WEST COAST MEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3581, 31 October 1922, Page 26

WEST COAST MEWS.

(Fkosj Ouk Own Correspondent.) .October 24. Requests for the conveyance of stock and produce through the tunnel increase as time goes on. The public appear to find it difficult to extend their.' patience over the remaining few months until the tunnel is opeji for traffic. Permission was some time ago granted by the Minister for the conveyance of dairy produce once a week, which was estimated to occupy one hour. He now finds that it will take several hours, and is loath to interfere further with the work, the pressure of which increases with the lapse of time. He lias declined a request for the conveyance of lambs this season, and now a further request is made by a racing conference held in Greymouth for the carrying of horses and imped manta during the Christmas week. As this will not be a regular tilling, a concession has teen made'to the extent of carrying feed, luggage, etc., but it is impossible, as the work of the tunnel stands at present, to take horse boxes through on account of low .wires. Should the work, however, be sufficiently advanced by Christmas, it is premised that the horses also will be carried through. The revenue to the department would probably be about £7OO. —Game and Fish. — On Lake Brunner native game is very plentiful just now 7, though the depredations of birds of r.rey are serious. Fish, on the other hand, appear disappointingly "scarce, no really good catches having been made this season. Tho apparent scarcity is supposed to be due to their feeding on a particular weed which tihey prefer to the anglers’ lure. The caretaker at Lake Kanieri Hatchery has recently caught several quinnat salmon weighing several pounds. These fish are supposed to be plentiful in the lake, but are rarely seen. —Leaseholders’ Association. — A meeting of leaseholders at AVestport last weak decided to form a Leaseholders’ Association for the protection of their interests. It was considered that the rentals charged by Government were such as to render occupation prohibitive. Unimproved values in the borough were in excess of real values. It was decided to interview the Commissioner of Crown Lands with a view to securing a reduction in tho rentals charged for colliery reserves. —Timber Company Sued.— The Teremakau Timber Company was last week sued by the limber Workers’ Union for the breach of a clause in the Westland Timber Workers’ Union Act requiring fortnightly payments of wages. The defence was that as pay sheets had to be sent to. Christchurch, and the money remitted from there, fortnightly* payments were impracticable, and the workers had agreed to monthly payments. A conviction was recorded and a fine of £ls imposed. —Rugby Union. —■ The annual meeting of the West Coast Rugby Union last‘week reported a successful year. Receipts for the year were £984, of which £476 was local gate receipts. Beginning the season with £55 cash in hand, it has now £432, inclusive of £2OO which has been set aside for the Seddon Shield Competition.

—Education Day.— A good deal of enthusiasm is being shown in Greymouth over a proposal to hold an “Education Day.’ A meeting of Representatives of local bodies and schools has decided to’ hold a field day in Victoria Dark on November 8, where an exhibition will be made of technical work and school exhibits. This will be followed on the next day hv a concert in the Town Hail. The N.Z.E.I. are the promoters cf the scheme, their object being mainly to. arouse the interest cf parents in school affairs. It is felt that both parents and the public generally regard the school as a thing apart instead of a vital part cf the community’s life, and that they have only a vague idea of what the inner life of the school is. —Notes. —- A definite promise has been given by the authorities that the proclamation of the constiution of the Grey Electric Power Board, about which there has been considerable delay 7, shall be made before the end of the present month, The Greymouth water supply, which for seme time past ha?; been satisfactory, is again causing trouble. A serious leak, which has reduced the water in the reservoir to Bft, has occurred, and so far has not been located. Residents on the hills are dependent on tank water. A general meeting of shareholders of the Koka.tahi Dairy Company is to be held this week to consider the question of the erection of a large factory: It is proposed to increase the capital, to change the name of the company, and to erect the new building on a more central site. Improvements are more evident in the South Westland roads. Vehicle traffic was made over /the Little Wanganui bridge last week. The approaches are being completed, and it is expected that the bridge contract w'ill he formally passed this week. This will be a great boon to traveller's. On the AVcst Coast,-Canterbury road several minor bridges are in course of construction, and their completion will be a relief to motorists, who have heretofore had to depend on the uncertainty of a ford. Tbo West Coast. W.E.A. is suffering severely by the removal of two of their tutors. Mr O’Flynn, of Runanga, has for a long time been an enthusiastic worker for fhe association, and is now leaving (he district on transfer to Christchurch. Mr Bclshaw also, full-time tutor, who has occupied this position only about a yeear, is removing to Christchurch, and his_ return is uncertain. A valedictory social was accorded them last week at Runanga and presentations made. The death of Mr .T. A. Sligo at Dunedin his awakened considerable interest in this district, where he was -well known 20 years ago in connection with the dredging boom. Promising developments are reported as taking place at the Westport-Stockton coal mine, which should result in a largely increased output iir the near future. The long-standing misunderstanding between the Westland Hospital Board and the residents of South Westland has been brought a step nearer settlement. Dr Frengley. has promised that in the Wash ing-irii Rill provision will be made for securing a title to land in South Westland for the purpose of a nursing home. On the strength of that promise the Hospital Board has appointed a committee to meet the southern committee and come to some amicable agreement.