WESTPORT NOTES

Grey River Argus, 27 May 1935, Page 7

WESTPORT NOTES

(Our Own Correspondent.) Reduction in Royalty: WESTPORT, May 26. In moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet at the annual meeting of the Buller Acclimatisation •Society, the Chairman (Air George Manin) stated that the financial position was not} so good as hist year, owing to the expenditure on the hatchery. The amount of opossum revenue received was much less than anticipated. owing to the action of the Government in reducing the proportion of royalty payable to societies. Reference was also made to the late Air A. AV. Mills, a life member of the Society, and former Secretary, who took a keen interest in the work of acclimatisation and who had done ex cellcnt service for the Buller Society. Al a meeting of the Council held subsequently, Mr Alatrin was re-elected President, and Air AV. J. Hart A r icePiesidcnt. It was decided to terminate Air Radford’s appointment as Secretary, and to call applica*ions for the position. It was also decided to invite applications. for the position of ranger. It was intimated that advice had been received to the effect that there would be an open season for opossums-in the Buller district from June Ist. The following were elected councillors: Alessrs Ferguson. Alarlin, Garvey, Rasmussen, Fox. Menzies, Scully. AVood, Struthers, Murray, Hart and Connelly. Air AV. T. Sloe was reelected auditor. Aerodrome Site Endangered:

'The encroachment of the sea at the north beach is causing concern for the safety of the aerodrome site. Air P. 0. Webb, ALP., accompanied by the Alayor (Air J. Kilkenny), and Air 11. D. Hamilton, representing the AVcstport Aero Club, made an inspection y< st( idny of the erosion, and i‘. was learnt that the Public Works Department had the matter already in hand ••'nd preparations were being made to carry out protection work. School of Mines:

Air J. Bradley occupied the chair at the annual meeting of the Westport School of Alines,, held last evening. Regarding the price of assaying for gold and cost, the Chairman and Director explained that the School charges were liberal, but in instances the Government regulations had to be adhered to. References were made to the deaths of Alessrs L. James and S. Paul during the year, ami votes of condolence with the relatives were passed. The election of officers was proceeded with. Air J. Bradley was re-elected President. Air Brown paid a tribute, to his work and said that while he retained the position he remained young. Air Bradley commented on the support given the School and its sound position. Other officers elected were: Vice President. Air J. (’. Brown; Coum-i l , al] financial members; auditor. Air P. Struthers. The Director said that Air J. Morrow, of Denniston, had been awarded the Powiek Medal. Mr Brown said that Air Powiek should be thanked for the modal, which had created a great deal of enthusiasm. It was decided that Air Brown present f he modal at the earliest opportunity. Air Bradley stressed on the need for the expenses to be cut down. Air Wood suggested that more members should be persuaded to join up. Air Webb, who was welcomed to the meeting by the Chairman, commented to some length on '.he good work the School of Alines wa s do'ng in this district and others on the Coast. Tic said that not- enough attention was pa : d to (he encouragement of mining engineers in New Zealand. They were difficult to get and the money wasted on many proposals would finance many Schools of Mines to bring out canaille engineers. He picked the coal Dade to come back again later on when the scientific experiments in hydrogenation, etc., would show that s uch valuable masses in millions of tons could not be left in idleness. In this respect, he did not think a private company could take un hvdrogenation and carbonisation works. It was a task for the S'ate. The company could not stand the early expense with no direct returns, but the State, through more employment and greater freight revenue, would create better times and much of Ihe' money would spread around to the benefit of the country and profit to the Government. The Buller Gorge line would go through and other necessary works on the Coast would be taken in hand. He did not think there was any chance of the line being taken up straight

away, but Governments change, am] a new Government with a different pol icy would realise the importance of the work. Alining could only prosper wilh the aid of scientific men who. in Hirn, could onlv be produced by the facilities provided to improve their knowledge. Commenting on those who composed the Government’s Boards, which were enough to build the Ark. be said that some on the Railways did not know one thing about a railway and other cases of a similar nature ”( r > instanced. There should be one AD’iister wilh one pnrtfobo and in rcspecl to mining he should he in charge of -i body of experts, who could probe ir'n and improve the induslrv. Some e-' Hie. engineers imported from ’EngLne | with great credentials were somet:mes not as good a< some of the ordinary students in Nev- Zealand, as had been p-<”-ed time p-d again. Tie wished the AVe-tvort Sc 1 --ol of Alines the l>e«t of luck in its f-<«-re endeavours. and assured the “-mmittcc of

