OUR KUMARA LETTER.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 14 December 1901, Page 4

OUR KUMARA LETTER.

10UB OWN CORRESPONDENT).

A meeting of the Kutnara Jockey Club was held last evening at the secretary’s office, at which the draft programme for the Easter meeting was submitted. It was resolved that the Auction Handicap be dispensed with and that a “Presidents Parse'’ bo substituted, distance 7 furlongs value £3O. It was also decided to make the trot on the second day a mile and a half instead of two miles. With these amendments the programme is the same as last years’ saving rearrangement of the events on the second day, which puts the “Hack Handicap” immediately before the “Farewell Handicap,” and the “President’s Purse" the first on the list. The tenders for roofing the stand were considered and as it was not deemed satisfactory it was resolved that a committee consisting of Messrs C Gebdart, J. Gilbert, and W. B. Gilbert be apppointsd to confer with Mr Mr Bennie, relative to suggested alterations and additions of necessary works ; and this work should be well in hand by the middle of Januaiy. Repairing, extending the fences and erecting a new totalisator box were held over to be considered at a subsequent meeting, when the large works are in hand.

The funeral of the late Mrs Clark, defered until the arrival of her son from Wellington, is definitely fixed for today at 2 p.m. when the cortege will leave the Wesleyan Parsonage for the Kumara Cemetery. I regret to report that at latest word the health of Mrs Galligan, of Dilimanstown, who underwent serious operations within the past twelve months, has failed to such an extent that the worst results are feared. Let us hope that these will not be realised.

It is with extreme regret that I record the continued illness of Mr P. Dungan, M.C.C. This has necessitated his resigning his seat in the Westland County Council, which he “did at last meeting. “ The old order changeth, yielding place to new," and so one of the oldest, if not absolutely the oldest (in point of public service, of course) has passed fromj the scene, Mr Dungan has been a member of various public bodies for over thirty years, and is, with the Premier and Mr Guinness, the only surviving member of the old Provincial Council, A rare record "f public service—a record that entailed a great number of contested elections and often against strong opposition is certainly one to bo proud of. Although the stern necessity of continued ill-health has caused Mr Dungan’s withdrawal from the stage of public life, it is no small solace in his suffering to recall that, while the power to serve in a public capacity was his, the public accepted that service through an unbroken continuity of years that has not many equals. Mr Dungan’s record includes two terms as County Chairman during which he performed the onerous duties appertaining to that position with an efficiency that was characteristic of the man. Let us hope that Mr Dungan will long remain with us to enjoy the well earned leasure to which his public record entitles him.

The next sitting of the Warden’s Court takes place on Wednesday, the 18tb.

Commissioner Tunbridge, accompanied by Inspector McDonnell, paid an official visit to the town yesterday. As we pride ourselves oh being a law-abiding community, the advent of a stranger in blue causes some suspicion. Any disquieting fears were subdued on its becoming known that the visit was one of departmental inspection only.