The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. THURSDAY, JULY 31, 1884.

Kumara Times, Issue 2530, 31 July 1884, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. THURSDAY, JULY 31, 1884.

We learn that the West Coast portion of the San Francisco mail is being brought on by the steamer Koranui, which was to have left Wellington last evening at 8 o’clock. M. Ferry, the French Premier, has refused to comply with the request of the Chinese Ambassador to pi’olong the time fixed for China to meet the demand for an indemnity on account of the Langson outrage. The respite granted expires tomorrow. Our Greymouth morning contemporary very humourously sympathises with us in the uncommon “little act of courtesy” extended to this journal by the promoters of the late banquet to Mr Blake. It soothes our troubled nervous system very much, and we have no doubt the oil thus applied to our wounded feelings will have good effect. It is possible we were spared a great deal of pain, too, in listening to a twenty minutes’ denunciation of the Kumara Times by Mr W. Barnett, though of course to talk that long he had to repeat his sentiments or expressions two or three times over, till his hearers were quite wearied ; and of course it was convenient to say much when he knew there would be little or no chance of reply to the toast of ‘ ‘ The Press. ” It was a kick in the dark. Our contemporary writes : “The promoters of the banquet to Mr Blake to solace him for his defeat at Kumara did not invite the editor of the local paper to be present. Lucky editor ! There is a degree of consideration about this little act of courtesy that we regret to say is altogether too uncommon amongst the banqueting committees of defeated candidates. How truly touching it must have been for the editor to find men whom he had perhaps looked upon as no great friends of his studying his comfort and feelings, and his digestion, in such a nice unassuming way ! How really good of them not to ask a weary-brained editor whose professional labors have brought him to the last stage of nervousness, to partake of the probably vulgar cookery, with wines and liquors of no particular brand, and listen to the horrible din they would be sure to raise by each and all trying to explain at once that if his advice had been followed their candidate would have been elected, until such time as the natural effect of somnolence and soporofics began to be felt. Lucky, lucky editor ! You had an exceedingly narrow escape, and ought to be deeply thankful. And if ever you should again be in danger of incurring such another risk, take a friend’s advice and write something about the other fellow’s committee as bitter as gall and sticky as cobbler’s wax, so that they will always be haunted by its recollection and be sure to take all sorts of care not to invite you to an orgie in which it is sought to obtain consolation by drowning defeat. And don’t you forget it.” “ Indications of frost to-night ” is Commander Edwin’s message at one o’clock this afternoon. As Mr S. S. Pollock positively leaves Kumara on Tuesday morning next, he desires that all accounts due to him may be paid forthwith ; after that time Mr Grams is publicly authorised to receive all debts duo to Mr Pollock. Contractors are reminded that tenders for the construction of a bridge with approaches over the Smooth Wainihini Creek close at noon on Saturday next. They must be addressed to the Hon. the Minister for Public Works, Greymouth. A meeting of gentlemen has been held in Dunedin for the purpose of drawing up and procuring signatures to a request to the Hon. Mr Dick to reconsider his decision, as expressed at one of his political meetings, that in the event of his being called to the Upper House he would decline the honour. They were of opinion that Mr Dick's’ long services as a public man—extending over a period of more than 20 years—-fully entitled him to a seat in the Upper House, and trusted he would reconsider his decision in the event of his being at any time called to the Legislative Council. At a conference of the Ancient Order of I oresters, held in Leeds in May, it was stated that the Executive Council for this year and next and the High Court meeting for 1885 would take place at Leeds. The number of members is close upon 020,000, showing an increase in fifty years of 010,000. The life-size bronze statue of John Brown has arrived at Balmoral, and has been placed on a pedestal in the grounds, on a spot about two hundred yards to the north-west of the Castle, which site

was selected by the Queen. Brown is represented in highland dress, and the likeness is very striking. One of the questions asked a ragged little girl of eight, at a recent school examination, was, u Why were Adam and Eve turned out of Paradise ?” Because they didn’t pay their rent,” was the prompt reply. On inquiry it appeared that the poor child’s parents had been evicted several times for the same reason. An electric railway is being planned for London to run underground between Charing Cross and the General Post Office. On Derby Day more than 8500 telegrams were despatched from the telegraph office on Epsom Downs. This “ beat the record ” by at least 1500, and demonstrated pretty conclusively the interest taken in the “ blue riband ” race. Of all the suicides in England last year, on!y|27l drowned themselves, while 511 used the rope. The Russian forests in 1880 contained over 170,000 wolves, which devoured 200 children a year. Wicked for Clergymen.— “ I believe it to be all wrong and even wicked for clergymen or other public men to be led into giving testimonials to quack doctors or vile stuffs called medicines, but when a really meritorious article is made up of common valuable remedies known to all, and that all physicians use and trust in daily, we should freely commend it. I therefore cheerfully and heartily commend Hop Bitters for the good they have done me and my friends, firmly believing that they have no equal for family use. I will not be without them. ” —Rev. , Washington, D. C. Read The Greatest Blessing. —A simple, pure, harmless remedy that cures every time, and prevents disease by keeping the blood pure, stomach regular, kidneys and liver active, is the greatest blessing ever conferred upon man. Hop Bitters is that remedy, and its proprietors are being blessed by thousands who have been cured by it. Will you try it ? See