The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1884.

Kumara Times, Issue 2583, 15 December 1884, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1884.

By a cablegram this afternoon it will be seen that an attempt has been made to blow up London Bridge with dynamite. The sentence of the captain and mate of the yacht Mignonette has been commuted to six months' imprisonment. To-morrow, 16th inst., is the anniversary of the foundation, in 1850, of the Canterbury Province. Tasman discovered New Zealand 242 years ago this month. The San Francisco mail was due at Auckland on Sunday night. A po3t-office has been opened at Wataroa, in the postal district of Hokitika.

All persons interested in the construction of the new tail-race which is intended to relieve the sludge-channel are requested to attend a public meeting to be held in Town Hall, this evening, at 8 o'clock. The second hearing of the criminal libel action brought by Sir Henry Parkes against Mr Wm. Webb, the publisher of the Campbelltown Herald, was concluded on Saturday, the jury being again unable to agree to a verdict. The first hearing was commenced at the Central Criminal Court, Sydney, on Tuesday the 25th ult., before Mr Justice Faucett. Mr W. J. Foster prosecuted for the Crown. The alleged libel charged Sir Henry Parkes with leaving the colony for thirteen months for the purpose of evading his creditors, and attempting to perpetrate a swindle in connection with the bridge for the North Shore, and also stated that the country had winked at offences in Sir Henry Parkes for which any other man would have been imprisoned. The article further accused Sir Henry Parkes of taking Dr. Renwick into the Ministry for a pecuniary consideration. Sir Henry Parkes was examined at length, and next day was cross-examined by Mr Butterworth, principally with regard to his private financial affairs. Several witnesses were examined for the defence, and on the following day (Thursday) his Honour summed up. The jury retired at half-past 3 p.m., and at a late hour same day, being unable to agree, were locked up for the night. At the second hearing, the jury were also unable to agree upon a verdict. We acknowledge receipt of a volume of the complete " Statutes of New Zealand," passed during the third session of the eighth and first session of the ninth Parliaments of New Zealand. The various Acts come to us in the unusual but much more acceptable form of a book, neatly bound in cloth and gilt lettered. No. 7 of "The Auglo-New-Zealander and Australian Times" reached us on Saturday. It keeps up a most creditable appearance for typography and general news. No. 2 did not arrive yet.

Commander Edwin wired at 1 o'clock this afternoon :—"lndications of glass further rise, but fall again after 12 hours, and wind backing." At the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning, before J.. O'Hagan and D. Hannan, Esqs., J.Ps., Charles Hood charged one Williams, a mate, with assault and also with using abusive language. After hearing evidence, the Bench considered the charge of assault somewhat frivolous, and dismissed the case. The other charge was withdrawn. An accident occurred at the Cobden bridge on Friday by which one of the workmen, Mr Maurice Riordan, received a nasty flesh wound on the right arm, besides being bruised and severely shaken. It appears (says the Argus) that while engaged working on the top of the bridge through some cause he either fell or was thrown from the top to the shingle bed of the river, a distance of 20ft. The miracle is that he escaped more serious if not fatal injury, as he is a very heavy man. He was at once taken to his residence, where he was attended to by a medical man. This is the first accident of any kind that has occurred on this work.

The Harts, of "Happy Hours" fame, performed at the Public Hall, Greymouth, on Saturday evening. They give an entertainment at Maori Creek to-night. On Tuesday and Wednesday they are announced for Greymouth again, and Kumara is to follow.

The usual meeting of the Hospital Committee will be held at the Town Hall tomorrow evening, at 8 o'clock.

Tenders for the next half-year's supplies to the Kumara Hospital must be sent in to the Secretary (Mr L. J. Spyer), before six o'clock to-morrow evening. Applications for the omce of Secretary to the Hospital Committee must be addressed to the Treasurer (Mr A. Campbell) before 6 p.m to-morrow.

Tenders will be received by the Hon. Secretary (Mr G. Rudkin) to the Children's Picnic Committee, till Friday next, for the privilege of keeping booths for the sale of liquor, fruit and confectionery, in Messrs Keech and Malloy's paddock, on New Year's Day. Further particulars on application as per advertisement.

It is understood that the vacancy on the Harbor Board, caused by Mr R. J. Seddon declining the appointment, has been filled by the appointment of Mr Duncan M'Lean.

The question of assessing the damage done to the unfinished wharf at Greymouth by the steamer Herald, a few days ago, has been settled. The amount of damage was fixed at £95. Mr Watson, contractor for the Cobden bridge, acted as arbitrator for Mr Goodfellow, and Mr Rae, of the Dispatch Foundry, for the s.s. Herald, while Mr John M'Millan acted as referee. The Motueka Herald is the latest journalistic venture of the enterprising Mr J. T. Metcalfe (of Lyell Argus fame). There is a strong family resemblance between it and his Golden Bay organ, the latestborn being rather more presentable of the two.

The Fidelity Company to-day publish their annual programme on the Dunedin Cup. The total amount of prizes is £SOOO. It will close on or about 24th February, 1885. Indigestion.—The main cause of nervousness is indigestion, and that is caused by weakness of the stomach. No one can have sound nerves and good health without using Hop Bitters to strengthen the stomach, purify the blood, and keep the liver and kidneys active, to carry off all the poisonous and waste matter of the system. See