FIFTY YEARS AGO

Grey River Argus, 17 September 1934, Page 6

FIFTY YEARS AGO

(From the “Scrap Book’’ of Beu McDon.ngh, West port ). “The local coal trade continues to progress with rapid strides. On Friday, January 19th, 1884, the biggest record yet attained was made on the Denniston Incline, when 54 trucks, containing 390 tons of .coal, were lowered. Twenty-eight of these l rucks were brought down at one time—the longest coal train yet run on the line. No less than 1100 tons were shipped on Friday. ‘‘Mr. Jamieson, who has been ap-

pointed manager of the Koranui ('o’s Mine, Denniston, reached here per the s.s. Manawatu on Sunday. Both this gentleman ami Mr. Hughes, the General Manager of the company, have hud lengthy English experience. A beau tiful new hotel, to be called the Banbury Hotel, is to be built to the order of Mr McGill, Denniston. The plans were on exhibition to-day, being shown by Young Bros., who are the architects, and are as follows; The front elevation shows a building of far greater dimensions than any in this neighbourhood. It will be of doublestorey, 32 rooms, with vestibule, corridors, and large open staircase. On the ground floor, their will be amongst other rooms, a billiard room, dining room, parlor, drying room, also two privale parlours, with fire places. Up stairs, in addition to the usual bed rooms, there will be two bedrooms with sitting rooms connected, which will be very suitable to visitors to Denniston. A double staircase is provided as a preventative of loss of life in case of fire. Leading from the ground to the top floor the high chimneys will he built of brick. The whole of the rooms will be (dose lined. The walls will he cohered with corrugated iron. 'Phe dimensions of the building will be as follows; Length of front 96ft., depth 49ft.. height 35f1. Contract time for building, three months.

A concert wa.s held in the Denniston Schoolroom during the Xmas, when the following contributed; Song bv Mr. McAlpine, ‘‘Flora McDonald’s Lament.’’ Song by Mrs Finch, “We’d Better Bide-a-Wee ’’; song by Mrs Lister, “The Flowers of the Forest”; Song by Mr. Keil, “The Woods of Dromore.” Mr. and Mrs. Hartshorn and Messrs Cumming, Stevens and Farquhar also rendered items. Mr. J. Stewart danced the Highland Fling in costume, Mr. Keil operating on the pipes. ’l'lie role of Chairman was ably filled by Mr. Elliot. After Hie concert (which all were unanimous in agreeing was the best ever held on the Hill top), dancing was indulged in till daylight, was breaking. On New Year’s Day the wet weather interfered with the sports on the ‘‘plateau’’, but not to be deterred from finishing the programme, the jumping, high leaping, vaulting and quoit throwing were brought off at the Brake head, the plateau being too soft for these items. The output of coal from the Banbury Mine, Denniston, continues to increase daily in quantity. On Friday, February 25th, 188-1, all previous records were broken when 440 tons —63 trucks—were lowered, and it is expected a daily output of 500 tons will shortly be reached. Mr. Dickson informs us that some further alterations to the Incline are contemplated, which will place the company in a position to ]»iy down 600 to 700 tons per day. 'l’he repeated predictions of a fatal casualty on the Westport incline on account of the absence of a foot track for passengers were fulfilled in a fearful manner this afternoon by an accident resulting in the immediate death, of Mr. Joseph Brown, and the serious injury of Mr. William Harrison, both early and respected residents of the district. It appears that the two unfortunate men were ascending the incline in an empty truck, when the shackling of the descending truck broke, and the full truck, thus released, dashed into the empty one, causing the lamentable accident. Mr. Brown was a member of the County Council' for the Riding of Wareatea North. He had lately taken charge of the London Butchery, Waimangaroa. Mr. Harrison, is a store and hoardinghouse keeper, of Denniston.

The population of Denniston is estimated to be between 700 and 800 people at present. Since the completion of alterations in the mine and incline the number of workmen has considerably increased, raising the output of coal to about 2000 tons a week.

Captain W. R. Williams, the owner of the Black Diamond line of boats, and Managing Director of the Koranui Coal Company, landed on Denniston to-day, also Mr. H. A. Gordon, to report on the proposed track from Waimangaroa to Denniston. The Banbury Brass Band has been engaged to play at the sports which are to be held on St. Patrick’s Day at Martin’s Island. A number of new iron trucks have been removed from the Wallsend mine at Greymouth, to the Denniston mine.; We learn that the immense value of the Westport Coal Company’s colliery has been further enhanced by the discovery of a seam of coal eight feet thick. We understand that the coal now being got out of the Koranui Mine shows an improvement in quality. The incline is working most satisfactory. One drawback is the horse tramway on the top of the Hill, which is only a single line of rails. Mr. Hughes intends to remedy this by putting down another line and we have no doubt but that the introduction of more serviceable motor power will follow. One other inconvenience is that flag signals have to be used on the incline, which in addition to occupying the time of several men is a tedious process. This system is to be abolished and electric bells substituted for signalling purposes

