WEST COAST NOTES

Press, 1 February 1930, Page 6

WEST COAST NOTES

PERSONAL.

(SPECIAL TO THE PRESS.)

GREYMOUTH, January 31. Mr and Mra E. L. James arrived from Dunedin yesterday on a visit to the former's brother, Mr H. D. James, of Karoro. Mr M. A. James, representative of the New Zealand Tourist Department in Vancouver, is visiting the Franz Josef Glacier. Mr E. St. John, who has been attending the officers' training camp at Bumham, returned yesterday to Eeefton. Nurse F. Braid wood, who has been on holidav, returned yesterday and resumed duty at the Greymouth Hospital to-dav. Tho Rev. Stanley Hinson, late of Pleasant Point, is visiting friends m Grevmouth. \ir and Mrs Haynes, Mrs Travera and Mrs Bramwell (North Island), who are visiting the West Coast after au absence of thirty years, will leave for the glaciers in a few days. Mr George East, a member of the Wellington swimming team which took part in the Dominion championships at Grevmouth this week, is an inmate of the "Grey Hospital, and is in isolation. Mr J. G. L. Hewitt, a former Magistrate at Grevmouth, is visiting the West Coast. Mr Geo. Bnttersby, who has been a member of the "Grey River Argus" staff for the past three years, is leaving earlv next month on his return to Scotland. Obituary. Advice was received this morning of the death, suddenly, last night, of Miss Llovd, matron of the Westland Hospital, which took place at a private hospital at Wellington. She had been in ill-health for a considerable time, and had gone to. Wellington for treatment. She was 53 years of age. She had been matron at Westland Hospital for nearlv two years. The death of Mr James Horan, of Cobden, occurred this evening at the Grevmouth Hospital, following an attack of pneumonia. He was 43 years of age and is survived by his widow, three sons, and four daughters. He was a member of the well-known Horan family, of Coal Creek, Grevmouth. Coal Development. Bv last evening's train the Morris vale Collieries, Reeftqn, landed a 100 horsepower locomotive boiler for use in generating power to work No. 3 dip on their property at Burke's Creek. It is to be placed in commission immediately. Donation to Borough. An offer from Mrs M. A. Hopkins to hand over her section for conversion into a park has been received by the Borough Council. The offer has been accepted, and a letter expressing the Council's thanks forwarded, suggesting that if she approved the section be called Hopkins Park. Electoral Matters. Mr J. O'Brien, M.P., has been advised by the Minister for Marine that tho Chief Inspector of Fisheries is arranging for a conference with all Lake Mahinapua whitebaiters concerned in the dwpute over the method of catching whitebait with a view to settling the question. Regarding the request for an increased mail service for Okarito, the Postmaster-General (Sir Joseph Ward) has informed Mr O'Brien that the service would be increased to a bi-weekly one provided the settlers guaranteed £25 per annum towards the additional cost (£oo per annum). Tar-Sealing Streets. The request of the District Engineer, New Zealand Railways, Christehureh, to the Grey Borough Council to have the tar-sealing of the road at tho rear of the Greymouth railway station carried out, has been agreed to and the work will shortly be put in hand. Magistrate's Court. Before Messrs G. A. Perry and M. Houston, J.P.'s, at the Hokitika Magistrate's Court to-day, a young man, whose name was suppressed in the meantime, was charged that between September Ist, 1927, and December 15th, 1027, he did break and enter tho dwelling-house of Arthur W. Yarrall and steal one jewel-case containing jewellery, seven sovereigns, a half-sove-reign, nine £1 notes, and 10s in silver, of a total value of £149. The accused pleaded not guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. The police further charged accused with the theft of £o, the property of A. R. Thompson. A remand was granted for eight days, to enable a witness to be brought from Bruce Bay. Tourist Traffic. Two parties of American tourists have included the West Coast in their itinerary. A party of twenty-four will arrive from Christehureh on February 13th, en route to the Franz Josef glacier, and on February 22nd another party will leave for Christehureh after visiting the glaciers. Statistics.. During January rain was recorded on 17 days, the total fall being 6.42 in. The maximum fall was 1.59 in on January 21st. For the same month in 1929, the rainfall was 6.4 Sin on 18 days. Tho driest January for the last ten years was that of 1928, when 2.81 in fell on five days. During January 24 steamers having a total net tonnage of 14,820 entered the port of Greymouth. Tho number cleared outwards was 26, with a total net register of 15,087 tons. The average depth of the Grey bar last year was 24ft 6in, which was greater than any other year since the harbour improvements were carried out. Makura Croquet Club. The final matches for the Makura Croquet Club's trophies resulted as follows .—Shallcrass Bowl: Mrs F. Whibley beat Mrs J. W. Hannan. Peace Bowl: Mra F. Whibley defeated Mra W. Scott. Railway Extension. The Hon. \V. A. Veitch arrived at Hokitika last evening. He was interviewed by a deputation from a public meeting held the previous evening to convey a motion carried urging the re enactment of the authorisation of the south Westland railway below Ross. The Mayor, the county chairman, and the Hon. H. L. Michel spoke in support. The Minister agreed to convey the representations to the Prime Minister. Mr Veitch indicated his personal opinion, which was to the effect that, knowing the distriet as he did, he strongly approved of the proposal. , The Minister left this morning to | visit South Westland, Mr James O'Brien, I M.P., accompanying him. He returns ! here on Monday and proceeds to Christehureh on Tuesday.