The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1885.

Kumara Times, Issue 2629, 9 February 1885, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1885.

A public meeting of gentlemen willing to form a committee to determine the most desirable way of bringing the requirements of this district before the Premier and Minister of Mines on their arrival in Kumara is called by his Worship the Mayor for to-morrow evening, in the Town Hall. The Ministers are expected to arrive at Kumara on Saturday evening next, so that whatever form the reception or interview may take, there will be very little time to make preparation.

The remains of the late Gilbert Stewart were removed from his late residence, Secldon street, yesterday morning shortly after eight o'clock, for interment in the Greymouth cemetery. Notwithstanding the early hour appointed, a very large number of people gathered about the place. Mr Thomas Stewart, the brother, and Mr Wm. Young of Totara Flat, acted as chief mourners. The Independent Order of Oddfellows, of which deceased was a member, was largely represented, and headed the long procession which formed to pay its last tribute of respect to the memory of one who has been so much esteemed. Every coach and vehicle was brought into requisition for the occasion, and there were several from Hokitika, Waimea, and Ross. At about twenty minutes past eight o'clock the bearers emerged from the door of the hotel. The coßin containing the corpse was then lifted into the hearse, and we observed

two beautiful wreaths of flowers adorned the inscriptions on the lid. The order was then given to advance. There was some misunderstanding or mismanagement as to the position which mourners on foot should occupy between the numerous vehicles, and it was not until the procession was fairly on the Zigzag road that anything like order and regularity customary to funeral processions began to obtain. Taking those on foot and vehicles into account the procession could not have been less than half a mile long when it left Seddon street for the Teremakau bridge. At Marsden a halt was made for a few minutes to water

the horses, and here a goodly number of vehicles were met from Greymouth. It was estimated that besides the long procession on foot, there were 49 vehicles of all kinds, each as full as it could contain, while 25 or 30 horsemen brought up the rear. As in Kumara, every available vehicle in Greymouth was brought into service. The cortege arrived at Greymouth cemetery, 18 to 19 miles, at or even before the appointed time (1.30 p. m.). The funeral service was read by the Rev. G. Hay, Presbyterian Minister, of Kumara. The number present in the cemetery was variously estimated at 1200 to 1500 persons. After the service of burial was over, the Oddfellows reformed and were joined by their brethren of Greymouth by.whom they were taken to town and regaled with luncheon. A slight accident occurred to one of the vehicles in coming home, by the collapse of a wheel ; but no one was hurt, and all returned to Kumara between 8 and 11.30 p.m. A few only availed themselves of the tram going to Greymouth, at 9 a.m. ; among whom was Mrs Gilbert Stewart; but a large number returned by it at 6.30 p.m.

A fire broke out at the rear of a house occupied by a shoemaker named Hillman, in Main street, this afternoon, shortly after one o'clock. The bell was rung, and the Fire Brigade turned out quickly, and succeeded in confining the flames, which had a firm hold of the building, to it and the next house, wherein dwelt several Chinamen. For a time Killeen's Tramway Hotel was in great danger, as the wind was blowing stiffly right across the road to it, but by applying wet blankets to the windows and keeping the weather boards and roof well saturated with water, it was saved. Mrs Williams' private residence was also in some danger, but this also was kept well saturatedj- and so saved. Fortunately there was a good gap between the adjacent properties, and the firemen, who worked hard, succeeded in confining the destructive element to the two buildings first described, one of which is owned by Mr Lyons, of Stafford Town, and the other by Mr W. Brown, boot and shoe maker, of Seddon street. Both were uninsured. Mr Hillman loses all but what he stands up in. The origin of the fire is at present involved in mystery ; but it broke out at the back of Mr Hillman's, who cannot account for it. The telegraph wires were broken, thus cutting off direct communication with Greymouth.

The Ven. Archdeacon Harper arrived in Kumara from Hokitika on Saturday, at noon. He preached at Holy Trinity Church yesterday morning, at Stafford and Waimea in the afternoon, and in the evening at Kumara again to an overflowing audience. As a greeting to the Venerable Archdeacon, a tea meeting will will be held in the Theatre Royal this evening, at 6.30. After tea, addresses will be delivered by the Archdeacon and others, interspersed with a few songs and recitations by ladies and gentlemen. Commander Edwin wired at 3.47 this afternoon : —"lndications are for very dry strong winds between north-east and north-west, and glass fall."

A large meeting of cricketers was held at Rugg's Hotel on Saturday evening, when the following team was chosen to play at Hokitika next Wednesday ; viz., A'Court, J. Barnett, D. Bell, Crebar, Greenwood, J no. Jones, Thos. Jones, Kilgour, C. Murtha, James Murtha, Michael Rochford; and Wakefield as umpire. The match will be played on Cass Square, Hokitika, at 11 o'clock on Wednesday morning. The team is requested to meet at Rugg's Hotel not later than a quarter before six, to liable an early start, for as the coach will proceed round by the Kawhaka, punctuality will be necessary to reach Hokitika by the hour named for play.

Duncan Macfarlane, Esq., of Jackson's Bay, is gazetted to be a Resident Magistrate for the District of Okarito, with extended jurisdiction to £SO, and also to be a Coroner within the Colony of New Zealand.

The same Gazette (Jan. 29) notifies the appointment of Sergeant James Slattery as Gaoler of the Police Gaol at Reef ton, vice Sergeant Neville, deceased ; and Henry Aldborough Stratford, Esfc, of

Naseby, as a member of the Mount Ida Water-race Trust, under "The Mount Ida Water-race Trust Act, 1878," from the 7th January, 1885.

Latest files of Australian news state that there is little further news to hand in reference to the railway disaster at Cootamimdra. Search has been made for additional bodies, but none have 1 been discovered. A number of other persons who were in the train, but whose names were not published, have been removed to their own homes in Melbourne, and two, Messrs Saqui and Barnard, to the Melbourne Hospital.