WEST COAST NOTES

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18626, 26 February 1926, Page 8

WEST COAST NOTES

PERSONAL. (SPECIAL TO "THE PEESS.") GREYMOUTH, February 25. Mr R. B. Scott, of the clerical staff of the Railway Loco Office, is on a holiday motor trip in the North Island. He returns to Greymouth on Saturday, March 6th.

The Bcv. E. G/ Dov/all, formerly of Totara Flat, and now in charge of the Presbyterian Mission at Eichmond, left by to-day's express, after visiting the Coast.

Miss B. C. O'Connor, of Christchurch,) has been appointed supervisor of the Greymouth Telephone Exchange, and will arrive at an early date. Senior-Sergeant T. Jtyan, of Westport, has received notice of transfer to Mt. Cook station, WellingtonJ Mr and Mrs B. Tate, who have been on a holiday trip to Waitaro, returned to Greymouth by to-day 's express. Mrs M. J. Findlay, and Miss Hempseed, of Hobart, are the guests of their sister, Mrs J. H. Keddie (Greymouth). Among the inward passengers by today's express were, Mesdames Wingfield, F. Hopkinson, Misses D. Gaulter, M. Roustou, Messrs C. Lamont, H. 11. Smith, Myerscough, Evans, W. McIndoe, A. * Andrews, E. B. Miller, F. Hopkinson, and L. T. Houghton. Mr and Mrs G. T. Moss returned to Christchurch this morning.

Inspector D. C. Frazcr, who has been appointed to succeed Inspector W. Eccles, in charge of the- Grey Police district, arrived from Napier this afternoon.

The Rev. Father Fogarty, of Ahaura, who is leaving on an extended trip to Europe, and America, was tendered a farewell social at the Ahaura Memorial hal] 3a3t evening. At the conclusion of the musical programme, Mr J. Mulcare (chairman), on behalf of the parishioners, asked the Rev. Father to accept a well-filled vvaHct as a token of the esteem in which he is held. Other speakers were the Very Ecv. Dr. Kennedy (Hokitika), Rev. Fathers o''Began (Greymouth), and Healey (Boss), and Bev. Mr Hay (Ahaura). Mr G. Paul, of Ahaura, left this morning for Dunedin. ' Mr and Mrs W. Arnott, junr., left to-day for Dunedin. Miss E. Stephenson, who has been the guest of Mrs E. Larcombe, returned to Hamilton to-day. Sister T. Graham, of Dundee, Scotland, who has been visiting her sister, Mrs W. Dunn, South Beach, left on her return by this morning's express en route to Scotland. On the eve of her departure, Sister Graham was met by a number of friends, at the residence of Mrs J. Stewart, and presented with a handsome bedroom clock. Mr P. King, Roads foreman, Bailways Department, who has been on an official visit to the West Coast, returned to-day to Christchureh. Mr K. Simmers, Assistant District Railways Engineer, is on a visit to the West Coast. Mr E. A. Stewart, tellor of the National Bank of New Zealand, Greymouth, has received notice of transfer to Christchureh. Tho Weatport Borough Council has appointed Mr J. Bently, to the position of caretaker of Victoria Square. There were sixteen applicants. Misses R. Brown and M. George, of the Christchureh hospital staff, are the guests of Mrs J. C. Brown (Wcstport). Mr J. C. Brown, district manager of the "Wcstport Coal Co., Ltd., has been elected a representative of tho New Zealand Employers' Federation Advisory Board.

Country Schools' Competitions. Owing to a hitch in tho preliminary arrangements, it was announced yesterday that tlie schools' elocutionary and musical competitions, in connection with the- Ikamatua, Waiuta, and Blackwnter schools, were abandoned. This decision, however, was rescinded at a special meeting of the Ikamatu School Committee held last evening, when it was decided to hold the competitions in May next. Messrs R. A. Bush, and E. Moss, of who M-erc last year's judges, have agreed to act in a similar capacity at tins year's competitions.

Ikamatua Taney pair. The members of the Ikamatua School Committee have guaranteed half the expenses of the school pupils for the trip to Duiicdin Exhibition. With the object of raising additional funds a fancy fair will be hold at-Ikamat.ua on March Sth, when tho proceeds will be allocated equally towards the expenses of the Exhibition trip, and the Ikamatua hall fund. Lambs for Addington. A draft of 7SO lambs from South Westland was railed to Addington todav, by special goods train. Hotels Change. Mr V.", Brown, licensee of the Cobden Hotel, has disposed of his interest in that hotel to Mr C. Chamley, of Hunanga. Mr and Mrs Brown will later leave on an extended trip to Australia. Mr Les. Chapman, formerly licensee of the Railway Hotel, has pnrchased the Culverden Hotel, and will enter into possession next week. Mr E. S. Austin has disposed of his interest in the Hotel Dominion, Greymouth, to Mr Kiely, of Auckland.

