at .any point on the route, and proceed by the following coach, without extra charge. Advantage has been taken of this offer by a go■ dly number of excursionists during the holidays, insomuch that a special

coach had to be put on last week from Springfield. After spending three or four days in Hokitika the party who came in the coach referred to returned to Kumara last Sunday forenoon, and, after a ramble about Kumara and down the Zigzag, resumed their journey homeward, under the jehuship of the noted Tommy Power, next morning at about ten o’clock. Tenders are invited for the construction of a tunnel at Ross Terrace, for J. Henderson and party. They must be left either at Mr Foldi’s, Hillman’s, or at Mr D. Hannan’s, not later than 7 p.m, tomorrow week. Specifications can be seen at the aforementioned places. A lot of packing cases capable of holding water, are for sale, cheap, at Mr Kirkpatrick’s. It is stated that the Hon. Mr Richardson will again contest Selwyu, vacant by the death of Mr J. J. Lee. The other expected candidates are Mr E. Wakefield and Mr W. M'Laughlin. The share list of the Champion Copper Company closed in New Zealand on Monday ; 59,000 shares were applied for, and the result is deemed satisfactory. Settling over the Christmas Meeting of the Westland Racing Club took place at Harris’s Cafe de Paris Hotel, Hokitika, yesterday, when the Treasurer, Mr Clarke, disbursed the following amounts :—“ Mr S. Emerson, £162 10s : Mr Clarke, £6l; Mr Brimble, £4O : Dr. James, £35 ; Mr Adamson, £2O ; Mr Matheson, £2O ; Mr Surtherley, £10; Mr H. Cameron, £7 10s. The total payments made by the Greymouth Jockey Club in connection with the last race meeting were £320, while the amount paid by the Reefton Jockey Club was £6lO, this too with a surplus of £2OO. The following are briefly the particulars of the mining accident in Victoria, by which four lives were lost, and the occurrence of which was notified by cable at the time. The accident occurred at the Duke mine, Timor, near Maryborough. Four men, James Rogan, John Rogers, William Jones, and Charles Whiteley stepped on to the cage and the signal was given to lower away, when to the alarm of everyone the cage went up to the poppetheads. The chain broke; and the cage shot down 338 ft. to the bottom of the shaft. The search party lowered found the men smashed to atoms in the debris of the cage. The remains of the men were undistinguishable separately. Jones, the engine-driver, has become quite deranged since his fatal error. It is stated that his mind was off its balance through religious mania consequent on his connection with the Salvation Army. Fisher’s Comedy and Burlesque Company had a crowded house at Reefton on Tuesday last. The Inangahua Times remarks :—“The performance from first to last was received with the strongest manifestations of approval. The company is certainly one the best variety combinations we have yet had in Reefton, and it is long since the hall has rung with such genuine laughter and applause. The performance is one which appears to have hit the public taste exactly, and a successful season may be predicted for the company in Reefton.”