WEST COAST NOTES

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17938, 5 December 1923, Page 2

WEST COAST NOTES

CYCLIST'S MISHAP. ISPECIAL TO "Tirz PRESS.") GREYMOUTH, December 4. Through the forks of his bicycle collapsing in Herbert street last night, Henry C. Jones, cinematograph operator for the Peerless Pictures, was thrown forcibly to the ground, and now lies in a semi-conscious condition at the Grey River Hospital, with severe facial injuries. Keefton Mines. The secretary of the Millerton Miners' Union has written to Mr M. Fagan, secretary of the Inangahua Miners' Union, protesting against the admission to the Reefton mines of a large number of Millerton and Stockton miners. Personal. Mr Whittle, president of the Denniston Miners' Union, and a member of the West Coast executive, is an inmate of the Westport District Hospital. Mr J. McAulay, stationmaster at Rewanui, has been transferred to Rolleston, and, accompanied by Mrs McAulay, left for Rolleston to-day. Sir Thomas Mackenzie, M.L.C., arrived from Christchurch this afternoon accompanied by Lady Mackenzie. Mrs W. Thomas and daughter will leave for a trip to the Old Country next March, returning at the end of the year. Miss T. Clarke, for the past three vears domestic science instructress for West Coast schools, has accepted a similar appointment under the Auckland Education Board, Timber Industry. There is congestion at Hokitika in the storing of timber. All the skids on Gibson's quay are full, and the Diggers' Sawmilling Company has been obliged to stack its timber on the ground in Fitzherbert street. The grading of Gibson's quay is being proceeded with. Signs are not wanting that a fair amount of timber would be cut in South Westland if transport facilities were better. A vessel drawing about eight feet of water and takjng good cargoes should prove useful in opening up the trade from Okarito. Mr J. Curtain, who has cut 40,000 ft. of black pine, and totara at Matainui for a firm of Christchurch builders, intends cutting a further 100,000 feet if arrangements can he made for shipping. The coastal steamer Elsie will proceed up the Karargarua river this week for the first time for the purpose of loading silver pine sleepers. The bush in this district includes much of this valuable timber. Reafforestation. The great majority of the 85,250 year old and two-year-old trees recently planted by the Forestry Department on its reserves at Rimu making fine progress, and it is not difficult in the case of most of tho species to pick up V the lines of trees from the road. The experiment is a very thorough one, as trees have been planted in cleared land among blackberries and felled bush, and in clumps of native forest. Eight species have been utilised, and in the case of most of the varieties practically 100 per cent, have taken root. Thd Douglas fir appears to be making the greatest headway. If the State Mines Department launches out on a treeplanting scheme on its areas, it will most probably utilise, eucalypti, as these are unexcelled for mine props. Greymontk Harbour Board. The monthly meeting of the Greymouth Harbour Board was held this evening, Mr J. Steer presiding. It was decided, in view of the engineer's report on the possibilities of the harbour being due in January, to hold over the proposal to provide a shed for handling local cargo. The harbourmaster and engineer reported that two proposals had been examined, the first for a shed on the river wharf near the cattle yard, and the second for one on the dock wharf, near the present footbridgo approach. The second proposal was favoured, but a very largo amount of work would be required to make the dock wharf suitable for vessels, and the removal of the footbridge further up the lagoon would be necessitated.

The superintendent of the borir.g plant at Dobson reported that a depth of 729 feet was reached on December Ist. , , A request for a donation towards the funds of the White Star Overseas Tourist Mission was referred to the Finance Committee. It was decided to refer a request, for the use of the tug as a flagship at ,thc regatta on Boxing Da;/ to the harbourmaster, with a favourable recommendation.