OUR KUMARA LETTER.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 12 February 1901, Page 3

OUR KUMARA LETTER.

(our own correspondent.)

The Westland Education Board meet this evening. Among the business to be dealt with of interest to this district are the applications for the position of headmaster for the Kumara State School, The school •ommittee meet later on to make a final selection from among the names sent on by the Board. I understand there are quite a number of qualified gentlemen applying. Of these a good percentage hail from the Co»s fc , and it is generally thought one of them will bo the successful applicant. The lower tumbler for the Greenstone Creek dredge was taken to its destination yesterday afternoon. After placing the lower tumbler of the Greenstone Junction in position, it was found that it was about an inch too narrow to admit of the passage of the buckets. The attempt to remedy the defect locally having so far failed it is probable that it will have to bo taken to Groymouth to the foundry. The timber for the tables tor this latter dredge arrived from Greymouth to-day ;;rnd was together with the steam pipes, taken over to the works. The erec- ' the tables will be commenced immediately- The enlargement of the dam is about completed as is also the rccaulking. Mr Edwards is proceeding apace with the installation of the Electric light on the Junction. Judging from the size of the globe on the poppet head, the light showing there should prove quite a striking one—a land-mark for miles around. I learn that if satisfactory arrangements can be made Mr Rugg intends to have his fine hotel lighted with electricity. Such an improvement would show off the imposing front of that fine building to advantage and would certainly be an ornament to the town.

A party of prospectors subsidised by Government ha' e commenced to drive a long tunnel into the terrace on the north side of the Greenstone Creek, between the old Bung Tuck workings and the Greenstone Creek Company’s dredge. Tho object is to prove the existence or otherwise of gold in tho terrace and flats. It certainly is well worth a trial as gold has been obtained in highly payable quantities in all the creeks, having their ounces in the belt of country lying between the Greenstone Creek and the New River, and Cape Terrace, Cameron’s Track, and Marsden Road, yet no one so far has been able to trace the existence of payable gold within those bounds. If there is a district more worthy of systematic prospecting than another it is that. Several efforts have from time to time, neen made to discover the whereabouts of the run, that all who know tho district consider exists there, but they have all proved unavailing. Lot us hope the present party will prove more successful. A party of local gentlemen interested in dredging matters, paid a visit on Sunday to Marsden and Maori Creek district. They paid special attention to the dredging claims on the Now River and Maori Creek and expressed themselves well pleased with what they saw. They beg to express their apologies for having eaten the dinner specially prepared for a party of Greymouth cyclists who wore somewhat belated. It was a case of first com» first served. The annual statement of tho Groat Greenstone Gold Dredging Company, discloses that on December 31st 19 0, there were 138 shareholders as against 187 at registration; that the arrears of calls totals ,'.£451 ss. Gold obtained for ycar,3dwtlsgrs; expenditure, £62119s 2d; balance at bank, £276 16s lOd.