The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. FRIDAY, JULY 31, 1885.

Kumara Times, Issue 2764, 31 July 1885, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. FRIDAY, JULY 31, 1885.

The entertainment in aid of the State School takes place at the Theatre Royal this evening. The programme is a varied one; and good music, good singing, a good band, and a laughable farce are sufficient attractions to draw a large house, especially when the object is to administer to the health and comfort of the rising generation during the pursuit of that knowledge and learning which is to make them useful in years to come. The County Chairman and Engineer inspected the new road to the Sea Beach on Wednesday last, and it is expected the road will bo opened to the public in a week or two. A public meeting was held last night at the Oddfellows’ Hall, Stafford Town, the object of which was for the purpose of eliciting an expression of opinion regarding the construction of the East and West Coast railway. Mr M‘Whirter occupied the chair, and explained to the meeting the reasons that brought them together. The speakers were Messrs Byrne, Davidson, Dungan, and Sandle. The meeting warmly supported the project of carrying out the work as contemplated by Government. A resolution was carried to that effect ; also a second resolution, that copies of the resolution referred to be forwarded by the Chairman to Sir Julius Yogel and Messrs Seddon, Bevan and Bonar. Everything passed off in an enthusiastic manner. The chairmam apologised for the absence of Mr Rae, who was unable to attend. Mr Dungan, on behalf of the County Chairman, tendered an apology to the meeting, that gentleman having to be present at a meeting the same night at Ross. Commander Edwin wired yesterday at 4.30 p.m. —‘‘Bad weather is expected between north-east and west and south ; glass further fall, and weather cold. ”

Venus and Jupiter, the two brightest of all the planets as seen from the Earth, are how conspicuous objects in the west, immediately after sunset. They are rapidly approaching each other, Venus traveling towards the east, Jupiter towards the west; and on next Wednesday evening, at about 6.30 o’clock they will be in conjunction with the Earth, Venus at less than the Moon’s diameter to the north of Jupiter., The last-named will rapidly continue westward each evening, gradually being lost in the Sun’s rays, till, on the morning of the 9th September, when the total eclipse of the Sun takes place, observers who may be located in the line of total darkness will, if there be a clear sky, be enabled to see the planet Jupiter in conjunction with the Sun, about twice the diameter of and to the north of the Sun, the planet Mercury a little to the west, and Venes at some distance to the east. The eclipse will be observed only as a partial eclipse forty miles south and north of Cook Strait, the zone of the Moon’s darkest shadow being only 114 miles broad. The Parliamentary correspondent of the W est Coast Times, telegraphed yesterday : —“ The Auctioneer’s Bill, which the Premier informed the House was a consolidation measure, entrusted by Government to Mr Seddon, owing to so many bills they had on the Order Paper. It was a measure that had been thrown out of the Legislative Council last year.— Mr Seddon being absent from his place, Sir George Grey moved the second reading of the bill without further comment.— Mr Bevan stated that he would oppose the bill at every stage. It was framed in total ignorance of the requirements of trade. It was drastic and oppressive in its provisions, and would greatly interfere with the conduct of business. It was not wanted either by auctioneers or the general public. He moved that it be read that day six months.—Upon a division the bill was rejected ; several other members also expressed their disapproval of the measure. —Mr Seddon entered the House just before the division, apologised for his absence, and strongly supported the bill.”

The Minister of Mines, at the request of Mr Bevan, the member for Hokitika, has placed a sum of £3OO on the Estimates, to be expended on the £ for £ principle, for constructing a drainage tunnel at the Cedar Creek reefs.

Matthews, the champion boxer, left Kumara on Wednesday morning, not being able to get up a match here. He has succeeded in making a match with a Brunnerton man, Martin O’Loughlin, brother of the pedestrian of that surname, and who is backing his brother. The match will come off at the Pubic Hall, Greymouth, on Saturday evening, the American undertaking to knock his man out of time in four three-minute rounds. T. M‘oauley is stakeholder.

A large public meeting was held at Hokitika last night, the Mayor in the chair, at which it was resolved to form an association to prospect and work the coal measures in the Kaneiri District. An influential committee was appointed. The Rev. B. J. Westbrook, of Grey, mouth, will preach in the Presbyterian Church, Third street, on Sunday next, morning and evening. A report from Port Darwin last week states that the Christmas claim crushed ten tons of picked stone, which yielded 360 ounces of gold. Clifford, Australian oarsman, is said to have received such injury that it is probable he will never row again. Japan boasts of a dwarf who is well educated, is 36 years old, and stands 17 inches in height. *

Wicked fob Clebgymen— “l believe it to be all wrong and even wicked for clergymen or other public men to be led into giving testimonials to quack doctors or vile stuffs called medicines, but when a really meritorious article is made up of common valuable remedies known to all, and that all physicians use and trust in daily, we should freely commend it. I therefore cheerfully and heartily commend Hop Bitters for the good they have done me and my friends, firmly believing they have no equal for family use. I will not be without them.”—Rev. —, Washington, D. C. U. S. A.