The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1885.

Kumara Times, Issue 2840, 7 November 1885, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1885.

Whilst a majority of the members of Parliament and the Press generally of the North Island and some portions even of the South Island were so rigidly opposed to the East and West Coast and Nelson Railway scheme, it is gratifying to observe that some men holding important positions in the commercial world are keenly alive to the importance of this question as it affects the general prosperity and welfare of the colony. Of these few individuals, who shine as stars by their own light and foresight, is Mr W. L. Travers, the present Chairman of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, who, at a late meeting of the Chamber, made the following remarks relative to the proposed East and West Coast and Nelson Rnilway :—" He was now about to refer to a matier which had bpen much discussed lately by the Press and the people; a matter upon which he ventured to differ from the Press, and from a large portion of the people who had discussed it. He agreed with what had been stated in a pamphlet recently read before the Philosophical Society of Nelson, in which the writer said that while doctors and lawyers and other persons occupying special positions and engaged in special crafts were compelled to go through a special examination, it seemed unfortunate that members of the Legislature should not be subjected to an examination in political and social subjects.—[Hear, hear.] The ignorance displayed by members of the Legislature was so marvelous that one wondered how they ever got there; they were as ignorant as the people who sent them there, and displayed the moss crass ignorance on very important subjects. He offered this opinion on no political grounds whatever, but simply on the grounds of trade and commerce, and he was quite dispassionate in the view he took. It was generally supposed that the West Coast, of i he Middle Island was capable of producing nothing but coal and gold, and of course the idea of constructing a railway to connect it with the East Coast was that the>e were enormous sources of wealth lying undeveloped on the West Coast, simply because there were no proper means of communication. He was satisfied that one single mine was sending to sea—absolutely throwing away into a river which ran into the sea—sources of wealth which were worth twenty times the amount annually utilised from the mine. But there was no means of carrying the product to a place whence it could be exported. Professor Ulrich and some other gentleman had recently entered into a contract for the purchase of tailings from the mine which yielded to its shareholders i*iir dividends by the extraction of 2},- ounces of gold per j ton. A fair .sample of t'lese tailing j was sent home to Germany, wh •.•<•<■■ j ores wen; treated in the most scien- j tific manner, and it was found that the mine yielding 'Zh ounces to its shareholders was sending 151 'ounces into the river. There could be no question about it, therefore, that the contractors for the purchase of the tailings had seized a good opportunity. From his own personal inspection of the mines he was .satisfied that hundreds (if thousand.*, of pounds' worth was lost to the colony, simply for the want of proper cariiage. And anyone looking to the map of the North Island

and noticing how greatly Wellington was interested, and how small the means of communication were—for the shortest line was from Wellington—it would be seen how important it was that the Wellington members should study geography, and make themselves acquainted with the resources of the country of which they spoke before they condemned a project which would have been of as much advantage to Wellington as the construction of the Wellington-Manawatu Railway was likely to be. What he wished to impress on members of the Chamber was that it was of the utmost impor- I tance that a community depending upon trade and commerce should not neglect, any opportunity of opening up sources ' of wealth which would assist that trade. The exports of this district were generally the products of animal life—tallow, wool, skins, and things of that kind. It was time something was done to increase the exports of the Colony." Monday next (9th November) being the Prince of Wales' Birthday will be observed as a general holiday in most of the British dominions. In Kumara the Post and Telegragh Offices will be closed all day, as on Sundays, and the mails usually despatched on Mondays will close this evening, at seven o'clock, except those for despatch by the Christchurch coach on Tuesday morning, which will close at the usual hour on Monday evening. The banks and principal business establishments will be closed on Monday, and there will be no publication of the Kumara Times on that day. The Prince of Wales was born in 1841, and will therefore be 44 years of age on Monday. He married on the 10th March, 1863, the Princess Alexandra, C. M. C. L. Julia (born Ist December, 1844) eldest daughter of the King of Denmark, and has had issue— Albert, age 21 ; George, 20 ; Louise, 18 ; Victoria, 17 ; Maud, 14 ; and Alexander (born 6th April, died 7th April, 1871). There will be a review of Volunteers at Greymouth on Monday, in which the Ist Westland and Kumara Rifles will take part. Parade is fixed for 10 o'clock a.m., at the Drill Shed, Greymouth. A large number of the Kumara Contingent will proceed by tram at 8 o'clock to-morrow morning. The First Westland Rifles will proceed to Greymouth by the Waipara tomorrow morning. There will be a church parade at Greymouth to-morrow evening, the different corps falling in at 6.30. For the convenience of Volunteers and others wishing to attend the review in Greymouth on Monday morning, the ordinary Tramway time-table will be suspended, and a tram-car will leave the Kumara station at 5.30 a.m., for Greymouth, in lieu of the one usual at 8 a.m. The afternoon tram will leave at the usual hour, 3.30 o'clock. In spite of the dreary aspect of the weather Mr Robson's Transparent Panorama of the War and his splendid old country scenery was again well patronised. The enjoyment of the scenes is much enhanced by Mr Robson's natural and telling descriptive remarks ; indeed, he is a much more effective speaker than many who have preceded him by a loud flourish of trumpets. His description of the beautiful and humorous statuary groups of Uncle Toby and the Widow, and of the Blue Ribbon picture were received last night with the heartiest laughter and applause. To-night there will be an extensive change of programme. A number of new scenes in the life of Gen. Gordon will be shown. There will be the usual distribution of prizes, the leading gift being a silver watch. The chance of obtaining so valuable a prize for so small a charge of admission, together with, the excellence of the entertainment, ought to draw a crowded house. It is Mr Robson's last night here, and those who do not see his pictures will lose a great intellectual and spectacular treat. Mr Ellis, the Thought Reader, has resolved to postpone his lecture till Monday evening next, and notice to that effect is given in his announcement in the preceding column. The following extraordinary communication appears in the West Coast Times this morning : —-"Mr Michel, the Chairman of the Westland District Charitable Aid Board, received the following telegram yesterday afternoon :—' The Premier dir.;cis mo to say Unit Government v/ill remit subsidies due to the Kumara Hospital if .'.lie 'District Board will become j responsible for the expenditure of 'be money for .strictly hospital purposes only.' " Not a bit less discourteous to our local Hospital Committee are the editor's remarks, which follow : "There is e veryprobability of the Board undertaking this responsibility, provided the money passes through their hands." Commander Edwin wired to-day, at 11.25 a.m.—"Bad weather is expected after 12 hours from now between northeast and north and west: glass fall again, and wind backing within that time."

We acknowledge receipt from the Department of Lands of a report by T. Kirk, Esq., F.L.S., on " Fruit-Blights and Diseases of Fruit-Trees in New Zealand." The report will be very valuable to fruitgrowers as it contains remedies for prevention and cure. A sixth share is for sale in Way and party's claim, at the Break. Particulars can be obtained from Mr D. Hannan. It is Worth a Trial.—"l Avas troubled, for many years with kidney complaint, gravel, &c. ; my blood became thin, I was dull and inactive, could hardly I crawl about, and was an old worn-out man all over, and could get nothing to help me until I got American Co.'s Hop Bitters, and now my blood and kidneys are all right, and I am as active as a man of thirty although I am seventy-two, and I have no doubt it will do as well for others of my age. It is worth the trial.' — (Father.) Notice Not a Beverage.—" They are not a beverage, but a medicine, with curative properties of the highest degree, containing no poisonous drugs. They do not tear down an already debilitated system, but build it up. One bottle contains more real hop strength than a barrel of ordinary beer. Physicians prescribe them.—Rochester, U.S.A., Evening Express, on American Hop Bitters.