WEST COAST NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3594, 30 January 1923, Page 26

WEST COAST NEWS.

(From Oub Own Cobbespondent.) January 23. Some difference of opinion exists as to tho probable date of the opening of the through railway from Christchurch. The Minister of Public Works recently stated that lie kinew of no reason for altering his opinion that the tunnel would be completed about Easter time. The Reefton Progress League at a reoent meeting attached value to a rumour that communication would be through in May, while at Otira the general opinion is that the tunnel will not he open for six months yet. In the meantime various sections of the community are growing increasingly anxious for some definite statement. The Resfton Progress League has passed a resolution urging ether leagues to take steps to celebrate in some way the opening, and expressing its willingness to co-operate. The Hokitika and Greymouth Pawmilling Association has impressed upon the Westland Progress League the importance of definite information as to the date, in order to stabilise the timber trade. Railway freight on timbe.r, it is stated, will be .is 3d per 100 ft less than sea freight to Christchurch, and in consequence of this expectation Canterbury orders for shipment by sea are being restricted. The league decided to ask the department for an early announcement. The sawmillers require' about three months’ notice in order to regulate their trade. —Westland Hospital Board.— The Westland Hospital Board at its last meeting expressed itself in favour of borrowing £SOOO to complete the new building. The sum of £6OOO has already been spent on the building, and £SBOO was reported as being still in hand. The board has been authorised to expend £3OO in tho erection of a four-roomed nurses’ cottage at Waiho. Action, however, is to be deferred until che sum of £2OO, in the hands of the Southern Committee, has been paid over to the board. The board has decided to offer the position of medical ' officer of the Otira Hospital to Dr East at a salary of £526. —Coal.— Investigations are still in progress in reference to the development of the coalfields believed to exist on the north side of the Grey River at Brunner. In res.jonse to a request for a remission of reno the Grey Harbour Board appointed Mr Leitch and the district engineer to make investigations and prove the field. Its anxiety to establish the belief in the existence of such a payable field was no doubt influenced by the desire to have the Government rebuild the Brunner bridge. Mr Leitch’s reoort, which is as yet incomplete, deprecates hasty action. He is convinced of the existence of coal at some distance from the river, but in the neighbourhood of Brunner the quantity of coal remained to be proved. He advocated the continuance of boring, which would not need to be deep. The board has decided to leave the matter still in his hands to report and make further recommendation. The export of coal from the Westport mines for last week was in the neighbourhood of 12,000 tons. The increased output was due to the extra demand made by the Admiralty—the Biloela having taken several thousand gtons for the Austral an Navy. She is expected hack for a further supply in a few months’ time. During the past four weeks the output from the Grey mines has bsen 12.879 tons, of which 6421 has been from the State mines. —Dean Cafew Memorial.— The foundation work has been commenced of the Dean Carew Memorial School at Gteymouth. For several years various efforts have been made to raise funds for this building, and about £4OOO have been received. Dean Ca/ew was one of the pioneers of the district, and the building is to be worthy of his work. It will provide facilities for a complete secondary course of education, as well as primary. The foundation stone is to he laid on February 11, the anniversary of the Dean’s death. —ltems.—Timber exported from Greymouth during the past four weeks has amounted to 4,546,936 feet. For the period January, 1922. to January. 1923, the amount exported has heeti 47,009,770 feet. A proposal brought before the Westport Borough Council for the erection of a Municipal Theatre was rejected at a meeting held during the week. A meeting of ratepayers at Hokitika unanimously supported the Borough Council’s recommendation to borrow £6OOO for town improvements. The money is to be Used for street improvements and drainage. It was pointed out that the -Borough revenue of £IOOO was quite inadequate to keep the town in order. The loan will set free the ordinary revenue for maintenance purposes. About 15C0oz of gold are reported to have been recovered last month by the Rimu Flat dreds-e. It is probable that another dredge will be erected. Despite the fact of a busy season at Christmas time, the Westland section of the railways shows a decrease of about £IOOO in revenue as compared with the previous year. The annual picnics i,ri connection with Ihe various trades and organisations are now being, held. So far fine weather has been experienced. The favourite resorts are Lakes Mahinopua and Kanicri. In consequence of a narrow escape Tom a serious accident lately on the Ten Mi'c Bluff road, an effort is being made to secure a grant of £3OO for the protection of the most dangerous places. As from February 1 the employees of the sawmills of the district will draw sixpence per day less in wages. At the last, meeting of the Sawmillers’ Association it. was decided, harmony with the pronouncement of the Arbitration Court, and in order to “assist in a general reduction in the cost of living,’’ to make such a reduction. The Loval Greymouth Lodge of Odd fellows held its annual meeting last week, and reported a successful year Less than £IOO had been expended in sick nay. The Management Fund showed a credit of £2l. The Hick and Funeral Fund had increased hv £238. and now stood at £4867. The halt trading account returned a clear six per cent. All investments were favourably reported on bv the trustees. The officers wore installed for the ensuing year. The Inangnhua County Council has been advised that the Public Works Depart ment has nonroved of an expenditure of £BOO for the bridging of streams on the ReeftonMarina road.