WEST COAST NOTES

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19862, 25 February 1930, Page 8

WEST COAST NOTES

PERSONAL. (special TO THE PKISS.) GREYMOUTH, February 24. Superintendent J. Mcintosh, of the Hokitika Fire Brigade, left yesterday for Whangarei, where he will represent the Hokitika Brigade at the United Fire Brigades' Conference. Mrs J. Auton (Cobden) leaves tomorrow on holiday to W hangarei. Dr. and Mrs Gordon Kenjp, of Wellington, who have been visiting Greymouth, left to-day for the glaciers. Mrs A. C. Dickson (Wellington) has commenced teaching duties at the Gre\mouth Technical High School, relieving Miss S. J. Robinson, who leaves on Saturday for Dunedin. Mr John Shrives, sen., leaves tomorrow on a trip to Melbourne. Mr R. B. Hughes, representing R. S. Lamb Co., Ltd., Sydney, who has been visiting Greymouth, returns to-morrow. Mr and Mrs E. Condon leave to-mor-row on holiday to Queenstown. Mr and Mrs J. Yates (Cobden) leave to-dav on a visit to Rotorua.

Obituary. The death took place at Ross on Sunday of Mr Fred Jones, a very old resident of this district. He was born in Ross 62 years ago. He had been in failing health for some months past. On Saturday evening he was an interested spectator at the bicycle road race. His wife predeceased him three years ago. He leaves two brothers and one sister, also one son and two daughters. Tire at Keefton. An unoccupied house, owned by Mrs W. B. Stallard, on Buller road, Reefton, was discovered on fire about 10.30 o'clock on Saturday night. The blaze was subdued with a few buckets of water. The services of the Fire Brigade, which was quickly on the scene, were not required. Grants for Bridges. Mr J. Higgins, Grey County Engineer, has received advice from Mr J. O'Brien, M.P., that Cabinet had approved of the authorisation of £<oo each for Camp, Deep, and Rough-and-Tumble creek bridges on the Greymouth to Inchbonnie road. Mr O'Brien stated he would endeavour to have tlie amounts made available at .once. Otira Tunnel.

The amount of coal, timber, produce, stock, and general merchandise railed through the Otira tunnel for the past week was 14,000 tons, which is an increase of 3629 tons compared with the amount handled for the corresponding period last year for the same period m 1929, when "the quantity dealt with was 8197 tons. i j. A stock train will be dispatched to Addington to-morrow, consisting of 34 double-deckers of fat lambs, and one truck of cattle.

Magistrate's Court.. Mr W. Meldrum, S.M., presided ai a sitting of the Magistrate's Court to-day. James William Morris, aged 49, appeared in custodv charged that, on or about February 19th, at Christchurcli, he stole a suitcase and contents valued at £5, the property of one Hall.. Accused was remanded to appear at Christcliureh on Monday. Charged with disobeying a maintenance order for the support of his four children, John Kobertson, who did not appear, was convicted and sentenced to one month's imprisonment, warrant not to issue provided, he pays. £2O within seven days, and thereafter £1 per fortnight in reduction of the arrears. The Maintenance Officer proceeded against William Alexander Tait for disobedience of a maintenance order made oi# October 34th,, 1929, for payment of 12s 6d per weekj and £6 4s expenses. The amount due up to January Ct.h, was £l3 13s, and defendant had paid £5 of this. An order was made for payment of the balance of arrears, £8 13s, within seven days, in default 14 days' imprisonment.

Bad Weather. Heavy rain continued at intervals for the greater part of last night, a total fall of 170 points being recorded up to 9 a.m. to-day. Except for'scattered showers, the weather has fined up again to-day. School Cricket. The first match for 1930 in the Stenhouse' Cup competition took place at Cobden on Saturday, whin the Cobden School team met the Blackball boys. Blackball batted first, and reached a total of 64 runs, Vaughan 16 and Buchan 10 being the top scorers. Cobden made a poor start, but Burn 14, 11. Eatwell 14, and Smith . 10, assisted them to, jeaeh a total of 51, Blackball thus winning by 13 runs. ' Greymouth Dog Fancier's Success. Miss Y. Kettle, of Greymouth, scored a signal success with thirteen firsts, one special, two cups, two gold medals and three New Zealand challenge prizes, with her fox-terriers, Gaylin's Model and Gaylin's Heir, last week at the Darinevirke and Masterton Shows. The dogs were bred in- Greymouth." Newman Cup. ' The third distance of 75 yards for the Newman Cup swimming competition was contested at the Hokitika Baths on Saturday and resulted:— Nancy Yarrall (7sec) .. 1 P. Diedrieh (lsec) .. 2. . W. Sanders (losec) ... 3 W. Butland (scr) also competed. A clo3e and exciting finish. The points now stand thus: Nancy I Yarrall 11, W. Butland 8, P. Diedrieh 6. •

The final distance of 100 yards will be contested to-morrow evening. Fire Brigades' Conference. We«t Coa,st delegates for the annual conference of the. New. Zealand IHre Brigades, at Whangarei .next week, include the Hokitika : secretary, Mr J. G. Lakin, the Boss secretary,'Mr A. W. Peebles, Captain J. Macfarlane (Kumara), Superintendent Deere (Greymouth), and the Greymouth secretary, Mr Walton. They are to leave by the express to-morrow.

Swimming. A swimming carnival was held to-d,a> at Blackball, in connexion with the visit of Misses P. Robertson and M. Farquhaiy the - Auckland swimmers,. when there was a good attendance. The visicorg gave an exhibition of back-stroke, fancy swimming, and diving. Results of events were:— Schoolgirls.' 33 l-3y<? s Race—Rita Park 1, Dorothy MaaTto 2. Open Handicap, 33 l-3yds—Final: -Miss Farquhar 1, Misa Robertson 2, J. Wray 3. Time 20isec. Girls' Handicap, 33 l-3yds—Alma Mason 1, Betty Brady 2, Rona Whitehead Schoolboys' 33 I-3yds Handicap—W. Time 28see. ' Open Handicap, 50yds—Final: J. Williams 1, Miss Robertson 2. Time 37s°c Schoolboys' Belay Race—McNau a h" ton s team 1, • Wob easily. Boys' diving—W. Kirk 1, Brady 2. Ppen Handicap, 66 2-3yds—R. ThompFaronhar 2, It. Williams 3. nal Relay Race—Miss Farquhar and Robertson 1, Williams's team 2, Thompson's team 3. . K Ministerial -Visit. _ E - A. Ransom, Minister for Public Works, and the Hon. G. W Forbes, Minister for Lands, have aigui"

fiedf their', intention of visiHnor WestIn'ic l the pp' l .\T n rel>. \t present Mr Ransom thinks ho will make the visit to Okuru, Jackson 'a Bay, and Bruce Bay, the Tutnnekai land in« him at Grevmouth. and from thrsre. visiting South Westland as far. as the "Fox frlaMr Ffivlvc iiot tli'"'- liC •vrill be able to go further south than Wataroa.