Obituary. The death occurred at Matainui, South Westland, last evening, of Mr Duncan Scally, aged 78 year 3. The late Mr Scally, who was unmarried, was a very old" West Coast pioneer, and a native of Doourn, Ballycastle, Ireland. He was the last surviving member of an old partnership that was formed about 50 years ago, on the old Five Mile Beach, Okarito, and which was known as the "far down party." The party consisted of Alex, and Patrick Jamieson, John McCorniack, Duncan Scally, and John Butler, tho latter passing away about eighteen months ago. Tho party were all gold miners in South Westland, Messrs Scally and Butler, of late years being occupied in i farming in tho Matainui district.

Kumara Jubilee. Favoured with fine weather to-day good progress was made with decorative work at Kumara, for the Jubilee celebrations. Visitors for the celebrations have already commenced to arrive on the West Coast.

The following pioneers will leave Wellington for Kumara to-morrow:— Mrs P. Quinn (well-known at Arahura, and Kumara), Mr and Mrs J. Monihan (late of Dillmans). Mr Monihan arrived in Kumara when only 16 years of age, in the year 187G, and left to come to Wellington in tho year 1900. Mr Joe Stenhouse, one of the old athletes, and well-known 100 yds runner, is also making the trip. Others in the party are Mr and Mrs E. Johnson. Mr Johnson came to Kumara to act as enginedriver for the first sawmill built there. After an absence of 48 years from tho West Coast, Mr 11. Norm Hiskens passed through Greymouth to-day, on his way to the Jubilee, at Kumara. The Hon. Minister for Mines will be visiting the district next week in connexion with the Jubilee at Kumara.. While in the district the Minister will make a decision regarding the Government water race at Kumara, and it is not unlikely it will be reserved for hydro-eloctric power purposes.

Hydro-Electric Supply. A proposal is afoot for the formation of a company to develop power for a hydro-electric supply near Goldsborough. It is suggested that the power will bo available for gold mining in the north portion of Westlantl County, and for domestic purposes also. The permission c£ the Westland Electric Power Board will be necessary for this schemo, and a meeting of the board is convened for next Tuesday afternoon to go into the proposition.

Supreme Court. The business set down for hearing before Mr Justice Adams at the Greymoutb sitting of the Supreme Court, commencing on Wednesday, March 3rd, is as follows: — Criminal—The following will appear,for trial: Samuel Arthur Lee, alleged theft; Joseph Michael Clark and David Cousin, alleged breaking and entering and theft; Stanley Lawrence George Gouch, alleged breaking, entering, and theft. . , Tho following prisoners will appear for sentence: Rupert Dunford, dual voting; Robert Henry Coom, indecent assault; Sydney James Birchley, forging and uttering a cheque and opening a postal packet. Civil—Michael Molan v. Annie Costello and Mary Heaphy. In divorce —Grace Isabel McLeod v. William James McLeod. In bankruptcy —Applications for discharge: Oscar Henry Brailsford, Cobden, contractor; Henry Hazlehurst Smith, Greymouth, motor dealer. Sweet Pea Show. St. John's sweet pea"show was opened this afternoon before a good attendance. Tho Bwoct pea entries were not so numerous as last year, but the quality was quite up to former atandards. The decorative section was very attractive. Cooking entries were above the average of former shows, and the vegetable section was far ahead of anything Fire Brigades. Representatives of tho Grey, Denniston, Kumara, and Hokitika Fire Brigades left by tho express to-day to take part in the fire brigades' conference and demonstration at 'Dunedin.

Excursion to Exhibition. Advico has been received by tho Greymouth Chamber of Commerce from Mr*H. Chapman, District Traffic Manager, that tho Eailway Department proposes to run a train from tho West Coast to Dunedin on Wednesday, March 10th, leaving Dunedin on return on Saturday, March 13th. The special train has been arranged in order that tho general public on the Coast may travel to and from Dunedin at a minimum cost and loss of time. Visiting Athletes. Among the athletes who arrived by today's express for tho forthcoming GreyKumara Jubilee, and Hokitika- athletic sports nxtuxMS were Messrs E. S. Austin, ".jumbo" Wells, F. J. Hansen, D. Braekenridgc, A. C. Cameron, C. Burmuid, W. T. Weir, E. McGrath, B. A. Penrose, and IC. O. Davies. "Raising the Wind." A unique method of "raising the wind" has been adopted by the schoolboys of Otira for tho purposo of raising funds for the school cricket club. For the past few weeks rata flowers have been blooming in profusion at. Otira, and schoolboys arc making hay while the sun shines, by selling the beautiful native blooms to express passengers,

previously seen here. The McKay Cup, for the best six varieties of sweet peas, was won by Mr J. Haldane (Eunanga). The previous holder was Mr I Mossop (Eunanga). Keofton Cycle Race. The cycle race, Eeefton to Burke's Creek and back, about sis miles, was won by Hunt. E. Powley was second, and Lewis third. Powley made the best time, starting from scratch. During the progress of the race a mishap occurred to two employees of the Eeefton Coal Company, Messrs C. Tattley and C. Garden, who were returning from work on a motor-cycle. They moved off the road near the Golden Coast Company's factory to give the cyclists a chance to chooso their path, when the motor-cycle skidded and struck a stump. Both riders received injuries necessitating medical attention.

The Weather. Ideal weather conditions prevailed today, and the prospects of a fine spell appear to be very hopeful.