MR. WEBB AT BRUNNER

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 December 1938, Page 5

MR. WEBB AT BRUNNER

NUMEROUS REQUESTS. The Minister of- Mines, Hon. P. C. Webb, yesterday visited Brunner, Ikamatua and Dobson. He was accompanied by Messrs. A. Tyndall (Undersecretary for Mines), and A. J. Ridler (Controller of the Employment Division, Department of Labour). The Mayor of Brunner (Mr. J. Smea.ton) welcomed the Minister. He asked that the Brunner Borough Council be given assistance in the tar-seal-ing of the Taylorville road, 54 chains of which were estimated to cost £2,200, as the Council could not handle more than the meeting of loans on the Taylorville bridge, and the sealing of the main road through the township. The Automobile Association had asked that a footpath be built on the dangerous section between Wallsend and Dobson, and the Main Highways Board had informed the Council that it was a matter for the local authority. He asked if loans could be secured for building homes at Dobson, similar to grants which, it was understood, had been made in Taylorville, while he said be also understood that grants had been made for renovations at Runanga.

Mr. Webb said that the Runanga grants were made out. of the State Mines Account.

Mr. F. Williams, for the Westland Brick and Tile Co.. Ltd., Brunner, stated that the Brunner bricks satisfied the requirements of several Government Departments, but the Railways Department would not take them, and the company wished to know why. The bricks were proved by test to be superior to those made in former years, when the Railways Department used a considerable quantity of them. Mr. W. Barber asked, on behalf of the Dobson Domain Board, if the Board could have the use of a plough or tractor from the Public Works Department to assist in levelling the Domain.

The Minister replied that where Public Works Department machinery was used by local bodies, the cost was charged Io them. He would secure a report on the cost, and advise the Board.

In reply to Mr. Webb, Mr. Barber said that, tennis (on two courts)-was the only game at present, played on the Domain, but space had been set aside for a howling green, and a croquet lawn. Mr. R. Fordham asked the Minister for a grant to enable the newly-con-stituted Taylorville Domain Board to build a pavilion with meeting room, estimated to cost. £4OO or £450. The Board hoped to raise £lOO of this amount in the near future. Mr. Webb said he would make a grant of £5O out of rhe social amenities vote of the Mines Department. He had only £5OO to do the whole of the mining townships in New Zealand. He could not grant. £2 for £1 if the Board raised £l5O. He would like to see them use all their unemployed men doing work in the town and providing social amenities. He promised an extension until March 31 for the men working on subsidy on the Dobson Domain.

The Minister thanked the Mayor and the council for their welcome. He said he would take up the matter of the footpath between Dobson and Wallsend with the Public Works Department, and secure the best deal he could. The tar-sealing in Taylorville would have to be considered, and some help ought to be given the Council in their efforts to better the health of the people by removing the dust nuisance. He agreed with the proposal io use machinery for the Dobson Domain, and would lake the matter up with the Public AVorks Department. He would take up with the State Advances Department the matter of loans for homes on leasehold land at Dobson. Yesterday afternoon, the Minister inspected the Grey Valley Dredging Company’s dredge at Ikamatua, and the progress of the new miners' rescue station at Dobson.

Mr. Webb visited Dobson last evem ing, and was entertained by the Brunner Labour Party.

NEW STATE MINE

The new State Mine at the Nine Mile, was inspected by Hon. P. C. Webb (Minister for Mines) on his visit to Runanga, the Minister being conducted over all parts of the work in progress.

Production is expected to commence in about, four months, and at full working strength the mine is estimated to provide employment for 200 men The proved resources of the mine total at least 5.000.000 tons, and the capacity of the mine, in full wcaking order will be about 500 tons a daj. The coal will be taken from the pit to the binns by an endless rope miles long, the longest, such rope used for haulage in New Zealand. The preliminary work in connection with the opening up of the mine has been in progress for the last 18 months, and a. tunnel 29 chains in length has already been driven in the hillside. One hundred men are at present employed. Access to the pitmouth is gained by a new hill road, more than a mile in length. The estimated cost of building the new mine is £170,000. of which £70.000 is to be found from the reserve profits of the Stare colleries. the remainder being raised by loan. . , The bathhouse and equipment wi»l be the most up-to-date in the Dominion H will have cubicle accommodation for 100 men. and heating will be maintained by automatic thermostat control.