WEST COAST NOTES

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19152, 8 November 1927, Page 5

WEST COAST NOTES

FAMILY FEUD. (sricuL to tu ram.) GREYMOUTH, November At the Greymouth Magistrate's Court So-day, John Bourke, jun., was charged with assaulting his uncle. James Bourke, at Barrytown on Sunday, September iSth Inst. Senior-Sergeant C. E. Roach conducted the prosecution, and defendant was represented by Mr "W. P. McCarthy. James Bourke said he and another man named Martin, had ridden from Mabel's Bay to Barry town, to interview a Mrs Shannon about a cow. When returning to Barrytown about 10.30 a.m. he saw 'defendant and a man iiarn&d C'uttance in front of him. Defendant's father rushed out of his house waving his hands, and started to take off liis coat. Witness was then struck on the head with a stone by John Bourke, jun. Witness said defendant was always loaded with stones. Witness felt dazed and dismounted to save himself from falling from his horse. Ha told Cuttance that he would be waiited as a' witness, as be saw defendant throw the stone, but Cuttance denied seeing the stone thrown. After witness was struck defendant wanted to fight him. The Senior-Sergeant: Were tou much hurt?

Witness: "Too right I was. I'm not ovfer it yet. I had to go to the hospital to get the wound stitched." The feud had been going on for years, and he had repeatedly been knocked out with stones. He had good cause to know the other Bourke family. Years ago they had dragged his old' father, 82 years of age, along the beach to drown him, and they were convicted for that action. They never started a row single-handed, but waited until they had witnesses. William Martin, who accoinpainied James Bourke on his adventurous journey, said that John Bourke, seii., started the trouble, ruShiitg out of his house and using threatening language- John Bourke, jun., then came along accompanied by Cuttance. Defendant pulled a stone out of his coat pocket and threw it at James Bourke, striking him on the back of the head. Por the defence, eviden'ce was submitted to the effect that the defendant had not struck James Bourke with a stone, but that his injury was caused through informant falling from his horse. One witness stated that James Bourke and Martin, had told deliberate lies.

After reviewing the evidence, Mr W. Meldrum, S.M., convicted and fined defendant £5 and £3 Ss costs.

Personal. Mr .Philip I\ewburii, railway coaching foreman, Greymouth, will leave tomorrow for the Bay of Islands, where he will spend his annual holidays. Mr A. Turtill will leave to-morrow for Christchurch. Mr E. J. Kiely, of the Hotel Dominion, who underwent an operation at the Grey Hospital last week, lis making satisfactory progress. Mr and Mrs T. Mallinson (Kopara) left to-day for Christchurch. Miss Gertrude Johnston, who has been studying at the Royal Academy of Music, London, for the past 18 months, arrived in Wellington by the Remuera to-day. She is expected .to reach Lvttelton to-morrow, returning to Grermouth later. Mr W. M. Johnston left oh Saturday to meet his daughter. Mr and Mrs G. T. Breßner, of Auckland, are spending a holiday iii Grevmouth.

Mrs Weaver, who has been visiting Greymouth, returned this morning to Roxburgh. _ Constable W. S. Cogswell, whose marriage to Miss Cara Hopgood, of Greymouth, takes place at Holy Trinity Church to-morrow morning, was met by the members of the staft of the police department this evening and presented with a Paragon china tea set. SeniorSergeaiit C. E, Roach made the presentation.

Mr C). H. Lindsay, of Auckland, has arrived in Greymouth to take charge of the hardware department of Messrs Duncan McLean, Ltd.

Sawmill Accident. Mr Albert Topp, an employee at Wallis's mill, Inaiigahua Landing, met with a serious accident on Saturday. Mr Topp was engaged in loading logs on a trolley which started to move, with a result that he overbalanced, and the log rolled on him, injuring his head and back. He was taken to the Eeefton Hospital. On enquiry to-day it was ascertained that he was doing as well as can be expected. | Grey Diamond Jubilee. Mr T. E. T. Seddon, iI.P., lias written to the Grey District Jubilee Committee advising that a warship will be visiting Greymouth during the Diamond Jubilee week, and that H.M.S. Diomede or H.M.S. Dunedin, and possibly both, will be herfe. ■ 1 The Weather. 1 So far as the West Coast is concerned there has been a complete absence of sunshine since the Summer Time Act came into operation. During the weekend the sky was curtained with heavjsullen clouds, and disagreeable showery weather was experienced to-day. State Mines Idle. Friction between the management and men employed at the Liverpool State mine Resulted in the mine being idle to-day. Tfife trouble originated on Friday, when six men—two tiuners, two shiftmen, and two truckers—left the mine about 3.30 o'clock in the afternoon, when they had finished their working places. The management objected to the action of the men in knocking off before the usual time, 3.4-5 p.m., and when the sis men arrived at the mine this morning the management stopped their lamps, or, in other words, Refused to allow them to enter the mine. The action of the management was resented by the remainder of the men, who refused to work, and returned to their homes. The management contend that the six men defied the offi- j cials and left the mine when they could j have carried on in their old places until knock-off timej or gone to another place. The men, on the other hand, contend that it is the usual practice to knock off when finishing working places towards the end of the shift.

In response to.an enquiry this evening, Mr J. A. James (Superintendent of State Mines) told a reporter that be.resumed to-morro\v; The task of clearing away the Fall of stone and debris .fthich occurred on the main rope road of one of the tunnels of the Xo. 1 (top) State mine at Rewanui last Thursday night is proving more difficult than was. anticipated. It is hoped to have a clearance effected to enable the mine to resume operations 011 Wedn£sdav.

Motor-Oycltet Injured. While a young man named Wallace fras riding. a. motor-eyc-le on the Dillmanstowa Hill, near his machine crashed Jnto a car coming in the direction of GreymoUthj Wallace, who is a sen of Mrs J. McFarlane, of Kumara, received k deep ga&h o& the leg, the wound penetrating to the bone. He was also badly shaken. He was taken to his h6m&, where lie rfeceired iaedical attentiogj