KUMARA.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume V, Issue 242, 21 December 1877, Page 7

KUMARA.

The magical effect of gold was never more truly verified than in the history of this town — or rather borough. Less than two years ago this place was a dense forest of ratta and birch, knitted and matted .together with '* lawyers " and " supplejacks," with one solitary hostelry for the convenience of passengers en route for HokitUca and Grcyraouth. It is situated about half-way between those two towns, on the terrace overlooking the western bank of the Teremakau. Its area, at a rough calculation, may be- estimated — if we include Dillman's, Larrikins', and other leads in the suburbs — at about four square miles ; its population may be reckoned at about five thousand; it boasts of fifty-two public-houses, the most of them- substantially built, and comfortably if not luxuriously, furnished, besides eleven wholesale and bottle licenses. The external comforts are administered by twelve drapers, and the inward man is catered for by six bakers, as many butchers, and tliree or four chemists. Life and property are zealously guarded by six constables and detective sergeant Brown (whose name is a terror to evil-doers on the West Coast), under the charge of Inspector O'Donnel, who is universally respected, not only for his ability as a police officer, but for his bland unassuming manners. The Municipal Council is presided over by R. J. Seddon, Esq,, Mayor, whose interests have been identified with that of the district for some years. There are four 'places of public worship — Catholic (first built), Wesleyan, Presbyterian, and last of all the Church of England. Our church is also used as a school for the present. The Government are building, as so well they can with the public money, a splendid structure for school purposes, and have also built a neat picturesque cottage for the head teacher. The poor Catholics will have tough work to contend against the " Central Board " who have amassed a large fund thi'ough the increase in vahie of their '' reserve " since the rush, and the " Board " is determined to have the proper quantity and quality of teaching power, with all the material requisites for a well organised schoolBat you must not think that I despair of the Catholic school being able to stand against all opposition here. No. I have too much faith in the generosity of my countrymen, and the zeal of our worthy Bishop, the Eight Eev. Dr. Redwood, who is respected and admired for his talents and virtues all over the Diocese ; but in no part is he more warmly loved than in Kuinara. As a proof this, when he was here about twelve months ago, the people promised him that if he were here on St. Patrick's Day, they would have a church built and ready to be consecrated by him. They both kept their word. His lordship arrived punctually, and expressed his surprise to see so large and substantial a building erected and fit for the celebration of the divine mysteries in so short a time, and could not help adding his testimony to the zeal — the well-known zeal of the sons of St. Patrick — for the pure old faith. A presbytery has been also built, and two sections of land bought adjoining the church. The Rev. Father McCaughey presides over the spiritual interests of this large district, which extends south oE Jackson's Bay to the Greenstone — a distance of between two hundred and fifty and three hundred miles. The people ox Kumara are about petitioning Dr. Redwood to have a resident priest among them, as the population of the place is more than all the district together. I hope his lordship will soon be ably to comply with their wishes. We have also here one of the most nourishing branches of the Hibernian Australasian Catholic Benefit Society in New Zealand — that is, financially speaking. The funds to our credit although, in existence a very short time amount to something very little short of £100 ; and I cannot understand why we are not getting a greater accession of numbers to our ranks.

It has been a matter of astonishment to a great many that the Eev. Charles Clarke has been allowed to travel the world lecturing on Oliver Cromwell, whom he represents to be one of the bravest and most tender-hearted men that ever lived, without being challenged by some son of that race that he and the Puritans attempted to exterminate.

Mr. J. J. Crofts (late teacher of the Kuinara Catholic School) has at last confronted him, and is to lecture in reply to the Rev. Charles on the "Murderer of the Women and Children of Drogheda and Wexford," next Friday evening, the 14th inst. I trust be will have a bumper house on the occasion. I understand, with the exception of one or two, of the " LaAsser faire genre" all the Irishmen and women of the district have expressed their determination to attend.

In my next I shall give you an account of the lecture, with a rctuinc of the resources of trade and prospects of the West Coast generally and Krnnara particularly. I was nearly forgcttiug to mention one' other of our institutions, without which of course our civilization would uot bo perfect — I mean the newspaper. We have the Kwntiva Times, which, on the whole, is very well conducted for a country paper. There is an occasional contributor to it who writes under the norn dr plume of " Frank Truman." Frank tries to ba witty ; but his wit is of such a depth that ordinary readers have failed to sec the bottom of it. Among that class is A Straight Tip.

December 6th, 1877.