WEST COAST NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3609, 15 May 1923, Page 26

WEST COAST NEWS.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) _At the time of the visit to the district of tho Minister of Mines tho subject of alluvial prospecting in South Westland was discussed, and the district of Mananui Flat was agreed upon as a favourable fieiu for ■ trial. As a result of negotiations made at t ,: 'e time, officers of the Department, accompanied by a representative of a Hokitika prospecting syndicate have visited the Joraiity and selected a suitable site for boring in the neighbourhood of Grabo Creek, this spot is favoured by men who nave intimate knowledge of the locality. A private prospecting scheme which is be.ng carried out at Callaghan’s Flat, is at present using- the boring plant, so that the Mananui venture is for the time beingdeferred. It is anticipated that four weeks will be suffiicient to thoroughly test the locality. Municipal Elections.— The municipal elections created a considerable amount of interest throughout the district. At Grey mouth and Hokitika there was no contest for the mayoralty. At Westport and Kumara the previous mayors were re-elected. A good deal of dissatisfaction with the record of the previous Council at Greymouth showed itself in the election of four new members, one of them heading the list. The w’bole of the Ratepayers’ Association nominees were returned. A question which added interest to the poll was the decision of the weekly half-holiday. The existing day, Wednesday, was carried. At Brunner the crucial question was that of amalgamation with the Grey County, the proposal being carried on the vote of the electors. A question which no douJ'i affected the voting at Hokitika was that of a loan for the erection of a Town Ilall. J here, also, several of the old councillors were defeated. There is general satisfaction with the results of the elections, arid at Greymouth particularly, it is considered that, a good strong Council has been chosen to direct the town affairs at this new and important juncture. Farmers’ Union.— t A meeting of the Grey branch of the N.Z.F.U., held during the week, passed remits to be discussed at the Provincial Council of the Union next month. The subjects deal with the lifting of the protection of deer, the spread of ragwort and Californian thistle, and the efficiency of the Waimaunga State farm. In relation to the farm, the resolution urges Government to proceed with the necessary fielding for an up-to-date dairy farm, and that it be stocked with purebreds from the best N.Z. herds, so that farmers may purchase in a few years at reasonable prices. Shipping.—During the month of April, 31 steamers and two sailing vessels entered the port of Greymouth, the total tonage being 16.272. The customs duties collected during that ■period were £3342.. At Westport several steamers have, during the past week, been held up awaiting coal. Personal.— Mr J. H. Whitburn, leading carpenter on the Westland section of the railways, has received notice of his promotion to Newmarket, Auckland. He has been a number of years in Greymouth, having come from Auckland. During the past twelve months he has been secretary of the Main School Committee. He leaves on May 15 Obituary.— Mr A. E. Wick, diamond drill superintendent to the Minas Department, died during last week after 12 months’ illness. He was a native of Brunnerton, and a member of a large family, most of whom are resident in the district. A very familiar figure has been removed from the district by the death during t-ne week of Mr Frank White, of Greymouth. lie was a native of Devonshire and 75 years of age. He arrived in this district in 1860. -In the early days he was engaged in mining, and- subsequently as a contractor. He laier occupied the position of overseer to the Public Works Department on the Otira and Blackball railways, and was also overseer to the Greymouth Borough Council in connection with the town drainage and water schemes. For 25 years he was a member of the Greymouth Education Board, and when the district was merged with the Canterbury Board he was appointed attendance officer for the Westland district, which position he retained until his death. He took a keen interest in sport, and was a member of the Greymouth Bowling Club. Ilis widow and grown-up family all reside in Greymouth. He was a member of the local Masonic Lodge, and a man highly respected Dy all classes. The Parishioners of Ail Saints’ Church at Hokitika have decided to proceed with the erection of a new memorial church. The work will be done by day labour, the building will be of grey granite, which will be obtained from the tailings from the Rimu dredge. An extraordinary position was revealed at the Magistrate’s Court at Reefton during the week, when the Inspector of Awards proceeded against a timber miller for a breach of the Arbitration Act in not paying the hands fortnightly. The face was elicited in evidence that the secretary of the Westland Timber Workers’ Union had demanded and been paid by defendant a sum of money in consideration of the union taking no action against the technical breach of award. A satisfactory financial position was revealed at a meeting last week of the Grey Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. The expenditure showed a large decrease on the previous year, and a considerable balance is in hand. The amount expended last year on the various institutions was £15,639. The estimated requirements for the next 12 months arc £17,654.

A statement of the Greymouth Borough finances presented last week showed the receipts for the past year to have been £32,707 ordinary income and £1355 arrears of rates. The expenditure was £33,475. An unsatisfactory feature of the financial position is the large amount of outstanding rates, there being still over £4OOO of :ai ears. A Women’s Hockey Club has been formed at Blaketown, a suburb of Greymouth, with good prospects of success. The executive of the West. Coast Rugby Union some time ago agreed to approach ihe Otago and Southland delegates to the New Zealand Rugby Union Conference, with a view to receiving a representative match with teams from those unions during the present season.