The Inangahua Times. PUBLISHED TRI- WEEKLY. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1883.

Inangahua Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1233, 14 February 1883, Page 2

The Inangahua Times. PUBLISHED TRI- WEEKLY. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1883.

The next English and European mail via San Francisco, will close at the Reefton office on Tuesday, the 20th inst., at 6 a.m. Mr Lee's friends will be glad to learn that he is now in a fair way towards complete recovery. He is, however, still confined to his bed. We direct attention to the Hospital Carnival advertisement which appears in another column, from which it will be seen that a great day's amusement will be provided for Friday next. At a meeting of creditors in the estate of W. J. Shaw, held at iV! r Hindmarsh's office, yesterday, tenders were opened for the purchase of the stock, book debts, and goodwill. The tenders were, however, all considered too low, and ife was j decided to reject them all. Eventually an offer by Mr Shaw, of 2s 6d in the £, was accepted. The stewards of the Reefton Jockey Club met last night, when nominations were opened for three events ■ of the forthcomsng Easter race3. There were the large number of twenty-three nominations for the Inangahua Cup, eight for the Hurdle Race, and six for the County Handicap. Mr Barton was appointed a handicapper in the room of Mr Potts,' resigned. There being some irregularity about one of the nominations, the secretary waa directed to withhold the names of the entries until to-day. It will be noticed that Messrs Roxborough and Caird have dissolved partnership, and that Mr Alexander Nottmau has joined Mr Roxborough in the business. It is the iutention of the new firm to largely increase the facilities for getting out and delivering the coal, the demand for which, on account of its great superiority, has been largelv on the increase for some time past. We wish the new firm every success. The Christchurch Railway League (through its Chairman), telegraphed last Wednesday to the Colonial Secretary to enquire when they would be enabled to obtain a copy of the Railway Commissioner's report. Mr Dick replied that Dr Pollen was then on his way to Dunedin to consult his fellow-commissioners as to the nature of their report. Only two months have elapsed sinco the Commisioners concluded their investigations. It is stated by the Chinese storekeepers in town that upwards of four hundred celestials were gathered in Reefton during the last week" On Monday morning last Mr Preshaw, secretary of the Hospital, left a number of tickets for the hospital benefit with the leading Chinamen for sale, and the result was that some twenty or thirty of the Mongolians showed up at the performance, and although they could not understand a "blooming word" of what was going on, they appeared highly amused. In the fae'e of the possibility of an early election for the General Assembly, we cannot too strongly urge the necessity of persons registering their votes. The required forms of application may be had at the office of the Registrar, at the Court-house. The roll upon which the last general election was conducted showed a total of about 2,000 voters, but since then the population of the district has been largely augmented, and the next roll should show a substantial increase. It is unnecesary to point out J that the miner's right qualification no | longer exists, and therefore only those enrolled will be able to exercise the franchise. A meeting was held at Campbell's Southern Cross Hotel last evening, for the purpose of appointing a committee to act with the Hospital Commictee in arranging the business of the grand carnival in aid of the Hospital funds. There was a large attendance, and Messrs Macquarie, Pickering, Shepherd, Cooper, Lucas, Shepherd, Collings, Pickett, Beeche, Wise, Sergeant and Potts were appointed a committee. It was decided to order timber for a dancing platform, and erect a marque for the performers. Mr Preshaw reported, that the Black's Point band had kindly promised their services on the occasion. Sub-commit-tees were appointed to provide a May Pole on the ground, Aunt Sally, Funograph, and other amusements. The committee will meet again this evening, at the same time and place. We have to acknowledge the receipt of Vol. 1, No. 1 of "The International Exporter," published by Mr H. P. Hubbard, of the International Newspaper Agency, New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.A. a well got up and useful little manual giving the population and names of the newspapers published in all the leading cities of the world. The design of this work is to point out to American manufacturers the way of extending their business, and the different countries offering the greatest attraction for enterprise. The advice which the compilers :>ffer, so far at all events as it refers to New Zealand, is undoubtedly well rounded, and if followed by the great :rading corporations of the United States, ivill no doubt be attended with much adrantii^e both to themselves and the pcoplo jf this colony. 1

