The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 1885.

Kumara Times, Issue 2663, 20 March 1885, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 1885.

Yesterday the member for this district, R. J. Seddon, Esq., telegraphed to the Hon. E. Richardson, Minister of Public Works, to know why tenders hud not boon called for the Taipo Bridge construction ; and to-day received the following

gratifying reply : —" Specifications for Taipo bridge were finally approved last week, and instructions were sent to District Engineer to call for tenders immediately." The British troops started out from Suakiin yesterday morning to reconnoitre in the direction of Hashun. General Graham has summoned Osman Digna to surrender, to avoid bloodshed. By a cablegram to-day it will be seen that as far back as November last, Mr Gladstone, the British Premier, demanded that the Russians should withdraw from from Serakhs, near the Afghan frontier ; but the Russian Government refused, and the demand thereupon lapsed. It is announced this afternoon in our cablegrams that the French Ambassador to Pekin has been authorised to negotiate with the Chinese Government for an amicable settlement of the disputes which occasioned war in Tonquin and in Chinese waters. A disastrous colliery explosion occurred on Wednesday at Saarbriick, in Rhenish Prussia, by which 200 miners were entombed. Saarbriick is situate on the river Saar, and may be said to be at the junction of the Rhine province with those of Alsace and Lorraine. It is the seat of an active industry, of which coalmining, spinning, and the manufacture of woollen and linen fabrics, and of pottery and tobacco are among the principal branches. Saarbriick is memorable in modern history as being the place where the French and German armies first met in the war of 1870-71. In the New South Wales Legislative Council yesterday, the address in reply to the Governor's speech on opening Parliament, which was called together to take the necessary steps to give legislative sanction to the course adopted by the Ministry in conveying to England an offer of assistance in Soudan government, was adopted without opposition. Renter's Sydney agent has not yet favoured us with the result of the division on the address in reply in the Legislative Assembly, which was expected to be taken early last Wednesday morning. The ordinary meeting of the Borough Council was held at the Town Hall last evening. The Public Works Committee recommended that the Zigzag Bluff be cut, and that it be ascertained if the present maintenance contractor would be willing to do the work at schedule prices. The Council approved of the work being done. A fuller report of the meeting will be given to-morrow. On St. Patrick's night the Kumara Brass Band enlivened the town by playing through the streets and at Drummond's corner several popular selections of music suitable for the -day. We are requested to notify that parents who propose sending scholars to the Hokitika High School should send in their names at once to Dr. Giles, Chairman of the High School Board. The ages of the scholars—boys or girls—should also be stated, and the letters forwarding the names of scholars should be posted not later than, at all events, Monday next. On the number of names sent in depends very much the success of the institution, and every parent having the welfare of their children and of Westland at heart should assist in the foundation of so desirable and so necessary an establishment as a High School. At the meeting of the Grey district Education Commissioners on Monday evening last, present Major Keddell (Chairman), 11. Nancarrow and T. Ronayue, Esqs., a telegram and memorandum (similar to the one published in another column) from the Secretary for Education, stating that the sum of £823 was available for the Commissioners for buildings, subject to £IOO being expended upon the Ahaura school building, and enclosing a circular re building expenditure, was read and received. A letter was read from the Chairman of the Pounamu School Committee, reporting upon the objections raised by Messrs Whitton and King as to the manner of election and the Commissioners decided to allow a fresh election. A post office has been opened at Bruce Bay, in the postal district of Hokitika. There never has been a Minister of Mines in the colony (says the Argus) who has seen so much of the colony or had so much information relating to gold mining in all its variety of form poured into his ear as the Hon. W. J. M. Larnach. The Thames is about the only field he has not yet visited ; he will do that next. He was much pleased with his recent tour on the West Coast. He describes the Collingwood district as the richest mineral country he has ever seen. He says that within a radius of four miles the number of minerals and metals found is almost incredible. A late telegram last night from Dunedin is to the effect that he' will remain in town till Monday, and then make a tour of the Otago goldliolds, and that he will bo accompanied by Mr Pyke M.H.R., iu his visit of inspection, '

Don't Starve !—Vance Klaus Hasselaer will sell on Saturday night next, a large and assorted stock of groceries, consisting flour, rice, and oatmeal, tin fish of every sort, pickles, sauces, tea, sugar, coffee, spices, blue, starch, household soap, blue mottled soap, brown Windsor soap, and glycerine bar soap, kerosene, matches, and several other various lots.—[Advt.] Skill in the Workshop.—To do good work the mechanic must have good health. If long hours of confinement in close rooms have enfeebled his hand or dimmed his sight, let him at once, and before some organic trouble appears take plenty of Dr. Soule's Hop Bitters. His system will be rejuvenated, his nerves strengthened, his sight become clear, and the whole constitution be built up to a higher working condition. Read