GREYMOUTH LETTER.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7772, 28 January 1891, Page 2

GREYMOUTH LETTER.

[FROM OPTt CORRE9PONDHNT.J _, January 17. _The tug Westland returned on Tuesday from the South, having successfully ao complished the task of towing the drodge on from Lyttelton to Westport. The Westland will remain here in charge of the harbourmaster, who will work the vessel with his own crew when necessary. The only permanent hand retained on board is Mr David Hood, the engineer, so that the working expenses have been, reduced to a minimum.

Gold to the value of £60,000 was shipped I away by the Mawhera hist week—a good start for the new year, and a proof that the late wet season has been favourable to the mining industry. It is understood that the miners are holding over a lot of their gold till after the 31st of March, as the abolition of the duty takes effect on the Ist of April next. " I stated some time ago that the seam of coal in the Blackball Goal Company's mine had been struck, and that it was probable active operations for opening up this splendid field would be taken In hand at an early date. I understand that all the necessary plans and specifications for the bridge over the Grey river, and the short line of railway to connect the mine with the Midland Hallway Company's line at Nelson Creek, have been forwarded to head-quarters, so we may expect to see tenders called for the work very shortly. The representative of several large English eolleries is at present on a visit to Greymouth in connection with one of the Coal Creek Coal Companies, and it is quite possible something will be done very soon to start one, or perhaps both, of these undertakings. .The Grey Borough Council, having decided to erect a town hall at a eosfc of two or three thousand pounds, competitive designs for which are now under consideration, appear determined to carry oat the project, notwithstanding the opposition shown by a large number of ratepayers, who contend that the present building is sufficient for our present requirements, and that the money, instead of being devoted to providing the town with a snowy edifice, should be expended upon initiating a system of drain- ; age—a most urgent and necessary work that should have been taken in hand years ago. Avery strong feeling on the subject appears to be gaining ground, and it is openly stated that if the Council persists in its determination to proceed with

the erection of a new ' ing wiU be called to protest n Pa > y s3 The funeral of Hr_n„? i<,,n »t if** whose illness and sub-Sf* G -i. L ferred to In my last l e «£ Bn A <Nh H ' Monday afternoon, and L 1 0? PW? widely known and dM«-„*_. he *u°» '

