KUMARA JUBILEE.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 March 1926, Page 4

KUMARA JUBILEE.

THE REUNION LUNCHEON.

AX' CXOCALI PiKD SUCCESS.

The Kumara Jubilee celebrations were continued yesterday lor the third d;iv in perfect weather. It is remarknhie how kind the wtnther conditions have lieen lor (lie special occasion.

Voterdiiy the reunion luncheon took place in the .Memorial Hall. There via- another record attendance and Kutnara looked at its host lor the occasion. Inside the lar.ee lltill long tahle.s were, laid out and they held a uondcrlitlly line spread and Lite wants ol the large party of pioneers and other visitors were very promptly looked after hy a lievy ol young ladies who were most attentive. There was an overflowing attendance—over 400 seats provided lor being filled--while there were a lorge nnniher of onlookers in the gallery. The .Mayor of Kumara (Mr A. I!. Spiers) presided, having thy lion .1. (I. Anderson .Minister of .Mincsi on his left, while Others present inelnded .Mrs Sedihui, Mr r f. Is. A". Seddon M l’.. Mr -I. A. .Murdoch (a former mayor ol kumara), the Mayor of (ireyniouth (Mr \V. 11. Pnrfilt). the Mayor of Hokitika (Mr f.■. A. Perry), the Mayor of Itoss (Mr S. Evans). the Westland County Chairman (.Mr T. I!. Chesternntn i and the Chairman of the Grey mouth Harliotir Hoard (Mr A. Steer).

After tie excellent viands prepared had been done lull justice to a lengthy toast list was dealt with. Throughout the proceedings were of a very happy nature anti during tho speeches much amusement was caused hy the interjections and good humoured interruptions of u number of the old pioneers. The GreyinoiiDi String Hand was present mill played a niimher of very enjoyable selections, whilst during the afternoon hv special request Mr Cordon Narcotirt sang, '• .My Pretty .lane.” The King and Royal family. Proposed by the Chairman. M.r A. 11. Spiers then proceeded to extend a welcome to those present from far and near. He was glad, indeed, to see such a large assembly of pioneers present. There had lieen ninth tribulation when the celebrations were proposed Inn lie was glad to he able to say that the reunion had proved so successful anil enjoyable. lie thanked all present for their attendance that day. He was glad, indeed, to (iiul that the old pioneers had given their .support and had turned up in far greater uiiinhers than had been hoped for. lie had also to thank Mr Peever their energetic seeretarv for the splendid work he had done in connection ; with the eolehrnfions. Mr Peeler then read a large number of telegrams of apology and good wishes, including one from the Rt Hon .1. C ('nates. Prime .Minister. Others read included from lion IT. !,. Michel. M.Canon and Mrs Hen n. the Mayor of Palmerston. Mr tides (Alt. I'.'den). M. A. .Murphy. C. .and 1,. Alorice. father Keeleton. A. Christian. R. Alurtha. A. X. Gilhert. Sam Eddy. Mrs H. f laser. S, Peters. S. .1. Turnhull. C. Roldoll (who was on his win hill was taken ill al Welhegtoui. f. Williams (lirunner)

and l\ S. Rtaii. Air Spiers then requested Air .1. A. .Murdoch to take the chair for the

gathering. Mr I. A. Murdoch -aid he would first ask from one and all a snirit of friendliness one to another. Then lie Mould ask them to rise and suitably welcome Airs Seddon. the wife of‘the first .Mayor of Kumara. 'The assemblage rose and gave a musical welcome accompanied by hearty cheers). He next asked them to extend a hearty welcome to the representative present of the King, the Hon .1. C. Anderson. .Minister o| Alines. in recognition of his prescoiiee with them that day. (A

similar cheering reception n> given). Al,'' .Murdoch continuing said an iuil""'l;ini. i lentil al mu had nuili'd on ilji' .Minister t'nui morning in i-onm-i-iiuii "it 1 1 the water races of the Government in that district, and on his decision lunch of the Inline of the Kumara district would rest. The future rested on the question, and it would he one of did she fall or was she pushed. He Imped that the decision if not in favor of their request would not he the fault of the Minister and that he would do all in his power lo assist the old toll'll. They htiil been complimented on the weather hut one old pioneer had not

expressed any surprise remarking that morning'. "Have ivo not waited fifty

yours I’m- it." Laughter.) Continuing; .Mr .Murdoch said they found they still had a lot of work to do. IT they took up the work the pioneers had left, undone, and earned oil Then the world would he the better lor il. The pioneers of t hidistrict had done a groat deal lor civilisation and the advancement of the Dominion. •New Zealand was not getting now the. ehiss of neople who came here as a. result ol the lure of cold. The pioneers did a national work that wo who follow them cannot repay, and we should show our gratitude for what they had done. In this connection he regretted idle closing of the Kuiearn and lioss hospitals and pointed out that it cost no more to run three hospitals than

