OUR KUMARA LETTER.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 24 September 1901, Page 3

OUR KUMARA LETTER.

(ode own correspondent).

I regret to have to announce the death of a well-known resident in the person of Mr William Close, of Seddon street. Deceased had long been in indifferent health, which several times confined him as an inmate of our local hospital. The complaint from which he suffered, and w’hich ended in death about 1 p.m. yesterday, was a heart affection. He was, I understand a native of Victoria. Fifty-one years of age : married and leaves a widow and two grown up sons, for all of whom widespread sympathy is felt. Mr Brame, our local Postmaster, is set down for a lecture to-night at the Young Mens’ Club, The subject “ Ferns ” should possess more than an ordinary inary interest for all, especially in view of the fact that the Lecturer is an expert in this particular branch of study. Mr Brame possesses a splendid collection of native ferns, all nicely mounted on separate cards, and comprising with two or three exceptions every variety of ferns in the colony. We live in the midst of a beau iful and varied flora ; but few of us have any even a most primitive knowledge of the names or the natures of the members of this family, A big muster is expected. To-morrow at the Adelphi comes the great social event of the week and in a measure of the season, the Catholic Band ball. Given a fine night a strong contingent from Hokitika and another from Rimu while a third from Greymouth have signified their intention of being present, until one wonders what will the committee do with their Kumara patrons. Small boys in Dillmanstown I am given to understand have taken to selling bottles in the hope of raising the wherewithal to enable them to get a view from the gallery. Here it will be a case of "first come, first served.”

To wind up the round of social pleasures for this week the long deferred concert in aid of St Andrews Presbyterian church comes off on Friday night. One glance at the programme will convince even the most cynical, of its more than ordinary merit. That is sufficient to a Kumara audience and is a forerunner of certain success.

Mr Robinson, dredgemaster of the Greenstone Creek, left for Ross on Sunday morning to attend the funeral of his mother-in-law, the late Mrs Evans. The friends of Mrs Galligan, of Dillmanstown will hear with regret of her entry into the hospital, the Doctor having found it necessary to perform a serious surgical operation.