OUR KUMAR A LETTER.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 27 December 1901, Page 2

OUR KUMAR A LETTER.

(ode own coerespondbnt).

A narrow escape from a fatal accident occurred at Cape Terrace on Christmas Eve, The victim, Mr Nesbitt of Seddon. Street, was leaving the tailrace of hi a claim and had mounted to the topmost rung of the ladder in the jump-up when it gave way, precipitating him to the bottom, a distance of about 40 feet. Another one of the party had just put his head into the jump-up preparatory to mounting the ladder too when the crash came. Another moment and the last named would have been involved in the accident also, and having a pitchfork in his hand at the time would probably have made matters more serious. The injured man was brought to town and attended to by Dr Scott who pronounced his injuries not fatal, no bones having been broken. He is, however, suffering from a severe shock, the result of the fall.

Constable Cassen who has been stationed here for the last few months, is about to be removed to Hokitika, Constable T, Ryan, of Wellington, taking charge of the Kumara station, The public of Kumara and district surrounding wi!l*be sorry to loose Mr Cassen, as during his stay here he has succeeded in making • troops of friends, who will all wish him well in his new abode.

’Xmas Day has come and gone once again. If one could judge by the general appearance of the town on Tuesday night, it would only be justice to assume that in the measure of material prosperity it brought us, it will bear favorable comparison with its predecessors. All the shops and business establishments generally seemed to have shared alike. As a result, complaints as to dullness of business were unheard of.

Perhaps the general prosperity evident is in some measure due to our dredging returns. These have instilled a new hope into the district. Apart from this one hears of several good washings coming opportunely to usher in the holidays. Perhaps the best was that of a party at Larrikins, who obtained SOozs as the result of about a month’s work. The claim in question is owned by two men, who employ in addition to their own labor two wages' men. I learn also that some of the washings in Westbrook have been highly satisfactory. As I anticipated, there is to be a contest for the vacant seat in the Westland County Council. The nominations, which closed on Tuesday, revealed four aspirants, all young colonials. They are : T. MTlrath (Dillmanstown), W. Devereaux und W. B. Gilbert (Kumara), and T. Duff (Staffordtown). The Kumara Jockey Club let the contract for covering the grand stand to H. Mordaunt for £152 10s.