it cost, to run one now. Concluding; he would ask them to rise and drink most heartily to that noble hand of iue,n and women who had opened up the country and set us Mich a line example ol probity—The Pioneers of the West Coast. •Mr \Y. Spimleler •eplying to the toast said lie lelt it a greai" honor to he presem to return thanks on behalf ol the pioneers. He had come front Ooldsbornngh with his father at the outbreak of the rush and had lived in a tent where the Crown Hotel was later built, and was now occupied bv Mr Sanity’s shop. He regretted deeply the absence at the gathering of the late Mr Seddon. paying a tribute to his great work. -Mr 11. A. Raueke said it. was a pleasure 10 he present to celebrate the opening ol :i «*»>lcJiieM tluit had a pront ‘‘fleet on the assisting of the settlement t,l New Zealand. Xow the goldfields v. ere languishing hut that was due ia a measure to the nuu-sympa-tbuic tloveriimem. He pointed, out that the present Minister of .Mines was I not ea; eying out his professions of! goodwill, 'the prospecting {assistance I otiered hv the Government was only a in.sera hie pittance, and no good results' v.ould come mini more favourable!' conditions for prospecting were offered. I Mr Jasper Jeffries ns one of the old i identities desired to sincerely thank! ' the people 01 the district for ihe veifv line manner in which they had ar- : ranged the festivities and had catered 1 for their wants and those assembled 1

loi their very generous reception of the toast. Mr D. ,1. Kvans proposed the toast ‘d " 1 he lion, the Minister of .Mines.” hi doing so ho expressed his pleasure i at being present on the occasion. He l ad early recollections as a lad of the early days. The ’Xmas of ItTo |, e spent at .Mr Tiugg’s farm on the north bank of the river and ’Xmas 157(1 at Rugg’s Hotel in Ktimara. They were very much indebted to the Minister of Alines for his visit to the district, to! enquire into the water races of the dis-l Diet. One thing that retarded the district in its early days was tile want I of water, latter on the Government water race was brought in. He did not know the actual cost, but they had J been public utilities. It would be regrettable if tlie water race were allow- ' ed to fall into disrepair, or pass to '

other purposes. The Westland Power Hoard the previous day had been asked for the privilege of reticulating an electric power service from Kumara to Hokitika. It was proposed to form a company of £2O,(XX). In a comparatively short time the scheme would he inaugurated and in the vicinity of Stafford two important mining ventures will bo placed under way. This was a cheery piece of news. Referring to the water races he said that they have caused a.

loss. So have the railways in some places but there was no intention of getting rid of those non-paying lines. To sell the water races would he a great, sacrifice. He hoped that the representations made would he full) considered and he hoped the Minister would favourably consider the retention of the water rates. Referring to the advancement of mining, and the fact that the Government had a strong mandate to carry on Mr Evans expressed the hone that the Minister of Mines would do everything in his power to allocate and carry out a live mining policy. He proposed the toast of the .Minister of Alines.

The Hon J. G. Anderson, replying tu the toast expressed his pleasure al being present at such a fin'- gathering and to see so many ol the old identities present. He was himself the son of an old pioneer, one of the old prospectors who did not ask for a Government subsidy. Kumara's history will always he one of the bright portions ol the Onminion's history. It. was notable that it gave ns one of the greatest ol goldfields, and one of the greatest Prime .Ministers. Alas, time had claimed the latter, hut lie was glad indeed to see Isis help-mate present with them that day. bike all good wives Airs Seddon hud rendered great help to her husband. Air Seddon’s humanitarian legislation would live for ever. He was a worker in the best sense of the word. Another good Prune A! mister had rceciitly gone to his rest, and he also had sacrificed It is life to help on the country. There had also hem Sir Joseph Waril and the Hon Mr (’nates. The present Prime .Minister will carry on the good work. That morning ho

had ieeeived a d .'putal inn in regard to the Miiter races, hut he Mould not s;iv what hi- answer Mould he. lie pointed out that the whole of the capital ol the race- hail la'CU lost and that they were losing over JCIIiCO a year in upUi—p. nliile there mus only one user

of the water when the race broke dun it. They should not talk hut «ork and get into the terraces. He was endeavouring tu help the mining industry wherever it mas possible. El "i t rieity wits going to hell) a great deal in Otago. Resides gold they had some of tlie finest ion! in the world on the Wist Coast, hut in limii-cd quantities. lie iilso recognised that their

