WEST COAST NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3444, 16 March 1920, Page 27

WEST COAST NEWS.

(Fbom Oub Own Cop.bespondent.) GREYMOUTH, March 10. _ The Native Lands Court has been in session during the past week for the purpose of considering a, plea for the partition of the Arahura and Mawhera blocks of Native leases. The petitioners desired the individualising of their interests so that they might operate at will upon their shares. In the case of the Arahura block the request was granted, and the land will be subdivided into about 20 sections. In the case of Mawhera, which comprises the business,, and part of the suburban, area of the town of Greymouth, the court decided that it had no jurisdiction. This block was excepted by the Natives in their sale to the Crown of the tract of country known as the Arahura purchase. No trusts were set forth in the Act governing the reserve, but there was a prohibition against any form of alienation by the grantees. The court, if it had the power, would consider it its duty to so partition the estate as to relieve its from burdens which press upon it. The court was not favourable, except in special cases, to the individualisation' of titles, but if spme scheme of dividing the owners into groups could have been formed on an equitable basis it would have been prepared to partition accordingly. This decision is unfortunate for Greymouth business men and other property owners, who ai>9 subject to the uncertainty of a short lease, and are without the incentive to investment and extension of enterprise which would be afforded by personal owner-" ship or security of permanent tenure. As a sequel to the decision, an agitation has been set afoot to try and secure an improved tenure. A meeting of interested parties a few days ago empowered a committee to draft details of a proposal to be submitted to lessess at a general meeting. The movement is really a revival of an effort that was made some years ago, but without practical result. The suggestion now is that an attempt be made to purchase the freehold from the Natives, who are in a mood to negotiate. In the event of success it is proposed that lessees in a position to do so may be permitted to secure their individual title at once, while others shall remain lessees of the borough and purchase their properties by extended payments. The prices charged to individuals shall- be the same as that paid by the borough in its transaction with the Natives. In the event of a lessee not desiring to purchase, his lease shall' be renewable as under the present contract, but for 66 years instead of 21. Lessees shall share pro rata in financing the purchase. In 1909 the reserve was valued at £llO, COO, and the present valuation is £140,000. Rates have increased during the past 12 years from £3500 to £4200. _ The suggestions have been accepted, and will bo submitted to the next meeting of the Borough Council. A committee -of leaseholders has been appointed to act in conjunction with the council. The proposal is undoubtedly a good one. Under present conditions improved property means only increased rental, and it is the insecurity ■of the tenure that accounts for the marked absence of substantial premises in the town. Coal Settlement. Meetings of miners at both Rewanui and Runanga accepted the proposed terms in settlement of the coal dispute. At Blackball the terms were not considered satisfactory. During the last few days a local deadlock appears to have occurred in relation to the position of engine drivers in the mines. The Westland Engine Drivers' Union, which controls all drivers in coal mines, met the mine managers in conference and failed to come to an understanding. The owners were willing to grant small increases on a flat rate to certain sections of the union, but not to others. This proposal was submitted to the men at Runanga and Blackball, and in each place was declined. The drivers complain that while they occupy responsible positions, and are expected to work all shifts, their wages have been raised only to an insignificant extent in many years, and that they are not even guaranteed full time. Rimu Flat Gold. The American company which is about to commence gold mining on Rimu Flat purposes installing a large dredge of 500 horse power. The resident engineer representing the company is inspecting the ground for the purpose of deciding upon a locality upon which to build the hull for pontoons, which will te required to carry 500 tons of machinery. _ The dredge will be worked by electricity, the source of which has not yet been decided upon. It will possibly be generated by steam. Motor Control. — At a meeting of the Greymouth Borough Council it was decided to consider at next meeting the appointment of a motor inspector, and a requirement that all motor drivers be certificated men. This resolution is the outcome of complaints respecting careless driving during the holidays and several serious accidents which have occurred. In reply to a request regarding motor control, the Minister of Internal Affairs stated that it was not possible yet to say whether the question would be dealt with next session, and suggesting that local bodies should in the meantime take steps to secure uniformity in motor by-laws. Old People's Home.— The Public Health Department has intimated to the Grey Hospital and Charitable Aid Board that the Minister of Lands has approved of the proposal in reference to the site for the Old People's Home—viz., that it be erected on a section immediately to the south of the present hospital, and that whexi the board shall have taken the necessary steps to secure the site under the Publio Works Act, the sum placed upon the Land Department'*) estimate may be drawn upon up to £IOOO to meet compensation charges arising out of the acquisition of the site. Town Domain. — An area of light bush land on the Greymouth hillside, which, •was presented to the.

town by Mr U, Xting, at on© time po»w master here, was officially opened last wees as a public park. The land is Maori- pro-t perty leased by the borough at a nominal rental. An effort will be made to induce the Maori owners to present it outright to the town. . The park commands a splendVl view of the town and sea, and in relation, to the former is very similar in its position to the Town Belt in Dunedin. The grave of the Maori chief Tainui is in the vicinity. . mild form of influenza, which has been very prevalent at the mining town of Runanga for several weeks, has now almost completely abated. By rigid officials-sola-, tion of the township the epidemic hac *&, far been confined to that locality, thougS". singularly, another mining town, that ol' Millerton, has been similarly affected.