REEFTON NEW ROAD COMPLETED

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 February 1947, Page 2

REEFTON NEW ROAD COMPLETED

ACCESS TO GARVEY’S CREEK AREA (0.C.) REEFTON, This Day. After being in course of construe-' tion by the Public Works Department for ' some 12 months Garvey’s creek road, Reef ton,-which will provide an outlet for coal mines at the new Garvey’s creek State mine has been the final length being metalled last week. The new road is one mile 50 chains long. It provides a link with the ReeftonLewis Pass highway, and will give coal lorries handling the-output from Garvey’s creek mine a run of some seven miles to the loading bank at Reefton. .

Development Work The Mines Department is able to use the new road foi- the cartage of material to the Garvey’s creek area, and bins are now being built at the mine. Development work, which has also been held up by the lack of reading, is also proceeding at the new mine. It is expected that the mine will start production shortly. The Public Works Department was faced with a big task in the building of the road, which, although only short, runs through some heavily bushed country, and climbs steadily from the main highway. A wet season, the encountering of several “greasy backs” in the construction, and labour shortages have all slowed up the completion of the road. Coal for Railways The road taps’a new field of coal in the steadily-expanding Reefton mining area. This area had not been extensively prospected for coal, until the Mines Department operations revealed a large area of coal. In the coming winter there should be a steadily expanding output from the new mine, which will provide coal principally for railways and gasworks. SCHOOL OF MINES Only the number necessary to form a quorum attended the annual meeting of the Reefton School of Mines. Mr J. B .Auld presided. Mr W. J. Bolitho (school director) presented the annual report. This showed that the school had enjoyed a successful year. Academically, class attendances were excellent and a high percentage . of success was achieved at the annual examinations. The total number attending classes in professional mining subjects was 46, a slight decrease on the J 945 numbers, the decline being in the smaller centres. _ The report was received and adopted. ■ , Mr James Patterson commented favourably on the work of the school, and on the report which showed that the' school was providing a full service for the mining industry. Mr A. Saunders offered the council congratulations on its administration of the school’s affairs, and commented on the high standard of the tuition. Improved Credit Balance The balance-sheet showed a slightly improved credit balance on the 1945 figures, the major receipts being: subsidies, £504/18/1; class fees, assay lees and members lees, £ll2/2/-. On the expenditure side salaries amounted to £ , 594 surances £lO/10/1; goods £2O/15/4, books and stationery £23/10/5; plant account £B9/17/9; equipment £3 3/5. The balance sheet was adopted. For the coining year the following officers were elected;—- President, Mr J. B. Auld (re-elected); treasurer, Mr J. K. Patterson; council: Messrs F .W. Archer. C. Buist, G. Richaids, H. Miller, A. Eklund, W. J. Jefferies, R. V. Alborn, C. Lawn and A. Saunders; country representatives: Messrs J. A. McEwin (Waiuta), J. J. Queen (Roa), F. J. Lockington (Wallsend), J. G. Quinn (Dobson), J. McKeown (Blackball). A recommendation was made to the incoming council that further consideration be given to the question of an increase in the salary paid to the director. Mr J. K. Patterson and the director were appointed, to investigate the question of increasing the insurances on the school buildings and equipment. Secretary’s Resignation The secretary, Mr C. Nevin, forwarded his resignation because of illhealth.—The resignation was received with regret, and it was decided to send a letter of appreciation to Mr Nevin for his work. The Under-Secretary of Mines advised that an additional £5O per year would be paid as a subsidy to the school, this amount to be paid as an increase in the salary of the director. Dissatisfaction was expressed by the council at the small increase made, and a resolution was passed that other schools of mines m New Zealand be approached with a view to presenting a case for the standardisation of salaries paid to school directors at a minimum of £650 pei annum.