WEST COAST NOTES

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19343, 22 June 1928, Page 15

WEST COAST NOTES

PERSONAL. (SPECIAL TO THE PRESS.! GREYMOUTH, June 21. Sister Cullen, of the Grey Hospital, left this morning for Auckland. Mr H. McConnell (Runanga) left today on a holiday trip to Te Awamutu. Mrs H. E. Holland, of Westport, will leave "Wellington on July 3rd for Sydney, and Adelaide, on a visit to her sons and daughter.

The Eev. D. E. Hay, curate of St. Luke's Church (and formerly of Ahaura), has been appointed vicar or St. Andrew's parish, Little River, and will take over the parish in October. Mr and Mrs E. Wilson (South Beach) returned to-day from Otago.

The funeral of the late Mrs Caroline Gaskin took place at Karoro Cemetery this morning. The services at Holy Trinity Church aud the graveside were conducted by the Eev. W. Bell, vicar of Cobden.

The marriage of Mr David Cowan, youngest son of Mrs and the late Mr James Cowan, Greymouth, to Miss Annie Cecilia, second daughter of Mrs MeKeegan, of Threadneedle street, was solemnised at the residence of the bride's mother this morning, the Eev. Father Holohan officiating. The bride woro a frock of primrose blue georgette and black crinoline hat, and carried an ivory prayer book. She was attended by her sister, Miss Lucy McKeegan, who wore a frock of apricot georgette and hat to match. The best man was Mr Peter McEnanev. After the ceremony, Mr and Mrs Cowan left for Akaroa. The bride travelled in a costume of dark fawn repp with hat to match.

Mr J. Cairns, of the Reefton railway staff, left to-day on transfer to Timaru. He was accompanied by Mrs Cairns and family. Honey Production. The importance of bee farming on the West Coast is shown by the fact that during the 1928 season 2022 cases of honey weighing 108 tons passed through the Greymouth Harbour Board's grading store. This year's output constitutes a record, being 431 cases above the 1925 season, when 1591 cases were handled at the store. During the four years since the grading store has been in existence the amount of honey shifted from Greymouth totals 5381 cases, aggregating 288 tons.

The Grey Bar. Misfortune lias again dealt the Grey district a hard blow ill connexion with the Stewart scheme for clearing the Grey bar, which has reverted to its old habit of silting. The work of installing the Stewart plant on board the Harbour Board's tug Westland was completed last week, and everything was in readiness for giving .the scheme a try-out when the Inspector of Machinery ordered the tug to be beached at Cobden for the purpose of inspecting a patch on the vessel's bottom before he issued a certificate as to her seaworthiness. When the hull waa inspected it was found that a new patch was required and a gang of workmen from the Greymouth foundry were Bent to the scene to make the necessary repairs. # The job, however, proved to be much bigger than was anticipated, with a result that the tides commenced to neap, leaving the vessel and the Stewart process high and dry. Two attempts made to float the tug proved unsuccessful, so the only course left to the Board was to leave her in her present position until the spring tides start to make which, at the earliest, will mean a period of at least twelve days. In her present position-the tug would be at the mercy of a flood, but with the fine weather prevailing there is no immediate danger from that quarter. The port, however, is in a serious position, through stranding of the tug, which, in cases of emergency, is required to tow vessels in and out of port. Under the present conditions the only way taining the depth of water on the bar is by means of the tide gauges, which are not considered to reveal the true position when heavy seas arc breaking over the bar. ~ As a result of the bar shoaling, the Kaiapoi, which is waiting for the seas to moderate before sailing for Sydney, had to shut out 100,000' feet of timber. The Kaponga, which is also m port waiting to clear for Wellington, has shut out 550 tons of coal and 30,000 feet of timber. Last week the Kaitangata had to sail under a restricted draught, leaving four hundred tons of coal behind, whilst the Kartigi, which left on Friday for Melbourne and Adelaide, shut' out 30,000 feet of timber. The Parera, from Nelson, which has been held up in the roadstead, received a severe buffeting when crossing the bar to-day. The Kaitangata, from Wellington,' is lying in the roadstead waiting for the seas to moderate. The records of the port show that the bar is usually affected by shoaling during the month of June owing to the dry weather generally experienced during that period.

