REEFTON NOTES

Grey River Argus, 12 June 1931, Page 7

REEFTON NOTES

(Our Own Correspondent.) REEFTON, June 11. At the local sitting of the Arbitration Court to-day it was reported that the case Trembath v. Morris had been settled out of Court. The same was reported re the case Public Trustee v. W. Alborn. Mr W. J. Joyce stated that the matter had beei/ settled. A delay was occasioned by the allocation of funeral expenses and other details. The, Court fixed costs/at £7 7s. The hearing was begun to-day here by the Arbitration Court of an application for a new award in the golC mining industry. The applicants were Consolidated Gold Fields of N.Z., Ltd.. Progress Mines of N.Z., Ltd., New Big River Gold Mining Coy Ltd., and Alexander Mines Ltd. The •Inangahua Gold and Coal Mine Industrial Union of Workers opposed the application. Mr T. O. Bishop appeared in support of the application, and Mr D. McKanc (secretary) represented the Union. Mr F. Smith, of the railway station staff, is at present laid up through ill-

Mr Fred Cutbush, who entered Reefton Hospital and underwent an operation, owing to an injury received while at work, is progressing favourably. A contested compensation claim was to-day decided by the Arbitration Court, that of Blair (Mr W. J. Joyee) v. H. R. Greig, who conducted his own case. Plaintiff’s claim was for an injury which was alleged to have disabled him and was due to an accident while at work for defendant on the latter’s farm. Plaintiff stated that a block on which he was chopping fell and the axe severed the little finger of the left hand. A weekly payment of £1 13s 4d was claimed from the date of the accident, and such other compensation by way of a lump sum and .costs as the Court deemed fit. Plain'tiff stated that chopping firewood for defendant’s stove was part of his duties while employed On the farm. On I January 17th he was splitting a piece of wood which he was holding on a .block with his left hand. Tn making 'a blow he missed the wood, the axe \caught the side and struck the little 'finger on the left hand, severing it. IHe was totally incapacitated up to I February 20. He was attended by Dr iConlon and had received no compensation whatever. At the time of the accident he was attended to by Mrs Greig, wife of defendant. There was no dispute as to its being an accident. The first intimation as to the matter being disputed was a letter to Mr I Joyce from defendant. lie had not ■ varied his statement. Witness said he I‘was not in a particularly bad temper lat the time of the mishap. He had been given notice that morning, but had another job to go to at an adjoin- . I ing farm. He inquired as to compen- . sation, and defendant replied “nothi'ing.” He had witnesses to prove the I latter statement. There were no other , I fingers damaged at the time. Dr ConMon gave evidence of attending plain'tiff on January 17 and amputating a t finger, which 'had been chopped off, 'and plaintiff had stated it was done ’ accidentally. Defendant gave evidence that plaintiff had stated he wanted ’ £lOO compensation. Witness would not understand how a man could injure , I his hand in the way described. The , axe must have fouled to have fallen in the Way plaintiff stated. The Court ,' said that though it was unusual there was nothing impossible about the accident, that was. the little finger getting in the way and being caught by the ’ i tail end of the blade. The Court could G not admit that a man would willingly -.mutilate himself, though that was sugII gested. Plaintiff had n°t varied the .- statenieat he made to his medical at- . tfcndant. Judgment was given for the ‘sum of £8 6s 8d for five weeks’ com ’ I pensation. £1 first aid fee, and a lump ’ sum of £36 Is, making £47 13s! with ’ costs £lO I Os, and £2 2s witnesses’ . expenses, and 10s for the plaintiff; a I total slim of £6O 15s. , | At the annual meeting of the Reefto,. Bowling Club last evening, the ■ President, Mr J. Noble, was in the ' chair. There was a large attendance of members. The report, showed that l a very successful season had been enIjoyed; that membership had increased, land the green and grounds were in i splendid order. The balance sheet * | showed a credit balance of £3O Ils Id. ■The election of officers resulted; President, Mr J. Noble; Vice-Presidents, I Messrs T. Russell and W. Wood; General Committee, Messrs C. J. Blackiinoi'e. J. B. Auld, J. Hawthorn, IS. V. I | Magee, V. Mori; Ground Committee, ; Messrs Mori, Cleaver and Noble; Sole ij Selector. Mr V. Mori; Delegate to 'Centre, the President, Seerctary-Trcas- ' • urcr, Mr C. Nevin. The application jot the Reefton Ladies’ Croquet Club for lease of the Croquet Lawn was ' granted at the rental of £25 for the Hycar. It was decided to pay the sum ! of £l5 off the Club’s mortgage, and to ■ paint the fence around the green when I the funds warranted the expenditure. ‘lt was carried that the annual fee in- ' I elude entrance fees to all competii tions. In reply to Mr Auld. Mr E. W. . ‘ Spencer stated that the bowling green iat Waiuta could only be played upon j for a few weeks at the end of the past 1 ■ season, but he hoped a club would be ’ ; formed there i n the coining season and that the ground would be in good eon-I ‘ dition. Mr Fraser proposed that a ■ competition committee be set up to organise all competitions, and have these, (started early in the season. Messrs Cleaver, Mori, Hawthorn and Blaek1 I more were elected as the committee, i | Votes of thanks were accorded the of- | fire bearers and Mr Stevens for tak-I ■ I ing the levels of the green for top-1 ’ ' dressing, also to Mr 1. Mori for his ' care and attention to the Club’s green '.when the Club were without a earc-, .'taker; and to the present caretaker. Mr I , G. McKencher. for his able work. At the School Committee’s monthly meeting there were present: Messrs W. B. Auld (chairman), Campbell, Dobson, Patterson, Panckhurst, Cleaver, Walsleben (secretary). The Nelson ' Education Board advised that it had forwarded the committee’s letter to I the Minister of Education, with a re- ' quest that the grant for the new I school be provided immediately. It was decided to write the Board asking | for provision for a new school. The j | Headmaster’s report disclosed; Secondary Department, roll number, 25 boys, 26 girls; average attendance, 23.8 boys, 24.4 girls; Primary Department, 101 boys, 92 girls; average attendance. 90.9 boys, 79.3 boys; total ( 170.2. There had been 173 books addled to the secondary department library, and a supply order for the primary department. A supply of newsprint writing tablets had been ordered, and would be retailed at cost to pupils. Miss Hutton was forming a school choir. The Visiting Committee reportled that a length of piping is required in Miss Kearns’ room, a door in the I Headmaster’s room needs new hinges, eight desk tops in the High School require attention and general repair’to

