WEST COAST NOTES

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18485, 12 September 1925, Page 10

WEST COAST NOTES

MINING MATTERS. ' ___ ~~ (SPECIAL TO "THE FRESS."') GREYMOUTH. September 11. There js a good deal r-f speculation 1 loyally ai to whether all the mines wilt be idle to-morrow a.-> a result of the miners' decision to work only a five days' week in future. The -Miners' Council opposed drastic action in this direction; during the currency of the present agreement, but the rank and file voted against it? proposal by a very large majority. An avipc-ul to the men to remain at work on the 4 k Saturday lias had a ho stile "reception, and the officials of the Miners' Council are taking up the attitude that the rank and file members of the unions having given a mandate it is for them to carry it out. In view of the lost time recently, the innovation should not be fraught with any serious results for the industry. A largely attended meeting of the State Miners' Union was held at Runanga this njbrning, when a strong protest was expressed against the decision of the management to continue usins props instead of sets in the new section. A deputation consisting of Messrs J. Connell (president), E. McAlave- (secretary) and R. Knight waa appointed to interview tho Minister of Mines regardirJo; tho grievance. .They leave for Wellington to-morrow. It is tho men's contention that although props will be cheaper .for tho management than sets, human life will bo endangered, and they point to the large number of accidents in the State mines lately as evidenco of the hazardous nature of their occupation. In No. 1 section of the Liverpool Colliery there hav© been, since January ' 1924. 141 accidents, two of which have been fatal and one serious. There have aJso been numerous accidents in ! the other sections of the State col- ' lieries. In conversation with "Tho Press i representative to-day, one of tho Union officials said that Mr 0. Davis, mine manager, had stated this morning that tho men's demands would be fought to the bitter end. "The fight is now on," said the Union official significantly. The State mines will be idle to-mor-row, and the men state that work will not be resumed until a satisfactory undertaking is given by the management. They state that in 1912 it was, agreed that sets would be used in all inclines. There was a recurrence of tho trouble in 1916. and the Minister of Mines called the executive of the Union to Wellington. An agreement was then reached that no centre props should be used iir / inclines. They regarded the action of the management during the past four months as an attempt to reintroduce throughout the whole mine the use of props where sets should be utilised. Baling operations have been held up at the Wnllsend Mine, pending the duplication of the plant. This work will be completed next week, ana. 1 * will then be possible to proceed with the uuwatering operations in ootn shafts simultaneously. Harbour Improvement. . Not many local bodies are able to contemplate with equanimity extraordinary expenditure totalling £IOO,OOO, >ut this is the fortunate position of the Grey Harbour Board, which recently instructed its engineer to proceed with improvements winch will involve an outlay of £IOOO per month, and which will take rfeven years to complete. In addition he .is to make enquiries for a suitable suction dredge at a cost of approximately £lo,ooo. Within a month work should bo under wav respecting this scheme in the Blaketown lagoon. At present the Board's expenditure in transporting stone from the Cobden quarry to. the north tip bead ii approximately £SOO per month, which is all that can be expected economically at present. Tunnel Traffic. The goods traffic through the Otira Tunnel this week from West to kast will aggregate approximately biw tons. . ■ Justices' Association. A meeting of the sub-committee recently appointed was held this afternoon for the purpose of drafting rules and regulations for tho West Coast (South Island) Justices' Association. Mr W. Meldrum, S.M., presided, and rules Were approved for submission to a general meeting in October. A proposal that the Association should be represented at a conference of Justices of the Peace at Christchurch was held over for the general meeting. Personal. Mr P. N. Kingswell, mining engineer, will arrive from Auckland tomorrow. „ ~. ! Mr W. E. Holdgate, of the Public Trust Office, Greymouth, left this morning en route for Gisborne on transfer. Mr S. H. Francis, of Christi church, has been appointed to the vacancy in the local office. Mr G. T. Moss will arrive from Christchurch to-morrow. Mr J. T. Alexander, Inspector of Machinery, Greymouth, has received notice of transfer on promotion to Auckland. The condition of Mr M. Kelly, who is an inmate of the Grey Hospital, is causing his friends concern. At to-day's meeting of the Plnnket Society advice was received from the Central Council that Nurse Spring had resigned from the Westport branch, and her services were now entirely afe. the disposal of the Greymouth Branch. Mrs O. O'Brien was appointed to the executive vice Mrs O. H. Brailsford resigned. Mr A. H. Wilde will arrive from Hamilton to-morrow to take over the position of manager of tho "Grey River Argus." Mr J. B. Kent has presented a shield for competition among the. local debating societies. Mr I. Piclwell, a representative Eugby player, has left the Buller district for Wanganui. Mr H. H. Sharpe, of the Public Works Department, Wellington, has been visiting Westport on Departmental business. The death is reported from Christchurch of Mr John Hogan, .formerly of the railway locomotive staff, Greymouth. Inangab.ua Rifle Club. There was a large attendance at the annual meeting of the Inangahua. Defence Rifle Club. The following officers were elected: —Patron, Mr W. Dunn; president,, Mr H. L. Morgan; vicepresidents, Messrs J. McMyn and C, Tatley; committee, Messrs Christiansen, Blom, Mollov. McMyn', Melbom and Fell; secretary-treasurer, Mr G. -E. Hubbard; club captain, Mr P. J. \ Melloy. It was decided to open the season on October 11th.

ised to be very successful, had \r> he postponed owinj; to the epidemic of infantile paralysis. The Farmers' Winter School, conducted by the Agricultural Department, hafl again proved a great success. Stockbreeders in the district had improved their herds by the purchase of many pedigree animal during the year. Relations had been maintained with the West Coast and other Associations, and by mutual assistance and co-operation j much benefit had been derived. A re- ; grcttablc feature of farming in the ; district was the want of unanimity and i broadminded co-operation. In the i coming year it would be the Committee's "duty to devise ways of raising : funds to wipe off the Association's j liability. Supreme Court. I The Greymouth sitting of the Supreme Court will not open until I'ridav. Cobden Town Board. Ci e of the recently-elected members of the Cobden Town Board has announced his intention of holding a public meeting as a protest against the : Board's action in conducting some of its business in committee. School Committee. * The monthly meeting -of the Greymouth School Committee was held today. Present: Messrs J. Tenncnt (chairman), T. B. Batty, H. Herring, and P. Beck. Miss J. S. Bean, dental nurse, was granted three weeks leave of absence, A letter was received from Mr F. Z. D. Fcrriman, of Asbburton, forwarding a copy of the picture "The Landing of the Anzacs" for display in the school. On the motion of the ! chairman, Mr Ferriman waa accorded a vote of thanks. The secretary reported that the new heating system was effecting a good saving. The Bector reported that the average attendance at the Main and Blaketown Schools was 659 out of a roll of 699. Kumara Water Supply. The percolation of sawdust into the water mains at Kumara has caused a great deal of trouble lately. Recently a picture show was compelled to close down through the blockage of the pipe supplying the engine with water. Boiler Electorate. The final selection of a Eeform candidate to eontest the Buller seat has been deferred. A decision to this effect waa reached last evening at a meeting of supporters of the Government held at Westport. Eugby Football. The following will represent Buller against South Canterbury:—Koarns, Bernard, Davis, Griffiths, Baird, Foskett, Anderson, O'Neill, Tunnicliffe, Gardiner, Stuart, Ford, McKnight, Morley and Skilton.