The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1884.

Kumara Times, Issue 2562, 20 November 1884, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1884.

The poll for the election of a member to represent the Hohonu Riding in the Grey County Council, which took place yesterday, was of most unusual interest, every qualified elector, we understand, recording his vote. The result was the return of the old member (Mr P, Foley) by a majority of only 6 votes out of a total of 90. The following are the numbers polled at each of the two pollingplaces :

Greenstone. Westbrook. Tls, Foley, Patrick... 27 21 = 48 Nicholas, James 12 30 = 42 There were two' informal votes, one at each place. Report says that one of these informalities occurred in this wise. The voter not being able to read or write was instructed to strike out the first “ name ” on the voting paper. So, when he entered into the secret chamber of the pollingbooth, the unconscious elector struck out the first “line” on the paper, which was—- “ Grey County Council Election.” As the voting paper requires that the elector “must leave only one ‘name’ uncancelled, or the voting paper will be invalid,” the result was obvious. This is not an uncommon cause of an informal vote annulling an elector’s right. Mr Nicholas may be congratulated on the large number of votes he polled, considering this was his first aspiration to public place and honour. Next or even more general interest in this district was attached to the polling at Paroa, for which Riding the late County Chairman (A. R. Guinness, Esq.) was opposed by as popular a man as could probably be picked out of the Grey County. The results at the various polling places were as follow ; Guinness. Kilgour, Paroa 41 ... 21 Welshmans 5 ... 11 Massey’s 18 ... 30 Omotumotu 10 ... 10 Teremakau 2 ... 1 76 ... 73 Majority for Guinness, 3. These were the two most closely-contested elections in the Grey County. Mr Burger to-day publicly announces his candidature for election to the office of Mayor, which takes place on Wednesday next, having for a number of years acted in the capacity of Borough Councillor. Yet another candidate, Mr Eisfelder, is in the field for the honor of being Mayor of Hokitika. At the nomination yesterday, the following gentlemen were put forward :—Fritz Eisfelder by Thomas Paterson and George Penning ; W. L. Fowler, by John Dowling and W. G. Johnston ; H. R. Rae, by James Chesney and D. M‘Donald ; and John Tait by Joseph Churches and L. Kirwan. The election takes place next Wednesday. It is contemplated, at an early date, to give to R. J. Seddon, Esq., the member for Kumara, a complimentary banquet, in recognition of his many public services for the welfare of this district. Speaking of the complimentary banquet to Mr J. Bevan, M.H.R., to be given at the Town Hall, Hokitika, this evening, the Times says “ The member for the neighbouring district, R. J. Seddon, Esq., will also bo present, and it is intended to suitably recognise the many valuable services he lias rendered us, amongst which may be instanced his action in connection with the passing of the Westland Education District Sub-division Bill,” A man named James M'Namara familiarly known as “ Jemmy the Boucle ” died in the Reef ton Hospital on Sunday last. The Herald states that “Deceased Jwasl

an old resident of Inangahua and was well known throughout the West Coast and Otago. He entered the Hospital complaining of pains in the side, and gradually sank, expiring on Sunday afternoon. The cause of death is supposed to be kidney disease. He was 50 years of age.” The new steam collier Herald, intended to trade between Greymouth and Auckland direct, arrived in the Grey River yesterday morning, after a passage of 73 days, from Dundee, via Teneriffe and Hobart. The Argus says “ She will take over 600 tons of coal, and will enable the trade with Auckland to be carried on with a regularity that was not always so easy of accomplishment with sailing vessels. The Herald will also afford a great convenience for all who desire to visit the Auckland province, by enabling them to get there in the cheapest and directest manner.” Shortly after her arrival, a very large party of gentlemen, representing mainly the commercial interests of Greymouth, assembled in the saloon at the invitation of the owners, to drink success to the boat, which was accordingly done, and a very pleasant time passed. The members of the Greymouth Borough Council last evening presented the Mayor (Mr F. C. Duprd) with a silver cradle, owing to the birth of a son during the mayoralty. The cradle was presented by Councillor Thomas, the oldest councillor, and who is contesting the next mayoral election. At the meeting of the Hokitika Hospital Committee on Tuesday evening, the dispenser, Mr R. Cross, stated that there had not been so few patients in the institution as at present for years back, the number of patients being 22 only, 17 males and 4 females.

In “ Robin Hood’s ” programme on the Melbourne and New Zealand Cups, the first prize in the New Zealand Cup, value £478 net cash, was drawn by a brewer in Christchurch; second, £l9l, by a waiter at one of the leading hotels; and the third, value £SO, by a miner at Kanieri, Westland. Whilst on the “Special Unlimited on the New Zealand Cup, which ran up to 2550 in seven days (the Press reports), the first prize, value £286, has gone to a carpenter on Wilson’s road, Christchurch ; and the second prize, of £172, was drawn by the same party who drew the second prize in the above-men-tioned programme—a remarkable incidence of luck or chance that one party should draw the same horse in two programmes—and the third of £ll4, has travelled to a billiard-marker at Gisborne. The Brazen Serpent.— Like the brazen serpent that the great Jewish leader lifted high in the sight of the perishing followers, whereby they were saved from death, the discoverers of Hop Bitters have placed before suffering, ailing mankind, a remedy which enables them to fight disease with conquering advantage. See