OUR KUMARA LETTER.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 25 January 1901, Page 3

OUR KUMARA LETTER.

[OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Kumara, January 21. A stranger coming into town yesterday aEternoon could not but he struck by the number of flags flying"*half-mast on every .available flagstaff. It was but a token of a mourning that was little less than universal. A token only it is true, but the sentiment that prompted it was genuine and deep. "The Queen is dead " was on every lip ; and it was tin's sad fact that threw the people of Kumara into mourning, though removed so far from the centre. To lend additional solemnity to the scene, both bands paraded the streets in the evening and played the Dead March, the people mustering in numbers listened in silence to the touching strain of the grandest of marches.

Yesterday morning Mr J. Pugg's coach was engaged to take the members of the Wesleyan choir out the Christchurch Road, where a picnic was held. After a most enjoyable day was spent in various pastimes, all returned towards eboning thoroughly satisfied with their day's outing. A further section of the road, which, when complete, is to connect Kumara with Greymouth along the railway line has been let on the co-operative principle to several parties. He may therefore expect to shortly see this work completed and when it is so there is no question, but it will prove a great boom to the travelling public. This success is just one other illustration of what persistent agitation will do if backed up by a good cause.

The contractor for the supply of three hundred cords of firewood for the Greenstone Junction dredge has completed his labors and the greater part is already delivered on the claim. Now and again it comes to the ears of the directors that portions yet undelivered disappear from where stacked. To those who think that a Company is not to be considered, I would say beware. The quostion of the relative value of wood and coal for steaming a dredge has yet to be decided in these parts. The wood is got in bulk so as to be tested at its best when seasoned. A start has been made to bore the Greenstone Gold Dredging Company's claim. So far as can be ascertained the results are highly satisfactory. The work is under the supervision of Mr. Tacon.