OUR KUMARA LETTER.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 30 March 1901, Page 2

OUR KUMARA LETTER.

(OUE OAVN CORRESPONDENT.)

" Enthusiasm always carries the day, " the Premier is reported to have said. Every day we are receiving new exemplifications of tho truth." Wo have got a good illustration in tho person of the Rev. Mr Thompson of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church. By enthusiasm in the cause he has succeeded in carrying to a successful issue a work that many less enthusiastic and hopeful, declared to be impossible—the renovation and painting of the whole of the interior of the church referred to—partienlarly when the smallness of the congregation is considered, was a work of no small magnitude. This together with improvements to the grounds attached has been carried out soloy by a few members of the congregation, who, by working any hours and ill hours after their ordinary labours, have demonstrated what persistency of effort can accomplish. The grounds relieved of their wild growths bear quite a pleasant appearance. In conection with this work the names of Messrs R. Black, J. Smith, A. Mawhinnie and J. Gaven desefvo particular mention.

Tho interior of the church is now scarcely recognisable, so complete and sudden has been the transformation. From the former bare walls to the present warmth of paint and varnish is an appreciable change, and one that will remove the suggestion of draught and lack of comfort that always attaches to barren walls. The work though carried out entirely by amateurs is certainly creditable and artistic, and could hardly have been excelled by trained hands. I have been given to understand that the varnishing of the seats was entrusted to Misses Jamieson and Stark, and right well they have accomplished their task. I must not forget to state that the work was under the supervision of Mr Charles Hall, a well known knight of the brush. To Messrs S. Preston, R. Preston, J. Jamieson, E. Johnson, P. Anderson, J. Tait and Mr * Macdonald is due the credit of most of the inside work. Mr Thompson and his committee desire to thank all who in any way lent a helping hand but particularly those specified above. I learn that the opening service takes place to-morrow Sunday 31st March. A somewhat sudden and distressing death took place at half-past 10 o'clock last night, when Mrs Fortune, wife of Mr Edward Fortune, of the Beach road,. breathed her last. It seems that she has been somewhat upsot since her brother. Mr J. Hayes, returned home, apparently incurable, a couple of days back. Tester* day she was seized with violent fits of reaching. These became so intense towards evening that Dr Scott was sent for,'.From the first he recognised the serious- 1 ness of the case, and though her husbancL/ who is engaged on the Wainihinihi water-V race, was sent for with all haste death A supervened before his arrival. The immediate cause was failure of the heart's action caused by excessive reaching. Very great sympathy is folt for the husband and children, of whom there are three, and also Mr John Hayes, brother of deceased, in their sad aflliction. A sad feature was the fact that the latter only 4 left home yesterday morning to enter the Grey Hospital- He is suffering from a, vory distressing and incurable disease. One more illustration of the uncertainty of life and tho oertainty of death 1