The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 1885.

Kumara Times, Issue 2715, 4 June 1885, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 1885.

A cablegram tq-day announces that a severe earthquake has visited the district of Cashmere, in the north of India, causing heavy loss of life. The British Government are evidently dubious yet as to the intentions of Russia in regard to the Afghan frontier question, as the 2nd Battalion East Surrey Regiment, en route to England from Soudan, has been disembarked at Alexandria. A most daring robbery was committed at the Simpson’s Road Branch of the National Bank of Australasia at ten o’clock yesterday morning. The manager and assistant were gagged, and bound hand and foot under a table, by masked robbers, who then decamped with £1165. The Bank is only three miles from the General Post Office, Melbourne, and in one of the most bustling suburban thoroughfares. The excessively unpropitious weather last night would doubtless have prevented many from attending the dramatic performance for the benefit of Andrew Carlstrom, and the committee of management sent the bellman round to announce its postponement till to-night. Now that the weather is fine, and Commander Edwin predicts a frost, we may hope to see a large attendance at the Adelphi Theatre to-night.

The Christchurch coach left the Bealey at the usual hour yesterday morning, but, owing to the heavy rain which fell all day, did not arrive till this afternoon. Lord Lytton’s new poem, just published, is, it is said, certain to create much interest in political as well as literary circles. Mr James Caldwell, of Dunedin, writes to the Evening Herald : “Even a dip into it shows that it possesses very remarkable vigour, a wellsustained tersenesss and force of expression, and often imagery very striking and original. From the first stanza onward the reader will be carried on with growing desire to grasp the story, which, even as partially developed, awakens no ordinary expectations. lam not in a position at present more particularly to speak of the tale or its drift; but its superiority’ is unquestionable, and its striking passages are many. One of the most pointed of these, and sure to attract notice at once, touches England’s present state as a nation in a tone of rebuke or lament. The language is stem and decisive, and many will be prepared to echo it.” We quote, as a sample, one page in another column. We gave last Thursday a graphic account by the correspondent of the London Daily Telegraph of the surprise at General Sir John M‘Neill’s zareba, near Suakin, on the 22nd March last. Besides the camp followers aud camels the Arabs killed, they caused a British loss of six officers and 94 men killed, six officers and 136 men wounded. One officer and seventy men are missing, while the loss among the followers and the commissiarat and transport men is estimated at 150. Seven hundred camels were killed, or two-thirds of the whole. Commander Edwin wired at 11,54 a.m. “ Indications glass further rise, and frost to-night.” The Kumara quadrille assembly will meet at the Adelphi Theatre to-morrow evening. Dancing to commence at eight o’clock. The orginal quadrille assembly will meet at the Public Hall, Dillman’s, as usual, to-morrow evening. At their meeting at Hokitika yesterday the Waste Lands Board paid a high and deserved compliment to Mr A. F. F. Etheridge, who has been clerk to the Board for the past twelve years, and whose services have been tranferred to Auckland. It is embodied in the following resolution, which was carried unanimously :—“ That this Board desires to express its regret at the loss of the services of Mr Etheridge, who for so many years, has been Clerk to the Board, and who is about to remove to Auckland, The Board hereby records its high appreciation of the efficiency, intelligence, and uniform courtesy with which Mr Etheridge has discharged his duties, and -its best wishes for his future prosperity and happiness.” Tenders are required for the construction of three chains of fluming, legs and caps only, at Larrikin’s Terrace. Further particulars can be known by applying to Netzband, Moore, aud others, on the ground. The following is to be taken with the proverbial grain of salt One of the special correspondents at Suakin wires that Osman Digna (who was once a personal friend of his) is a great admirer of Tennyson, and especially of “The Charge of the Six Hundred.” When the landing of the Australian contingent was reported to him, he inquired who they were. “The Sydney 700,” replied Mustapha, his aide-de-camp ! “Great Scott,” replied Osman “ let’s look at’em.” As soon as he saw the splendid physique of the gallant 700, he exclaimed, “ Musty, it’s all up. We’re done now. We could have managed John Bull and his Guards, but to stand up against these Australians is asking too much. Borrow a white pocket handkerchief and proclaim truce. It is time we were out of this.” The particulars of the truce are not yet to hand.

Gordon’s diary (says tbe Pall Mall Gazette) will never be published iu anything like its entirety; of that we may be quite sure. We happen to have learned something about its contents already—(it includes many pen-and-ink drawings of extraordinary interest) —and that something assures us that if our Ministers can expurgate the murdered man’s diary they certainly will. We are able to give one little extract from it of the kind that awaits the pruning knife, should the Government find itself at liberty to wield that instrument. The following words appear in the diary under date December 14th, a fortnight before Gordon’s death ; —“ I can quite imagine, the following scene :—Walmer Castle. Enter Lord Granville—Reads the paper, ‘Khartoum still holds out.’ Rings the bell for secretary. ‘How long did Gordon say he could hold out foi f ‘ Six months, my lord.’ ‘Then why the devil his he held nut for eight? Hu ought to have given up tivo months ago. Confound' him!’ ”