The Kumara Times Published Every Evening. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1886.

Kumara Times, Issue 3136, 22 November 1886, Page 2

The Kumara Times Published Every Evening. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1886.

Amongst the institutions we | possess in this town, there is probably not one about which the public in general take bo little interest in its support as the Literary Society. A few, very few, gentlemen who are subscribers meet from month to month, hold committee meetiugs, and succeed in keeping the institution open; but the outside public, who benefit mostly by its existence, give little or nothing at all to its maintenance. An annual or general meeting of the Society was called recently, to which the public or all who felt an interest iu the welfare of the institution were invited, but it was attended only by members of the committtee themselves, and not one solitary other individual came forward to offer a hand or a voice in the management of the society. Passers-by would often, we assume, imagine, judging from the number of regular readers or attendants at the institute, that the society is well supported, but it is neverthess a positive fact that the most regular attendants at the Reading Room are those who give least or nothing at all for the privilege. Many people have the mistaken notion that bocaase the institution is supported by Government and the County aud Borough Councils that their subsidies are sufficient for its existence. This is not the case; and we say that were it not for the few subscribers who derive little benefit from it themselves, but who think it would be a shame and digrace to Kuraara to be without a literary society at all, the institution must have been closed years ago. The annual or general meeting to which we have referred was adjourned, and will be held in the course of another three weeks or so. Meantime two or three gentlemen who are on the committee will canvass the town and Lead for subscriptions. As the subsidy about to be apportioned by the Government will be based on the amount of voluntary contributions received from the people during the year, exclusive of moneys voted by County and Borough Councils, it is to be hoped liheral douations or subscriptions will be the result of the canvass. The great Socialist meeting in Trafalgar Square, London, yesterday afternoon, at which 50,000 persons were present, passed off without disturbance. The usual resolutions were carried. Kaulbars and the other Russian consular agents in Bulgaria have left their posts. The adjourned meeting of the Barff Memorial Fund Committee will be held in the Town Hall this evening, at eight o'clock. We acknowledge receipt from the Government Printer of a packet of Parliamentary Papers and Reports. Mr Burger solicits the support of the public in the election on Wednesday for Mayor; and, should the burgesses again place him in the honourable position, he promises to advance the interests of the borough to the best of his ability, as he has done in the p;ist. Commander Edwin wired to-day at 11.48 a.m.—"Every indication of an easterly gale. Glass further rise and wind moderate after it has risen twotenths." The Nelson Mail heartily congratulates the Rev. T. B. Maclean upon his promotion to the Archdeaconry of Mawhera, as follows :—" An able preacher, a devoted clergyman, a true friend to all in distress, and most delightful companion, he will, we feel sure, receive warm and wellmerited congratulations from all parts of the diocese." The steamer Maori arrived at Greymouth on Saturday, with two horses and some passengers, took in a cargo of coal, and left for Wellington on the same tide. The approximate depth of water on the bar yesterday was 13ft. A shingle bank has been working in from the north lately and forcing the deep water close to and partly through the piles. The Pall Mall Gazette of September 9 says:--"The Australian cricketers are thoroughly demoralised, and their homegoing will scarcely be the occasion of an

ovation or a banquet. No, they return I with their tails between their legs, beaten all round. It is impossible to give any reason for this curiously remarkable falling to pieces of the famous team. When next they visit us their progress through the land may be once more a triumph. Friday will ever be notable in the annals of the game, when Lord Londesborough's team, which included some of the finest cricketers in England, made the largest number of runs on record against Australian bowling. The total reached 558, beating the previous ' best on record '— 501 by Surrey in July—by 57 runs. It should be noted that Spofforth could not bowl, and Bruce was so unwell that Pope acted as his substitute. It is mentioned that this week the Australians have been fielding, during cricket hours, from halfpast twelve on Tuesday until five minutes to four on Friday—a novel experience indeed for the colonials." The following little essay on " A Button " was written by a small girl in one of the lower schoolrooms of Dunedin : " A button is a great thing in the world, for yon see there is not a person but has a button, and it is of great use, for without it you would never get along. But still a button must not have all the praise, for without a button-hole there would not be any use for a button ; so you see they are nearly equal. But there are several kinds of buttons, and one differs a great deal from the other, because one of them needs a button-hole, and is for use and ornament, and the other does not." Messrs Sprinz and Hamburger, having received another consignment of new drapery, clothing, and boots, are again selling, during this week, at the Public Hall, Dillman's Town. As this is their last visit to Dillman's before Christmas, purchasers are requested to call early to secure bargains.