WEST COAST NEWS

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21968, 17 December 1936, Page 9

WEST COAST NEWS

HOUSING SCHEME

GOVERNMENT DWELLINGS TO BE BUILT

DECISION OF WBSTPOBT BOROUGH COUNCIL

A decision to take advantage of the Government housing scheme made by the Westport Borough Council was carried a step further last night when the.council decided at its monthly meeting to request the State Housing Department to build the required houses. This step was taken after consideration of a letter from the Hon. P. C. Webb. Mr Webb said that he had emphasised the importance of the council making application to the Loans Board for a loan of say £IO,OOO, at 3 per cent., for the purpose of constructing houses considered necessary, the council, of course, to have the option of deciding how much of the above amount it would spend. Mr Webb s-iid he was arranging for Mr Hammond, the architect, to visit Westport to confer with the council about the layout of the houses, and also the designs the council would like. Then, if it was agreeable to the council, the State Housing Department could arrange lor the erection of houses. "It is ny hope," wrote Mr Webb, "that the housing scheme inaugurated in Westport will be an inspiration to all other parts of the Dominion, and I am positively convinced the investment is an excellent one from the borough's point of view." The Mayor said the question was whether the council desired to erect houses itself or whether the State HouFing Department was to do the work. A resolution along the lines mentioned above was then passed.

USE OF FIREARMS

WARNING TO BE ISSUED TO THE PUBLIC

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY MEETING

A decision to issue a warning to the public, cautioning them to exercise more care in the use of firearms, was made by the Grey Acclimatisation Society at a meeting on Tuesday night. Mr P. Beck presided. The society decided to take this action after it received a letter from the Minister for Internal Affairs about safety first in sport, particularly with the object of preventing accidents with firearms. Besides issuing a warning to the public, the society decided to incorporate a list of "don'ts," which thej Minister supplied, in the licenses when they were printed. \ A recommendation that the society should defer action about raising the fish ladder at the Kaimata dam, consequent upon the increased height of the dam, until it had been decided that the ladder would be of practical use, was received from Vickerman and Lancaster, consulting engineers for the construction of the dam. The society decided to hold the matter over in the meantime. A request from the Department of Internal Affairs for recommendations as to the conditions to be observed in the 1937 game season was left to the ranging committee to deal with. The Department of Internal Affair.* advised the society that the Citizens' Lunch Club, Palmerston North, wished to obtain a pair of paradise ducks for presentation to the Palmerston North City Council as the nucleus of an aviary in the city gardens, and that they hoped to get them from the Grey society. The department wished to know what the 'ociety's opinion was on the matter. The society decided to advise the Minister that it was agreeable to supplying the birds, provided the department would give its sanction. A report was received that a hen pheasant and four chicks had been seen on the Inchbonnie Flat.

NEW MACHINERY FOR PUBLIC WORKS

DIESEL SHOVEL AND TWO GRADERS

In conformity with the wish of the Minister for Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple, that modern machinery should be used on public works, a Diesel shovel and two graders of the latest design have been purchased for use in the Greymouth district. One of the graders has already been assembled, and is working on the Omoto road. The other one will be ready for use in a few days. The graders are of the caterpillar auto patrol type, and their engines are of 35 h.p. The Diesel shovel, which is a British Ruston-Vacyrus machine, has a threeeighths yard bucket. The shovel is at present being used on the Runanga road, where improvements are being carried out, and later it will probably be taken to Kamaka, where a deviation is being made.

GREY DEFENCE RIFLE CLUB

FOURTH COMPETITION FOR BROMLEY BELT

The Grey Defence Rifle Club fired ofT the fourtli competition for the Bromley Memorial Belt on the Cobden range on Sunday afternoon. J. Scorgie. jun., was top scorer with 104. The conditions were 11 shots at 500 yards and 10 shots at 600 yards. The following were the leading scores:— J. Scorgie, jun. 500 yds 49, 600 yds 46, hep. 9, total 104: S. Davy, 53, 45. acr, 98; T. G. Gath, 52, 45. scr. 97: F. Win, 46, 43, 7, 96; S. Sharman, 49, 43. 3, 93; C. Murphy. 42, 42, 10. 94; W. Mlllett, 46. 40. 7, 93; C. Richardson. 51, 36, 5, 92; J. Rathbun. 37, 35, 19. 91; W. Garth. 47, 35, 8, 90; J. Prendergast, 45. 39, 4. 88; M. Garth, 47, 35. 6, 88.

