The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. TUESDAY, NOVEBMBER 4, 1884.

Kumara Times, Issue 2549, 4 November 1884, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. TUESDAY, NOVEBMBER 4, 1884.

We confess we hoped that with the change in the Government of this country, and of the Mines Department in particular, a more cheerful and encouraging era was about to dawn on the industry which gives employment and a living to so many thousands of persons in this colony—an industry which has been the means of advancing New Zealand in a quarter of a century to that stage of prosperity and resource which it at presents holds among the British colonies, which otherwise would have taken a hundred years to come about. What, for instance, would Westland have been to this day but a place only in name as Big Bay, Jackson’s Bay, or Milford Sound are bub for the discovery by fearless prospectors of the wealth which lay hidden on the shores and in the gullies of this once inhospitable region ? When the present Ministry came into office the very first mention of their intended policy was that “ Great importance would be attached to improving the industrial resources of the colony, prominent amongst which may be mentioned ibe mining industry.” Notwithstanding the later start which the West Coast has had in mining enterprise as compared with other parts of New Zealand, we find from the latest return published that the total value of gold exported from the West Coast has been £12,015,527, being threefourths the amount of all the rest of the South Island put together. And with the development of the Kumara goldfield we find further that the returns for the last quarter of the financial year (ending September 30, 1884) give a total value of the exported gold at £113,579, being three times as much as Otago, twice that of Auckland, and more than all the rest of the gold producing districts of the colony put together. Yet the Kumara goldfield pays the highest price for its water, which is limited in quantity; and, notwithstanding appeals from its members of Parliament, its County Chairman, County and Borough Councillors and Mayors, and petitions signed in very handwriting of the hard-work-ing sons of toil, no heed is being taken of ill- application to reduce the charge for 'voter for mining purposes to a figure which would simply correspond to what it is in other mining districts. At the meeting of the Borough Council on Thursday evening last, it will be remembered a resolution was :i"ain passed by the Council urging (he Government to reduce the price of water • • 5 giving reasons. A copy of the resolution was forwarded by the Mayor (D. Hannan, Esq.) next morning. It was as follows : That whereas the results from many washings lately on the Kumara goldfield have proved the yield of gold to be totally inadequate to meet the numerous other claim expenses besides the exorbitant water charges, and supply the miners engaged therein with the bare necessaries of life; and that in order to avert a state of insolvency among business people and miners, this Council earnestly requests the Government to effect an immediate reduction in the price of water. To this the following reply was received on Saturday : To his Worship the Mayor, Kumara. Will make still further efforts to get water reduced, and give effect to Council’s resolution. As certain names of

