The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1886.

Kumara Times, Issue 2896, 9 February 1886, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1886.

The steamship Mararoa, with the San Francisco mail, arrived at Auckland at one o’clock yesterday morning. The southern portion of the mails were despatched from Onehunga at 2.30 a.m. Last evening at Gilbert Stewart’s Hotel, the friends of T. R. Connell, Esq., assembled to wish him a bon voyage, and at the same time to manifest their appreciation of his long services as Agent of the Bank of New Zealand in Kumara. There were four banks opened business within a month after the rush broke out here, viz., the New Zealand, the Union, the New South Wales, and the Bank of Australasia ; now there are only two. The Bank of New Zealand was over a week the first, Mr Connell being appointed to the charge; and as this was on the 4th September, 1876, he has been in uninterrupted trust for nine years and five months. He has therefore well earned the nine to twelve months’ holiday he is about to take for a trip to Australia and the Home country; and the purse of sovereigns with which he was presented last evening will be evidence to the directors of the institution of which the agency at Kumara forms a part of the satisfaction Mr Connell has given to his customers, as well as being very handy to extend his travels or minister to his enjoyment wherever he may go. Mr Connell took his departure by this afternoon’s tram for Greymouth, to join the steamer Koranui for Nelson, and will from thence make his way first to Auckland. We wish him a pleasant trip, and safe return to the land of his parents’ adoption. We give to-day the major portion of another interesting letter on the Hot Springs of Rotorua, from the pen of Mr John White, of Dillman’s Town. Mr White was intending to start on his homeward journey on Friday, the 29th ult. The Chinese New Year was celebrated on Saturday and last evenings after the fashion of the Celestials. Fireworks fastened together and in shape somewhat according to the model of a ship were suspended at an altitude of about 25 to 30 feet from the ground, opposite the Flying Dutchman’s shop in Main street. At this ship crackers were hurled, sometimes fast and furious, for whoever was fortunate in setting fire to the suspended ship received as a prize a pair of slippers, a hat, a Chinese shirt, or a pair of trowsers. The packets of crackers are about 4in. square, and wore sold ten for 2s Gd. Judging from the number consumed, the Chinese storekeeper must have clone a lively trade in crackers. There was a large crowd of people brought together to witness these sports, who were first apprised of what was about to take place by the Chinese letting olf some fireworks which gave a report as loud as a 12-pounder camion. The sport was kept up for an hour and a-half or two hours each night. iho foregoing doubtless had some effect on the attendance at the Theatre Royal on Saturday night, which was the last opportunity of seeing the model of the famous Strasburg cluck. It was taken to Greymouth yesterday forenoon, and is to be exhibited there to-night, and the rest of the week.

Commander 1 Edwin wired late yesterday afternoon ; —“Bad weather may be expected between north and west, and south-west; glass further fall.” And this afternoon, at I.s—“Bad weather is expected between north-east and north and west, during next 12 hours, and further fall c.f glass ; but rising after that time, and wind change to south of west.” A special meeting of the Volunteer Fire Brigade will be held in the Town Hall this evening, at eight o’clock.

An eight hours’ go-as-you-please pedestrian match, between G. J. Haylett, of Greymouih, and Thomas Johnston, of Brunnerton, for £25 a side, is to take place in Kumara on Saturday next, 13th inst. In last walking contest between these two pedestrians in the Public Hall at Grey mo nth Mr Johnston complained of not getting fair play. We have no doubt a fair field and fair play will be accorded to both in Kumara.

The Hokitika Guardian regrets to say that Mr T. Ford, butcher, of Ross, was yesterday committed to the Sea Yiew Asylum. He had been considered somewhat queer by his friends previous to the death of his son by drowning. Since that unfortunate event his symptoms became alarming, and there was no alternative but to remove him to the asylum. An Auckland telegram reports the death of Dr. Huxtable by an overdose of chloroform. The deceased gentleman was for many months (in 187879) resident medical superintendent of the Kumara Hospital.

The Life of an M.P.—An M.P., deploring the evil effects of London habits on the health, said that were it not for the American Co.’s Hop Bitters he could not live through with the irregular hours he was forced to keep. Said he: “As soon as I feel weak and exhausted from long night sessions and meals at irregular hours, I resort to my Hop Bitters instead of stimulants. They regulate my bowels and keep my appetite good, my brain clear, and my strength and health are preserved.” See Alcoholic Fatuity. —The chronic debauchee feels that he positively cannot exist without his alcoholic stimulation. To quit drinking or to continue the habit brings death all the same. Such a man can find in American Co.’s Hop Bitters, properly used, a perfect panacea for the drunkard’s cure. Read