The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 1885.

Kumara Times, Issue 2661, 31 March 1885, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 1885.

Probably on no occasion in the history of Kumara has there been such an extensive and good programme got up by the united efforts of members of the Hospital Committee, members of Friendly Societies, and other townsmen who form the Hospital Fete Committee, as the one which is now published announcing the grand Easter fete, which is to take place on next Monday (Easter Monday), the 6th April. Easter is a very appropriate time for such a purpose. In olden times courts of justice were closed at Easter and alms dispensed to the poor and needy, who were even feasted in the churches. Of course the primary or more important object of all hospitals is to mitigate bodily suffering, whether . that arises from natural or accidental causes, in which respect they are indispensable as a refuge to all who are unable to pay for private medical or surgical aid, or as a convenient means of succour on emergencies to persons of every rank and degree of opulence, on account of the better facilities that such institutions afford for the recovery and cure of patients. The Kumara Hospital Fete Committee having now done their utmost to provide such an excellent programme of sports during the day, and a concert and ball in the evening, it will be for the public—who have never ou any occasion in Kumara been slow to assist in charitable and deserving objects—to come forward and help next Monday in the encouragement and support of this most noble of all our institutions chills of ceremony and selfishness, and thawing-every heart into a flow." It was Bishop Heber, we think, who wrote concerning the exercise of this virtue—" When the veil of death has been drawn between us and the objects of our regard, how quick-sighted do we become to their merits. How careful, therefore, should such thoughts .render us in the fulfilment of those duties which it may yet be in our power to perform ; for who can tell how soon the moment may arrive when repentance cannot be followed by reparation." Let us all uuite, then, in making this fete for the benefit of our local Hospital the success which its importance deserves.

The latest news in reference to the Afghan question is that the Russian Government's reply to Earl Granville's note of the 16th inst., insisting on Russia proceeding with the commission for the settlement of the frontier question, is on its way to London, and that it is likely to lead to a pacific settlement of the difficulty. Owing to their defeat on the question of voting supplies and reinforcements for Tonquin, the French Ministry have resigned. Messrs J. M'Whirter (Goldsborough) and H. R. Rae (Hokitika) have been appointed Justices of the Peace. The clanger of leaving abandoned shafts open as a matter of course increases with the advance of time, when scrub almost invariably grows around the deserted aperture for descent. Mr W. T. Richards writes us :—" As I was proceeding from Brass Band practice last night I discovered Mrs Johusou in an open shaft close to my uesiden.ee, with 14 feet of

water in it. She must have been there half an hour before I discovered her, and by the assistance of Mr John Rowe, who heard my cooeying, we got her out." A meeting of the Prospecting Association was held in the Town Hall on Monday evening; present—Messrs Burger, O'Hagan, Mulvihill, Ziegler, and Rudkin (Hon. Sec). Mr Burger (Chairman) reported that the prospectors at the head of Larrikins had discontinued work, as they considered the amount of subsidy too small. The amount received from Dillnian's Town subscribers to date amounted to the sum of £9, and the amount expended for prospecting at the head of Larrikins was £lB. It was resolved that the Secretary be requested to apply to the County Council for the subsidy due on the £lB expended ; also that the Secretary and Treasurer be requested to prepare a balance-sheet, and submit the same to the next meeting, and that Messrs Pearson and O'Hagan be requested to act as auditors. The passing of several smallj accounts concluded the business of the meeting. The visit of Messrs Seddon and Grimmond to Wellington (the West Coast Times reports) has been attended by the most satisfactory results so far as the Westland County is concerned, as the funds of the Council are once more in a sound position through their instrumentality. A day or two after the departure of Messrs Grimmond and Seddon, a letter was received from the Minister for Public Works stating he would grant the Westland Council J2OOO under the roads and Bridges Act, towards the repair of the Arahura bridge and construction of protective works along the river bank from Miller's downwards. The total cost of these works will be £4500. Owing to the representations of Messrs Grimmond and Seddon, the Government grant of £2OOO is increased to £3300, and the money will be paid over at once. Another matter attended to by Messrs Seddon and Grimmond has been the Otira tollgate question. The gate is not paying well lately, and there is a strong desire to abolish it. Messrs Seddon and Grimmond have offered to remove the gate on a cash payment being made. In other respects the visit of Messrs Seddon and Grimmond will beneficially benefit the Council to the extent of £I2OO, so that altogether the trip of the Westland delegates has benefitted Westland to something like the extent of £4400. Commander Edwin wired yesterday at 4.56 p.m. :—"Bad weather may be expected between north-east and north and west; heavy gale soon, and very heavy rain. Rivers and creeks in high flood, after 12 hours from now." It would appear that Lord Loftus' speech on the occasion of the departure of the troops from Sydney was cabled home, as we read in the Melbourne Argus of a recent date that he has received the following cable message from the Lord Mayor of London :—" Hearty congratulations to our noble colonists for their patriotic support of the old country. Your eloquent and spirited address to the troops on their departure has given immense satisfaction to the citizens of London." Professor Black commences a series of geological lectures at Greymouth this evening. A farmer named John Butler was killed by falling off his dray at Hororata, in Canterbury, on Friday last. Special Notice.—The Flying Dutchman wont be rubbed out, as all the groceries left on hand will be sold on Saturday night, Monday, and following days, at a greater reduction than ever. 50 of fowls wheat to be sold. Fresh arrival of drapery goods, which will be sold without the slightest reserve. Mr Vance Klaus Hassalaer desires to announce that his father—Mr Von Don Fidegro Hassalaer—has arrived from England, and has brought with him 5000 pairs of boots and shoes, which he will sell to the public of Kumara at Easter, on the American principle, without the slightest reserve. North British sluicing boots. Dont forget ! Groceries at your own price.—[Advt.] " You Don't Know Their Value."— " They cured me of biliousness, and kidney complaint, as recommended. I had a half-bottle left, which I used for my two little girls, who the doctors and neighbors said could not be cured. I am confident I should have lost both of them one night if I had not the American Co.'s Hop Bitters in my house to use. This is why I say you do not know half the value of American Hop Bitters, and do not recommend them highly enough." See Highway Robbery Almost, to sell the poisonous, drunken, purging stuff as medicine to honest men, innocent women, and harmless children to weaken and destroy their systems and health, v.hen pure harmless Hop Bitters can be had that cures always and continually at a trifling cost. Ask druggists or phsitiftUS, Read,