CORRESPONDENCE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 8325, 26 September 1898, Page 4

CORRESPONDENCE.

THAT KUMI,

(To the Editor of the Herald.)

Sir,— l suppose that nine days' wonder of the kumi has just about died out. But there will still be some peoplo who will have their doubts as to its existence, notwithstanding the mythical theory propounded by Messrs Colcnso and Hector. If there was any chance of its home being in that rata, it was a pity that the hunlcr.s and naturalist did not make sonic attempt to dislodge it cither by smoke or lire. It is very possible that the gentleman vho jiosed iii; the naturalist, to tho expedition may have Mime knowledge of natural history, but he cm have none of nature, a« his deduction of the animal dragging its heavy tail along the ground is absurd, for in case the first, of the species being so uselessly handicapped nature would step in and rectify her mistake, as is proved by tho laws of evolution. The encumbrance of dragging tail would in course of generations become a member under the coutiol of the will of the animal, or would be discarded altogether. Well now, 1 have i been over considerable bush country in New Zealand, as likewise that country where exists that rata, but it is tlie first time I have ever heard the least suspicion of the terrible licast being a living fact. But in my opinion that kumi consists of one half "bush oat" and the other half "rats," especially when the Native asserts that he threw :i pointed manuka stick at it, which missed Mr Kumi hut stuck in the trunk of the rata. I may be wrong, but I will back the lala against manuka for hardness. Bumi Whacker.

A child was killed on the Otago Central railway last week. He was the four-year-old son of Mr .]. Lye, printer of the' Otago Witness. The little chap followed his grandmother on to the platform of the carriage. The jerk of the train starting caused him to fall between the carriage and tho platform, and when picked up life was extinct.