The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1885. IN MEMORIAM.

Kumara Times, Issue 2627, 6 February 1885, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1885. IN MEMORIAM.

It is doubtful if one can conceive of a piece of intelligence more startling, or which (occasioned by the decease of a single individual) could have caused more general gloom, than that which ran like wild fire to every heart and home yesterday as the shades of evening were easting their mantles far and wide at the close of a beautiful sunny day. And yet, where

least expected perhaps and the bustle of" life was greatest, the relentless hand of death stepped in, seized his victim, and all was over in a few short minutes. So has it happened to the late well-known and popular host Gilbert Stewart, than whom a more kind-hearted, amiable, genial, good-tempered, and generally respected citizen and cosmopolitan it would be difficult to find in a day or even a week's journey. It is true he had complained for some little time back of a slight occasional pain in the head, but his friends easily accounted for that by a very busy and active life for weeks past in catering for public entertainments, and also a very large number of gue3ts at his own home bound to and from all parts of the world. He was in his usual health and strength to all appearance, save to the one slight pain referred to, yesterday at 5.20 p.m., when he complained to Mrs Stewart of being somewhat cramped in the arms, back, and head ; and, with the attention and devotedness which is characteristic of the true and faithful wife, means were at once resorted to to allay the pain ; but, alas, in less time than it takes to write or read these lines, death had seized his victim, and Gilbert Stewart lay lifeless, only his usual pleasing soft, beneficent smile acting as the parting token of adieu to the one whom he had so fondly loved and cherished. Dr. Monckton had been 3ent for, and arrived quickly, but he found that although the body was still warm, the pulse and the heart had ceased, and there was no hope of resuscitation, and later on in the evening he reported to Sergeant Russell as follows:—" I was called at 5.40 p.m. on the sth of February, and found Gilbert Stewart lying in his bed warm, but quite dead. I examined the body then and since, and noticed the pupils very dilated, so much so as not to be in accordance with a healthy state, nor would it be due directly to either alcoholic or opiate poison. From the dilation of the pupil, coupled with the information that the deceased had been complaining for two days of a pain at the back of his head, I have no doubt that his death was due to serous effusion at the base of the brain, and no post mortem is necessary." Under these circumstances and coupled with the report of Sergeant Russell to J. Giles, Esq., Coroner, Dr. Giles did not .consider it necessary to hold an inquest. Mr Stewart's loss will be severely felt, not only by his sorrowing wife and family, but by a host of friends and acquaintances ; he gave to the poor, succoured the needy, and was a friend to the fatherless ; and, much as his absence will be felt by the family circle, it would be difficult to find one perhaps who could be more missed than Gilbert Stewart will be. As a matter of course many went to sympathise with the bereaved widow, and to see poor Stewart as he lay in death. We were forcibly reminded of Byron's wordsHe who hath bent him o'er the dead, Ere the first day of death is fled, And mark'd the mild angelic air, The rapture of repose that's there, He still might doubt the tyrant's power : so calm and placid did his countenance appear. Our contemporary the Grey River Argus, who seems to be familiar with the earlier history of the late Mr Stewart, thus writes:—"The deceased was one of the old band of Argonauts who came out to Australia while the goldfields were in their freshest bloom, having helped to swell some of the huge crowds on the biggest and earliest rushes in Victoria. Attracted to this Coast in palmiest days, he was for some years manager of Middleton's Wharf Hotel (now Jones's), where he earned the reputation that he never afterwards lost, of being one of the most popular bonifaces, if not the most popular, on the whole of the West Coast. He was an 'institution' here, and here he took that step usually supposed to settle men in lifehe got married. But the old restless feeling was aroused by the Kumara rush, where he erected the present Gilbert's Hotel, which he conducted most successfully to the clay of his death. Few travellers who had occasion to pass through Kumara frequently but had made the acquaintance of deceased, who was as widely known as respected." His remains will be buried in the Greymouth cemetery. The funeral takes place on Sunday next, leaving Kumara at 8 o'clock in the morning.

Members of the Loyal Albert Lodge and visiting members are requested to attend a lodge meeting at the Lodge room, to-night, at 8 o'clock.

A correspondent at Boatman's kindly fowards us a telegram concerning the reception of Ministers at Boatman's and Reefton, also of Ministers' programme of movements on the West Coast, till their departure. So far as Kumara is concerned, the programme is also substantiated by the Premier himself, who this morning telegraphed from Boatman's to his Worship the Mayor (H. Burger Esq,.)

as follows :—" We purpose visiting Kutnara on Saturday evening, and on Monday, the 14th and 16th inst., leaving for Christchurch on Tuesday. Robert Stotjt."

Khartoum has fallen into the hands of El Mahdi, and General Gordon is probably a prisoner in the hands of the rebels. This great disaster has been attended also by the wreck of a steamer carrying a detachment of the Royal Sussex Regiment. The troops were landed on an island, from which a steamer has been sent to rescue them.

Woodyear's Circus arrived in Kumara this morning, with its full troupe of artistes and trained horses, and will perform in the Recreation Ground at 8 o'clock this evening. It is said to be the best traveling show in New Zealand.

The ordinary meeting of the Borough Council, which was intended to be held last evening, was adjourned out of respect to the memory of the late Gilbert Stewart till this evening. Commander Edwin wired at 12.36 p.m. to-day—" Bad weather may be expected after 16 hours from now between northeast and north and west, and glass will fall within 12 hours."

It would appear that the Governor's visit to the West Coast is being delayed for some useful as well as pleasurable purpose. The Wellington correspondent of the Press, telegraphing on Monday last, reports :—" lam informed that his Excellency the Governor's tour of the West Coast, for the purpose of inspecting the harbors of the West Coast of the Middle Island, in connection with his scheme of defence, has been delayed, in order that his Excellency may be accompanied by Major-General Scratchley, who is expected to arrive at the Bluff to-day. The Hinemoa is to proceed to Lyttelton at once from Auckland, and convey his Excellency and Major-General Scratchley to the West Coast, via Picton and Nelson. I understand that, whilst upon the West Coast, the voyage of the Hinemoa will be so extended as to embrace a trip to the Sounds, in order that the Governor of New Guinea may have an opportunity of seeing some of the sights of New Zealand.

Particulars of the railway disaster near Cootamundra, New South Wales, on the night of the 25th ult., have reached us. The locality of the accident is some distance from Cootamundra, through the bush, and the night was dark, with torrents of rain falling. The following is a list of persons killed :

Joseph Campy, railway employe, residing at Harden, married. Robert Crawford, carpenter's laborer, residence unknown.

Alfred Wilson, railway conductor, brother resides in Sydney. Mrs Hodson, wife of Mr Hodson, of Wagga Wagga. John Hide, about nine years of age parents reside at Carcoar.

John O'Dwyer, married, leaves a widow and six children, he was mail guard. Warner Smith, of Wagga Wagga, is missing.

Twenty-four passengers were more or less injured; they Avere principally Melbourne people on their way to the Sydney races.

The Life of an M.P.—An M.P., deploring the evil effects of London habits on the health, said that were it not for the Hop Bitters he could not live through with the irregular hours he was forced to keep. Said he : "As soon as I feel weak and exhausted from long night sessions and meals at irregular hours, I resort to my Hop Bitters instead of stimulants. They regulate my towels and keep my appetite good, my brain clear, and my strength and health are preserved." See Alcoholic Fatuity.—The chronic debauchee feels that he positively cannot exist without his alcoholic stimulaton. To quit drinking or to continue the habit brings death all the same. Such a man can find in Hop Bitters, properly used, a perfect panacea for the drunkard's cure. Read