throughout the district, ImS 1 ' *« diggers and others came l n^ft Qttl W ", to pay their last n_rk of old comrade ; the faneraf {??*> ft? « most imposing one 't ¥• C" .1 large gathering of tnourner 8 b * ,i^ ! ''i along string of vehicle? * 0t( tJ 'd horses followed behind? U «fi mains were buried la the p *&« J t? cti ?£ & t , he cemetery b «a4 Mr Westbrook conducting tvT* $ service lv his usual iinnrea«i* f **tts "Poor Andrew!" wa, th?V Ve *«2 quently heard nude, '«w_n ~ ma * fi ' thought that he would Cc o ° Uld & " soon ;he was a right K ood * 0 « * <**-■• will be sadly misted." 1 __»___ o| »%£; ~ Nicolwas only 46 years l The present main road from' to Hokitika is a very ' through Marsden, VSSS'S , «S <■ Kumara covering a 'dtatifi'S* ?| i' miles, —hereas by troluir fh« A ror *J-S " which should now% e a g vaikhS >a,t S the completion of the Terem.E. °*ii&s bridge, it is not much *>ure fe° Ta 4i " miles, but unfortunately thU •- to impassable in consequent °fl Ul! *s =. gerous condition of the brid_« «*•«£ * Walmea Creek, on the sontiPi ?*«'«& ; Teremakau, and as *■ the locality travellers are / long way round in order V stream iv question. A small a-? 0 * % i of £15 or £20 in a passable state of repair 1H *- surprising that the Westl-JniUHi f ' Council snould be *o renVh,S,N P ' allow the structure to remain „Wl< sent condition. Another lltti _*£ which requires their attention ?"*«*! track leading from the TerS2_„ *,''- way bridge to tbe beach ' small sum only would be reouhUi! i■-■ this order I hope, therefore hW " ' Seddou, who is a member rftfeV*\ body iv questiou, will see 'I attended to without delay, * •' * greater number of people are^fe*!. C backwards and forwards how oWu li6 i ? the opening up of a new aolilnvu i *•» "' vicinity of Hokitika. WRolttflel *lßi& ■ > An accident occurred in thn n_ mine at the. latter end ■_(__*"»« ~ whereby a young man namedV* * Kennedy lost ha fife. A truck coniS \k a prop was be ng drttwo up uj» ,• when the chaiu snapped, _7* >■ truck started back at . J* ■ pace. At this moment decea«„V ' standing on the Hat fit 5 ' seeming to lose his presence of mjia Z' down the incline instead of et©D-i_ais into the bord, where he wouldTS 8 • safe. Ho had not proceeded far wW? flying truck overtook him, which SF 1 him on the left side, killed ffi taneoualy. The <-ham, it a PPm , ** way owing to a sudden jerk wnWwfi end of the prop coining in the roof of the mine while k -«Yr dra wa up the track. The accident »*T very distressing oue by reason of »„S rounding circumstances. Deceased«i ' was only twenty-one years of oaTl*! one of the free labourers .who a&d'teS from dunedin, where his people ,£_? Only the day before ho had rewS telegram from hi_ mother, ataUu ai - Ms father was dangerously ill, .nafcg • him to rvturu borne at once, and ha _ > his cooipauious that he wis rol—lh "" following week. Deceased waa'tjjaa* support of his parents, who are Well-h • years, and was A a very steady,' o«fi ; young fellow. At the inquest, am& - of accidental death was returned, Another sad accident occun*eil it Brunnerton on Monday evening, to _]ft_. . boy two and a half years old, the «b * Mr Robert Smith, engineer at theßru»t» ' mine. Mrs Smith, with her children "l-l * been to Greymouth during: the day, im ,* returned to Brunnerton by the 5 o'cW> train. The train pulled up at the gtgiiv and the passengers were leavisg i\] carriages, Mrs Smith carrying hcrU-t and leading the little boy by th« —ji ' among the others. Owing to Boma m carelessness, the engine v,lth truck - , was not detached irom'fij carriages as usual, and'ao,a dial the engine moved ahead, giving j sudden jerk of the carrlagen, xvhss tit little fellow, in the act of stepping bhM<!l under the carriage, one of the vthh coming in contact with his hoad. QM Robert King, to hi 9 lasting credit tals said, rushed forward when hs saw „ , aeciient occur, and at the rink of loiw -, • life or limb, made a desperate effort i; - save the child, but, owing tothida proximity of the carriages tolhe platform, * and the train being in motttm, ke >jts ! ."* only just able to get hold of v porfian d * V its clothing and draw it aJoajc to prevest ~ the wheels passing over its Uiy ; when, finally, he managed to eztrioaU ii It wji found to be so seriously Injattd&bonttt; head, that it died ia his arms & few g$ menta afterwards. An was htll on the following day, Tbtit V. H.Joiw appearing on behalf of the Fatlwsf i>partment, and Mr Guinness fci theciiiSa'i parents. The evidence adduced was 3 j veryconfilctingcharacter;ultli«atßlj,bev. ever.the shunter, Daniel Malcolm McLe:d, was committed to take _ta tmltr. manslaughter at the mtt sitting ot the Supreme Court at Hokiiika. Ball m allowed, himself in £100 and nwoiareda of £50 each. McLeod waa dismJMMbJ the Manager immediately on tbe temto . tion of the inquest.

Our mineral traffic having assam«d!» : former proportions, the revenue ded?a&l , from the Grey-Brunner railway, watt and other sources, will once mors ww excess of the amount required to j»j Interest and sinking fund oa our hMBos? * loans, and as thero is a ■ probawlitj.« new mines being opened out darlag j» present year, which will have tbeffi-i of increasing our shipping trade, U»tej» is expressed that our repreaeatatlre w move In the direction of obtaining & sanction of Parliament to raise tsa somainlng £100,000 required to comm»f harbour works In accordaEco wit» 4 » f John CObde's plans.. The prospect» » extended trade, both in minerals W timber, will warrant the expenflttßWß the sum named, and, I belief e, representations are made, there » v little difficulty experienced ftigtfsjj . Parliament to agree to it. 15w« * \ desire to exhibit a feeling of JealMtfg regards the Important works awns a* undertaken at Westport, Oflp«% trary, I am glad to see them ftoabsw}" the same time I do not see why aoisjw tion should be made. Why not am prosecution of sew works both *» fan £ mouth and Westport? We shoaldtWCß on equal terms. In cohveraatuffl *™ Captain Connor, Harbourmautfr. ■« »« subject a few days ago, he stld tn-*K extension of the south breakwater ta *-/ S possible would render the eoWM*« eporc much safer than It h In Wr* sent unfinished condition } in ln&% slders that it ought to bo done ss the means at the disposal of tao a**? will allow. Now, the opinion of f»J«m_; worthy officer should carry weight In a matter of this Wa d _, M SJ_ that his duties necessarily pls*o »»»■ position to form a correct idea upsa *'