The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1884.

Kumara Times, Issue 2574, 22 September 1884, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1884.

The Pacific mail steamship Australia arrived at Auckland at midnight on Saturday, her due date, with mails via San Francisco. A. King, a steerage passenger died on September 10, of congestion of the brain. Passengers saloon, for Auckland : Rev. T. Walsh, Mr and Mrs Howard, Mr and Mrs Vincent, Mrs Webb, Mrs Cooke, G. W. Griffen, American Consul, Mr and Mrs Horam and family (4), Messrs Hayhurst, Maunsell. Mackay, Davidson, and one steerage. The mortal remains of the late George Stewart were conveyed to their last resting place, the Kumara Cemetery, at about 11 o'clock this morning, followed by a large procession of persons who believe in paying some tribute of respect to at least an honest and industrious tradesman.

After many hours of tedious and laborious toil, the miners engaged in the work of recovering the body of Daniel M'Namara from the tunnel at Cape Terrace in which he was accidentally entombed on Wednesday morning last came upon the remains of the unfortunate man at halfpast two o'clock yesterday (Sunday) morning, and they were brought to Kumara. The operations were extremely dangerous, and a new drive had to be made to effect the purpose. Too much cannot be said in praise of the noblehearted men who came from all parts, miles around, to assist in extricating the doomed man. It would be invidious to mention the names of all those who took part in the laudable undertaking ; they might be numbered by the score ; it is sufficient to say there were always willing hands enough and to spare at every shift for the work of extrication, which lasted fully three and a-half days, or 85 hours. Edward Bohan was released after fifteen hours' incarceration ; and James Dwan remained entombed for about twenty-two hours. An inquest was held on the remains of Daniel M'Namara at nine o'clock this morning, particulars of which will be found in another column. His death must have been instantaneous, as his neck was broken, the skull fractured, and a bone of the leg broken in two places. Deceased was widely known and respected, and this was the more manifest to-day, when one of the largest funeral processions that ever trod the road to the Kumara Cemetery, a large contingent hailing from Waimea and Stafford, wended their way thither, friends of the deceased first of all bearing the coffin from Mr Jeremiah Gilbert's Sluicers' Arms Hotel up Main street, and along Tui street, to St. Patrick's Church, where the solemn funeral service was read by the Rev. Father Walshe. The coffin was then lifted into the hearse and the mournful procession proceeded along Third and Seddon streets, and up the Main road to the Cemetery. The number who followed in the procession could not have been fewer than four hundred persons. The weather, which had been very unsettled, seemed to clear up for the occasion.

The ordinary meeting of the Borough Council, which should have been held on Thursday evening, was, for want of a quorum, adjourned to Saturday afternoon, at three o'clock. A report will be given to-morrow.

To the County Chairman's telegram to Mr Sedclon, M.H.R., on Friday, asking what likelihood there was of a reduction in the price of water on this goldfield, Mr Seddon replied on Saturday evening, stating that "the miners' petition praying for a reduction, had been before the Goldfields Committee for the last three weeks ; that it had not yet gone to the Government for their remarks; that Messrs M'Kerrow and Gordon were to give evidence before the Goldfields Committee on the subject; that he believed he should be able to get a substantial reduction made in the price of water,"

Commander Edwin wired at 11.38 a.m. to-day :—" Bad weather may be expected between west and south-west and south ; glass rise within six hours, with southerly gale; but after 14 hours from now glass fall again and wind backing."

A painfully sudden death occurred at Hokitika on Saturday evening, which cast a gloom over the town. The Times reports :—"Mr H. P. M'Keever, the wellknown chemist, was in his yard about 6 p.m., engaged in splitting some firewood, when he suddenly dropped down. Mrs M'Keever went to look for him, when she found him lying on the ground. Assistance was obtained and Mr M'Keever was taken into the house. He refused to allow a doctor to be sent for, and for some moments conversed easily. Shortly, however, he began to vomit and froth at the mouth. Dr. King was immediately sent for, but on his arrival life was extinct. Mr M'Keever, who was highly respected, leaves a wife and three children." The funeral took place this afternoon. In the House on Thursday, replying to Mr Seddon, the Hon. Mr Ballance said that a petition for relief was before the Committee from Fox, the goldfield discoverer. On the report of that petition they would judge as to the propriety of affording him some light employment. The exemption of the Westland district from the proposed educational reduction, we are told, evidently met with the strong approval of Mr Seddon, during the reading of the Financial Statement, and there was a burst of laughter as the Colonial Treasurer delicately alluded to the funds of this unfortunate district as being "slightly contracted."

Writes a Wellington political correspondent:—"A somewhat curious point was brought out by Mr Levestam, who drew the attention of the House to the fact that boiled fruit was being imported duty free and made into jam in New Zealand, thus evading the Customs duty. Sir Julius Vogel said that the late At-torney-General considered that sugar was essential to jam, and that boiled fruit without sugar -was not jam, and, therefore, not liable to duty. He did not know whether his present colleague, the Attorney-General, had an equally sweet tooth, but he promised to consult him on the subject."

A very interesting event in the shape of a golden wedding was celebrated on on Friday last, at 2 p.m. at St. Andrew's Church, Christchurch. The parties who renewed the vows made by them so long ago as September, 1834, were Mr and Mrs Hepburn, who were married in that month at the village of Catrine, Ayrshire, Scotland. The happy couple have eleven children, eight of whom are in New Zealand, fifty-four grand-children, forty-three of whom are in the colony, and two great grand-children. The couple have each reached the age of 73 years, and are both hale and hearty. Tenders are required for the erection of flumingat Ross Terrace. They will be received at the office of Mr D. Hannan, till 7 p.m. on Monday, 29th inst.

Can't Preach Good.—No man can do a good job of work, preach a good sermon, try a lawsuit well, doctor a patient, or write a good article when he feels miserable and dull, with sluggish brain and unstrung nerves ; and none should make the attempt in such a condition when it can be so easily and cheaply removed by a little Hop Bitters. Look for