parties who have had bad washings, and for which you can vouch for, wire up their names to me, and I will try and get the Minister to order that they be given free water for a washing. See Mr Gow, and give him proofs of the poor returns. The Ministry says that the Manager has a discretionary power now in such cases to give water. More definite instructions are to be forwarded. R. J. Seddon. Wellington, November 1, 1884. And his Worship the Mayor yesterday replied as follows : To R. J. Seddon, Esq., M.H.R., Wellington. Telegraphing names of owners of poor claims and asking for free water for a washing sounds too much of pauperism. Having to give public proof of individual poor returns is as inquisitorial and objectionable as the property-tax. The system of compelling a number of miners to pay an exorbitant price for water in order to make up the deficiency of those who are a little less fortunate is equally to be condemned, and it is nothing short of a special tax to impoverish all alike. Try and get a general reduction. D. Hannan, Mayor. Kumara, November 3, 1884. The Melbourne Cup race will be run this afternoon. We shall announce the result at this office as soon as known, and issue a second edition, probably about 9 o’clock, giving some particulars of the race. Five candidates were nominated at Stafford to-day for the three seats in the Westland County Council for representatives of the Arahura Riding. The names of the candidates and their nominators are given in a telephonic message elsewhere, from our special correspondent. Candidates will no doubt address the electors in due course before the day of election, which is fixed for Wednesday, the 12th inst. Mr Seddon is expected to arrive by the coastal steamer on Monday next. Mr P. Dungau will address the electors at the Empire Hotel, Dillman’s Town, this evening, at eight o’clock, in reference to County Council matters. He was today nominated as a candidate for the representation of the Arahura Riding which returns three members to the Council. Having twice acted in the capacity of County Chairman, his knowledge of the affairs of the Council will no doubt bring many hearers to the meeting to-night. The Hospital Committee will hold their fortnightly meeting at the Town Hall this evening, when amongst other business advertised tenders will be dealt with. At the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Greymouth, this morning, Daniel M‘Kinty, Patrick Halpin, Fred. Gilbert, Peter M‘Gregor, Michael Keegan, Joseph Boyd, Patrick Brick, Barney Gannon, and John O’Neill were charged before H. A. Stratford, Esq., R. M., with aiding and abetting in the fighting of game cocks at Marsden, on tbe 7th October. Inspector Emerson prosecuted, and Mr Jones defended. Seven witnesses were examined for the prosecution, when on the application of Mr Jones, the case was dismissed on the ground that the indictment was faulty. J. Giles, Esq., R.M., was a passenger by the coach this morning, on short leave of absence through sickness. He was accompanied by Mrs Giles. The entertainment given by the Dramatic Chib on Friday evening last gave the public another opportunity of judging of the capabilities of our local amateur dramatists ; and how well they acquitted themselves in the four-act drama of “ Henry Dunbar ” and the farce of “The Irish Tutor” could be judged by the applause which greeted them frequently from all parts of the good house. A variety of news forbids an extended notice of the performances, which were in all respects creditable to the performers. On behalf of the Committee of the Presbyterian Sunday School, for which institution they were given, Mr A. C. Campbell expressed thanks to the performers, and to the people who patronised the entertainment. The amount realised was about £2B. At a meeting of the Committee of the Literary Institute on Saturday evening, a letter was read from the Secretary Kumara Amateur Dramatic Club expressing the club’s willingness to give a performance for the benefit of the institute, and a subcommittee was appointed to confer with the club as to the day advisable to be fixed for the entertainment to take place. The entertainmenment has now been fixed to take place on New Year’s night, and the Club has resolved to give the grand fivc-act drama “ The Green Bushes.” The Dillman’s Town Quadrille Assembly will hold their usual meeting to-morrow (Wednesday) evening. A quadrille assembly will be held at the Theatre Royal to-morrow evening, at 8 o’clock,

In tbe Legislative Council on Saturday, on the motion for the third reading of the Drainage of Mines Bill, Dr Pollen moved that it be read a third time that day six months. The Bill was read a third time by 18 to 12, and afterwards passed. The Kumara clients in the Robin Hood Company’s programme may be congratulated on having secured eight horses entered for the Melbourne Cup, amongst which are three starters. The winning ticket numbers are as follow :—8351 The Plunger, 9208 Merrimn, 8344 Lord Wilton, 8369 Robert the Devil, 8353 Ringwood, 5029 Fernlea, 8367 Garfield, 8336 Lordi Exeter. Fifth Class Cash Bonds to ticket Nos. 8975, 629, 8988, 8387. Figures 8 are conspicuous ; then there is the incidence of 8 horses. The programme closed with 10,625 members. The Fidelity Company’s programme closed with 8000 members. A Kumara ticket, No. 57, drew Dirk Hatteraick, a non-starter. A special programme is opened by the Robin Hood Company on the New Zealand Cup, which will close on the 10th inst. Early application should be made for tickets, the time being very limited. It is Worth a Trial.— “l was troubled for many years with kidney complaint, gravel, &c., my blood became thin, I was dull and inactive, could hardly crawl about, and was an old worn-out man all over, and could get nothing to help me until I got Hop Bitters, and now my blood and kidneys are all right, and I am as active as a man of thirty, although I am seventy-two, and I have no doubt it will do as well for others of my age. It is worth the trial.”—(Father.) Notice Not a Beverage.— “ They are not a beverage, but a medicine, with curative properties of the highest degree, containing no poisonous drugs. They do not tear down an already debilitated system, but build it up. One bottle contains more real hop strength than a barrel of ordinary beer. Physicians prescribe them.” Rochester Evening Express, on Hop Bitters. Read