The Kumara Times Published Every Evening. SATURDAY, MAY 14, 1881.

Kumara Times, Issue 1444, 14 May 1881, Page 2

The Kumara Times Published Every Evening. SATURDAY, MAY 14, 1881.

On the 19th of last month we were informed by a telegram from Nelson that a fire broke out in the vestry of the Roman Catholic Church of that town at about two o’clock on the previous morning, “ when about £4OO worth of damage was done, including the destruction of a valuable set of silver ornaments, presented to the Church by Bishop Redwood. The three altars were completely destroyed.” It now appears that the damage is much greater than was at first supposed. The Church was completely gutted, and practically useless, and it has been decided, after taking the opinion of three experts, to abandon any intention of repairing it, and to build an entirely new Church. Then all the vestments and sacred vessels, statues, &0., are totally destroyed (which alone are estimated to have cost about £400) ; the only thing saved was the Oiborium containing the Blessed Sacrament, and this, although exposed to the fiercest fury of the flames, was found after the fire was extinguished absolutely untouched. Even the heavy brass candlesticks standing on either side of the tabernacle were melted away and the tabernacle itself and the altar reduced to ashes. The loss is a great blow to the Rev. Father Garin, who saw all the results of years of patient self-denial swept away in a few minutes, and there is a strong feeling of sympathy for the venerable priest on the part of all classes and creeds, by whom he is universally respected. Bishop Moran, we hear, offered at once all the assistance in his power, and Bishop Redwood has specially authorised the Rev. Father Mahoney to visit the different parts of the diocese to collect subscriptions. Bishop Redwood was in his young days a pupil of Father Garin’s and there are many young men on the West Coast who owe their early lessons in virtue to this venerated priest. Father Garin has all his life been peculiarly solicitious for the education of the young, and especially the destitute and orphans. One of his latest acts has been the establishment of an Industrial School at Nelson under the “ Neglected and Criminal Children’s Act,” in addition to the excellent orphanages already existing there. These institutions have been so successful as to call for immediate enlargement, but the necessity for at once erecting a new Church will, unless charitable persons come generously forward, put back the school buildings. The Rev. Father Mahoney is Father Garin’s able and respected coadjutor in the works of public beneficence for which St. Mary’s, Nelson, is justly celebrated. The reerection of St. Mary’s Church, Nelson, is

estimated to cost £6OO. From an announcement which appears elsewhere it will be seen that the Rev. Father Mahoney will (by special permission of hia Lordship Bishop Redwood and the local clergy) address the congregation in St. Patrick s Church to-morrow (Sunday) at the two Masses and at Vespers, when collections will be made towards raising funds for the rebuilding of the church at Nelson, and also replacing the vestments, &c., the total loss of which is estimated at about £IOOO. It is sincerely hoped the many friends of Father Garin and those who sympathise with such charitable objects will respond freely to this special mission from Nelson.

The mail coach from Christchutch left the Bealey at the usual hour this morning, but had not arrived in Kumara at the time of our going to press, 4.25 p.m. The Charles Edward, after several days detention at Hokitika through stress of weather, sailed for Greymouth. The sea on the bar was very rough. This was the only arrival or departure at either of the ports yesterday. The Rev. Thomas Flavell took his departure from Kumara by Cameron’s coach this morning, to Hokitika, having exchanged pulpits to-morrow with the Rev Mr Hamilton, of All Saints’ Church. On Tuesday morning Mr Flavell proceeds by coach to Christchurch, At the Bealey it is expected he will be met by the Rev. E. A. Scott, returning to Kumara from his visit to the city of the plains. At the meeting of the Westland Education Board on Thursday last, it was decided to call for tenders for new desks, repairs, removal of partition, &c., at the Kumara State School.

Thomas Keiran was yesterday removed to Hokitika Gaol for fourteen days, to which place he had been committed the previous afternoon at the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Kuraara, by J. O’Hagan, Esq. J.P., this being the alternative of a fine of £3, for making use of obscene language within the hearing of a constable in Seddon street, recently. It is now intended, we notice, to call the Union Company’s new steamer for the West Coast—of which we gave full particulars last month—the Mahinapua (after a lake near Hokitika) instead of the Kauieri, as previously arranged. Oases of diphtheria are not uncommon in Hokitika at present, and we learn a girl named Margarey Frost died from the effects of it last Thursday.

The remains of Edward Cole, wellknown in Greymouth, were found yesterday at Brunnerton in a rather singular manner. The Argus reports :—A man named George Crawford went to clear out a culvert that was chocked with sludge and sand. The hole was between five and six feet deep, and the culvert about a foot square. When working with his shovel he came across a piece of cloth, and immediately after found that the culvert had been partly chocked by the body of a man. The feet were inside the culvert which was stopped up by deceased’s legs. It is supposed deceased fell into the hole accidentally, and that before he could extricate himself he was smothered with water and sludge. He had been recently driving a horse and cart for Mr Rowe, contractor, Stillwater Creek, and has friends at Hatter’s Terrace.

A scene of a somewhat sensational character occurred last Monday evening near the Worcester-street bridge, Christchurch. A young lady—respectably connected, it is believed, and well dressed—was observed to throw herself into the river, apparently determined on suicide. A Mr Day, of the telegraph department, was present, and at once rescued the rash one from her watery “refuge.” She came out very damp indeed, and it is hoped very sorry also for having been so foolish, but none the worse otherwise for her experience. Two children —"Robert James Spence, 4 years and 6 months old, and Thomas Alexander Spence, 2 years and 6 months old, the children of James Spence, a carpenter temporarily resident at Portobello, near Dunedin, were both taken ill on April 13th, and on the 16th Dr. Brown, of Dunedin, was sent for and prescribed for them. He called again on the 18th, and found the youngest child dead. The eldest boy died on the 3rd inst., and in the doctor’s opinion their death was the result of glanders, conmunicated to them by a horse suffering from that disease. It is one (the Herald says) not at all prevalent in the Colony, and there is no animal known to be so affected in the district, but the children’s father says he was told that some diseased horses were sent from Dunedin to the Maori Kaik about a month ago.

Joseph Stenhouse, of Greymouth, challenges to run Thomas Jones, of Kxxmara, from 100 to 400 yards, for £lO to £25 a-side. That a stonemason’s yard and a carpenter’s shop (for “George Eliot’s” father was a carpenter until he became a land surveyor) should produce two of the best intellects of the day is a fact as curious, says the London World, as the apparition of the supreme figure of English literature among the Bucolic pastures of Stratford-upon-Avon. Nevertheless, the labours of Carlyle’s father and of Mrs Cross’s father were not unheroxc. The Pope has been receiving large numbers of visitors. Sis Holiness is greatly fatigued by these large receptions, which are very uncongenial to a man of his studious habits. In private audience he is most seen to advantage. But he is a great contrast to his predecessor, Pius IX., who was formed by nature to represent the gracious sovereign, equal to any occasion up to the end of his life, The Nevada State Prison has twelve cooks among its 151 convicts, which the Virginia city Chronicle calls a sad verification of the old saying that “The Lord sends victuals, but the devil sends cooks. ’*