WEST COAST NOTES

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17749, 28 April 1923, Page 4

WEST COAST NOTES

INANGAHUA HOSPITAL. (special to "the pbess.") GREYMOUTH, April 27. The Inangahua Hospital Board has agreed to ask the Minister of Public Health for a special grant of £lO C» for the erection of a laundry and an isolation ward. It was claimed. that the Eeefton Hospital cost per patient was the lowest in the Dominion. Alexander Goldfleld. The Inangahua Council has agreed to request the Mines Department to send an officer to report on the Alexander goldfield. Personal. Mr McVilly and party arrived at Westport last evening. This morning they proceeded by special train on a tour of inspection of the Westport: Mokihinui railway. The afternoon was devoted to harbour and other matters. A public farewell will be tendered to Mr E. Cameron, district traffic manager, on Monday. Mr Cameron, who has been transferred on promotion to Dunedin, will leave Greymouth on Tuesday next. Obituary. An old resident of Seddonville, George Clapton, was found dead in hed in his hut. Deceased was a Londoner by birth, and he was 76 years of ago. Prior to going to Seddonville lie was goldrnining at Ross. He was a miito of the late Mr E. J. Seddon •=n a claim at Goldborough. _ The death of an old resident of Kanieri, Mrs Caroline Bergman,, occurred nn Wednesday. The deceased was 65 years of ago. Her husband predeceased her some 12, years ago. She leaves a family of six, three daughters (Mrs K. McKay of Ross, and Misses Lena and Milly Bergman, of Kanieri), and three sons (William mid Louis, in Christchurch, and John, at Kanieri). At Boss yesterday the death took place of an old resident, Mr William Mason. The deceased, who was 79 years of age, had livd at Ross Since the early sixtis. He was bom at Pigeon Bay, Akaroa. He leaves a family of three daughters and four •ons all well-known Coast residents: Srs J. E. Walton (Greymouth), Mrs F Cutbush (Crushington), Mrs Woolhouse (Westport), and Messrs Archie Son (Blackball), J. Mason (Westport), and George and Andrew 'Mason (Eoss).

0.0.'s and Rugby. The New Zealand Xugby Union and those wno would debar military _ ueSLrs from playing Rugby » .these days of peace had better look out, because the Ngakawau miners will not stand any nonsense, judging by tne Sowing resolution upneld at a recent meetmg:-»That we, the miners, enter a very emphatic proton against the decision of the New Zealand Rugby Union, and its attitudt towards men who had the courage of their convictions, and refused to be lea by a 'mass psychology'; furthermore, we realise that the action of the New Zealand Rugby Union is detrimental to the best interests of sport, and that their action has a political significance, which should not be lost sign* of by the working class." Meanwhile, Rugby on lue Coast is being played as usual.

New Dairy Factory. A meeting of iLoiterangi farmers deto erect a central uairy lactory ana cool stores at Uver l*w cows have been guaranteed, and about ii±oU snares appued lor by prospective suppliers. 'Ahe new company will be; Known as the Westland 000 l Storage and Central Dairy Company, Ltd., ana the capital is to be £io,UU) in_ £1 shares. The following provisional directors were elecled: —Messrs H. T. Parry (managing director), W. A Jamieson, It iiai-court, and H. H. Monk (Koiterangi), J. H. Cropper (Waitaha), J. B. Douglas (Arahura), Jas. Thomson (Ross), D. J. Evans, and J. J. Mcintosh (Hokitika). Mr Parry stated the cost of a; factory would be between £4OOO and £SOOO. At a meeting of the settlers the following resolution was carried unanimously:—"That in consequence of the formation of a new company those present give notice to the Kokatahi Dairy Company, Ltd., that they were severin a their connexion with the company, .arid that they would not hold themselves responsible for any further expenditure on the Kokatahi factory."

Housing Problem. "Dirty, desolate, and neglected," as Greymouth may, or may not be, there is an ever increasing demand to live within its borders, and the housing problem is very acute. No fewer than 18 houses in one street (Preston road) and Balketown are said to be occupied by tenants under notice to seek fresh quarters to permit the owners to live in the houses they have purchased, but as fresh quarters are non-existent the owners cannot hope to "come into'' their own. Similar experiences are reported in other parts, of the town, but despite building of some residences, little real relief is in sight.

