OUR KUMARA LETTER.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 25 March 1901, Page 4

OUR KUMARA LETTER.

(OUk OWN CORRESPONDENT)

The plentiful rainfall of tho lasi few clays has insured steady work for local sluicers for some time to come. This is certainly satisfactory as it should result in some good washings for Easter. Tho Stewards of tho local Jockey Club are determined to use every endeavour to have sufficient coaching accommodation at tho Kumara railway station on race days so that none of their patrons will have need to walk or go on to Hokitika. Mr J Rugg, whoso present plant is second to none in New Zealand, is about to add yet another up-to-date drag to the number. It should arrive here about the end of this or tho beginning of next week, as Mr D Eugg went overland on Saturday to bring it across. It is no exaggeration to say that tho coaching display made on Easter Monday and Tuosdiy will exceed anything hhhartosecn on tho Coast. If our Hokitika friends (save the mark) have reckoned on gaining anything from local laxity, in tins respect they have calculated for once, and events might yet prove, for more than once without'.heir host. We’re not quite dead, there s a spasm or two loft yet. I did not suppose that anyone would bo so unreasonable as to expect a return from our local dredges for tho first week. I have been disillusioned on the point, however, as I have heard a few enquiries. To set matters at rest I may say that there can be no return tor a week or two, as tho difficulties incidental to opening up in a narrow dam arc and by no means trifling, and have first to be overcome before any regular work can be done.

. Neither the Junction nor the Greenstone Creek dredge is trying for the bottom. Indeed in tho ease of tho former it was found necessary to put bands of thin sheet iron around the screen to prevent any of the stuff' from going over the tables.. Thiav was necessary to prevent the dam from silting up at the stern. 'of the vessel as there was only a few inches of water to come and go on. All the stuff is being sent through the elevator, and this will bo continued until .anqplp room is secured. The machinery ,oa the dredges is working well. :. I regret to have to report that an accident befel a young man named John Ban on Saturday night. Ho was employed on tho last shift on the Greenstone Creek dredge when by some accident he missed his footing and fell down the hatch Subsequently lie was brought to the Kumara Hospital where it was found that three of his ribs were broken. He is now doing as well as can be expected. The many friends of Mrs Eugg will be pleased to learn that on latest reports, her condition showed a slight improvement. Her eldest son James, is expected to arrive from Auckland to-day.