REEFTON COAL PRODUCTION SHOWS A DECLINE

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 October 1949, Page 10

REEFTON COAL PRODUCTION SHOWS A DECLINE

REEFTON, This Day (0.C.).—1n the three months ended September 30, production at the Reefton coal naines for consignment from the Railway loading ramp was 28,590 tons, ’over 10,000 -tons being hewn in the months of July and September while ' the August tonnage >was 7850. In comparison with the 1948 tonnage for the same three months there has been a decline, the figures for last year being 33,431. A considerable part of the reduction can be accounted for by the loss of slack coal trade in the North Island, which Igst year was taking heavy regular tonnages from Reeftpn Mines. This trade has how declined to almost nothing, little Reef ton coal how being shipped to the North Island. The Canterbury, Marlborough and Nelson miarkets now absorb almost the full output from the held. Though a reduced output from Reef ton mines has been consigned at' the railway yards there has been a heavy increase,in consignments from the Buller district handled during the quarter. In August, 15,281 tons of coal passed through Reefton. This consignment was the greatest tonnage from the Buller mines ever handled in a month. In August the total amount of'coal handled at Reefton was 23,131 tons.

HEALTH STAMP CAMPAIGN The Reefton Post Office on the first day of the health stamp campaign, made sales that were larger than the full quota of £9O set for the district. Following a canvass of business houses, which was very successful, the total first day’s sales of stamps reached £93. This is the largest total ever reached in Reefton for the first day of the campaign. PUPILS TO ATTEND CONCERT Arrangements are in train at Reefton for a party of scholars from the secondary department of both the Reefton High School and the Reefton Convent to travel to Greymouth to attend the school children’s concerts of the National Symphony Orchestra. The journey is to be made on the second day-of the orchestra’s visit to Greymouth and the party is expected to number over 50. It is expected also that a bus load of patrons from Reefton will also attend the concert on Monday night. Arrangements are now being made for this journey. mining examinations The annual mining examinations in the senior division for coal mining students commenced at the Reefton school of mines today. There are six candidates for firstclass colliery manager’s certificates, two for second-clas§. colliery manager’s certificate and'one for a colliery electrician’s certificate. All are to sit the tests at Reefton except three who will sit at the Greymouth examination centre. COUNTRY LIBRARY SERVICE

The country library .service van is at present in the Reefton area. On Monday night the van was at Reefton library making the regular change over of books for the lending section of the library. Two hundred new books were placed on the shelves, half of the number being books on travel, autobiographies and sujects of general interest, and the remainder being works of fiction. ' . , - ... The librarian (Miss M. Mamdonald) reported at the monthly library committee meeting that an addition had been made to the subscribers’ list. The children’s section in particular is in a very excellent condition. Mr R. Salmon was appointed the library representative on the general committee of the Reefton Community Centre. ,