At the corner of Shiel and Cinnamon streets the Chinese have erected a spar about 40ft. high, and for three nights past their amusement has been to suspend from the top of it a representative of " the I author of .ill mischeif," made out of in- . flammable material and well stuffed with crackers and other explosives.^ At this they Bhy lighted packets of crackers, and the one who ignites hi3 satanio majesty first gets a prize of the value of £3. The competitors are unlimited, both IJu ropeans aud Chinamen waging war simultaneously against the common enemy of mankind, and the firing is, of course, very desultory, some hundreds of packets of crackers being not unfrequently exploded before the enemy is brought under. The sport is a very interesting one, and hundreds of people gather nightly to witness it. Last night was the " last of the season." On Friday next a grand Fete CAampetre will beheld in Smith's Paddock, in aid of the funds of the Reefton Hospital. The idea was first suggested by U3 on Monday last, and has been since taken up so warmly that there is no doubt that the demonstration will be a great success. Mr Willmott, of the Combination Company, was interviewed on the subject, and at once fell in with the proposal, kindly offering the full use of his magnificent theatrical wardrobe for the occasion, and more than this, to provide a genuine Punch and Judy show. The whole of the members of the Combination Company will march in procession to the ground, and costumes will bo provided for such of the townspeople .is may feel desirous of joining in the march. The services of the brass bind have been invited, and a platform will be provided on the ground for dancing. In order to ensure as large an attendance as possible the Hospital Committee intend to invite the business people in town to close their establishments at 1 o'clock on Friday, and there is little to doubt that the wish will be generally acceded to. A charge of one shilling per head will be made for entrance and the amount so collected will be handed to the hospital. It is also intended to have a refreshment stall on the ground. The benefit performance tendered by Mr Wilhnott to the Reefton Hospital on Monday evening last, resulted in the funds of the institution being enriched to the extent of £15 12s 6d, which with the Government subsidy of £ for £ will bring the amount up to something over £31, a contribution for which Mr Willmott deserves the hearty thanks of the community. The pieces selected for the occasion were "Aurora Floyd" and I " O'Callaghan on his Last Legs," and the performance was on the whole one of the most enjoyable given by the company. The parts of Softy (Mr Hesford) ; James Conyers (Mr Brooke) ; Mr Floyd. (Mr Rede); John Melish (Mr Herman) ; Mat Harrison (Mr Wilkinson); Talbot Bulstrode (Mr Simmons); and William Wilson (Mr Marter), were each and all excellently sustained. As Aurora Floyd Miss Louisa Crawford fairly ' excelled herself, her impersonation throughout being faultless. The famous dagger scene between Softy and Aurora was thrillingly real, and raised the excitement of the audience to the very highest pitch, and at the conclusion both performers received a perfect storm of applause. As Mrs Powell, Miss Amy Johns showed her ready adaptability to the higher walks of the drama, her acting throughout being easy, natural and well deserving the complement it elicited. Softy, in "Aurora Floyd," and Felix O'Callaghan in the comedy of that name is a wide transition, and may be said to represent about the north and south poles of the Thespian art, yet Mr Hesford was no less at home as the rollicking, love-making Irishman of the latter, than as the daft villain of the former, and succeeded in keeping the audience in an uproar of merriment from first to last. The other minor characters were equally well sustained, while Miss Lizzie Lawrence made an excellent Mrs Montague, and Miss Carrie Levy a pretty and kissable Julia. From beginning to end the programme afforded a really pleasant eveuings amusement. The company left for Capleston yesterday morning. New plans for the Channel tunnel were issued on December 4, and are said to meet with the approval of critics ; they being the entrance and approach to tunnel three miles inland, within range of the defences of Dover garrison. Respecting cumulative votes, Truth (London) says: — "The cumulative vote at the school board elections is a mistake. It is obvious that through it a board may be elected of members each representing a small minority, and that the candidates of the majority may be entirely excluded. All these fancy franchises are quack nostrums. The only right of a local minority that ought to be recognised is the right to convert itself into a majority." Lieutenant Ponsonby, who led the London Criterion barmaid astray, and was deprived of his commission — this being the first instance of the kind that had come under the notice of the Naval authorities ! — is now divorced from his wife. Mr Ponsonby had a citation served on him at the instance of Emma Curnmings. It transpired that while he was "carrying on" with Miss C, he had given Mrs Ponsonby to understand that he had "gone to see his mother's grave." Decree nisi with costs. It's almost time that we heard that the ex-lioutenant " contemplated visiting Australia." The Nelson Colonist says: -"The number of acres in hops in the Nelson district this year is estimated, as stated by us the other day, to be 529. From these it is reckoned that in the event of the blight being kept under and everything going right up to the time of picking the yield may be put down at 1200ft>3 to

the acre, giving a total of 634,800ft>5. The beer duty last year (£58,600) was paid on 90,154 hogsheads brewed in the colony, the estimated quantity of hops jused being 360,61Gtt>3. Supposing the amount brewed during the current year to be the same, and the yield of hops to be correctly given above, there would be left for export from this district alone no. less than 274, lSdfta after supplying sufficient for all the breweries in the colony.