his co-operation -t all ''m-s. A vn’e of th-'4<s tn it. Webb for bis oLlt-rss. mi. 1 to ||, p f or carried h v n clamation. concluded the meeting. Shipping: Ihe Fairburn arrived in port yesterday. and sailed later the same day for Little Wanganui a nd Wellington. Buller Mining Committee. WESTPORT. May 24. r l he Buller Alining Committee met yesterday evening, J, H , Powell pre-

sxliug. Applications for the subsidy were left, to the Executive to deal with. All application from J. McArthur t 0 be left as his claim from which he contended he was getting fair results was granted. Closs and I 1 '“ ' -'liUcrton protested against their subsidy being stopped. The Committee ee.ded to adhere to its decision and the men be placed on No. 5 scheme ill the meantime. Rev. Alexander. A.ui-eliisim, wrote stating that he had \m.ied Lyell and asked if a couple ot huts could be shifted from Inangahua. Junction for recreation and church purposes. It was decided to place the matter before tjhe Board. Mr Collier estimates that men at Nikau were getting little returns and he intended to transfer them to Mokihmui and Lyell. The meeting decided that Mr Collier submit a report to the Mines Department regarding the reconditioning of the Nour Mile race to Charleston which would provide work for 25 men. Au application from Calder and party to be placed on track rates was referred to the Engineer with power to act. The Arrangement of areas for supervisors was left to the Executive. The position of Head Supervisor since tho ap pointment of Mr Collier as Engineer was discontinued and Mr. Niven would act as an ordinary supervisor. It was decided that all subsidised men be instructed to yell their gold in Westport. The Secretary reported as follows:— “Gold sold for the month of April. IH35|. 81Jozs. valued ait £607 10s; equipment, £33 8s; total gold to date, 21740z5, valued at £14,485 3s Bd.

“Track work for month of April:— Top camp of Cedar track. 2i chains completed and 2 chains of timber cleared. Bottom camp, 3 chains completed and 5 chains cleared. Alpine Track: This track is now completed with the exception of one large slip A fairly good pack track is completed to Deep Creek. All timber for this bridge is now ready and is landed at the old Lyell bridge ready for snigging to Deen Creek. Chinaman’s: The fluming has now been completed 14} chains and by the end of May water will be on to the first claim. I would

suggest that four mon be placed extending this track further noi 4 th up New Creek from Chinaman’s at an early date as» it will bo of great advantage to giving access to more alluvial ground), which should be well worth working. Pwiakaiki. Owing to wet weather, the men have been clearing slips and repairing the track previous to shifting the camp :i farmer two miles up the river. Two ‘tents arc already erected and tho others will be erected in a few days. Mokihinui: During the month the track has been made along the cliff between Jones’ Fla< and Lady Agnes Reef,. a distance of 3 chains. Four camps have been built at tho Ried Queen and ■work has been commenced. The approach to Anderson’s bridge is now completed and rocks removed from the creek.” Morsan’s Picture! WESTPORT. The spirited race for the motion picture rights of Travis Ingham’s celebrated story, “Biddy” several months ago, culminated in a victory for Columbia Pictures, who will present the screen version of the story at Victoria Th'eatre to-night and to-morrow (Tuesday), under the title of “Most Precious Thing in Life.” Richard Cromwell, Jean Arthur, Donald Cook and Anita Louise arc the featured players. Recommended by Censor for adults. Excellent supporting subjects. WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY. “The Great Defender” is a British dtfama for screening on Wednesday and Thursday and matinee at Victoria Theatre. A stirring story of tho law courts, seething with sensation, set in tense thrilling atmosphere, with tremendous odds of circumstantial evidence for the life of a man. Mathes ei Lang plays the leading role, supported by Margaret Bannerman and Richard Bird. Recommended by Censor for adults. Good supporting subjects.

Prospectors Tracks, — Fenian Single Married . 256 212 1 Mokihinui .. 20 16 Cedar .. 26 10 .... 1 Alpine . . S 0 Leaders prospecting parties n 0 Mokihinui 0 Millerton 1 Itfcefing pity. Mokihinui 2 2 hypervisors 11 Youths . . 0 Grand total 393 256 . 649 256