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Kumara Times, Issue 2861, 3 December 1885, Page 2

Cablegrams from Calcutta confirm those previously published of the unconditional surrender of King Thebaw, of Burmah ; also that his Excellency Earl Dufferin Viceroy of India, has received advices of the entry of British troops into Mandalay, the capital of Burmah, without opposition. Mr Bernard, the High Commissioner of British Burmah, is instructed to take charge of Thebaw's territory temporarily, and administer government of it in the Qneen's name. Telegrams from Cooktown report that by latest arrivals from New Guinea the news is brought that Sir Peter Scratchley, the British High Commissioner, is seriously ill with fever.—A later telegram nounces his decease. The public meeting announced to be held at the Town Hall last evening for the purpose of electing a committee to organise sports for the Christmas holidays was but thinly attended. Possibly this was owing to the short notice given or to the lute and indefinite hour at which it was to take place, that was, after the monthly meeting of the Fire. Brigade in the same hall. His Worship the Mayor was asked to preside. He expressed his surprise at the smallness of the attendance and at the apathy and indifference of the townspeople in coming forward to take part in a matter that was so obviously to their own interest and that of the town generally. In Hokitika and Greymouth Christmas sports had been advertised for some weeks past. The Christmas sports which have been held in Kumara for some years back, he considered were quite as good and as largo prizes given as in the larger towns referred to, and yet it seemed there was no interest to be taken in the matter this yeai\ It was expected that the largest production of gold ever washed up at any previous Christmas in Kumara would be excelled by that of the present season ; and yet no effort was being made by the townspeople to provide amusement and recreation for the people. He moved that the question of Christmas sports be held over for twelve months. It was quite out of place to do anything with such a poorly-attended meeting. Mr Rudkin seconded the motion. Mr Ziegler thought it would be better to make another trial; and moved an amendment that in consequence of the thin attend-

ance, which was possibly owing to the short notice given, the meeting be postponed till Thursday evening at half-past 8 o'clock. The amendment was seconded by Mr O. W. Anderson. Thereupon Mr Burger, with leave of the seconder, withdrew his motion ; and the amendment, becoming the substantive motion, was put and carried. The Christchurch coach, we learn, was delayed yesterday through the breaking of an axletree of one of the wheels of the coach, when about nine miles from the Bealey and six from the accommodation house at Otira Gorge. It should be stated that Davis, the driver made the usual inspection prior to descending the Gorge, and thus discovered the flaw. He thereupon disengaged the leaders and brought down the coach with the two pole-horses. Arriving at the Otira Gorge all safe, Davis decided not to risk crossing the rivers, but rode to the Taipo, and brought the spare coach from the Taipo to the Gorge, thus involving a journey there and back of an extra 46 miles ; so that it was about half-past one o'clock this morning when the coach arrived in Kumara. "You must feel tired," remarked mine host, after being so many hours on the box, and in the saddle!" "Oh, no, remarked Arthur, " the only thing that annoys me is that I don't like crawling at night; it makes one feel mean, especially on a fine day." There were four passengers—a lady and gentleman for Greymouth, and a lady and a jockey for Hokitika. The mails were heavy, as they included Australian mails by the s.s. Terawera, from Melbourne. Commander Edwin wired an urgent at 4.11 yesterday afternoon : —"Bad weather is expected after 12 hours from now between north and east and south-east, and rain ; glass fall within that time." Edward Adolphus St. Maur, whose death is recorded to-day, was the twelfth Duke of Somerset. He made his first appearance in politics in 1834, when, as Lord Seymour, he was returned for Totnes in the Liberal interest. He represented that electorate until 1855, when he succeeded his father, and took his seat in the House of Peers. His Grace held various public offices in the course of his long life. He published a work in 1871 under the title of "Christian Theology and Modern Scepticism," in which he professed to show that Paul's epistles and the Acts of the Apostles were frequently contradictory. Martha Kerr, the twelve-year-old girl who committed suicide at Denniston by soaking a number of matches in a cup of tea and drinking it, died on the third day after taking the poison. The Westport Times says ' ' The parents of deceased do not live at Denniston (if we mistake not they are dead), and she resided with some relations there. The immediate cause of the rash deed is unknown, so far as we can learn. The unfortunate girl is said to have been unhappy and discontented for some time past, and on a previous occasion she attempted suicide, stating then that she would again try to kill herself." A packet of letters, including some photographs from the old country, has been lost between Messrs Keech and Malloy's store and the Tramway Station. They are of no interest except to the owner, to whom, of course, a set value on such things cannot be estimated, as they often are irreparable. The finder is requested'to leave them at this office. Mr James Calders, who lias filled the position of Chief Clerk, in the Post and Telegraph Office at Westport for several years past, has been granted two months' leave of absence, at the expiration of which he is required to report himself at Wanganui. The vacancy will be filled by Mr Seymour, late of Nelson, and formerly of Hokitika and Greymouth. The Cape Foulwind Railway contract, the Westport Times states, is fast drawing to completion. The ballast train now runs over seven miles of line. There is about three-quarters of a mile to finish the line, and half-a-mile of the formation is done, but the remaining quarter will be a tough job. As an instance of ill-luck and luck the Melbourne Sportsman mentions that one gentleman had sixty bets on the late Derby and Cup, and did not win a solitary wager, while another backer, wellknown in Sydney, the owner of the Pyrmoat Quarries, had one wager, viz., £SOOO to £25 Nordcnfeldfc and Sheet Anchor, and won it. The Christchurch new Hospital and Charitable Aid Board have commenced their actions by giving notice (three months in a few, one month in many) to all officials under them that their services will be dispensed with. The post of house surgeon at the hospital is worth .£IOOO a 3 7 ear, aud that of house steward £6OO. Two nice billets. A settler at Winton, Southland, named William Potson, was killed on Wednes-

day last by the capsizing of his dray, which was loaded with timber. Feels Young Again.—"My mother was afflicted a long time with neuralgia, and a dull, heavy, inactive condition of the whole system, head-ache, nervous prostration, and was almost helpless. No physicians or medicines did her any good. Three months ago she began to use Dr. Soule's Hop Bitters, with such good effect that she seems and feels young again, although over seventy years old.—"A Lady in R. 1., U.S.A. Look up