WEST COAST NOTES

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18682, 4 May 1926, Page 14

WEST COAST NOTES

MAGISTRATE'S COURT. (SPECUr. TO "TIIE phess.") GKETMOUTH, May 3. A sitting of the Greyinouth Magistrate's Court to-day was presided over by Mr W. Meldruni, S.M. For being found on licensed premises after hours, at Blackball, on April 19th, two first offenders were each convicted and ordered to pay costs 7s. A second offender was convicted and fined £1 with costs 9s. I'ive first offenders found after hours on April IStli, in the Cashmere Bay Hotel, were each convicted and ordered to pay costs (£1). A second offender was convicted and fined £l, with £1 costs. Charles Hazeldine was charged with riding a cycle on the footpath. The evidence stated that defendant, while riding on the footpath knocked down two children aged four and six years. The children were slightly injured. A line of 10s, with 7s costs, was imposed. Noel Pahl, for riding an unlighted bicycle along Herbert street, after sunset, was fined ss, with 7s costs. For cutting a corner at Greymouth, on March 25th, James Harrison, a cyclist, was fined ss, with 7s costs. A charge that on April 4th, at Aicken's, he took imported gaino (hare?) during a closed season, was brought against William Simpson, who did not appear. Senior-Sergeant McCarthy said that defendant was caught with two hares near the Tercmakau river. Constable Callwel! said that in coasequenco of complaints ho was keeping watch and caught defendant coming from the river bed. The Magistrate convicted and fined defendant £l, with 18s costs. Arrested for drunkcniiesi", on Boundary street on Saturday evening a female statutory first offender was convicted and discharged.

Cobden Town Board. It is understood that a public meeting of Cobden ratepayers vail be called shortly to consider the question of merging the area now administered by the Cobden Town Board back into the Grey County. The Cobden Town Board took over the control of the area in question , from the Grey County Council about live years ago. County Council Nominations. Nominations closed at noon to-day for seats on the Grey County Council, also foi County CoimeU representatives on the Grey Hospital Board, and the' Grey Power Board. Judging by the number of nominations, considerable interest is being taken, and keen contests are expetced at the poll, on 12th.May. In four ridings, Hohonu, Paroa, Brunnerton, and Mausden, the sitting members aro being opposed, while in tho ridings of Cobden, Waipuna, Nelson Creek, Bed Jacks, and Maori Creek, the sitting members have been returned unopposed. The nominations are as follows, the sitting members being mentioned first: —Paroa —Messrs J.'W. Hannnn and J. A. McGrathj Hohonu riding—Messrs A. Eobinson ajid H. J. Topliss; Bruniierton riding-L-Messrs J. P. Irvine and J. Mulcare; Marsdcn riding—Messrs J. J. Greaney and W. Ogilvie. The members re-elected unopposed are as follows: Cobden riding, Mr J. Eyall; Waipuna riding, Mr E. D. Baybutt; Nelson Creek riding, Mr P. Donneillan; [Red Jacks riding, Mr H. G. Carter; Maori Creek riding, Mr A. Blair.

