The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. MONDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1885.

Kumara Times, Issue 2820, 5 October 1885, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. MONDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1885.

The attendance at the reopening of St. Patrick's Catholic School to-day was unusually hvrge, upwards of 150 children being present. We understand an assistant teacher is expected at an early date. No doubt the large attendance of to-day and the neatness and general deportment of the children must be gratifying and encouraging to the new teacher, Mr 13. Ham ill. Father Walsho addressed the children at some length, pointing out to them their various duties as school-child-ren, after which ho introduced to the children their newly-appointed teacher. Mr Benjamin Hamill, in coming forward, expressed his great pleasure at seeing such a large attendance to meet him at the re-opening of the school. After giving expression in well chosen words, as to his intention of conducting the school business in the future, the attention of the children was directed by him, first, to the importance of observing strict obedience to the teacher ; secondly, to work or labour in school for the love of God ; and, thirdly, to the observance of strict silence. After starting the school business, the Rev. Fathers Walshe and Browne withdrew, and Mr Hamill assumed charge of the school. The Hospital Defence Fund Committee meet in the Town Hall this evening, at 7.30 ; and the School Committee at 8 o'clock. The llev. George Johnston will deliver his popular lecture on "The Wonders of the Human Face " in the Masonic Hall, this evening, at 8 o'clock. The lecture will be illustrated by hkh;k: lantern views. Yesterday's sea (Hie Argus states) was die- heiv.'iest seen breaking '•'! the- coast for a very long time, and it is thought

some little damage would have resulted had it been a spring tide. Five vessels — St. Kilda, Koranui, Wallace, Charles Edward and Napier are detained at Westporfc through heavy weather and a rough bar. Some of them have been there over a week. The Omapere was lying outside yesterday, but the bar was too rough to allow her to venture in. The appearances last night were in favor of a smooth bar to-day, so that we may expect the blockade to be raised to-day. A sum of close on £IO,OOO has been spent on public works by the County Council of Westland during the half-year ended 30th September last. Of this sum (the Times reports) £5368 10s was for road and bridge maintenance, and repair of damage to roads and bridges by flood, and £461114s was for new works. The gold duty received by the County for the six months ended September 30th last, amounted to £1495 7s, or, say £250 per month, as against £1914 5s 3d for the same period last year, or, say £320 per month. A similar decline is perceptible in the receipts from goldfields revenue (which is made up from miners' rights and business licenses). The receipts from goldfields revenue for the half-year ended 30th September last, amounted to £7ll 12s Bd, while for the corresponding period last year the receipts were £1034 4s. At the Resident Magistrate's Court, Hokitika, on Saturday, before J. Giles, Esq., KM., Mary Daniels was charged with drunkenness and maliciously damaging property. She was fined in all 10s, and ordered to pay £1 10s damage, or in default seven days' imprisonment. The accused elected to go to gaol. A man named George Watts has been killed by a fall of earth in a mining claim about nine miles from Hindon. A man named Grant was working with deceased, and on the 24th ult. left the claim to go to Duuedin. On his return to the camp two days afterwards he found deceased under a quantity of earth, having evidently been dead for some time. There were no marks of violence on the body. New Zealand has had a fair share in the l-ecent distribution of works of art to prize-winners of the Royal Association for the Promotion of Fine Arts, the meeting of which has been recently held at Glasgow. Mr J. W. Bramwell, of Greymouth, has obtained the painting, "God Speed," by Robert Noble, valued £9O. Mr E. B. Cargill, of Dunedin, has obtained "Day Dreams," by R. Paton Reid, valued £25 ; and Mr W. B. Barkley, of Greymouth, has won "On the Beach at Nice," by R. Anderson, valued at £l4. Among the passengers booked by the Aorangi (writes the London correspondent of the Auckland Herald) is Mr H. Vogel, son of the Colonial Treasurer, who has just won a very high distinction at Wimbledon in carrying off the Spencer Cup. This trophy, which is competed for among the picked champion "shootists" of the public schools, i 3 considered one of the very highest order within the reach of students of the great public schools of Great Britain. Also, Mr G. M. Reed, of the Anglo-New-Zealander, who goes out for a business tour of six or seven months around the whole of the Australasian Colonies in connection with the paper. A new evening penny paper, entitled The Globe, is about to be started in Sydney, and the projectors intend also bringing out in connection with it the Sunday Times, which will be the first Sunday paper issued in the colonies.