WEST COAST NOTES

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20090, 20 November 1930, Page 6

WEST COAST NOTES

PERSONAL. <E Fi;C4A£. JO THE PiIXSS.I GEEtMOUTH, November 19. At. a meeting of tlic congregation of St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Hokitika, it was unanimously agreed to extend a call to the Rev. Geo. A. Naylor, of Christchurch. Mrs M. Boddy leaves to-morrow on a holiday visit to Wellington. Miss It" Tcvre (Cliristc.hurch) is visiting her parents, Mr and Mrs M. Holmes. Mrs Greenlees (Napier) arrived yesterday to visit her mother, Mrs Stevenson. Bridge Inspection. An inspection of all bridges in the Grev County is being made by the County Engineer (Mr J. Higgins). A report on each bridge is to be forwarded by him to the Main Highways Board, in accordance with a request made by that body. County Council. The Westland County Couucil met yesterday. Present—Crs. Wm. Searle (chairman), 11. Wells, B. Ward, M. Houston, J. Donovan, W. Jeffries, J. A. Murdoch, T. B. Chesterman, and M. Keenan. The National Provident Fund, Wellington, wrote asking the Council to reconsider the position in regard to superannuation. It was pointed out that the apparent present high cost was induced by those cases of employees over the retiring age. —No action taken. Mr J. O'Brien, M.P., Greymouth, forwarded a letter received from the Public Works Department in respect to Browning's Pass track. The Minister had refused favourable consideration of the Council's request. Douglas and others, of Waitaha road, wrote stating that they would be prepared to do certain works on South Waitaha road, provided the Council bridged a creek and completed the remainder of the road. The overseer's report stated that the cost of over two miles of the road required would be £9 a chain. Cr. Jeffries moved that a conference of the settlers on the southern bank of the Waitaha bo held, Mr Wright, the chairman, and southern members to endeavour to come to a settlement. This was carried. It was decided to write to Mr J. O'Brien, M.P., asking him to be present, Wednesday, December 3rd, being fixed for the conference. Regarding the draft regulations submitted by the Transport Board, a motion that all drivers should provide a medical certificate was lost. The Council met ,Mr B. Whilcy again to consider the question of the upkeep of Wall road, in connexion with his milling operations. Cr. Ward considered that the Council should continue to pay the annual cost of upkeep, and that the millers should be asked to find the balance necessary to keep the road in order. — This suggestion was approved, the position to be reviewed at the end of six months. The Council resolved not to provide any money in connexion with the £2 for £1 vote for the extension of the Awatuna-Knpitea road. Poultry Association. The annual conference of the South Island Poultry, Pigeon, and Canary Association was held to-day, at Hokitika. The president (Mr Geo. G. Jeffreys), Christchurch, presided, and sixteen delegates were present. The Mayor of Hokitika (Mr G. A. Perry) extended a welcome to the delegates. The annual report stated that the number of societies affiliated to the Association totalled 35. During the past year the fanciers in Beefton had formed a Poultry Club and had applied for affiliation, which was granted. Twentyfour societies had held public shows, the exhibitions generally being well up to the standard of the past. The number of championships competed for this year was 105. The Victory Shield had been competed for at W'aiau, and last year's winner (A. E. Gillam) had again been successful. The balance-sheet showed: —Beceipts, £383 5s 3d; expenditure, £l2O 14s sd; which left a credit balance of £262 10s lOd. The. following officers were appointed: Patron, the Bt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, Prime Minister; president, Mr G. E. Jeffreys (Christchurch); vice-presidents, Messrs Hamilton (Christchurch), A. McDonald (Lyttelton), fE. Martyn (North Canterbury), G. Bundy (Asliburt.on), T. 11. Wilco (Waimate), J. P. Walls (Taieri), W. Kee (Balclutha), W. Excell (Nightcaps), B. A. Barrowman (Greymouth), J. Conney ( Waimangaroa), L. Drysdale (Gore), W. B. McKenzie (Wellington), J. G. Gardiner (Waiau), J. Gerrie (Oamaru), F. G. Hansen (Dunedin), J. W. Jarrold (Tapanui), W. Barclay (Kaitangata), S. Thomson (Invercargill), B. A. Brownlie (Granity), B. C. Wilson (Timaru), C. B. Hart (Hokitika), G. Parkinson, jun. (Westport), J. Monk (Hokitika), and J. Noble (Beefton); council-

lors, Messrs W. Cummings (fancy poultry), J. D. Gobbe (utility poultry), F. W. Chambers (fancy pigeons), H. A. Pearson (other pigeons), B. W. Thompson (canaries), C. 11. Bull (bantams); auditor, Mr Y. Bedwell; hon. solicitor, Mr E. J. Boss; secretary and treasurer, Mr R. Pearce (Christchurch). Grey Power Board. The Grey Electric Power Board met this evening. Present: Messrs .T. W. Greenslade (chairman), J. B. Kent, 11. Duggan, J. Mulcare, It. G. vfcrter, J. Smeaton, W. Clayton, W. H. I'arfitt And F. Ij. Turley. The Public Trustee wrote stating that he could not accept the Board's offer of compensation in the estate of Eliza Stratford, but would be satisfied with any award decided upon by the Court. Messrs Vickerman and Lancaster wrote regarding the purchase of a transformer for Kaimata at £SO. The purchase was approved. Mr T. Learmont was appointed the Board's assessor in connexion with damage to land at Kaimata, contiguous to the sites of the Board's works. Mr Fitzgerald wrote that he could not accept the £IOO offered him by the Board for timber being removed from his land at Kaimata, and claiming £692 14s 7d, which included the expenses of the appraisement. Mr Learmont (engineer) was requested to confer with Mr Ford, who had made the appraisement for Mr Fitzgerald, and to go over the ground again and check the figures. If necessary, the Board would consider increasing its offer, on receipt of a further report. The engineer reported that since the previous meeting, 21 new consumers had been connected, making the total consumers 2294. The engineer in charge of the hydro scheme reported that the weather during the past month had considerably hampered progress. The heavy rains oil the 9th inst had brought down a further fall of about 400 yards at the tunnel mouth. Mr Mulcare enquired whether the Blackball reticulation was to be gone on with ? The chairman said it had been shown that it was not payable to do the work by day labour. He thought the work should be done by contract, which would

lie open to local men, if they desired to tender. Mr Mulcare said the Board had promised more than once to reticulate both Blackball and Bon. Mr Smeaton said lie had never approved of the lines being carried to Boa without a guarantee from the Paparoa mines. Mr Mulcare replied that a majority of the Board had decided to extend the line to Boa, and if they wanted now to change their minds, they should frankly tell the Boa people so. Mr Smoaton held that the line to Boa would not be a commercial proposition until the Paparoa Coal Company guaranteed to take a stipulated quantity of current. It was resolved that the engineer should inspect the line, and report as to the probable cost, and the revenue to be derived. The finance report, showed that the revenue from April Ist to October 33st, 1930, had amounted to £20,33.3 Is 9d, and the expenditure to £1.3,">48 16s Id, leaving a surplus of £-1786 os Sd.