Commenting on the value and quantity of coal now being obtained at the Koranui Coal Company’s mine, the Chairman of that Company at a meeting of shareholders held in Wellington, said the coal was recognised as being superior for steamer purposes to any got in the Australasian Colonies, and it was estimated that there was in

existence on the ground about 20,()()((,O(K> tons. Messrs Lampbert, Finch, McFarlane. Blacklock and Beaton have addressed the following letter to the chairman ot the Bnllci <’ounty Council; “We, the following inhabitants of Waimangaroa and Conn’s Creek, l»<‘g to ask the Council to make a foot track to Denniston, to prevent any further loss of life. We, Ihe inhabitants of Waimangaroa and Conn’s Creek guarantee the sum of £5O towards making the said track. We also wish the track commenced as soon as convenient.” The main tunnel in the Westport Coal Company’s mine is now through io Coalbrookdale. Mr Robert Gillies, Chairman of the Westport Coal Company, is stated to have a first class chance of election for the Bruce" Parliamentary seat. A compliment ary banquet and presentation to Mr. A. Wilson, Bandmaster, Denniston Band, took place last evening in the school room. Mr. P. Cumming occupied the chair, and Mr. J. W. March acted as croupier. After the usual toasts were honoured the Chairman called on Mr. Wilson, and on behalf of the bandsmen and townspeople of the Hill presented him with a handsome cornet for his good work in the musical world. The institutions of Denniston are shortly to be increased by the addition of a Good Templar’s Lodge. Twelve new cottages, to the order of the Coal Company, are to be built shortly, and Mr. Marshall is tlu? successful tenderer for the erection of the Public Library, and has already made a start to level the section.

A young girl, step-daughter of Mr. Lee. of Denniston, had a miraculous escape from death on Hie incline. She evidently missed her footing on the trellis work and rolled down a distance of 150 feet. Mr. ('. Friend, who happened to be coming down at the time, witnessed the accident, and immediately made his way to the spot where the girl was lying and picked her up. Providentally she came off with a few bruises only. Another fatal accident took place in the mine when a miner named Thomas Henderson was killed by a fall of coal. A meeting of shareholders of the Koranui Goal Company was held in Gilmour’s Hotel. Westport. Mr. T. Bailie was in the chair. Mr Hughes the manager and engineer to the company, was present and explained the mines and works generally, in the course of which he mentioned that ■within Hip lease there was 580 acres of hard coal that had not yet been touched. He showed that the mine nt. present was pulling down ]OO tons per day, and from actual working with that output, they had a profit of 3/per ton or £4OOO to £5OOO per annum. Mr. Hughes spoke highly of the company and stated that they were paying out something like £12,000 per year in wages. In the Government Gazette of the 28th February, 1884, there is published an additional special rule unde" “Regulations of Mines Act, 1874,” for the Westport Coal Company’s mine, Westport, strictly prohibiting all persons from riding in or on the trucks, on any portion of the company’s incline. A mishap took place at the top of the Incline through a brake giving way, and drawing the truck into the brake-house, doing a good bit of damage, while the descending truck tore several rails up, fortunately injuring no one. At long last, a track is to be made from Waimangaroa to Denniston, the County Committee having accepted £35(1 from the Government. Tenders are to be called right away for same. An assistant teacher is to be sent to the Denniston School, and the plans have been approved for building a head teacher’s residence. The Denniston Co-operative Society invite tenders for the suply of bread, about three dozen daily of first-class quality and full weight, for a term of six months. We notice that our sister town of Waimangaroa has opened a telephone office, observing the hours of 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. The official opening took place to-day, May 23rd, 1884, The line was tested from both ends by Messrs Calders, Beswiek and Williams from the Westport end, and Messrs Finch, Beaton and Lamport at Waimangaroa, and conversation was carried on without the slightest hitch. The miners of Denniston have opened an up-to-date butchery and every courtesy will be extended to the public by the manager, Mr. Wardrope, also another business in the form of a green grocery and fruit, is to be opened by a coloured gentleman hailing from China.

Note:—ln regard to the above notes. I might mention that the Banbury Hotel, in after years was known as the Denniston Hotel, was burnt down a good number of years ago, and the license was transferred to a new building on the Plateau. During the last 50 years a good many hotels have opened and closed in Denniston. A few are: Orman’s Hotel, Ben Bennett’s Mount Rochfort; King’s Miners’ Rest; McMahon’s Miners’ Arms; Gooding’s Coalbrookdale; Mrs. D. Maloney’s Crown; Pat Ryan’s Alpine.

The old Banbury coal seam was worked out about 40 years ago. It was situated, where the old tram lipe tunnel went through from Jacob’s Ladder at Denniston, to the Wooden Bridge at Burnett’s Face. There arc now very few of the old Banbury Brass Band members remaining. Amongst those are Mr. E. R. Fox, J. P. Westport, Mr. Jack Coppersmith, of Westport, Mr. Sandy Marshall, of Westport, Messrs Wall Cumming and Bill Ralph, of Denniston and Mr. Fred Smallholme, of Mokihinui.