WEST COAST NOTES

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18107, 24 June 1924, Page 8

WEST COAST NOTES

* RUGBY FOOTBALL. (SPECIAL TO "TBI PSE3S.") GREYMOUTH, June 23,

Owing to the refusal of the New Zea land Eugby Union to grcv?t a subsidy for the tour and the large number of competition and representative matches yet to be played, the Otago Eugby Union will not send a team to the Coast this season. Advice has been received to this effect by Mr N. \Y. Jones, secretary of the West Coast Eugby Union.

At the weekly meeting of the Buller Eugby Union, a letter was received from the Bays' Union suggesting August 16th as "the date for the Seddon Shield match with Buller. This was agreed to. There has been no settlement of the disagreement between the Westland Eugby Sub-Union and some of the affiliated clubs. A fresh defection has occurred by the withdrawal of the Euatapu junior team. Personal. Mr E. Allison, who has been in indifferent health for some time, has been admitted to the Grey Eiver Hospital. The Eev. Father Long and Mr J. L. Morgan, District Traffic Manager, New Zealand Railways, leave for Christchurch by to-morrow's express. The latter will attend a conference of traffic managers at Wellington. Mr P. J. Fennel], chief 'clerk in the Public Works Office, Greymouth, has been notified of his impending transfer on promotion to Wanganui. He leaves within a fortnight, and will be succeeded by Mr Turner, of Gisborne. The Hon. H. L. Michel, M.L.C., was re-elected chairman of the Hokitika Fire Board at thd annual meeting this afternoon. Mining Matters. The Minister of Mines has replied to a letter from Mr H. E. Holland, M.P., stating that he had noted the representations of the State Miners' Union with regard to objections to driving of dips with props as self-supports, and the contention that such supports should be sets. The Department had made exhaustive enquiries, and it had been gathered that it was fairly common in mines for the timbering in working places to be changed from sets to props and vice-versa. The mine manager and underviewer ordered seta when necessary at the State and the former was responsible for the safe working of the mine. , That being the case, his responsibility could not be dolegated to any other party. The Westport-Stockton Coal Company shipped 2111 tons of coal last week, and the Westport Coal Company 9043 tons. Wet Weather. West Coasters have endured a long spell of broken weather, and to-day heavy rain set in from the north-west, heavily taxing the side-channels and drains for an hour or two. A return to fine weather would be very welcome. For the week ending Sunday there were 351 points of rain at Hokitika and 22 hours' sunshine. Greymouth. Tire Board. The annual meeting of the Greymouth Fire Board was held to-night, there being present Messrs J. Steer (in the chair), J. F. Grieraon, J. E. Cameron, J. McGinlay, G. T. Moss, and T. Clarke (superintendent). The chairman reviewed the opera-, tions of the past year, and paid a tribute to the work of the brigade'. _ Hedetailed the improvements in buildings and equipment. The Board would have I to consider shortly the provision of' better fire-fighting plant.in High.street, the .centre of the (residential area. ■Efficiency would be lost if the brigade was not in a position to reach fires without the delays occasioned by the lack of a central position. Mr J. Steer was re-elected chairman for the sixteenth consecutive term.

A letter was received from the Christchurch Fire Board .asking support for its representations to have the Tire Brigades Act amended to make the financial year of Fire Boards close on March 31st,

Mr Grierson said that the Minister of Internal Affairs had turned the proposal down. It was resolved to reply that the Board was favourable to the change. The superintendent's quarterly report stated that Fireman J.. Steel would be absent for about seven months with the All Blacks. The annual report stated that the brigade had turned out for 13 calls, including three false alarms. Two of the outbreaks had been serious. The brigade'had mustered on -26 occasions during the'year, with an average attendance of 17. An improvement in the water supply for fire prevention purposes on Marsden.road was necessary, the main being only a threeinch one. It was resolved, to refer the report to the Borough Council. _ It" was agreed to procure service honours due to the following.—DeputySuperintendent P. Deere and Firemen J. Grogan, Kennedy, and Deere, gold bars; Firemen H. Bloxage and T. Dumbleton, silver bars. The estimates for the ensuing year placed the expenditure at £949. J. Steel Entertained. . The West Coast representative in the All Black team, Mr J. Steel, was entertained to-night by the Star Club, of which he is a member, at a complimentary dance. There was a large attendance, over 80 couples gracing the floor. Euchre prizes were given by Mrs McKechnie and Messrs W. bcott, Griflen, and Smith. The function was opened by the Mayor (Mr W. H Parfittj; and Mr Steel was presented with a pair of kid gloves and a silk scarf on behalf of the Star Social Committee and a travelling rug on behali: of Mr W. Gittos, vice-president of the Star Club. .