WEST COAST NOTES

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18304, 11 February 1925, Page 11

WEST COAST NOTES

RAILWAY MATTERS. (special to "the press.") GREYMOUTH, February 10. The deputation appointed at the mcetii*g of protest held in connexion with the projected railway changes will leave for Christchurch on February 10« hj, and will meet the Hon. J. G. Coatcs the following day. Sheep from the South. A special train composed, of 27 trucks conveyed to-day the largest consignment of sheep seen for yeaTs on the Coast in one load through from Ross to Sheffield and Addington. It is estimated that there were over 2000 sheep and lambs on the traiu, and considering that some of them had been ]5 days on the road from Maitainui and Waiho, and even further south, to the southern railway terminus, their condition was remarkably good. The cost of landing the stock at Addington will be nearly 4s a head. Had it not been for the accident to Mr Bansgrove, near Lake lanthe, there would have been an additional three trucks on the train. Mining Matters. During January the Wealth of Nations mill crushed 630 tons of ore for a return by amalgamation only of £672 9s 9d at standard value. Crushing has been hampered owing to a shortage of water, and on this account also the slimes plant, whioli has been running, since the middle of January, stopped on February 6th. At a meeting of the West Coast Miners' Council, it was decided not to be represented at a conference called by the Alliance of Labour to take place at Wellington on April 7th, but an appeal from the Australian section of the Workers' International Relief Association was given favourable consideration. Messrs T. Whittle (president), B. Davidson, and W. Balderstonc were appointed as.a Disputes Committee to negotiate with the companies for a settlement of several grievances. It was.resolved to establish a branch union at Bobsou, whero the Grey Valley Collieries, Ltd., are a party to the West Coast agreement. A Wharf Dispute. Operations on the Coolana were delayed for several hours yesterday owing to the watersiders' resentment of the dismissal of a foreman without notification to the union. There was no response to the 1 o'clock call for men, but subsequently a ballot at a mass meeting approved the appointment of the foreman's successor by a very large majority, and work was resumed. Personal. Mr ."A. L. Piper, locomotive engineer for the Westland section, of Railways, is visiting Westport. Mr John Halpin, who has been visiting Totara Flat, left on his return to Christchurch by to-day's express.

Mrs A. and Miss M. Greensladc and Mrs J. S. Jones, of Nelson, arc staying in Greymouth. Mr W. Blank loft on his return to Christchurck this morning. Mr M. Deere was a passenger for Christehnrch by to-day's express. Mr. J. S. Orr, of the Eailway Locomotive Department, left for Christchurch this morning on transfer. Mrs J. E. McNaughton left this morning for Oamaru. Mr A. H. Kimbel], Under-Secretary for Mines, left this morning for Wellington. Misses C. Caliari and. G. Eugg left this morning for Christchurck on a holiday visit.

Mr W. Kobson left for Christchurch by to-day's express. Ho has decided •to leave Runanga. Mrs Pcrryman, organist at-the Waiuta Church, was presented prior to, her departure with a silver ttfapot, and Mr E.. Bright, who is also leaving the township, was made the recipient of a well-filled purse. Tho Rev. H. Bernoy made the presentations. The marriage was solemnised this morning at Holy Trinity Church of Mr Leslie Stennett Pepper, eldest son of the late Mr 'J. S. Pepper, formerly, of Greymouth, to Miss Margaret Gwen, fourth daughter of 'Mr- and Mrs A. Bell, of Blaketown. The Eev. J. P. Martin officiated. The bride wore grey gabardine with red trimmings, and hat and shoes to match. Miss Agnes Bell was the bridesmaid, and wore a coatfrock of fawn gabardine. Mr C.Bell was best man. After the ceremony a reception was held at Everybody's Tearooms, and the happy couple left later by the express on their honeymoon. Mr Edwin Howat is taking over the Empire Hotel at Kanieri, of which the late Mrs E. A. Head was licensee. Miss McPherson, of Hawera, is spending a holiday with her parents at Pitzherbert street, Greymouth. Bishop Brodie will arrive in Grey-mc-uth. on Saturday and lay tho foun-rla-tion-stono of the. new convent on Sunday/ . . The wedding was solemnised this morning of St. Patrick's Church, Kumara, of Miss Beatrico Neville, fourth daughter of the late Mr D. Neville, of Kumara, to Mr John Smith, of Christchurch. The Eev. Father Pinnerty performed the ceremony. The - happy couple left later for Christchurch and Dunedin. on' their honeymoon.

Mr E. M. Firth, tourist agent at Greymouth, has been advised that ho is likely to be transferred immediately. Borough Improvements. Good progress is being made with the tarring of the Greymouth streets. Mackay and Boundary streets and Mawhera quay have been treated, and the gravel used as a top-dressing is'rapidly working into the tar. The borough employees are now engaged in cleaning up Gresson street, which is to have a new kerbing throughout. A petition has been forwarded to the Council by the borough workmen, who request that all time worked in tarring streets or cleaning sewers be paid for at time and a .quarter rates. Police Station. The Government has authorised the expenditure of £350 on improvements to the Greymouth police station. It will be thoroughly' renovated and. painted. Port of Greymouth, For the four-weekly period ending on January 31st, the export of coal from Greymouth was 18,289 tons, . comprised as follows:—States mines 6856 tons, Blackball 7286 tons, Reef ton 95 tons, Paparoa 3216 tons, and Co-opera-tive mines 836 tons. The export of timber was 1,488,920 super feet. Greymouth Bar. A considerable shoaling of the Greymouth bar is reported as a result of the continued dry weather, resulting in restrictions on the draught of vessels being loaded at the port. A. and P. Association. The entries received by the West Coast A. and P. Association for its annual show, which will be held next week, are fairly satisfactory, tho only sections to show a decrease being horses and dogs and the competitions for school children. There is a good increase in the cattle and also in dairy produce, cookery, and fancy work. The entries in sheep and pigs and in art and photography are about (he same as for the 1924 show.

Ex-Sorvicemeai's Club. J An Ex-Servicemen's Club has been formed at Dcnniston, with the follow- j ing officers: —President, Mr G. Anderson; secretary and treasurer, Mr H. Laurie; committee, Messrs M. Clark, Gillespie, B. Green, Newton, Rogers, and J. Clarke. WESTPORT ITEMS. (SPECIAL TO. "THE PHESB.") WESTPORT, February 10. A party of Wellington bowlers, who are touring the Nelson district, arrived this evening, and play two rink matches with Westport to-morrow. The visitors includo' Messrs Smith, P. McLean, Ledger, Bush (s.), Mentiplay, Vcitch, Hamilton, McLean (s). Delegates to the United Wcstland District of Oddfellows met at Westport to-day, and elected tho following officers:—District Grand Master, Bro. T. McKenzie; Deputy D.G.M.,. Bro. Collins; District Secretary and .Book Examiner, Bro. G. Powell; auditors, Bros. A. Simpson and E. Green. The visiting delegates were entertained at a social function this evening in the Friendly Societies' Hall Mr Kelly Moody, of Hawera, meets the Buller Hospital Board on the 17th inst, prior to confirmation of his ap-pointment-as secretary and treasurer of tho Board. ~ . ••

The projected output of coal for the week amounts ■to 13,000 tons. The output of coal from the co-operative mines in tho Buller district for the past six months has averaged four thousand tons per month.