Prospecting Schemes. During the recent visit to the Coast of the Hon. G. J. Anderson, Minister of Mines, there was a discussion in regard to alluvial prospecting, and a deputation which waited on the Minister suggested Mananui. Flat as a suitabe locality for initial operations. The deputation favoured shafting, but the Minister was advised by his officers that keystone prospecting would meet the case. As a result of the negotiations at the time Messrs Warburtbn and Downey, of the Mines Department, visited Mananui Flat during the Enster holidays to select a site for operations. Tliey were accompanied by Mr E. A. Wells, of Woodstock, on behalf of th~e prospecting syndicate. The report of the Mines officers favours taking the boring plant into the Flaf by way of the Mananui Sawmill tramway, and boring to be tried about a mile and a half down the line in the vicinity of Grebe Creek, where there is a second branch tram line. This is a spot favoured by Mr McCormick, of Rimu, who has an intimate knowledge of the locality. It is expected the prospecting operations will take about tour weeks, but the Department make it a condition that the drill shall not operate more than one chain from the tram lin«. However, just at this time, a. boring plant is not available. The Hokitika prospecting syndicate has given way to a prospecting scheme at Callaghan's Flat, where private enterprise is testing a prospecting area by boring. The members of the local committee when consulted agreed to await the return of the drill to Hokitika. In the meantime the prospecting venture at Mananui Flat will be deferred. The "Bleak East." Canterbury patriots, inclined to be boastful of their district beauties, may be interested to learn of a Westport newspaper's opinion. It states: —"lt is anticipated that, when ethe coastal road between Westport and Greymoutli is completed, tourists will come from Nelson to Westport and proceed to Groymouth along the Coast, where there is scenery considered by many to surpass that in any other part of the Dominion, and including grottos of "■alms similar to those obtaining in Oriental countries. The scenic charms of the West Coast have not been ex.

plored yet. The completion of the Otira tunnel will bring thousands of people from the bleak east side of t:;e island over to explore the wonderful scenic beauties obtaining on the marvellously endowed West Coast." Patriotic Fund. The annual report of the Greymouth Patnot.c Association states, inter aaa: —'ilie woi-k ot tae Association shows no decrease in tne woric, and tne correspondence aloue shows a large increase. The outstanding ieatures ot the- hnaucial statement are— -(a) Grants to soldiers exclusive of maternity bonus £59(5 13s 6d; (b) maternity bonus £(ii9 10s; income for tne year £l7l 17s sd; expenditure on management £99 9s Id. Last year wc started with the sum of £SI6S 15s 5d in hand. This year we start with £4332 lGs 9d, or in otner words, we spent £1326 12s 7d. lour committee desires again to place on record its keen appreciation of the cour-. teous assistance so invariably and continually rendered by all Government Departments with whom it comes so frequently in contact. Quite a number of Imperial soldiers make application for assistance, and the Association is allowed to make grants up to £5, on behalf of the National War Funds Council. At the present time the relief applied for is much in excess of what was anticipated, due princin-'llv to the recurrence of trouh'es, snstarnerl under war conditions, and mnnv men are onlv now feeling the effete of the'"? terrible experiences overseas. Men are bren'-'nT down who hive been discharged for three or four years'.

Boron<?h Finance. The financial statement of the Greymoutu juuroiigh tjouiacn, wluch. sets oat the receipts una expenditure for the current year is as follows: Kates, lis; water, £1674 I4s 3d; sanitary, £523 7s 3d; miscellaneous, £2287 4s; licenses, £1293 2s; cemetery, £232 ss; gas, £11,103 7s 4d; fittings, £2483 15s 4d; total, £32,707 19s 6d. Amount of outstanding revenue collected during year, £1365 18s 3d; total revenue for year, £34,063 17s 9d.

General Account. —Administration (including salaries, staff, Mayor's honorarium, office charges, printing, advert eements, stationery, and law costs), £IB2O 2s (3d; miscellaneous (including commission on taxes, elections, bank interest and charges," imprest account, Public Revenues Act, unauthorised expenditure, fire precaution, electric power, ladies' rest room, interest temporary loans, surveys, valuation fees, licensing expenses), £1636 18s lid; streets, £3731 1/s 2d; reserves, £435 14s 6d; sanitary (removal night soil, house refuse, salary, Inspector Nuisances and Health Inspector), £aOo 12s 3d; stables account (1 se feed, maintenance, rent, shoeing), £377 14s 3d; abattoir account, £ll2l 8s 471: Hospital and Charitable Aid £3339 16s sd; cemetery account, a.-. Ss fid; library account, £351 19s 9rT : gas supply account (working account £8566 18s 3d; gas account (fittings, meters, extension mains and services, etc.), £lBlB Os 8d; Cobden gas account, £44 0s 6d; water supply account, £22 10s 3d; Town Hall account, £438 18s 8d; interest account, £46-54 19s 8d; sinking fund account (which includes repayment of princinal of loans and to .Sinking Fund Commissioners). £1691 17s 4d. Total expenditure, £33,475 la 7d.