THE BLACKBALL MINE.

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 October 1908, Page 2

THE BLACKBALL MINE.

n SOME INTERESTING. TELEGRAMS, s- A MINISTER] 1 aR ; EXPLANATION. l Regarding the trouble at Blackball, the following communications? have taken place between Mr R. Gregory (acting on behalf , of the residents of Blackball) and the Hon. A. R, Guinness;— , s .. ■ “To Mr Speaker, Wellington, 1 —Have been asked to wire you re stops page of 20 to 30 men' by (lie Blackball Coal I Company at bins’’ site,' Blackball through - the Public Works’ Department refusing to grant the Company any more than twelve months’ lease after the completion of the 5 bins and shunts., Please see to same and i reply.—R Gregory.” 1 “To R. Gregory, Blackball.—lmme- ! dlately on receipt of your telegram I interviewed the Hon: Hall-Jones, who promised to have enquiries made upon the subject of your wire. Late last; night I received' the following explanation, which I forward [ for general information:—The position is . that the land taken by proclamation for the railway leaves the Company with too little room fori their bins, so they have asked for certain land to be gazetted over to them. The Railway: Department does not agree to this, as it brings the bins too close to the railways.,, .One of the directors is coming up to Wellington to interview the General Manager,, .td see if satisfactory arrangements cannot 1 fa made. I understand the managing director is expected to-day.—A. R, Gfiiiifie'ssi." Mr Gregory replied s las follows:—“Wfl understand the bins and sidings are being constructed to plaits svtnplied by the Department, and it appears somewhat strange that scarcity of..room- should now be ret down as the reason for taking the land. Further, we learn'that no other site is available unless"at" enormous expense. It appears the Company object to the expending of a large sum in bins and sidings on Government land, the lease of which could be terminated - with twelve months’ notice and the Company lose all the money sunk in the venture. This question is of the most vital importance to the district, which principally depends upon tin; mine for existence, and if it is correct that no other site is available, it will compiel the Company to cease operations unless suitable arrangements are made. The men will be compelled to look elsewhere for work unless this matter is settled without delay. Please reply to Blackball as soon as possible.—R. Gregory." ,7, “To Mr Gregory, Blackball.—Thanks for information cc^mined 5 in, your telegram. Have interviewed Hon.' Hall-Jones, who says that he has made an appoiqimsst to meet representatives of the Blackball Coal Company and General Manager of Railways on Monday, with a- view of settling the question. Afiy fresh information you can give between now! and then I shall bs pleased to give them.*—A. R. Guinness.”