WESTPORT NOTES.

Grey River Argus, 27 April 1929, Page 7

WESTPORT NOTES.

(From Our Correspondent.) >i WESTPORT. April 26. Three letters appeared in the local press recently—all against the Saturday half holiday. They were written by “Progress/’ “Vote Thursday,” and “Against the Sa urday Half HoliMovement.” It is anticipated that “Pro Bono Publico/’ “Nil Desperandum/’ f‘Hic Hatf Hoe,” and “Ad Nauseum” will be writing later. Mr J. Snodgrass has been nominated for the Wareatea Riding of Buller County Council, by Messrs E. R. Roberts and L. Powick. Miss Edna Burns of the Esplanade has left for Wellington and Wanganui. Mr H. R. Young of ,the Associated Collieries left for Wellington to-day. St Andrew’s Church was the scene of a pretty wedding on Wednesday, the contracting parties being Mr Angus Douglas and Miss Nina, daughter of Mr and Mrs Samuel Johnston of Seddonville. The Rev A. Miller officiated. Miss Elsie Johnston, sister of the bride, attended at bridesmaid, and Mr T. Ratcliffe as best man. After the ceremony the guests were enterfaih•‘d at the residence,of Mr and Mr§ W.. Todd in Peel Street. Mr and Mrs Douglas later left for Wellington, Napier and Rotorua.

BRITANNIA GOLD MINE. Dircc ors and shareholders of the Britannia Goldmining Coy, Ltd. and their friends, attended the official opening at the battery sitCi Birchfield. Among tho?e present were Mr and. Mrs A. W. Henley, Mr W. and Miss Scanlon, Mr and Mrs W. T. Sice, Mr and Mrs J. Bird, Mr and Mrs ®. Skilton. Mrs Sam Paul, Messrs Dudderidge, J. M. Dixon, O. L. Nahr, H. Nahr, C. D. Betts, J. H. Enright, F. D. Young, Captain 11. Whybora, E. Pat en and Jenkins (2). Mr A. W. Henley (Chairman nf Directors) it gave him great pleasure. to welcome the shareholders and their friends t 0 the mine on that auspicious occa ion. After they had inspected the battery, they would have a bet er idea of the difficulties they had to contend with; Absolutely every-thing.-had to be carried up the track. It had been anything but an easy matter to bring ihe plant to the stage it was in. He wished to express appreciation of the good work Mr Rodden, the manager/his chidr assist antj Mr Avery, and their staff. The men had loyally supported tho manager in his efforts to bring the mine to a state of production. He wished o thank them all, and expressed the opinion there would be less fear of labour troubles while there was such co-opieration between employee and employer. The company started operations that day With a slight credit, which the shareholders hoped to largely increase. The total cost of developmens to da'e had been approximately £3450, and he thought all would agree that they had fair value for their outlay. The battery working one shift would crush at 5 tons of quartz per day, or 100 to 120 tons per month. On account of there being more development work to be done in the mine itself, it was not expected that the battery would crush continuously for the next three months unless the manager could get the men he wanted. The policy of the Directors would probably be to drive ahead and pick up the reef in the solid and open up more places. Messrs J. H. Enright and Scanlon spoke on similar lines, and Mrs Henley then broke a bottle of champagne on the wheel, and declared the battery open.

The party was conducted round th© workings by Messrs Rodden and Avery. Mr C. D. Betts took the opportunity, before the party left, to congratulate Messrs Rodden and Avery on their excellent work. Those two gentlemen had shown, he said, that "old mining was not a lost art. Ho trussed the company’s efforts would be entirely uecessful.