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Kumara Times, Issue 2532, 15 October 1884, Page 2

A narrow escape from a disastrous fire occurred last evening at dusk, at Mr John Hannah's, watchmaker's. Some gentlemen who were standing in the street, opposite his shop, observed unusual smoke issuing from the building, and, simultaneously almost, observed fire along the passage. Mr Hannah's attention was drawn to it, and, on opening his own bedroom door, found the bedding, clothes and curtains all on fire, the wall caught, and his little boy aged five years, who had been put to bed, standing unconcerned at the foot of the bed. Prompt action was taken to subdue the fire, blankets being used to smother the bedding, and Manson's useful little fire-engine being applied to the curtains and papering. In a few minutes the flames were mastered. The origin of the fire is attributed to the child, by its own confession to its father this morning. We are requested to make a correction in and addenda to the letter which appeared in yesterday's issue as from the parliamentary correspondent of the West Coast Times, relative to the Prior Right question. Towards the end of the letter a sentence read as follows :—" A grant of priority would have the effect of throwing 12 parties idle, the sludge-channel being only equal to provide for 18 parties in three shifts of four hours, or 24 parties in [five] shifts of three hours." The word in brackets should have read "four." Also, two other parties signed the letter, viz., Isbester (or Conaghan) and party, and Healey (or Gilbert Roberts) and party—ten parties, being an average of six to each party. These corrections should have been notified to our contemporary.

At the evening sitting of the House on Monday, Mr Wakefield resumed the debate on the second reading of the East and West Coast (Middle Island) and Nelson Railway Bill. After discussion, the motion for the second reading was putAyes, 30 ; Noes, 12. The bill was then read a second time, and ordered to be committed the following day. Birmingham returns three members to the Britisli Parliament, who are all Liberals—P. H. Muntz, John Bright, and Joseph Chamberlain. Our cablegrams to-day state that arrangements made to hold a Conservative meeting in that town

on Monday evening last resulted in serious disorder, Sir Stafford Northcote and Lord Randolph Churchill, two prominent Conservative members of Parliament, narrowly escaping being mobbed and maltreated.

Martini-Henri (9st. 41b.) is now the top weight in the Caulfield Cup, to be run on Saturday next. Commotion and Sir Modred (lOst. lib. each), Malua (9st. 121 b.), and Welcome Jack (9st. 41b.), not having accepted. The Christchurch coach arrived early this afternoon.

The deciding game in the chess match between Messrs Jacobsen and Hookham was continued last Friday, but is still unfinished, eightly-one moves having been taken by each. The former gentleman has lost two bishops and two pawns, whilst the latter is minus a bishop, knight, and two pawns. The positions are about equal, so that there is every likelihood of the game lasting for some time yet. At the ordinary monthly meeting of the Grey County Council last evening, a letter was read from E. Halpin, Cape Terrace, wanting to know when he could get some of the contract money, as half the work was done. The letter was referred to the Overseer with instructions that if the work was done as stated the usual payment be made in receipt of the voucher. A letter was also received from William Craig in respect to repairs required by the road Callaghan's Creek to Moonlight, and stating that £5 would be sufficient. This letter was also referred to the Road OTerseer, with instructions to spend that amount if he deemed it necessary.

Mr John Tait, the eminent photographic artist of Hokitika has arrived. His intention of visiting Kumara for business purposes has been announced some weeks, but between ill health and bad weather (when people will not venture out to have then.' photographs taken), Mr Tait's visit has been deferred till now. And so taking advantage of one of Captain Edwin's rarely erroneous messages with regard to what the weather might be expected to be to-day, Mr Tait jumped on Hughey Cameron's coach this morning, and had a race, with a gentleman on a bicycle, for Kumara. The two-wheeled tandem conveyance accomplished the usual three-hour journey in 1 hour and 40 minutes ; but the rider purposes, returning again to-day. Mr Tait was heavier weighted, having all the materials with him for fixing up his Studio in Main street, which, instead of stones, amounts to some hundreds weight of pounds. And what does he do 1 Well, when you are turning Drummond's Corner, or passing along Main street south to the Post Office, keep your eyes open, and you will see some life-like portraits of someone you are sure to know, taken in the best style of photographic art, and at considerably reduced prices on his former charges.— [Advt.] This afternoon Commander Edwin wires :—" Glass will continue to rise; and to-night hard frost." Mr Teece has severed his connection with the Willmott Dramatic Company at Auckland, and is giving elocutionary entertainments. For Mr Mac Alexander who is in a very precarious condition, resulting from an attack of congestion of the lungs, a subscription list has been opened to provide means for carrying out the recommendation of his medical attendant, who advises an immediate change of climate.

The Sydney people boast that they have a little female Mozart in their midst; her name, is Elsie Stanley-Hall, and she is one of Madame Hellermann's (ne'e Mdlle. Charbonnet's) pupils. This little mite is between seven and eight years of age, and in theory classes competes with girls of sixteen or thereabouts. The difficulty is to find pieces for her to play possessing sufficient difficulties without going into octaves and heavy chords. As is the case with most geniuses, the drudgery of practising is to her a labor of love, and it has often been found necessary to lock the piano for feor that the incessant practising may interfere with the little one's health.

A Lovely Chaplet.— A late fashion report says: "Nothing can be prettier than a chaplet of hop vines in blossom." A recent medical review says : " Nothing can be a better renovator of the health than Hop Bitters. They aid in all the operations of nature; toning up the stomach, assisting the food to be properly assimilated, and promote healthy action in all the organs. The dictates of fashion, as well as the laws of health, alike favour a right application of hops." Read Mothers Don't Know.—How many children are punished for being uncouth, wilful and indifferent to instructions or reward, simply because they are out of health ! An intelligent lady said of a child of this kind : " Mother don't know that she should give the little one moderate doses of Hop Bitters for two or three weeks, and the child would be all a parent could desire." Look for