There are seven candidates far the election of three Grey County Council representatives on the Grey Power Board. The nominations are an follows, the three sitting members being mentioned first:—Messrs D. Baybutt, H. G. Carter, A. Eobinson, \V. Clayton, J. Mulcare, H. Sumner, and 11. J. Topliss. . For the vacancies as County Council representatives on the Grey Hospital Board, there are five candidates, as follows:—Messrs J. W. Hannan, J. P. Irvine, J. J. Greaney, H. G. Carter, and A. Eobinson. The Inangahua County election, nominations are as follows:—Eeefton —Jas. B. Auld, A. P. Carroll, and H. L. Morgan; Cronadun, Les. J. Bell, E. L. Paine, and Jno. O'Began; Antonio's—Jas. o'Byrne, William Clayton, G. B. Mclnroe, Albert Topp; Crushiugton, Thos. E. Watson (unopposed); Maruia—W. Blackadder (unopposed). Golf. Playing in a four-ball match, on the altered course at Omoto, during the week-end, Lindsay Itoss, tho professional, did a round of 77. The best ball score for the game was 72. Music. The Associated Board of the Royal Academy of Music, and Eoyal College of Music, of London, has decided to award two exhibitions in the local centre, intermediate grade for last year, one to Miss Margaret E. Crawshawe, New Plymouth, and one to Miss Carrie James, Greymoirth. Grey Power Board. The monthly meeting of the Grey Electrieal Power Board was held this evening. Present: Messrs D. Tennent (chairman), C. Uddstrom, J. O'Brien, J. W. Grecnslado, 11. Duggan, A. Robinson, W. Leitch, and D. Baybutt. The engineer reported that owing to the inclement weather, the progress of the construction work has beeu impeded to a considerable extent. Tho Dunmanville line to supply the New Eiver Gold Dredging Company is being pushed forward as rapidly as possible. A portion of the low tension reticulation has been erected, and forty consumers have already beeu connected, and supplied with tho energy. During tho forthcoming month, considerable progress will be made in this direction, and it is hoped that the majority of consumers already waiting will be connected with the supply. It was decided to accept the Kailway Department's offer to shunt coal to the power house siding at a cost of 5s por shunt, and tho engineer was instructed to have the line for shunting operations, put into order at a cost of £25.

It was decided that no further arrangements be made for transporting the staff to and from their work at the power house. The engineer was authorised to invite tenders for the supply of the following material: Low tension insulators, £250; triple braided aerial cable, £1000; bare copper wire, £3OO. The engineer was instructed to terminate the lease of the premises used by the Board as showrooms. Grey Technical School. At a meeting of the Grey Technical School Board, this evening, Miss B. Coombes, of Christchurcb, was appointed manual instructress at the Grey Technical School, in succession to Miss K. Eempthorne, resigned. Stormy Weather. \ ery stormy weather was experienced here last evening. The boisterous conditions were accompanied by heavy peals of thunder 'and vivid flashes of lightning, which continued throughout I the night. For the 24 hours ended at 9 a.m. to-day 146 points of rain fell. Owing to the.heavy weather, tele-. ; graphic communication, with-. Westport [was interrupted for between two and three hours The conditions have moderated, but the weather continues showery.

Motor Accident. John ]~ aged sixty-two voar>, residing at Dohsou, sust:iinr>l a fnntur-' of the right leg this evening, tlirouyli being knocked down by a motor-ear on the main Grey road, near Dobson. lie was taken to the Grey Hospital. Personal. Mr T. \Y. Duff, who has been a member of Westland County Council tor twenty-tour years, lias decided not to seek re-election. Mr Dull Ims retired also from tho Hospital and Power Boards, of which lie was a menil>er. Miss K. Gordon, who has been m the service of McGruer and Co., Ltd.. for the past eight, years, was. on the occasion of her approaching marriage, presented by the staff with an oak tray suitably inscribed. Miss Gordon wiil !•« married to Mr Albert Warren at St. John's Presbyterian Church on Tuesday. Mr and Mrs A. It. McKane have returned from a visit to Australia. Mrs Percy Smith, daughter of Mr and Srs \Y. Cochrane. Greymouth, who underwent an operation in Auckland on Saturday, is reported to he making satisfactory progress. Mr Arlford Bell, of Wellington, has accepted the position of adjudicator in the elocutionary and oratorical sections at the forthcoming "West Coast competitions festival, which will be held from August 30th to September 7th. Tho marriage took place at St. Joint's Church, Westport, on Friday evening of Mrs Taft to Mr Oswald Hunter. The Rev. J. A. Jermyn officiated. Mr H. O'Donnell (Brunner) has been advised of the death of his sister, Mrs J. Gallagher at tho Christchuroh Hospital. He left this morning to attend the funeral. • The wndition of Mr James Dunn, who was seriously injured through a fall from a second storey window at Revington's Hotel yesterday morning, shows a sliight improvement to-day. Mrs H. Langridge, who has been visiting Dunedin and Christchuroh, has returned to Barry town.

