OUR WEST COAST LETTER

Otago Witness, Issue 2572, 8 July 1903, Page 35

OUR WEST COAST LETTER

GREYMOUTH, June 29.

Tho drivers of the main tunnel in the State coal mine pierced tho rock tho other day, and struck a 14ft seam of splendid coal. This makes the prospects of the mine look very bright indeed. The other tunnels' are being pushed ahead with all possible speed. A State sawmill is being erected in close, proximity to the mine, to bo used exclusively for the. cutting of timber in connection with the mine. The engine and boiler of the Maori Gully dredge were purcbaaeU for this plant. Several carpenters are engaged in the erection of the mill. Tho survey 6taff are surveying the site for a now township, and tho allotments will soon be open for the public to make selections therefrom, for which, no doubt, there will bo a considerable amount of keen competition. Tho Government have very little fiat land available suitable for a township close to th« mine. The most suitable — a splendidly situated piece of flat country — is owned privately. No less than £80 has been asked for a section on this thickly-timbered private property. The County Council have been solicited by the owner to survey tho properly into sections at their own expense, but that body decidedly declined. A considerable amount of work has yet to be accomplished, such as the erection of coal bins, construction of an aerial tramway from the high level tunnel to the coal bins, etc., ere the mine will be in a state of preparedness. The men in tho tunnels are paid 10e 6d per shift, boss shift man lls, carpenters lls, blacksmiths lls, bueh labourers 10s, squarers 12s. Men are coming to the mine looking for employment almost every day. In my last letter I mentioned Mr Jeff's promotion to the Mines Department, and expressed pleasure at his resolution to remain with us. However, we were disappointed in that respect, as he later on considered the salary of £600 per annum, [with a prospective lise, in a. new country

under the new administration of Cape Colony, in connection with the Publio Works in Johannesburg, more seductive than any engineering prospects obtaining in New Zealand. Mr Jeff is a native of Ashburton, New Zealand, and ie 26 years of age. Prior to his departure the workmen of Coal Creek presented him with a xnaeeive gold pin and silver mounted raeerchaum pipe. The survey staff and office officials presented him with a travelling bag and a gold watch chain. Mr M'Glashan has been appointed his successor as P. W. engineer, and Mr Barrowman, from the Nekon-Belgrove sectkn, succeeded Mr Bertheleen as overseer. Mr M'Donald, who was to have succeeded Mr Berthelson, was shifted on to the Rocfton end. The works on the railway are. being steadily pushed along, but several months will yet elapse before the cuttings are put through. Owing ro come mistake the line hae to be shifted several yards to on© side between two of the largest cuttings. This means that all the fallen trees and stumps that had been rolled into the hollow will have to be removed, and all the stuff that had been tipped from the cuttings reahifted to mako up th© new embankment, whioh will entail a. considerable amount of labour and expense. Someone has blundered, but, of course, we don't know who. The wagee obtained by the co-operative gangs last month were very satisfactory, the bushmcai earning 13s 3d per day, the ballast pitmen lie 4d, the lifter* lls 4d. With the exception of ono cutting all tho men along the route made over 10s per day. Hitherto for any work that had to be done by day wages the men were paid at the rato of Is 3d per hour, but last month they were reduced to 9s per day. The ballast engine runs out to the three-mile peg now. T guess it will bo Christmas ere she gets any further. The greater part of the fencing ia completed. Tho platelaying across the bridge over the Grey River will be commenced during the coming month. This is certainly on© of tho coldest jobs on the West Coast.

The Harbour Board, with Government's sanction, has started the quarry again. This gives employment to a large number of men. Th© Harbour Board's boring for coal on the Dobaon Flat panned out very unsatisfactorily. Three noles were put down to a depth of nearly 2000 ft. Two of them proved nothing, and a fourth hole was necessary to prone a continuous seam of coal. "Funds had reached the low ebb of £100, and Mr Seddon was approached on his recent visit to the Coast by the board's members to grant another £250 to put this hole down. But the hon. gentleman did not think it advisable to spend any more money on it. Government had plenty of coal in view at tlie State coal mine that would suffice at present, instead of engaging in such deep-sinking ac would be entailed on -.the Dobson Flat. Mr Guinness pointed out that capitalists were prepared to inveet in the property if it were proved to contain a coal seam. Mr Seddon : "Then let them spend £250." Mr Seddon then dismissed the engineers and reporters, and read the members a little homily on — I was going to say lavish expenditure; but. you know, our local bodies are so economical in regard to publio moneys that it in only now ?<nd again that the Audi tor- general has to tack in a footnote to their balance sheets.

The dredge is still afc work in the harbour, deepening the river all along the wharf. The port ie very busy. Timber in large quantities is being shipped away, and an unusual quantity of general goods coming jm. Altogether the Coast ia very prosperous just now. The infusion of new Wood into the Borough Council by jhe recent election of three new members has been the means of eau&in g*. true state of theii finances being laid before the ratepayers,, whicli undoubtedly are in a very bad tate indeed. In fact, it will be found neocesary to raiee the present rate levy of 4d in the £ to 6d, and in any case fchev will have to approach the ratepayers for their sanction to borrow another £5000 in order to earrv on the business of the borough. This fresh loan will increase their indebtedness to £70,000. When we remember the brassing of old councillors about their splendid financial condition, it will certainly be interesting to watch how the ratepayers will vote on the matter. We have a powerful ratepayers' association here now, whose object is to watch and guard the actions of the borough councillors. Whatever that body decides to do will no doubt determine the result of the poll.