Compensation Claim. Plaintiffs in the Supreme Court action, Egan v. Westport Borough Council, a claim for £IOOO compensation heard at Westport last week before Mr Justice Adams, have served notice on the defendants of their intention to apply for a new trial. j The Weather. A sharp frost was experienced this morning at Greymouth. The temperature at 9 o'clock was 33 degrees, the lowest recorded this winter. The Paparoa ranges are thicklj coated with snow. Seaman Injured. . Crouch Lynch, bos'n of the Kaikorai, was admitted to the Westport Hospital last evening suffering from injuries to his back, ribs, and wrist. The vessel was preparing to depart when the accident occurred, the victim being knocked off the dock by a derrick bar on to the ship's deck. Railway Matters. Owing to the removal of the railway locomotives to the Elmer lane depot there is no further use for the turntable in the railway station yards, and it is now being dismantled. Accident. Mr D. Davidson, of Hokitika, had his hand badly crushed whilst working at his foundry. One finger had to be amputated. Mine Idle. Owing to lack of shipping, the Liverpool State mine was idle to-day. The mine will resume operations to-morrow. Karoro Station. The following telegram, signed by Mr J. W. Greenslade (Mayor) and Mr J McLean (chairman of the Greyinouth Harbour Board and Chamber ot Commerce), was sent to-day to the Minister for Railways: "At present Karoro station is being demolished. We consider the site ideal for a public,siding to serve the south end of the town. It is also urgently required as a loading bank for the municipal abattoir. The siding should increase the railway's revenue. We would appreciate your Railway Engineer making a full report before proceeding with the projected alterations,".

Inangahua Junction School. Mr H. E. Holland. M.P., has received the following telegram from the Minister for Education: "Pleased to inform you that I have approved of a grant for the erection nf a new school at Inangahua Junction." Blaketown Ratepayers. At the annual meeting of the Biakctown and Preston road Ratepayers-' Association, the following officers wore elected: Chairman, Mr E. Plough: secretary. Mr T. Sinnott: treasurer. Mr J. Stubbs: committee. Messrs J. Booth, A. E. Brown, t>. McGirr. T. "Willis, J. McGirr, W. Kerr, A. Addison. A. Steel, T, Collins, J. Smith, and Mrs J. Brown, with power to add. Supreme Court. A sitting of the Supreme Court was held to-day at Hokitika before his Honour Mr Justice Adams. There was no criminal business set down for hearing. Applications by Francis J. De Lore and William Morris, for discharges in bankruptcy, were granted. An application by Thomas A. Howard for a discharge in bankruptcy was opposed by S. Holley. The applicant was represented by Mr W. J. Joyce and Mr J. A. Murdoch appeared for Holley. The application was adjourned until the March sitting next year. M. A. Cropp proceeded against Young and others for an originating summons. Mr J. A. Murdoch appeared for applicant, Mr Elcock for the trustees, and Mr W. J. Joyce for Albert A. Cropp and William T. Cropp. Plaintiff, who is the widow of the late Eicliard Cropp, of Koiterangi, sought an order to vary jthe will of the deceased, whose estate, valued at £2500, was left as follows: £2OO to a daughter, a farm valued at £6OO to a son residing in England, and the residue to be divided between the daughter and three sons. Evidence was given by the applicant and William Cropp (a son of deceased). After hearing legal argument, His Honour intimated that an order would be made, but he would give his decision later. Motor-Cyclist Injured. Through a motor-cycle he was riding getting out of control near Wallsend this morning, Leo Stokes, aged 20, was thrown from the machine landing heavily on the road on his head. He was picked up in an unconscious condition and taken to the Grey Hospital. His condition i 9 serious. Stokes's parents reside at Rutherglen. Dobson Disaster. The unveiling of a memorial in red granite, which has been erected by the West Coast miners, over the grave where eight of the victims of the Dobson Mine disaster are buried, will take place at the Karoro cemetery next Sunday afternoon. It is understood that the Grey Municipal, the Runanga, and Blackball Bands will be in attendance. The ninth victim of the disaster, the late Mr Richards, was buried away from Ms comrades. League Footballer Injured. The condition is unchanged of I\ Johnston, who was admitted to the Grey Hospital on Sunday evening suffering from a head injury incurred while playing for Grey in * the League football game against Nelson Creek, at Cobden on Sunday. Johnston received an injury to the head in a previous match this season against Runanga. His condition is serious.