BLACKBALL NOTES

Grey River Argus, 10 September 1941, Page 8

BLACKBALL NOTES

(Our Own Correspondent). With the exception of a couple of days’ Toss of .work through the ac? cumulation of slack coal, the Blackball Mine has continued to work very steadily since it was taken over by the State. Quite a number of new hands have been engaged. There are now almost, one hundred men employed on the two shifts. The mine is producing meantime a preponderenep of soft .coal, which means a b’g percentage of slack, which is proving rather hard to dispose of. It is to be hoped that the mine’s development will lead into harder coal, removing that draw back. The output now is something like 250 tons per dav. Everybody will look forward to a firmer type of coal in the mine. Sapper George Clark (“Bushy”), who had been visiting his parents, Mr and Mrs Richard Clark, Stafford Street, .on leave, has rejoined his unit. Prior to his leaving, a fareIwell party was tendered to him by his friends at the home of his parents, a pleasant evening being spent. His health was toasted with many expressions of. goodwill. Sapper Clark spent some six months in Fiji and returned with the last party from the islands. His many friends wish him the very best of luck and a safe return. Mr McGifford, Postmaster, has left -on transfer to Hokitika. His place has been taken in Blackball by Mr C. W. Carter, of Woodlands, Southland. Mp Guy Walker, of the local Postal staff, left on Tuesday for Wellington, on transfer to the Head. Post Office His place has been taken by Mr Durham Dowell, of Westport. Miss Tess Rogers, of Wellington, and late of Blackball, is a visitor at present. Mrs M. Wooding, of Denniston, is spending a holiday, '\vith her parents, Mr and Mrs D. W. McDougall. Clifford Street. Mr Adam Clark, of Onekaka, who has been visiting his parents in Blackball, has left on his return. Mrs J Williams and family, of Riccarton, who have been spending a holidav in Blackball with her parents, Mr and Mrs R. Clark, Stafford Street, left on their return on Saturday.. Mr and Mrs Hales, of Kaitangata. Otago, are at present visiting their daughter, Mrs M. O’Flaherty, Main Road. Mr Richard Clark, senr.. who has been confined to his room for some weeks, is showing definite Improvement, and will soon be about again. Mr Jack Neilson is at present a patient, in Grey Hospital., undergoing treatment for an arm injury. On Monday night a large gather.ng of young people met at the Oddfellow’s’ ’HaIX-to farewell Mr Guv Walker, of the Blackball Post Office staff, the gathering being organised b> Miss Isa Williams and a number of able assistants The departing guest was presented with a purse of money as a token of estee.m from the Blackball people. Mr Walker has been on postal delivery for a number of years, and has been very popular. He is now on transfer to the staff of tlw Wellington Post Office. Mr B F. Connors, who made the presentation, thanked the ladies for organising the gathering, in which the League Football Club should have taken a more prominent part, and he s P° k e “J eugolistic terms of Mr_ Walkers sporting abilities, and of his interest and usefulness in town life, wishing him good luck in his new position The now Postmaster, Mr Carter, also extended his best wishes to M) Walker, who very suitably .replied, thanking everybody for the J ness. Blackball was his home; and he would never forget the happy days he had spent In it. He ho P e( JJ? meet them all again, as his annual leave would almost surer be spent here Miss Connors presided at the piano, and dancing was indulged m till mid-night.