WEST COAST NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3557, 16 May 1922, Page 22

WEST COAST NEWS.

(Fbom Oub Own Correspondent.) , May 9. A receiu visit to Greymouth of Judge Kawson, Native Trustee, and Mr Dykes, secretary of the Native Land Department, was seized by the Borough Council and Chamber of Commerce as a suitable occasig?i to ventilate grievances in reference to the Native Reserve upon which the town °.. * revision tl 1 is built. Attention v?as called to the inconvenience and expense involved through the removal of the Native Lease Office from Greymouth to Wellington, where rents have now to be paid, and through the absence of maps ' and documents. Judge Rawson justified the action of the Government, in this matter on the ground of economy. AH that the Government made out of the office was £IOO per year and for this amount an office could not be maintained at Greymouth. The most impel tant matter, however, which the deputation had to bring to the notice of ihe Judge was the proposed Bill to purchase the freehold of the Native Reserve, touch purchase by the Borough Council would place the Natives in a much better position financially, and would be of immense advantage to lessees who, under present conditions, could not afford to take the risk of spending money on t-lieir properties. Judge Rawson expressed his sympathy with the principle involved. The Natives, under present conditions, were only getting about £I2OO a year nett, which amounted to a little over 1 per cent, on capital value. He, however, was opposed to the suggestion that the -Borough Council should fix the price to be paid to the Natives. It was his duty , to protect their interests, and he could or.ly advocate a sale to the bestadvantage and bn condition that a majority of the owners were agreeable. To sell the reserve through the council and on their terms would’ only secure to the Natives 5 per cent,., whereas if they sold privately, and ihvested the money they should get, 7 per cent. He promised, however to do what he could, consistently with his responsibility to the owners. —Winter School.— A good deal of interest is being taken in the Winter School for farmers and students which is to be held at Hokitiria during next week. The school is being organised by the Canterbury Progress League in connection with the district W.E.A), and will extend from May 15 to 20. It is the first time the experiment has been made in the district, and much benefit is expected to be derived from it to farmers. The director will be Professor Shelley, of Canterbury College, and associated with him will be Professor Condliffe and other well-known lecturers on agriculture and kindred subjects. The forenoons will be devoted to the lectures, and the afternoons to motor trips to the various places of interest in the neighbourhood. As an advertising medium of the scenic beauties and ihe agricultural possibilities of the district, apart from the information conveyed by the lecturers, the school should be productive of good. It is hoped that by this means farmers from Canterbury will be> brought into closer touch with local conditions, and an invitation is being extended to afl farmers to take part in the proceedings. - - Kumars. — Complaints have recently been made by settlers about Kumara that local streams are being blocked by the operations of the sawmills. The matter was brought under the notice of the Commissioner of State Forests, and he promises that investigations shall be made by the Conservator of Forests, at Hokitika, and a report will then lie made to the member for the district. Competitions.— Interest is already awaking in the Musical and Literary Competitions which will be held in .September. It is to the credit of this district that interest in literary matters is always keen. The judge at previous competitions has complimented tlie Society ori the talent which it has evinced, the performances, especially in the oratory, being above the avearge. The several Debating- Clubs in Greymouth are very keen this season, and as an incentive to the spirit of competition a, novel idea has been introduced in the shape of an Inter-club Executive, the purpose of which is to organise periodical debates between the various clubs, which shal ibe supplementary to the clubs’ individual syllabus, tins will serve uio purpose of an additional preparation for the Competitions, at which there is always a keen rivalry between the clubs. Black water .Mines Ltd.— A satisfactory report is given of the work at the Blackwafcr gold mines for the three months ending March 31. The bat-

tery crushed 9649 tons, yielding gold to the value of £14,982, and the resulting sands were cyanided, yielding bullion valued at £2344. Besides this, 195 tons of accumulated concentrates were treated, yielding gold valued at £669. The yield based on standard value averages 36s 3.9-d per ton. During the, quarter important development works have been carried on. One level was extended 101 feet on reef practically continuous, averaging 24 inches in width, and with a value of loz to the ton. The total length of payable reef from all development points is 417 feet, averaging 15.19dv.t. over 28 inches. New Da irv Factory. A further evidence of the rapid growth of the dairying industry in the district was seen in the formation last week of another factory. A meeting held in Greymouth decided upon the formation of a Purely Suppliers’ Co-operative Dairy Factory. It was decided to build a new factory in preference to purchasing an old one, and after considerable discussion as to the most suitable site it was resolved that it be built at Stillwater. Canvassing Committees', representing the districts from Barry town -in the north, to the South of Greymouth, were appointed to secure members. With the increasing prospects of greater activity in dairying, the“importance is being recognised of securing a better class of dairy cow. Importation to an isolated district is expensive, and greater attention will have to be paid to breeding. The principle of co-opcration is being advocated for this purpose. It is suggested that as individual farmers mav not be able to procure suitable animals, a sum of money should be raised for the purchase of good bulls, and that these should be distributed throughout the district. War Memorial.— Another attempt is about to be made to secure for Greymouth a suitable memorial to the fallen soldiers. Several efforts m this direction have been previously made, but have come to nought through the diversity of public opinion as to the best character of memorial. A public meeting has again been called to consider the question, and if possible put some scheme in hand