OUR KUMARA LETTER.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 10 July 1901, Page 2

OUR KUMARA LETTER.

[OtTB OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

An old pioneer in the person of Mr Michael Nielan, late of Westbrook, passed away at the local hospital sometime during the early hours of yesterday morning, having been found dead in his bed. Deceased had only been a week in the hospital, arift the day prior to his death was up in town. The cause of death was heart disease, hence the sudden demise. He was a native of Galway, Ireland, aged 66 years, 36 of which he had spent in the colony. One of the old school he was highly respected by all who knew him.

Once again I bare to voice the just complaints of local shareholders in -the Greenstone Three-Mile Dredging Company at the reticence of the management over last week's return. No one blames the dredgemaster, but when the secretary is asked to wire the return and fails to do so, people will draw their own inferences. lamin a position to say that the washing took place on Friday, and the result was wired to Dunedin on Saturday morning, yet their is no word of it at the time of writing. Perhaps it will filter through by Thursday as on the previous occasion. Most probably some combined action will be taken with a view to bringing pressure to bear to have this evil Last night I stated the return was said to be 18ozs. The figure I am now given is 20ozs some dwts. I liave every reason to believe this latter is correct, but I cannot state the time. It is unsatisfactory to have to eke out in* formation in this clandestine way when it should have been made publio officially. A very able and instructive lecture was delivered by the Rev. J. C. Thomp* son at last night's meeting of the Literary and Debating Society. The subject chosen by the lecturer was " Carlyle," as seen in Sortar Eosatus. Mr Thompson fully sustained his reputation on this occasion, the only pity being that the hall was not full to listen to what was certainly an intellectual treat. The lecture dealt with Carlyle as an author treating of his peculiarities and style, and his influence on the literature of the day, the lecturer characterising him as one of the greatest forces of the Nineteenth Century. In dealing with his peculiarities of style the lecturer claimed that these were part of the man and helped to mark him out from the other great writers of the period, consequently if divorced from him Carlyle would not occupy the position he now does in the estimation of the world. The lecturer gave a lucid explanation of the savants teachings, pointing out their defects and emphasising their beauties.

On the motion of Mr Sinclair, seconded by Mr Benyon, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded the lecturer, to which ho suitably responded. The Eev. E. Whitehouse will give a lecture on Thursday night at the Town Hall on his experience while in charge of the Kumara cadets at Christchurch. Apart from the well-known ability of the lecturer, there is the additional incentive that it is to be free. A collection wilL however, be taken up at the close, the proceeds to go towards procuring books for the library. Thia object should in itself be sufficient to ensure a large measure of support.