The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 1884.

Kumara Times, Issue 2360, 21 March 1884, Page 2

The Kumara Times. P ublished Every Evening. FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 1884.

Cablegrams received early this morning report that great anxiety is felt in Cairo for General Gordon, at Khartoum, from whom no news has been received of a later date than the 11th March. It is stated that reliable intelligence has been received of increasing hostility among the Arab tribes; and that the adherents of El Mahdi are closing around Khartoum from all sides, the situation being exceeding critical. In the more immediate vicinity of Sonakim, Siukat, and Tokar, however, where the late successes of British troops are being keenly felt, we learn by a message received this afternoon that Osman Dignah’s attempts to rally his followers have failed, and that he has now left the hills near Tamaneb, whither he and his followers betook themselves after the late battle, and has retired into the interior, probably towards Khartoum. But the wounded who succeeded in making their escape to the hills are badly tended, and are lying in a dying state. We regret to notice the aunovmcomont in a Dunedin telegram 01 the and Ten death of Mr Oliver Wakefield, Undersecretary for Goldfields. Whilst crossing Princes street, Dunedin, and in trying to avoid an express waggon, ho was struck by the engine attached to a tram-car and lamc'o d d-nvn. iho wheels going over him, and severing both thigh bones, His legs

had to be amputated, but the sufferer lived only a short time afterwards. The deceased gentleman was a brother of Mr Edward Wakefield, M.H.R., and was very highly respected. He accompanied the Hon. W. Rollestou, on the occasion of that Minister’s visit to Kumara in January, 1882, and was present at the banquet given on that occasion. His loss will no doubt be severely felt in the Mines Department, in which, as we before stated, he held the position of Under-Secretary for Goldfields. The ordinary meeting of the Borough Council was to have been held last evening, but at eight o’clock, there being then no quorum, the Mayor adjourned the meeting till four o’clock on Monday afternoon.

The usual foatnightly sittings of the Resident Magistrate’s and Warden’s Courts were held to-day ; our reports will appear to-morrow. Dr. Giles, after a drive overland with Judge Broad from Nelson, arrived in Grey mouth last night, and drove on again from thence this morning, Frank Bird, Esq., accompanying him.

Tenders are required by the Long Tunnel Goldmining Company for the construction of 150 feet of a tunnel, being a deviation for the purpose of avoiding bad ground in the company’s tail-race. Specifications can be seen at the stores of Mr Davidson or Mr Ingall. Tenders close on Wednesday, 26th March, at 8 p.m. The Westland County Council accepted the following tenders on Wednesday last; Tarring Kapitea bridge, J. Garvin, Kumara ; widening Greenstone road to Christchurch road track, J. Whelan, Goldsborough. The tenders for these works will be published when the contracts are signed.

At the adjourned meeting of the Grey County Council held yesterday morning at the Chambers, Greymouth; present— Councillors Guinness (Chairman), Foley, Clifford, Warren, M £ Kechnie, Ryall, Marshall. On the motion of Cr. Warren, it was resolved that the Road Overseer be instructed to repair the track from Cape Terrace to Liverpool Terrace at a cost not exceeding £lO. There were four parties there, and they never had asked for anything before. It was also resolved that the main road from Marsden to the Greenstone be repaired (so as to make it safe and passable for traffic) either by tender or day labour, as the County Engineer may recommend as being the most economical. Tuesday, 6th May, was fixed for the meeting to receive the balance-sheet and auditor’s report, and the next ordinary meeting was fixed for that day, at 8 p.m. Two slight shocks of earthquake were experienced in Wellington yesterday. The Napier Telegraph, writing in reference to Civil Service reform, says;— “Among probable changes will be the abolition of the land commissioners in each district, their work being done by the chief surveyors, thus doing away with the former entirely.” It has been decided by the Oamaru Presbytery to hold thanksgiving services for the bountiful harvest.

In India the census of 1881 shows that the Presbyterians outnumbered the other Protestant denominations. Episcopacy claims 3300, Presbyterians 3600. “Lords” is the title of a new magazine which is to be published almost immediately in London. All its articles, it is asserted, will be written by members of the upper classes, and it will be edited by a literary man who sits in the House of Peers.