MODERN MINERS’ HOSTEL TO BE BUILT AT BLACKBALL

Grey River Argus, 25 March 1949, Page 2

MODERN MINERS’ HOSTEL TO BE BUILT AT BLACKBALL

A new miners’ hostel, with comfortable accommodation for 24 snglo men, is to be constructed at Blackball.’ This will be the first of such institutions in the Grey district. Tenders are being called for the construction of the new hostci, and close on April 26. In contrast to Reefton, wheio about £50.000 was spent on the construction of an entirely new building the Blackball Hostel will have an old building as its nucleus. The large two-storeyed residence on the Black-ball-Roa 'road., which for some years has been the home of the manager of ihe Blackball mine, has now been taken over for the purposes of the hostel. The new building, of dormitory type, will be 106 ft x 26ft, and -will be divided into 24 single rooms each Bft x 10ft. The hostel will provide space tor dining room, reading and writing room, and- lounge. Space wiil also be provided for a kitchen, laundry drving-rcom and bulk store. The cost of the new hostel though substantial, will probably be considerably less than the one built at Reelton.