The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. MONDAY, JANUARY 19, 1885.

Kumara Times, Issue 2611, 19 January 1885, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. MONDAY, JANUARY 19, 1885.

The poll for the election of a Committee of Managemet for the Kumara Hospital for the ensuing half-year, occasioned by the resignation of the former committee, took place on Saturday last, between the hours of 12 noon and 8 in the evening. There were three polling places on this occasion —one at the Town Hall, Kumara ; one at the Public Hall, Dillman's : and one at the school-house, Greenstone, conducted respectively by Mr L. J. Spyer, Returning Officer, and Messrs R. E. Wylde and R. Thimbleby, deputies. The following are the names of the candidates, the votes recorded at each polling-booth, and the total number of votes for each candidate. The first thirteen are elected :

A large amount of interest was taken in the result, the Town Hall being besieged from the hour of the closing of the poll till nearly 12 o'clock, when the Greenstone returns came in. It was near 10 p.m. when the returns from Dillman's arrived, and as soon as these were totalled, the Returning Officer announced them from the Town Hall. At this time there were only two candidates, Messrs Todd and Metcalfe, for whom the votes were equal—l 64 each, and, singular to say, they were for the thirteenth man required to constitute the Committee. However, the Greenstone returns took the responsibility off the shoulders of the Returning Officer. These returns did not affect the result generally, excepting only that Mr Metcalfe became returned by a majority of 2 over Mr Todd, the numbers being increased to 173 and 171 respectively. The first meeting of the new Committee is appointed to be held at the Town Hall to-morrow evening, at 8 o'clock.

The steamer Koranui, with the West Coast portion of the San Francisco mails on board, left Nelson this morning. She may bo expected to reach Greymouth tomorrow. It will be Wednesday morning probably before the mail reaches Kumara.

By our cablegrams to-day it will be seen that Colonel Sir Henry Stewart's entire force which was to cross the desert of Bayouda, via the wells of Gakdul and was expected to arrive at Metemnah, a few miles below the important town of Shendy—(Metemnah on the left and Shendy on the right bank of the Nile)— yesterday. The Naval Brigade, who were among the first detachment sent forward to Metemnah, have already proceeded to Khartoum, in a steamer provided by General Gordon. As Metemnah is only about a hundred miles from Khartoum, we may expect shortly to hear of the arrival of the Naval Brigade to the relief of General Gordon and Khartoum. No further advance of the troops under General Stewart is to be made from Metemnah to Khartoum until General Earle has captured Berber and effected a junction of his avmy through Shendy with that of General Stewart at Metemnah. Meanwhile a movement is to be made from Souakim against Osman Dignah, in order that General Earle may be secure from an attack on his flank between Berber and Shendy.

The death is annoanccd by cable of Edinond Francois Valentin About, the French author and journalist, who was born at Dieuze, on the 14th February, 1828. Ho was the author of a large number of popular historical and political

works and novels. At the outbreak of the Franco-German war in 1870, he accompanied the army of MacMahon to Alsace, as special correspondent of the Soir, and two years afterwards became editor of the Siecle. In the same year he suffered a week's imprisonment, for some abusive newspaper articles, from the German authorities, who chose to consider him as a German subject from his being a native of Lorraine. The bridge over the Smooth Wainihini is opened for traffic.

There is a slight alteration in the advertisement for tenders for the construction of the tunnel tail-race to connect with the Government sludge-channel. The true length of the tail-race is, according to the specifications, 2588 feet, not 2610. At the sea beach at Chesterfield yesterday a shark was observed in the breakers. Old Mr Keech, assisted by some boys tied a rope to its tail and hauled it ashore. It was found to be seven feet in length, and dead ; and had been knocked about on the rocks. A boat's stern and two doors (whether house doors or ship doors we did not learn) were also washed ashore. A most melancholy occurrence is reported by the Argus to have taken place at Brunnerton yesterday, by which a noble-hearted miner named Afred Thomsom lost his life while, assisting to save that of another in a boat in which he had been sailing. So far as can be gathered from the information to hand it appears that William Dent and a man named Johnston were sailing in the river. Either through a puff of wind or the unsteadiness of one of them the boat capsized, and left the two men struggling in the water. Johnston struck out for the shore, while Dent stuck to the boat. Thomson swam out to help Dent, who seemed to be frightened, but he had no sooner got out to the boat than he took the cramp. He sang out to those on shore to throw him a rope, which they did, but unfortunately let go to the shore end. When Thompson clutched the rope he sang out " All right, haul in." Unhappily the poor fellow had no resistance, and sank like a stone. The body was found soon afterwards. The sad occurrence cast quite a gloom over the place.

Miss Green, an elderly woman, dropped dead in Hokitika between ten and eleven on Saturday morning. She was taken into Dr. King's surgery ; but life was found to be extinct. The Times states that the deceased has lived a good while in Hokitika, and was on her way to Mr Lewis's office to receive a legacy left left her by a relative.

Accounts due by the Westland County Council for contracts, services, or supplies, up to the 31st December, will be paid on Wednesday next.

The Ven. Archdeacon Harper is expected to arrive by next Saturday's coach on his annual visit to West Coast parishes. He will be entertained at Kumara on his return.

Woodyear's Circus and Woodward's Japanese Company both open in Christchurch this evening. The Marionettes were at Lyttelton Thursday to Saturday. The Rev. Thomas Flavell is gazetted to be Honorary Chaplain to the Christchurch City Guards Rifle Volunteers.

An Alabaster Box.—Young girls finding their complexion growing sallow, and their skin becoming rough and freckly, resort to perfumed ointments for a restoration of their bloom. All should use Hop Bitters, which will restore bloom to cheeks, whiteness and beauty to their complexion, making rich blood, good health, and happy smiles. Read

Working Men. Before you begin your heavy spring work after a winter of relaxation your system needs cleansing and strengthening to prevent an attack ol bilious or spring fever, or sickness, that will unfit you for a season's work. You will save time, sickness, and expense if you will but use one bottle of Hop Bitters iu your family this month. Don't wait. Read.

KumDill- Toara. man's, stone. tals. 98 130 20 248 Hannah, John.. 116 108 19 243 98 121 20 239 Wooldridge, J.. 84 119 21 224 84 116 22 222 132 76 5 213 Wildridge, J.... 89 104 19 212 Nicholson, W... 137 58 6 201 Hannan, Denis 131 59 11 201 68 113 17 198 Voysey, G 105 73 5 183 129 44 5 178 Metcalfe, J 100 64 9 173 Todd, P. D. ... 125 39 7 171 108 41 2 151 82 63 5 150 Denfield, J 81 38 7 126 Campbell, A. C. 107 17 1 125 53 52 5 110 Wells, W 37 49 4 90