The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1884.

Kumara Times, Issue 2559, 4 September 1884, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1884.

The Post-Office Hotel had a narrow escape from being burned to the ground during the night. It appears that Mr and Mrs Hannan, the owners and occupants, retired to rest at about one o'clock, and Mr Hannan, who had been reading, was just about to extinguish the lamp in his bedroom when they heard something fall in the front parlour. At first Mr Hannan thought it might be a cat, and said to the wife "Shall we go and see?" "Yes," replied Mrs Hannan. Proceeding along the passage, he was startled by a glare of light from the parlour, and soon found that the papering over the chimney in the parlour was all ablaze. The cord which suspended a large picture to the wall being burned, the picture had fallen, breaking the glass. An alavin was raised, and all the family set to work to fetch water, and by this means the fire was speedily put out. Meantime Mr Gibson, who lives near, also observed from his house the woodwork about the chimney on fire, and he, too, gave an alarm, which brought Mr Pearn also to their assistance. The weatherboards about the fireplace had caught fire, fanned probably by the wind that was blowing. But for the prompt action taken, the house must now have been a heap of ruins. Commander Edwin wired at 12.17 p.m. to-day : —" Bad weather may be expected between west and south and south-east; with further rise of glass and weather very cold." The Borough Council will hold their usual fortnightly meeting this evening. Important business will be considered. Tenders for the conveyance of mails within the Postal District of Hokitika for the two years 1885-1886 are invited by the General Government, and particulars of the various contracts as to be seen in another, golumu of this paper. The ten-

ders must be sealed, and they will be received at the Chief Post Office, Hokitika, until Saturday, the 27th inst. Forms of tender, with the terms and conditions of contract, may be procured at any post office.

Mr Bracken delivered another poetical lecture last night at the Theatre Royal. A squall came on just previous to the entertainment, which probably interfered with the attendance of some who might otherwise have been present. However, those who did attend were highly delighted with Mr Bracken and his power of pourtraying the beauty and sublimity as well as the humour and pathos of the various poets from whose works he gave selections. "An hour with Handy Andy" seemed a very short one, so happy and humorous was the lecturer with his subject. The recitals about the " soda water," " What's your religion V and "Father Phil's subscription list" occasioned almost continuous laughter by the audience, so full were they of wit, humour, and pathos. Mr Bracken gives a second lecture at Greymouth to-morrow night, and will leave for that town by the morning's tram. The weather this morning being unpropitious, he will arrange to visit the diggings on his return en route to the East Coast.

In the list of receipts at the meeting of the Kumara Hospital Committee, and published in our report yesterday, sums received by Mr Burger and Mr T. Jones were inadvertently omitted. In addition to the sums mentioned Mr Burger handed in £2, and Mr Jones £2 10s. The tenders for the several works now advertised by the County Council, close at 5 p.m. on Tuesday next. We are requested to state that tender and schedule forms may be obtained at Mr Seddon's, KumaJa; and Mr M'Whirter's, Goldsborough. The flooded state of the Grey River yesterday precluded any idea of vessels clearing out or coming in, and for the same reason (the Argus states) the Mawhera and Penpont were doomed to another day's knocking about outside. They were joined by the s.s. Omapere, which arrived off the bar yesterday from Auckland. Should the sea calm down all would probably get in to-day. The s.s. Mahinapua left Wellington at 5 o'clock last evening, and will be due at Greymouth to-morrow. She is advertised to leave on Saturday. At a meeting of the Reefton Jockey Club, a programme was drawn up for the forthcoming Christmas races. The total amount of the stakes to be run for was fixed at £370, the chief handicap being for £BO.

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