The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. SATURDAY, JANUARY 17, 1885.

Kumara Times, Issue 2610, 17 January 1885, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. SATURDAY, JANUARY 17, 1885.

The election of a new committee for the Hospital, which commenced at noon today is causing a most unusual amount of interest, owing to the late action of the old committee and the correspondence consequent thereon. Traps are engaged and canvassers as busy almost as at a general election. The poll will continue open till 8 p.m., but as returns will have to come in from Greenstone after that hour, it will probably be 10 o'clock before the names of the successful thirteen can be announced at the Town Hall. The Hon. Mr Stout has been gazetted Minister of Education.

The death and burial of the young and of those who have led what may be regarded as an unerring life, particularly when that short existence has been in any way devoted to the general public good, are always attended with more than usual interest. Never, perhaps, in the history of Kumara has there been so general an expression of sorrow manifested by old and young at a departure from this life as has been manifested in the case of Miss Florence Ada Skilton, who breathed her last at three o’clock on the morning of Tuesday, the 13th inst., in the 20th year of her age. She died at Hokitika, but on Wednesday evening last was brought to the home of her parents in Kumara, and to be buried in the cemetery here in the same grave as lay the remains of a younger sister who died only two years and a few months ago. A large number of friends went to see the shrouded corpse ; many ladies sent beautiful wreaths of flowers— Emblems of our own great resurrection, Emblems of the bright and better land. The funeral took place yesterday, and was largely attended, friends who had known the deceased from her earliest infancy coming from Stafford, Greymouth, and other distant places. Between halfpast two and three o’clock, the mournful procession wended its way towards Holy Trinity Church, and on arrival, Mr Wylde, the organist, played “ The Dead March.” The solemn and impressive service for the Burial of the Dead was delivered by the Rev. R. Heffernan, the Incumbent, during which the hymns “Nearer, my God, to Thee,” and “Days and moments quickly flying ” were sung. The church was filled with people, who came to pay their last tribute of respect to the memory of a guileless girl. The service being over the funeral procession was re-formed ; four young persons, late intimate friends of the deceased, acted as supporters ; they were Miss M. J. Howe, Miss A. Rugg, Miss Jane Seddon, and Miss Kate Griffiths, and walked two each on either side of the hearse. Then followed the chief mourners; then the girls and boys attending the Sunday School, of which deceased had been a teacher. Over a hundred gentlemen and a goodly number of ladies also joined in the procession to the cemetery. At the grave the burial service was continued and concluded by the Rev. R. Heffernan, and the people joined in singing When our heads are bowed with woe, When our bitter tears o’erflow, When we mourn the lost, the dear, Jesu, Son of Mary, hear, &c. As it was lowered into the grave and the cords removed, the coffin was completely covered with wreaths and bouquets of flowers thrown in by fond admirers, little children edging their way through the crowd to cast in their pretty little choice bouquets which had been expressly made up for their last presentation. And so ended the ceremony of burial of a girl admired and beloved by all who knew her. The Right Reverend Matthew Quinn, D.D., Bishop of Bathurst, New South Wales, died suddenly yesterday. He was consecrated on the 14th November, 1865, nearly twenty years ago. The Christchurch coach arrived this afternoon, shortly after the usual hour, bringing Australian and East Coast mails. The Union Company’s steamer Hawera, with the southern portion of the San Francisco mails, left Onehunga on Thursday morning, for the south. Tenders are called for the construction of the branch tail-race, 2610 feet, more or less, to connect with the Kumara sludge-channel. They will be received up to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, the 28th inst., and must be addressed to Mr J. S. Pearn, Secretary to the Kumara Sludge-channel Relief Committee, at whose residence plans and specifications may be seen. F nil particulars of this work were given by us in our issue of the 15th ultimo. The following tenders were accepted on Wednesday by the Westland County Council: Construction of dray road, Kumara to sea beach—section 3, Thomas Langdon ; section 4, Jackson and Jones ; section 5, Hugh M Tunis. Construction of track from Big Dam to Fox’s, Arahura, W. Smith and Co. For the supply of horses and drays there were over thirty tenders sent in, hardly one of which was in accordance with' the terms of the specifications. The Council spent some time in considering what course to take under these circumstances. It was finally determined to reject the whole of them as informal, and to empower the Engineer and Road Inspectors to continue existing arrangements for the time being. The whole of the tenders for the various works mentioned above, will be published, as usual, when the contracts are duly signed. At their Arahura sale on Monday next, Messrs Girdwnod, Lab man and Co. will sell by auction 40 head prime bullocks, and 100 grand cross-bred wethers,

The Kumara State School will be reopened on Monday next, the 19th inst. Although the examination of teachers will take place during the ensuing week, it is not intended to allow it to interfere with school duties. Yesterday, at 4.30 p.m. Commander Edwin wired that “Bad weather may be expected between north-east and north and west within 12 hours from now, and glass fall and indications of rain. ” To-day at 1.50 p.m. another message came—- “ Bad weather may be expected between north and east and south-east, with heavy rain, and glass further fall.” These easterly indications generally bring only such weather as we have experienced during the past 24 hours. Shareholders in Hannah’s gift distribution are requested to meet at Mr Hannah’s shop, opposite Gilbert Stewart’s Hotel, this evening, at 8 o’clock. Mr Etheridge (the West Coast Times reports) has sufficiently recovered from his accident to resume his duties, but he has not yet regained his martial gait, his present appearance being that of a wounded veteran. Mrs Etheridge is gaining strength daily though it will be a long time before she is about again. Dr. King, her medical attendant, states that few patients he has had experience of have borne their sufferings with as much fortitude as this lady. We are pleased to learn from Mr Denis Maher that his brother, Mr John Maher, is gradually improving, after his late serious accident, although it will take a long time before he will be able to resume his avocations, as he is still confined to his home and requires perfect rest to ensure his recovery. A layer of gold bearing wash is reported to have been found in the tunnel Mr Antonio Zala is driving to test the coal deposits at Boucher’s Gully ; the layer is of considerable thickness, and Mr Zala estimates it will yield about 3dwts. to the load, and but for the difficulty in getting water on the ground it would pay well to sluice. Mr Mack Alexander, the popular actor in the Willmott Combination, and well known on the Coast, died at Liverpool, New South Wales, on the 31st ult. Deceased belonged to Kimarnock, Scotland, his proper name being Alexander M‘Dougall. He was well known throughout this colony, and though only 36 years of age, had attained some eminence in his profession. A Lady’s Wish.—“ Oh, how Ido wish my skin was as clear and soft as yours ! ” said a lady to a friend. “You can easily makeitso,” answered the friend. “How?” inquired the first lady. “By using Hop Bitters, that makes pure rich blood and blooming health. It did it for me, as you observe.” Read