WEST COAST NOTES

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19064, 28 July 1927, Page 13

WEST COAST NOTES

PERSONAL. ,

(special to the press.)

GREYMOUTH, July 26.

Mr and Mrs George Sweetman, of Te Puke, Bay of Plenty, and formerly of Greymouth, are visiting the West Coast. Mr C. W. Carver, clerk of the Greymouth Magistrate's Court, is confined to his home with a severe cold.

Mrs A. H. Wild, who is visiting Christchurch, will return to Greymouth to-morrow.

Tho death occurred at his residence at Crushington this morning of Mr Thomas Watson, sen. The late Mr Watson was a pioneer o£ Greymouth and Reefton, arriving at the former town with his brother in the early '6o'3. He was for some time a partner in a building business with the late Mr Edmund Wickes, the first Mayor of Greymouth. In 1860 Mr Watson moved to Greymouth, and managed the well-known Wealth of Nations Mine at Crushington for forty years. He erected the first quartz crushing battery in the Reefton district. He was 85 years of age, and was a native of Peebles, Scotland. He is survived by a widow, five sons, and two daughters. Greymouth Club. At the annual meeting of the Greymouth Club Mr F. J. Parkinson presided. The annual report and balance-sheet disclosed the club's affairs to be in a healthy condition. Officers for the ensuing year were elected as follows:—President, Mr F. J. Parkinson; vice-president, Mr W. H. Parfitt; committee, Messrs J. W. Calwell, N. B. McCallum, W. P. McCarthy, J. Hart, J. Jones, J, McKay, and J. Lynch. Rifle Shooting. Godley Cups and silver medals for the highest marks in rifle shooting have been presented to G. Ferguson and B, SIOBS, of Greymouh. Ferguson was one 0" the first boys to win the Memorial Hutohings Shield for swimming. • He will probably compete in the rifle shooting competition for Cadets and Territorials to be held at Trentham at the end of the year. Barrytown Plat. The Barrytown Flat, 1 which at one time was one of the richest alluvial goldfields on the West Coast, is likely again to come into prominence as an important goldmining locality. For many years rich gold was won on the flat by the Waiwhero Gold Mining Company by Bluicing operations and the "blow up" system of mining, but ow- ] ing to the heavy costs of transporting the mining machinery required for the further development of the field, the company ceased operations a few years ago. Since then transport between Greymouth and Barrytown has been greatly facilitated through the construction of a good road aronnd the Ton-Mile Bluff which affords easy access for heavy vehicular traffic. To-day the erection of a boring plant on the Barrytown Plat was commenced under the supervision of Mr E. Brown, for tho ■ Clutha Developing Company, Ltd. The company has secured a mining area of 400 acres, and will thoroughly prospect the ground by putting down numerous bores for the purpose of installing one or more gold dredges. It is expected that the boring operations will be completed in four months. In the meanwhile four men will be permanently employed on the ground. More Police Wanted. Evidence that the recent series of burglaries "Committed at Greymouth has had a disquieting effect upon citizens residing in the suburban area was illustrated to-day, when a deputation from the Chamber of Commerce, comprising Messrs J. McLean (chairman), W, R. Kettle, A. Naylor, and J. King, waited upon Police Inspector O'Halloran requesting that a constable be stationed permanently in the southern end of the town. It is understood that the inspector's reply was of a reassuring nature. Building Activities. The erection of a large brick building on Mawhera Quay to replace the drapery premises of Messrs McGruer, Ltd., which were destroyed by fire some time ago, will be put in hand at au early date. Cascade Mine, A further consignment of coal from tho v new Cascade mine is to go forward by the Komata to Wellington for tho New Zealand Railways. The company expects shortly to increase its output greatly. Telephone Charges. The Buller Progress League has decided to support the Otago Expansion League's representations urging the reduction of telephone charges. Westport Harbour. At last evening's meeting of the Buller Progress League, a letter was read from the Minister for Marine in connexion with the condition of Westport Harbour. The letter also stated that the Department was negotiating for a bucket dredge to work the Buller i river. I Referring to the letter, Mr Parfitt stated that palliatives too often made diseases permanent. Westport had to take Gisborne's dredge, which was apparently no use to Gisborne. The Westport Harbour was worse now than it had been for the past five years. The cost of hiring the Gisborne dredge would amount to £IOO per week, which was a very good bargain for the North Island port, as it relieved Gisborne of all charges. The hiring of dredgos was no i good to Westport. If Greymouth could afford to get a dredge Westport could do so. In moving that the letter be received, Mr J. H. Enright said that he thought the Government should obtain data regarding the cost of a new dredge. A new dredge for Westport had been promised some time ago. He added to his motion that the question of urging the Government to procure a new dredge be referred to the General Purposes Committee to report to the next meeting. The motion was carried. Brunner Collieries, Ltd. ' A largely-attended meeting of shareholders of the Brunner Collieries, Ltd., was held at Greymouth to-day, when tho following recommendations were carried, to be submitted for confirmation to the annual meeting on August 17th: "That the number of directors of the company be reduced from nine to seven; that all sitting directors be eligible to contest' the election; and that the head office of the company be removed to Wellington." It was reported that the whole of the dip workings in the Wallsend mine were de-watered, and that in view of early production the condition of the mine was very satisfactory. Moving day need cause you no apprehension ; just get in touch with usl We'll call, pack, and deliver or dispatch your possessions. They will be handled by experts and treated with the greatest care. Estimates gladly given at our own offices in the chief towns. The New Zealand Express Co., Ltd. —4