GROYNES ON BLAKETOWN BEACH

CONSTRUCTION TO START AFTER HOLIDAYS

The construction of the proposed groynes on the Blaketown beach, Greymouth. to prevent shoaling on the Grey bar has been delayed because of repair work which had to be done to the North breakwater, but the work is to start definitely immediately after the Christmas holidays. v The shoaling which it is intended to prevent is being caused by southerly seas.

Immediately after the Christmas holidays the Greymouth Harbour Board's dredge Mawhera is to go to Wellington for its annual overhaul. She will be placed on the patent slip. It is not known how lons, she will be away.

CLEARING HEAPHY TRACK

WORK MAY BEGIN SOON

BULLER COUNCIL TO SEEK RENEWAL OP GRANT

Men will be put on at once to clear the Heaphy track between Karamea and Collingwood if the Buller County Council is successful in obtaining tne renewal of a grant of £IOO made for the work when Mr J. Bitchener was Minister for Public Works. A decision to make fresh application for the monev was made by the council yesterday, when correspondence dealing with the track was under consideration. .. „ Mr A J. Harvey wrote reporting that he 'was starting work in clearing the Karamea end of the track and the Collingwood County Council advised that the Public Works District Engineer at Nelson (Mr T. A. Johnstone) and the Commissioner of Crown Lands at Nelson (Mr A. F. Waters) proposed to make a trip over the track towards the end of January. Cr. W. R. Simpson said that once people began to use the track the need for a road would be realised. The county clerk and engineer (Mr C. F. Schadick), referring to tne grant made by the previous Government, said that he had got into touch with the Hon. W. H. Mclntyre. M.L.C., with a view to his interviewing the Hon P. C. Webb and Mr K. J. Holyoake, M.P., when in Wellington, to obtain the renewal of the grant. During the discussion, Mr Schadic* spoke by telephone with the district engineer at Nelson, who said that he would support any move made by the council to obtain the grant. Councillor's expressed appreciation of the interest being taken at the Collingwood end and the engineer was authorised to arrange for men to be put on clearing the track if the grant were made available.

BULLER COUNTY COUNCIL

GOLDEN JUBILEE TO BE CELEBRATED

The golden jubilee of the BulletCounty Council will be celebrated by a gathering of past and present councillors on January 4, which will be the sixtieth anniversary of the first meeting of the council. A decision to mark the occasion by a suitable social gathering was made at the monthly meeting of the County Council yesterday, and it was decided to hold a larger jubilee celebration in the form of a picnic on January 18. The council was reminded of the arrival of its jubilee by a letter from Mr D. Moloney, a well-known Westport resident, who has a local reputation for his knowledge of early history of Westport and the Buller district.

TIDE RECORDING EQUIPMENT

INSTRUMENT EXPECTED TO BE IN USE IN FEBRUARY

The electrical tide-recording equipment which the Greymouth Harbour Board has ordered at a cost of about £IBO is expected to arrive from England in January. The equipment will probably be in use in February. The echo-sounding equipment which the board intends to purchase has not yet been ordered.

MEMORIAL TO BULLER PIONEERS

COUNTY COUNCIL OFFERS £IOO TOWARD COST

Support for the proposed Buller pioneers' memorial arch across the highway leading into Westport from the south was offered by the Buller County Council at yesterday's meeting, and on the motion of the chairman (Cr. R. J. Hawes), seconded by Cr, J. H. Powell, it was decided to contribute £IOO towards the cost. Mention was also made of the possible erection of a similar archway at the northern entrance to Westport when the new Orawaiti bridge is completed, and the chairman paid that the Mayor (Mr J. Kilkenny) had promised his support for any move in that direction, provided the County Council would assist with the present project.

