WEST COAST NOTES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13995, 30 August 1907, Page 8

WEST COAST NOTES.

i .. «, (Fbok Ous Own Cobhespokdekt.) GREYMOUTH, August 28. • Trade at Greymouth ie increasing bo rapidly that the harbour staff ie at its wits' end- to find berthing accommodation for vessels. The whole lino of wharf is closely trucked, and double-ba-nking; is resorted to. Tho necessity for extension in tho lagoons is so pressing that it ,is understood that the Government is willing to allow tho Harbour Board to proceed with the work at once. It -will, however, bo two ycaia ■before much relief is" obtainable. Tho Railway Department, which has the working of tho wharf, is busy carrying extra lines, and is providing further loading appliances so 08 to expedite work. Tho appearance of tho port rosomblcs, so far as business is concerned, that of the largo ports of tho colony rather than a West Coast bar harbour. •This week will possibly give the- record export, so far ae ooal and timber aro concorned, and as record-breaking has been going on for month after month the authorities are getting very anxious as to thoir i abih'ty to meet requirements. The orders for coal and timber are coming in heavier than ever, and the town is naturally feel--1 ing the effect. Trade is very brisk, and : possibilities of all kinds arc looming. , There is not a vacant tenement to bo found. Yesterday a teacher's residence, an old wooden building which tho Education Board had determined to get rid of, was offered by auotion. The board put the reservo at. £450. but was prepared to tako £400, whioh sum was thought by members to be its value. The bidding at the sale, 1 however, was brisk, and it realised £595, i and lam informed that tho purcliascr could , got a good advance on his prieo to-day. ■ A \ good many years ago the board bought the--1 property for £250, tho hotreo then being in good order. Further extension of tho railway ' and tho opening of further faces at ' tho State mine ma now in hand, and from all I can gather 12 months will see the output doubled. The demand for State coal is far in oxooss of tho supply. I am sorry to say tho opal briquette works aro not gottinjr on as well as Mas expected. , I am afraid that tho cost of production for many years to conic will provo a bar to sucocss. Tho Paparoa Coal Company has over 200 men at work pushing on with opening • work. It will have its coal in the market • about this time next year provided .the Government railway to Blackball is completed. This lino is being proceedod with . in a very lackadaisical manner, the superabundance of bosses to workmen being • marvellous. j Ono or two sawmill interests in the district hove recently cha-ngod bands nt advanced prices. Tho timber trade is brisk, i all tho mills being full of orders. 1 M'Lean Brc*., the tenderers for the , Arthur's Pass railway, were in town on jfonday. After a casual inspection of the ■ country whero their big job lies (hey seem confidentof putting the whole thing through . in contract' time, Mr Murdoch M'Lean tcj marking that " putting in six years of one's .lifo in such a country will be Quite enough without prolonging the job." Tho other brother will remain at Wellington, where ' the firm has the TVeilinKton do"ck in hand. , It is, however, likely that during Murdoch's , absence at Homo securing plant Neil will bo pretty constantly on the ranges. Mr Florence M'Carthy has again assumed . the editorship of the Grey River Argu6, ■ vice Mr Kellv, who returned to his old lino on the Christchurch Press. I hear that a libel action is pending, the " Mayor of Greymouth being; plaintiff and J the Argus Newspaper Company defendants.