WEST COAST NOTES

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19719, 9 September 1929, Page 5

WEST COAST NOTES

j PERSONAL. (special to to ranss-; GREYMOUTH, September 8. Mr A. Gandell, who has been visiting friends in Greymouth, returned yesterday to Christchurch. The Rev. J. F. Goldie, president of the Methodist Conference, and Miss Goldie, who have been visiting the West Coast, left yesterday for Christchurch. West Coast students who returned yesterday to continue at the Christchurch Training College included: Misses J. Broth, E. Walshe, E. Cambridge, and Messrs N. Wylde, H, Hart, and W. Wick. Dr. Violet liaine3, who recently resigned her position as Medical Officer to the Grey Valley Medical Association, is to be married shortly to Mr J. P. Coates, of Kopara, was entertained at the Wallsend surgery, and presented with an outfit of kitchen utensils. Nurse Spring, of the Greymouth Plunket Society, left yesterday for Christchurch. Mrs I. Francis, formerly of Greymouth, who has been visiting friends on the West Coast, returned to Christchurch yesterday. United Mine Workers. Mr John Smeaton, of Brunner, has been elected president of the United Mine Workers of New Zealand, the final voting figures beingJ. Smeaton 11C0, A. Woods 1012, Scott Davidson 873. Theft of Overcoat. John McLean and Richard Ash ton, two men employed on the s.s. Tees, now in port, appeared before Mr Meldrum, S.M., yesterday, each charged with the theft of an overcoat. They were fined £3 each and costs. Stowaway. On arrival of the s.s. Gabriella from Sydney to-day, a man named Ingram, who stowed away on the steamer's last departure from Greymouth and was not allowed by the authorities to land in Sydney, was taken into police custody and will appear at the Magistrate s Court to-morrow. Supreme Court. A short list is set down for hearing by Mr Justice Adams at the quarterly session of the Supreme Court scheduled to open at Greymouth on Wednesday. It is as follows:—Criminal for trial, Frederick James Tibbies, alleged theft of one bullock; an application for dissolution of marriage (undefended), Margaret Aline Briggs v, William Henry Briggsj one creditor's prtition. Inter-Club Debate. The members of St. Mary's Ladies' Club, Hokitika, met a team from Bt. Mary's Men's Literary Club on Friday evening to debate: "That country life is preferable to that of the town." Mr W. Jeffries, who acted as judge, stated the ladies made a better ease than did the men and declared them the winners. Westland Progress League. A meeting of the Westland Progress League was held in Hokitika on Friday evening, Dr. E. Teiehelmann, president, presiding over a good attendance. , The District Engineer, Public Works Department, Greymouth, wrote acknowledging the League's representations referring to the motor road to Franz Josef Glacier and intimating that tho League's views would be considered before any finality is reached respecting the proposals. It was resolved to vote £5 towards the railway publicity booklet being issued to advertise the attractions of the glacier country in South Westland. It was decided to write the Canterbury Automobile Association asking that attention be given to the Spring-field-Otira road so as to maintain East and West Coast motor traffic. Injury to Hand. Mr Gordon Dick sustained a nasty accident on Thursday evening at Reefton. He was on the train taking e»***le to Totara Flat and was standing at the door of the guard's van when the door slammed, catching the fingers of his right hand and badly smashing two. Borough Council. A special meeting of the Greymouth Borough Council was held yesterday to strike and levy rates for the year ending March 31st, 1930. The Mayor (Mr J. W. Greenslade) presided, and Crs. J. B. Kent, J. S. Robertson, A. M. Carroll, F. A. Kitchingham, and the Borough Engineer (Mr A. J. Fairmaid) were present. It was resolved that the rates be levied as struck. The rates in the aggregate i» remain the same as last year. Remanded. Arrested on a warrant from Dunedin, Archibald Lindsay Francis Begg appeared before Mr W. Meldrum, S.M., at the Greymouth Court yesterday. He was charged with intending to fail to provide his wife and two infant children with adequate maintenance. He pleaded not guilty and was remanded to appear at Dunedin on September 14th. Rugby Football. The results of yesterday's West Coast Rugby Union fixtures were:— Kiwi seniors (Hokitika) defeated Blaketown by 13 points to 11. Brunner defeated United by 11 points to 6. Excelsior (Hokitika) defeated Stars by 26 points to 5. Cobden juniors defeated United by 23 points to 3. Brunner drfew with Blaketown, 6 all. Woodpulp Industry. An attempt to remove the impasse between the Govern, .ent and the Westland Wood, Pulp, and Paper Manufacturing Syndicate, Limited, is being made by the Westland branch of the Canterbury Progress League. About a year ago the company made application for the right of the timber left in the bush after the sawmills have been through it. The timber is useless for anything else, and in the ordinary course of events would be destroyed by fire or other means. At the meeting of the League a lengthy reply was received, and, after careful consideration, Mr Evans moved that the Prime Minister be thanked for his very full explanatory reply and that the League acknowledge the attitude of the Government in taking necessary steps to safeguard national interests, but that, at the same time, an important industrial enterprise was in jeopardy of being checked. In view of the apparent misunderstanding the Department was asked to send down an officer to meet the League and discuss any differences with a view to a settlement being reached. Dr. Teiehelmann seconded the motion, which was approved generally, and carried. Mr Chas. Webb, representative of the company, who was present by invitation, expressed satisfaction at the action taken by the League. Mr Webb has been endeavouring for the last twenty years to get the industry established, and to that end has had papers made from the wood. It is proposed to use the enormous waste from sawmills which is now burnt in huge piles, thus converting what is now waste into a valuable commercial product. It was resolved to invite representatives of the various industries in Westland to attend a meeting for the purpose of organising a Westland Bay for the next Winter Show in Christchurch. The suggestion has been enthusiastically taken up. Acclimatisation.

stamping officer (Mr Downs) to the effect that 13,503 skins had been stamped for the season. A motion by Mr A, C. Armstrong to have the hatchery and fish ponds put in order for the next season wap carried. Mr A. Cederman, ranger, made the suggestion that the number of traps per trapper be limited to 100 to ensure all traps being visited daily. Mr Godfrey thought that the limit should be 150 traps. Mr A. V. Baker was chosen to represent the Westland Society at the conference of societies to be hold in Wellington. He was instructed to oppose the whitebait regulations as drafted, as being inimical to the important industry which has developed in whitebait fishing. He was empowered to discuss the importation of musk rata, from which much wealth is being obtained in the United States. The Society received from Wellington the sum of £l6l 2s, the net amount of deer-stalking licenses received for the season.