MINERS UNABLE TO GET TO WORK

FALL OF ROCK ON RAILWAY LINE

Because of a fall of rock on the railway line between Rcwanui and Dunollie, about half a mile above Dunollic. the miners were unable to get to the Liverpool mine yesterday morning in time for work, and consequently the mine did not work. The 6.35 a.m. train from Greymouth was unable to get past Dunollic, and the 7.27 a.m. train from Rewanui was cancelled. The slip was cleared about 8.30 a.m.

CRICKET AT GREYMOUTH

WEEK-END FIXTURES ARRANGED The cricket fixtures to be played at Greymouth during the week-end are as follows: Saturday, senior grade—Cobden v Technical Old Boys, at Cobden; United v. Marist. at Recreation ground No. 1; Runanga a bye. Saturday, junior grade—Technical v Marist. at Recreation Ground No. 2; Cobden v. United B, at Karoro; United A a bye. Sunday—United v. Marist A. at Recreation Ground No. 1: Cobden v. Runanga. at Cobden: Marist B v. Kotuku. at Recreation Ground No. 2.

CHILDREN'S COURT AT GREYMOUTH

A charge of stealing chocolates valued at 10s 4d, the property of the Railways Department, was preferred against, four boys, whose ages ranged from 14 to 15 years, and who appeared in the Children' Court at Greymouth yesterday. Mr J. G. L. Hewitt heard the cases. The boys were admonished and discharged, and an order was made that the value of the chocolates should be refunded to the department. _

ROADS IN PAKIHI LANDS

REPORT TO THE BULLER COUNTY COUNCIL

GRANTS FOR FLOOD DAMAGE

The construction of roads giving access to the pakihi la:.d experimental areas at Sergeant's Hill is nearing completion, according to the report presented at the monthly meeting of the Buller County Council yesterday, by the clerk-engineer C v C. F. Schadick). There wore present Crs. R. J. Hawes (chairman). J. H. Powell, W R. Simpson. D. Ker'\ D. J. Archer. J. Jordan, A Phillips, and the clerk-engineer (Mr C. r Schadick). .„,.,, The engineer'-; report said that two miles of new road was being constructed into the pakihi block and that one mile of the old Sergeants HillFairdown road had been widened and metalled. All the work covered by the Government grant would be completed by the end of the year. Accounts totalling £5214 19s were passed for payment. Concern was expressed by councillors at the sperad of ragwort in the Corbyvale. Mokihinui, and Karamea district, when consideration was being given to threo letters .lealm-.: with the matter. One ratepayer complained about a neighbour refusing to take action to deal with the weed on his property, and thus endangering the writers land. It was stated that one

Karamea farmer had refused.to take action even when .his neighbours offered to supply the labour. It was decided to employ men to spray the affected areas. . The clerk-engineer was authorised to draw up for Mr P. Gillovic a petition to the Government for the drainage of the Kongahu swamp to be carried out. The engineer said ..iat th. estimated cost according to a repc made some years ago, was £6OOO, which would drain approximately 2000 acres. Mr Schadick <'d he was very much in favour of the project, and this view was endorsed by councillors. The Medical Officer of Health. Christchurch, wrote asking the council to pass a resolution appointing Mr J. R. McGeorge sanitary inspector, and saying that this was merely a formality and that the counci. was bound to appoint an inspector. It was resolved to hold the matter in abeyance meanwhile to allow the clerk-engineer to make further investiSE The Hon. P. C. Webb advised that he would approach the Minister for Labour to endeavour to enable the council to use men unemployed under the No. 5 scheme for work on the Carter s beach domain and access roads. Government assistance forthcoming to repair flood damage in the Buller district was detailed in a letter received from Mr Webb, who said that the Minister for Public Works had informed him that money ould b< made available as follows:—Karamea district, £4OO on a £4 for £1 basis Westport, £25 on a £1 for £1 basis; Aripito wash-out, £2OO free money; and £250 for the Lyell subject to a contribution of £SO by the county. The expenditure of the first two sums is to be under the control of the council, and the rest under the Public Works Department.