WESTLAND.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXXI, Issue 10314, 5 April 1894, Page 2

WESTLAND.

[from our own correspondent.] Grbymouth, April 2. THE BRUNNER COAL MINES. A meeting of the committee appointed a few weeks ago to inquire into the position of these mines was held at Brunner oa Thursday evening, when an exhaustive report was read ond adopted. The committee recognises the precarious state cf the coaling industry, and, with a view to preventing anything like a crisis taking place at the end of the year, it has resolved to approach the Grey Valley Coal Company again. In order, if possible, to ascertain what it would be prepared to do in tho event of a limited liability company being formed to work the mines at the expiration of the present lease. , It ia intended to- ask the Grey Valley Company what sum it would sell its interest fob or,"failing this, whether or not it would be prepared to take shares in. a new company to the amount of its present interest. -Other suggestions embodied in the report are to the. effect that sufficient capital should bo at once raised to purchase"' a first-class boring plant, so aa to enable the coal to be reached in any of the mines leased, or that tho present company should be induced to carry on operations aa heretofore, tho miners taking a number of shares in !he company in proportion to tho amount of money earned by them, until sufficient capital is raised in this, way to open up new workings. Failing the acceptance by the company of any of the above suggestions, tbs committee intends to ascertain what other available inducements can be offered to the present or to anew company to continue operations in the mines. BLACKBALL MINE, Whilst the position of affairs at Brunner is still unsettled, it ie pleasing to note the success with which work has been carried on ia this mine. Blackball is now fast springing into quits a township, and tho " black diamonds ” aro being exported from the mine to tho railway terminus at Ngahcre, by means of tho aerial tramway, as rapidly aa busy workman can execute the numerous orders entrusted to the company. Hr Linder?, tho manager at the mine, is_ sparing So trouble or expense ia getting the works in perfect order, so that none but the beat article shall bo placed on the market,- and with this ead in' view he is having screens and other appliances erected to - clean the coal thoroughly before it is cent away. There arc three “shifts” now working in .themine, and 8 largo number of hands ie, therefore, employed by the company; and at the present time an embankment is being formed for tho purpose of a new siding, which will run under a number of storage “thoots” and “Lius.” The new road from the river to the Blackball township is in course of construction, and when finished will bo of great convenience to the public. THE GREYMOUTH AND POINT ELISABETH RAILWAY COMPANY. It is anticipated that the survey now being made, preparatory to the construction of this lino, will be completed, in a few days, and that the permanent way will then be put in hand. Mr Gillies has been very busy lately preparing the necessary plans and supervising the laying but of the line. These tangible proofs of the intention of the :company tq construct this important work without further delay aro all the more pleasing and acceptable because .of the • present overcrowded state of the labour market. THE LICENSING ELECTIONS. Now that the official returns have been duly given, there is ample proof that the majority of the people in the district do not approve of the extreme views cf the prohibitionists. The recent election for the Grey district shows that the moderate party polled 10,193 votes -as against 5708 by the temperance section, an average of about two to one; and all along the coast similar victories have been achieved by the moderates, the country districts being particularly strong in their favour.VALEDICTORY. On Wednesday evening a farewell concert and..*'were tendered .to tha Eev Mr Brooke,, ,tho Wesleyan minister here, who ia leaving next week to take charge ofAnother .circuit. The Public Hall was well filled with many of the reverend gentleman’s friends, who : oue and all gave , him . their „ best wishes for his snccsss in his new sphere. The excellent

mu3iCif>J. prugribiQuiß' pruviuou was ujoj* cughly, enjoyed and appreciated by those present; and during the evening tho Eev Mr Stewart .(Presbyterian) took the opportunity of bearing willing testimony to the earnest and zealous manner in which the reverend, guest bad always-carded out his ministerial duties, and to the loss the Wesleyana would sustain by reason of the latter’s removal from -the district. The Bov Mr York (Anglican) in:a few words endorsed the remarks cf the previous speaker. In reply, the Ebv Mr Brooke said he felt considerable regret ia bring compolied to sever his connection wivh the Coast and its people. Ho had, he believed, been longer in their, town than any previous minister of his denomination, and ho would always cherish the warmest feelings fo\ this part of the colony and for the many friends he had met here. EASTER. On Good Friday special- Easier services were held in the Anglican Church here, the Eav Mr York preaching'both morning and evening. The church, was charmingly decorated; indeed, it has seldom been seen to such advantage; and the services were fully choral. In the evening every available seat was occupied by the congregation, and a strong choir, under the able baton of Mr Heley, sang the anthems and the sacred music Ip. a telling manner. The polo from the Messiah, “ I Know That My Redeemer Liveth,” sung during the voluntary by Miss Cocks, was rendered admirably and with excellent effect ;- and the Esv Mr York’s fine -bass, voice was heard with appreciation in the solo parts of the-anthem's. - [PROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Hoeitiha, April 2< THE LICENSING ELECTIONS. These are now over, or, rather, I should say the returns are now completed, and give for this dffitridt a majority for a continuance- of all dosses of licenses. The total number of formal votes was ninety-five in excess of half the number oa the roll, and consequently the poll was effective. Ia only one 73lu.ee wns a majority of votes recorded for prohibition; and this,-strange to aay, waa at Gillespie’s, in South Westland. Gillespie’s is not a -, place where teetotal societies flourish, and where fiery lectures are delivered every week, so the way tuoy have worked their own reformation muct cause a throb of exultation in the breast of Mr Isitt and his friends. An acquaintance furnishes me with aa explanation : —“There ain’t a teetotaller amongst the bloomin’ lot, but they hates Neddy ——- like poison, and 00 they voted for prohibition in the hopes they would chut up his pub.” If this explanation is the true one, the self-afcncgation oa the part of the people of Gillospia’s will not be required e'e them. In connection with, these licensing elections, the cost has already become a matter cf grave consideration to local bodice. Ia this district the County Council was the body having control, and it has not a penny piece with which to meet tho costa. From present appearances it would seem as if those who have done the work must wait until July, whan the license money comes in, before they can hops to be paid. . - . TEE RACES. With the persistent ill luck that seems to dog racing matters here, execrable weather was experienced for the races last Thursday and Friday. _ Tho events were well contested, especially oa the first day, and with fine weather there would havo been a crowded attendance, and all would have gone aa merry aa a marriage ball. The attendance Was very

fair considering the constant succession of heavy showers experienced, to aay nothing of tha heavy state of the course and the sloppy condition of everything, but the club’s dreams of a substantial profit an d getting out of financial difficulties did not become a waking reality. Only £4O of a profit was shown, instead of .£l5O or £2OO as anticipated, and the committee must now wait till Christmas before they can hope to make up for their past losses. In the meantime, it is proposed to put the course in better order and build a new grand stand, the present appointments, I must confess, being very dilapidated and woc-b?gone. The ground does not bslong to the club, but is a reserve, and vested by special Act in a board of trustees, who have let it to the club at a peppercorn rental. Tho difficulty is that the club cannot pledge it as a security, even for money laid out in improvements, and it ia aow proposed to ask Parliament'to re-vest it in the club, giving them the power to raise money on it. One feature connected with the ' races has beau tha unusually large number of spielers;'they filled one railway carriage, and came as a nightmare on out local police. Their only recorded depredation waa that of relieving a hotel-keeper of the responsibility of looking after £27, for which special piece of thoughtfulness they are bring sought after with the view of finding out to which one it is Mr Cameron is indebted.