The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1884.

Kumara Times, Issue 2323, 7 February 1884, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1884.

The attention of the Mines Department is directed to a letter in this day’s issue having a most important bearing on the Statement of “ Expenditure and Receipts from Kumara Sludge-Channel,” published yesterday, and the late inquiry into the management and working of the same, and the water-race connecting therewith.

The Christchurch coach arrived at about ten o’clock last night. The delay was occasioned by the flooded state of the rivers on this side of the ranges, and by a portion of the road near the Bealey being washed away. Having a large number of passengers, the driver came straight on to Gilbert Stewart’s Hotel, and, after delivering the mails, returned to the stables to hitch on fresh horses for his last stage. The passengers for Hokitika reached their destination at 1 a.m. The Postmaster kindly sorted the mails after their arrival here, and those who have private boxes highly appreciated the energy displayed by the postal department. The annual meeting of the Kumara Volunteer Fire Brigade was held in the Town Hall last evening. Owing to the important and lengthy cablegrams received to-day we are necessitated to hold over our report of the meeting, which was followed by a most successful banquet at Mr Gilbert Stewart’s Hotel. To a suggestion at the annual meeting that the fire-alarm signals should be published in this journal, we readily find a place ; and would advise householders and others interested either to commit them to memory or cut them out and paste up in some convenient spot for reference. The tolls and peals signify that a fire has broken out within the areas described, as follow One Toll and Peal.—Drummond’s Corner and all places south and south-west. Two Tolls and Peal.—Albion Corner and all places north and north-west to the Zigzag. Three Tolls and Peal.—All places between Main and Second streets. Four Tolls and Peal.—All places east of Second street. The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Borough Council takes place this evening. Under the Roads and Bridges Construction Act the County Council last June applied to Government for assistance for works to be constructed in this county to the extent of £SOOO. The County Chairman has received a reply to the application stating that £7OO is available for Westland under the Act, this year. The delay in the erection of the Taipo Bridge is said to be caused by the non-arrival of cylinders ordered from London. The money forwarded by Government for the payment of school teachers’ salaries is for the December month. The salaries for November and January still remain unpaid. It appears the Board has for a long time past been a month behind with salaries, and it is said that the payments for the month of November were used for other purposes. In consequence of this Government so far decline to forward the salaries for that month. The first meeting of the Hokitika High School Board is appointed to be held in the Town Hall, Hokitika, on Wednesday, the 13th inst., at four o’clock p.m. Last Friday’s Tablet publishes the list of subscribers at Kumara to the Parnell testimonial fund, and remarks “The example given by the Irishmen of the place in question, and indeed by those of the West Coast generally, is exceedingly honourable to them, and one that may be followed with advantage in all parts of the colonies. ” Woodyear’s Circus, still at Hokitika, was crowded in every part last evening. The Times says that “ half-an-hour after the doors were opened the main portion of the tent was literally crammed ; an extra supply of chairs was produced, and and at half-past eight o’clock there was not

an inch of space to spare amongst the reserved seats. The horsemanship and acrobatic performances were highly successful, and such as have rarely been witnessed in these parts.” To-morrow the Circus will arrive in Kumara and the company will fix their large marquee in the Recreation Ground, where they will perform to-morrow and Saturday nights. Early application for tickets should be made, in order to avoid a crush.

A cricket match was played on Mr Glossop’s ground, at Hokitika, yesterday afternoon, between a local team picked by Mr Bell, and an eleven of the Circus Company, and resulted in a victory for the latter by 14 runs. The Times says:— ‘‘The local eleven fielded very carelessly, and in fact threw the match away. The bowling of Messrs Getting and Woodward for the Circus was good, the former taking three wickets for 17 runs, and the latter five wickets for 16 runs, in the first innings of Mr Bell’s side.” The seventh annual ordinary meeting of the shareholders of the Greymouth and Kumara Tramway Company, Limited, was held at Kilgour’s Union Hotel, Greymouth, last night. Mr James Kerr was voted to the chair. The Secretary read the notice convening the meeting, also report and balance-sheet, which were adopted. The retiring directors being Messrs M'Beath and Lahman, three candidates were nominated for the vacant seats—namely, Messrs Kilgour, M'Beath and Lahman. On a ballot being taken, Messrs Kilgour and M'Beath were declared duly elected. Messrs M‘Millan and Hogg were re-elected auditors for the ensuing twelve months, at the former salary. A vote of thanks to the chair terminated the proceedings. A Brisbane telegram in the Melbourne papers says :—“Mr Jones, who was so severely injured at Rockton by a circular saw, is still alive. The saw cut through five ribs. The heart and left lung can be seen in full working order. Only one case of a similar nature has ever before been recorded,”