Mr Howarth. who is leaving Xorohlancl School. Wellington, to take over the headmastership of Wcstport School, ! is rlne to arrive with Mrs Howarth and family to-morrow evening. ! Mr C. E. Craig was hade farewell by j members of the Axemen's Association, J in conjunction with other sports bodies, and residents of Murchison and made the recipient of a silver-mounted walk- j ing-stiek and silver pencil. I Grey County Council. The ordinary meeting of the Grey County Council was held this afternoon. Present: C'rs. J. AY. Hannan (chairman), D. Bas'butt, A. Blair, A. Robinson, J. Ryall, 11. G. Carter, J. P. Irvine, and P. Dounellan. The Minister for Public Works advised that the Council's representations in connexion with the construction of a light traffic road, not less than Bft in width, between Blackball and Brunner, would receive consideration when the Estimates are being prepared. It was resolved to ask the Main Highways Board to declare the Grey■\Vestport coastal road a main highway. The chairman of the District Highways Council advised that the Council's contribution towards the cost of maintaining main highways would be. £SBO. The secretary of the Rotomanu Farmers' Union wrote asking for improvements to Hodgkinson's road at Rotomanu. It was decided to ask for a grant. The secretary of the Kaiata Katepayers' Association wrote asking that tho culvert near the,borough boundary be widened to the full width of the road. Tho matter was referred to the engineer for report. The chairman referred to the fact that £BOOO was received by the Council last year from timber royalties. This sum equalled the amount received for rates during the same period. He said that in view of the decision oi the Court of Appeal in connexion with a Karamea case, Forestry Department v. Carter, given at Wellington last week, all sawmilling areas over 200 acres in area, with the reservations attached to them, granted by the Wardens' Courts since 1908* = were invalid and could bo treated as nullities. Continuing, he said that the decision affected over. 90 ■■ per cent, of the sawmilling areas on the West Coast, and, in addition to leaving the sawmiller witho.ut a title, it would withdraw the enormous amount of revenue received by local bodies from this source. He stressed the necessity of bringing down legislation to protect sawmilling areas granted by the Warden.

It was resolved ,on the motion of Cr. Blair, seconded by GY: Ryall, that the menfbers for Westlarid. Bulier, and Motueka bo requested to use their best endeavours to ensure that legislation be passed as early as possible in the coming session validating timber cutting titles granted by Wardens under the Mining Act and that no part of the royalties now being paid to local bodies in respect of timber, cut under such titles, be diverted to other sources.

The chairman's report for the year's operations stated that the financial position of the county was sound. The total receipts from all sources last year amounted to £28,103, while the expenditure amounted to £28,510. Extraordinary expenditure, •by way of flood damage last year, amounted to nearly £ISOO. Advice had been received from the Minister for Public Works that a subsidy of £558 would be paid towards making good the damage. Three Ford motor-lorries, at a cost of over £7OO, were purchased. Despite the extraordinary expenditure the county fund was in a buoyant position. The overdraft on March 31st, 1926, amounted to £2629, against which there was a set-off of moneys due. by the Government of £3776, there being an actual credit on that date of £1147. The total rates collected last year amounted to over £8351, this being evidence of the fact that quite a number of farmers who were unablo to meet their obligations during the slump wcro once again making good. During the term of the present Council, the Council's indebtedness under the provisions of the Local Bodies Finance Act has been reduced by £2012 10s, whilst the annual interest charges have also been reduced £l2O. During the terms of the present Council grants totalling £ll.Blß have been received from the Public Works Department and Main Highways Board, and expended on the Main Highway. For the same period further grants had been received from the Public Works and Mines Departments and expended as follows:—Nine bridges, grant £4477; three bridges'. £ for £, £921; road works, principally in back-blocks, £B2OB. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to tho^hairman. The chairman, in reply, thanked the councillors for their support and assistance during his term of office.