WEST COAST NOTES

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20317, 17 August 1931, Page 8

WEST COAST NOTES

' PERSONAL. I ..SPECIAL TO THE PSESS.) GREYMOUTH, August 16. Mr Les Stapp, of the "Wellington I Post Office staff, who has been spendj ing a holiday in Greymouth, returned j to"Wellington yesterday. Messrs H. E. Holland and J O'Brien, M.P.'s, arrived last evening from Wellington, and will be present at the opening of the new school at Blackball to-morrow. .Mrs L. Johnston, who has been visiting Greymouth, returned to Christcburcli yesterday. Mr and Mrs P. Walsh, who have been visiting friends in Greymouth, returned vesterday to Christchurch. Mr H. J. Petch, Government Grader, U Visit ing Greymouth. Mr H. H. Sterling, Genera] Manager of Railways, accompanied by the members of the Railway Board, arrived from Wcstport on Friday evening and left yesterday for C'hrist- | church. j riood at Karamea. Heavy rains last Wednesday at Karamea were responsible lor the washing away of the bridge at Market Cross, near the 'Buller Butter Factory, traffic being held up. Railway Board. The Railway Board visited Westport on Friday and took evidence concorning the Buller Railway. Evidence was taken regarding the productivity of the district. It was stated that the estimated annual coal freight to Christchurch by the Buller line would be 95.000 tons, in addition to 3000 tons of coke, 24,000 tons of coal from Burley's in the Buller Gorge, and large quantities of timber. The evidence showed that owing to the friable nature cf some of the Wcstport coals, they would be best transported by rail. Seal on Beach. A small seal was seen lying on the beach near the Tin Head at Hokitika on Thursday. It did not move off when approached, but later took to the water again of its own accord. ! County Works. i Plans ior a new swing bridge across the Ahaura River to give access to farm properties at Starvation Point have been completed by the County Engineer. A number of unemployed are being found work on the formation of the road from Ruru to Te Kinga. Crib-logging and widening on the Ten-Mile road, where the sea recently made a bad encroachment have been completed and the road now ren'dcred safe for motor and other traffic. ' Prospecting Association. ! A Prospecting Association has been formed in Rovs, which has from time to time been the centre of considerable mining activity. Tho Mayor (Mr J. Murdoch) was elected chairman, and Mr J. M. Allen secretary. The Mayor gave £lO ns a grant to start j the Association. Other donations were also made at tho meeting. j Bugby Final. The final of the senior Rugby championship was w,on by Cobden who beat Excelsior (Hokitika) by 9 points to 4. For Cobden Linbom received an ovation after registering all the scores, two tries and a penalty. For Excelsior Muir drop-kicked a goal. The game was brilliant all the way. ! Sawmill Accident. j Mr D. P. Stuart, manager of the Ha- j kitika-Kanieri sawmill, received a bad j gash on the forehead while working at j the mill, when a plank sprang up, strik- j ing him. Seseral stitches were required j in tho wound. j