floors, windows, etc., are needed. Mr Wabieben intimated that at next meeting he proposed tu tender his resignation as secretary, as he would be leaving the district during the mo-ith of August. The regret of the committee was expressed by the chairman and members. The Alexander Mines report for May states the McKay North Drive is now 23ft from the N.W. Crosscut on stone averaging 27 inches in width, value 62/5. The face shows stone of an average width of 30 inches and is cleaner and more solid than formerly. A start has been made to drive south on this block, the reef here being 24 inches in width. On the Loftus No. 1 Level the position of face is now 41ft from surface, the level at present being i n faulted ground with stone showing in the back and bottom of the drive. This level is ber.ig driven with the intention of proving the stone going underfoot from McKay North Drive. In the No. 3 solid stope, the length of stone exposed is 41ft of an average width of 34 inches, value 104/-. We have now, a s far as is known, both ends of this block but there is still a good reef track left io both ends. Eleven feet of crosscutting has been carried out to the west of No. 3 level without meeting with anything of value. The battery crushed 390 tons for a. return of 169 ozs 4 idwts. Fifty-one tons came from No. 3 McVicar, the balance coming from IMuUocky Creek blocks. The cyanide [’plant treated 209 funs of sand for a return of 67 ozs 9 dwts of bullion. Total estimated value (exclusive of premium on sale of gold) £845.