WEST COAST JUBILEE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19264, 1 March 1926, Page 12

WEST COAST JUBILEE.

THE KUMARA GOLDFIELDS. EARLY DAYS RECALLED. THE ORIGINAL DISCOVERER. Celebrations in connection with the fiftieth jubilee of the Kumara Goldfields will commence to-day. In a special issue dealing with the occasion the Christchurch press recalls the fact that James Robinson, who followed the prospectors and discovered their claim, was considered by Mr. R. J. Seddon to be entitled to the reward for finding thrt Kumara goldfiekls. This was shown by Mr. Seddon's action in moving the following resolution at a meeting of the West-land County Council: —"That this council vote James Robinson the sum of two hundred pounds, as a reward for his perseverance in prospecting the Kumara goldfield, and giving public notification of the discovery after proving it payable, and further, that in the opinion of this council, James Robinson would have been entitled to the sum previously offered by the General Government for the discovery of new goldfields had such reward not lapsed. That the council under the circumstances would recommend the General Government to place' on the estimates a sum of money for James Robinson, equal (in conjunction with the vote of the council) to that previously offered by the Government for the discovery of new goldfields, and that the council would respectfully urge upon the Government the advisability of again offering rewards for the discovery of new goldfields " A Lively Meeting. The meeting was somewhat lively, by the way. During the discussion Mr. McWhirter remarked that Mr. Seddon " must be a liar," and threatened to throw an inkstand at that gentleman's head. The latter retorted by " observations respecting ignorant remarks from ignorant persons." Kumara had a tramway as early as 1877. On that date the GreymouthIvumara horse tramway was opened, and the first car ran through the following day. The warden, Mr. Price, was extremely unpopular with some of the people in Kumara because he refused to grant hotel licenses indiscriminately. In June, 1877, as special licensing officer for Kumara, he sat at the Courthouse. In opening the proceedings he called attention to the disproportion of licensed houses in Kumara compared with other towns. In Christchurch, with a population of 5000, there were only 30 licenses. In Hokitika 50, in Grey mouth 32, in Wellington 42, Kumara, with a population of 1400, had already 40 licenses, and now applied for nine more. After a protracted hearing one new application was granted. Seddon Elected Mayor.

On tho evening of August 20, 1877, the friends of Mr. R. J. Seddon celebrated his election as first Mayer of Kumara. He secured 103 votes, and Mr. Peter Dungan, his opponent,, polled 73. After both candidates had addressed the crowd assembled at the Courthouse, the friends of Mr. Seddon lost no time in making a public demonstration. They formed an irregular procession, headed by Mr. Seddon, supported arm-in-arm by two of his most enthusiastic admirers, and paraded the town to the strains of a brass b..nd. At every hotel whose proprietor had supported Mr. Seddon a halt was made and the health of " The Mayor" duly pledged. At Mr. Archer's hotel, where the fire brigade had gathered, the men turned out, manned their carriage, and placed Mr. Seddon on it, he having donned a red jacket and brass helmet. The procession again started for the theatre, where Mr, Seddon ajjain returned thanks. Tho procession was re-formed and soon reached the Queen's Hotel (Mr. Seddon's). Here all were invited to enter and champagne became the order of'the night. The brigade then had a practice on Seddon's Buildings with ladders and buckets, at tho conclusion of which a " tableau" illuminated by coloured fires was improvised on the top of the hotel. The first Mayor of Kumara, clad in, his fireman's dress, was made the central figure, having the men of the brigade grouped on either side. The demonstration was" brought to a close by the singing of " Rule, Britannia!" and " God Save the Queen." Sir George Grey received a wonderful welcome when ho visited Kumara in February, 1878. The Mayor, Mr. Seddon. welcomed Sir George, who was presented with an address, read by the town clerk.