WEST COAST NOTES

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19852, 13 February 1930, Page 9

WEST COAST NOTES

PERSONAL. (BFSCU.L TO THE PRESS.) GREYMOUTH, February 12. Miss E. Benfield, who has been visiting Hokitika, returned yesterday to Invercargill. Miss N. Lester, who has been spending a holiday in Greymouth, has returned to Christchurch. Miss K. Shannahan, who has been visiting Christchurch, returned yesterday. Mr J. Torrance arrived yesterday from Dunedin, on a visit to his parents. Mr Mark Stevens, formerly of Blackball, and now resident in Christchurch, is visiting Greymouth. Mr G. A. Mercer, who has been visiting friends on the West Coast, returned yesterday to Taihape. Mr and Mrs A. R. Blocksage, who have been oil a motor tour to Akaroa, returned yesterday. Constable Kearney, formerly of Temuka, who has been appointed to take charge of the Cobdcn Police Station, commenced duty to-day. Obituary. The death took place on Monday night, at Reefton, of Mrs Ida Melbom, wife of Mr Charles Melbom. Mrs Melbom had been in indifferent health for the past two years, and for the last three months had been seriously ill. She was a native of Sweden, and resided, before coming to New Zealand, at Mount Morgan, Queensland. She settled in Reefton about 25 years ago. She was 71 years of age, and is survived by her husband, one son, and four daughters.

Highways Restorations. Seen to-day by a representative of The Press tho District Engineer to the Public Works Department, wlio has just returned from a visit of inspection of the Karamea and Upper Buller Highways, stated that in the Karamea portion of the district K°od progress was being made with the restoration of the road, on which 200 men would shortly be employed. The Mokihinui end of the road was open to the 33-mile peg, and, on th<3 Karamea end, to the foot of Taffy Town hill, leaving a gap of 11 miles. This gap 'would bo still further reduced in the near future by the opening up of 2i miles of road adjacent td Corbyvale where a motor-truck could l>e used for the transportation of either passengers or stores. At the present time there was a good walking track between the two ends, which was being developed as quickly as possible into a pack-track. Arrangements were being made to place additional men on both ends, and it was anticipated that the road would be open for traffic before the end of June.

Mr Johnston said that surprisingly good progress had been made, considering the amount of adverse weather which had prevailed for several months. Mr Johnston inspected the Lyell road. Here 230 men are employed. Tho road is open to a point about three miles beyond Lyell. The large International truck which was left on Dublin terrace during the June earthquake, and which has been there ever since, will be released in about a week's time. It was estimated some time ago there would be a satisfactory road through by June, and, if reasonably good weather is maintained, it is quite possible the road may be opened at an early date. Tho only major slip still remaining is tho four-mile slip, and work on it is advancing, about three-quarters of a mile having been reconstructed, the road being considerably, better, both in width and grade, than previously.

As the various slips on the road are jeing cleared, the men are being kept steadily widening and improving it.

Girl Guides. A rally of Girl Guides, extending throughout the district from Reefton to Ross, will be held in the Omoto racecourse on Saturday week. Tailing to Provide. Thomas James Lee Meagher appeared at the Greymouth Court to-day charged that, on December 14th, at Waihi, he had failed to provide adequate maintenance for his wife and children. Senior-Sergeant Roach, in applying for a remand of one week, stated the police had communicated with Waihi to see if the case could be dealt with in Grey-, mouth. Defendant, having work on the West Coast, would lose his position if sent to Waihi. The remand was granted, bail not being applied for.

Theft of Spectacles. At the Westport Court on Monday, Edward Lee, charged with the theft of a box containing spectacles valued at £4, the property of Isobel Mullins, was convicted and sentenced to one month's imprisonment. Bridge Wanted. The secretary of the Greymouth branch of the Canterbury Automobile Association (Mr F. Harley) has telegraphed to the, Minister for Public Works, asking that authorisations be issued for the erection of the bridges over Deep, Rough-and-Tumble, and Camp creeks, on the Grey Valley-Roto-manu road, the creeks concerned being troublesome during flood times, and impeding general traffic. Bathhouse at Kaimata. When boring operations were being carried out for oil ,in the Kaimata district several years ago, hot thermal water was struck in one of the bores, and boring was discontinued. The hot water bore has now been turned to account, and is being utilised to provide hot water for the bathhouse for workmen on the hydro-electric scheme being carried out by Sparks, Ltd., at the Arnold river. ■ Schools' Excursion. A schools' excursion, from Hokitika to Reefton, of the combined schools, took place to-day, the weather being beautifully fine. About 850 children and adults made the trip.. Fireman Injured. A fireman, P. Roche, on the s.s. Kanna, now in port,, was struck by a ventilator falling from the boat deck this morning. It appeared to have caught him on an arm, but he complained of injury to his back and was removed to the Grey River Hospital for treatment.

Trouble at Hydro-Electric Works. Trouble o£ short duration occurred to-day at the hydro-electric works at Kaimata, when, owing to the cook being discharged, a number of the men employed by the contractors, Sparks, Ltd., refused to work until the cook was reinstated. Upon the terms being refused by the employers, about twenty men maintained their attitude and were paid off.