WEST COAST NOTES

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17808, 6 July 1923, Page 6

WEST COAST NOTES

FIRE IN GREYMOUTH. (bpsciai, to "the tbesb.") GREYMOUTH, July 5. A fire early this morning occurred in the sample rooms at Mawhera Qi\ay. The stock was destroyed, and the Mayfair drapery shop below was flooded with water and partially damaged by fire. The loss on the stock is estimated at £6OOO. The building was owned by Kettle Bros., and was insured for £1950 in the North British office. The loss was about covered. The'Mayfair stock and fittings, which are the property of Messrs McGruer's (Westland), Ltd., were insured with the Excess Insurance Co. for £4OOO. The Mayfair stock—mercery, clothes, boots, and travelling requisites —is ruined by water and 'smoke. Other occupants of the building were the Auckland Import Co. and Forbes, Ltd., of Lyttelton, who are represented by Mr Baldwin. The Auckland Import Co.'s stock, which consists of drapery and cloth goods, is quite ruined with smoke and water. The stocks are valued at £5500, and consigned stocks at £2OOO. The stock is insured for £4OOO in the office of the Excess Insurance Co. Particulars of the insurr«nce on the consigned stocks are not available. The most unlucky tenants are Forbes, Ltd., whose stock of hardware, etc., was stored in the front portion of the upper storey. Thig part of the building suffered from the fire, and about £SOO worth of goods which were not insured were totally destroyed. Particulars concerning the firm's loss could not be obtained to-day owing to the absence of the representative, Mr Baldwin, in Westport. Field Roots. One of the postponed items in the West Coast Agricultural, Industrial, and Pastoral Society's Show in February was the swede turnip crop class, in which the judge, Mr C. S. Dalgleish, Fields Inspector, has now made his awards. The first, prize, half a ton of fertiliser given by the New Zealand Kefrigerating Co., Ltd., goes to Mr D. Weir, Kokatahi. Other prizes were awarded as follows: —Second, Messrs Donaldson and Mulcare, Ngahere; third, Mr J. Brown, Kopara; fourth, Mr W. Baird, Kokatahi. Commenting on the entries, the judge remarked that the crops were not what he expected owing to the prevalence of blight. Blackball Mine. At the Blackball Mine, good work ia being done. No. 1 is now unwatered, and the pumps are dealing with a little dip. Previous to the fire most of the coal came from No. 9, and under the present manager the output has increased by over 100 ton 3 daily without No. 9. Otira Tunnel. It was reported to-day in local Railway circles that Saturday, July 28th, is the probable date of the opening of the Otira Tunnel. However, August 4th is still the popular tip. Shipping Decorated. A gay display of bunting was made to-day by the Union Co.'s steamers in port, and above the office of the company in Mackay street. The occasion is the wedding to-day of Miss E. Battray, daughter of Mr Rattray, Diinedin, one of the directors of the company. Obituary. Mr I. Alton, for many years a resident of the West Coast, died at Hoki-

tika yesterday, at the age of 67_ years. Deceased followed the occupation of a miner and sawmiller. He was working in the Brunner Mine at the time of the disaster. He leaves a family of eight boys and one girL Paparoa Mine Idle. Work has ceased at the Paparoa mine, where 120 men are on strike, owing to a dispute regarding work at isolated places. It is hoped that negotiations will enable a resumption next week. New Bacon Factory. Negotiations are in progress to establish a bacon factory at Westport, and at a meeting of Buller farmers Mr D. Archer, chairman of the Buller Farmers' Union Co-operative Society, presiding, the pros, and cons, were fully discussed. Considerable support was promised, but it was finally decided to canvass district farmers, and report at a meeting to be held at the end of the month. Bailway Statistics. For the year ending March 31st, 1923, there passed over the Westland. section of the New Zealand Railways, 19,995 passengers, as against 24,265 the previous year. Cattle, sheep, and pigs to the number of 2212 were carried (previous year's figures 2507), and 8078 tons of timber as against 9354 tons the previous year. The total of goods carried, including timber, amounts to 38,346 tons, as against 37,130. The revenue of the railways, in this section, has decreased, the figures being: 1923, £14,087 19s 7d; 1922, £14,031 19s Id.