agrietitui'iil future was going io he great. They had also wonderful timber areas hut they mu-t he .scientifically farmed lor the sake of nnr children and Ihn-e that eaiue alter them. Talking of prospecting lie pointed out that the future of mining lies along scientific lines. Kxpcrieme shows that the present system of individual prospect-

ing is not a success commensurate with the heavy expense involved. It had luen de idfd to abolish the present system ol prospecting. He intended to call a meeting of geologists and to draw up a plan of places suitable for prospecting under a qualified geologist. Cabinet had agreed In these prn-pn-'ids. It was i pen to prospectors or

mining syndicates in take part in this s heme if they so desired. There was no use talking. They had to gel to Murk ami he ua- going to get to wink mi these lines. Referring to the pioneers he said the old pioneers Mere happy in their day. There was not much sickness in those days. Gone were l!ie birds of the hush—taken hi the nea-cl. brought in to kill the rabbit. brought, in what for only God l-.no'is. In eo nel Us ion lie wished the

r maining | ioiieer.* every happiness. H h i I fallen in Ids lot to vatry on the Unitarian poli.y ol the late R. A. 81." l*l«ui. lie bail une. desire and that ■a- to make all Xen Zoalaud happy. ■Mr Raiieke and lie Mere good friends. If'' regarded Ins eiilieistii with good leeling. He thanked them heartily lor the pleasure of being present at .such a notable gathering. Mr W. H. Pa rlitt (Mayor of G'reymntith proposed ''The Parliament of Nell Zealand." It was a pleasure lo he | reseat on brhall ni the people of (ireyniouth. lie had been burn at No I own and hi- dad, who it ns a pioneer, had passed lienee, lie had mutual I I tx-imls.liip and admiration fur the pio-

neer* of flic past. Kumara was not. able lor the greatest of Prime .Ministers. ivlio Itad been barn practically li'-'i'e. lie apologised for the absence of the Creyiiioiith Band who had only returned the previous night alter a strenuous time. They had a representative in tile sun ol the lat? Air Soddon. \viLit Mltuin he would couple with

tin- toils!. Mr T. K. V. Sedilon said it was nearly live mom Its sinee the elect ion. hut it hail not. yet hum settled, whether lie "as justly entitled (o reply to the toast. lit- thanked the previous speak-

ers lor their references to his late lather and to Ids mother, who was present that day. Refer ‘init to the Prime Minister. Mr Coates, all would wish him success heeatiso he had shown his loyalty and leadership in the field of battle. Ktimara, during its fifty years ol existence, if it had no great buildings. had been able In engender a splendid feeling, a reputation for hospitality and good nature. During those oil years that good feeling had been epitomised by his late father who included it in the legislation which he had passed jn the land. There was a -till greater admission of tin- spirit by the Minister’s statement that that policy was being carried on by the present government of the day. They were sitting in a. hall built to commemorate the nurses and soldiers from Kuinaru who had laid down their lives in the great war. pioneers in a military sense, ll the Minister carried out his programme for prospecting, the people of the West Const would not be backward in getting their hack- hills

prospected. Mr S. P. Evans (Mayor of Ross) proposed “The Day We Celebrate.” responded to by Mr ,T. Steei 1 (Greymoutlil. who saitl he wished to take his hat off to tlie old pioneers who have left their footprints in the path of time. Mr W. Ti. Gilbert proposed the toast of the visitors, congratulating the pen. pie of Kumnrn in the unity of spirit that had resulted in making the celebration such a huge success. Mr George Ormond ‘ (Palmerston North) replied thanking the people for the great reception given on bis return to Kumnrn where be remembered incidents of the brightest and saddest of his life. It was a great pleasure to him to come back and renew the many old friendships and h? thanked the committee for the kindest of welcomes extended. Mr ID Burrell proposed “Local Bodies.” replied to by Mr _A. B. Spiers. Mr S?ddon proposed “The Ladies.” in a humorous speech, replied to by Mr H. Chalk. Mr G. Burger proposed “The Press.” responded to by Mr J. O'Brien (Grey River Argus). Mr J. R cell ford proposed “The Jubib'.' Executive” paying a tribute to the splendid work done, and making special reference to the work of Mr Be ever (Secretary) : responded to hy Mr Peever in a happy speech in which he expressed convictions of a great future for the new Kumars,

The Hon J. G. Anderson proposed the toast of the Chairman and Secretary. The singing of Auld Lang Syne, and the National Anthem brought a happy and highly successful function to a close.