WEST COAST HEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3662, 20 May 1924, Page 30

WEST COAST HEWS.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) A committee set up by the Greymoutn Borough Council for the purpose of revising the by-laws has recommended a large number of restrictions relating to motor and other traffic, which if enforced should greatly increase the safety of the public. Amongst the leading provisions are recommendations that no one' under 16 shall ride or drive a motor cycle or car, and that no one shall drive without a certificate of competency. Also that- the speed limit in the borough shall range from 8 to 20 miles per hour. .Fees for licenses range from 5-s to £2 and for heavier traffic from £1 to £lO. Pillion riding was also forbidden. The Council has since adopted the recommendations of the Committee, except that in response to a special appeal by the Motor Cycle Club pillion riding is to be allowed. Other bylaw’s for the prevention of .overcrowding in the residential area were adopted. The Council has for a number of years leased the Town Hall, which is part of the Carnegie gift, to a private individual, as a picture theatre, reserving for its own use a certain number of nights in the year. The arrangement has not been popular with the public. The hall is rightly regarded as the property of the citizens, and on more than one occasion when it has been’ desired for other than municipal purposes a prohibitive rent has been imposed by the lessee. A proposal to renew the lease for a further term of five years was recently carried by the Council on the casting vote of the chairman, and a notice of -motion to rescind the resolution has been tabled by one of the councillors. EXPORTS. Exports by the sea for the month of April are reported as follows : —From Westport: Timber, 86,500 feet; coal and coke, 37,105 tons. From Greymouth: Timber 3,105,324 feet; coal, 14,664 tons; wool, 24 bales. The shipping at Westport comprised 36 steamers, aggregating u tonnage of 21,132. In addition to the sea borne traffic the following goods traffic passed through the tunnel during the same period: First week 7ouu tons; second week, 7400 tons; third week, being strike week, 270 tons; and fourth week, when presumably the normal traffic had not fully recovered, 3800 tons In reference to the coal export Westport estimates that the Grey district has an advantage in freight of about 12s. per ton, and a movement is afoot to have the terminal charge of 9d per ton, now collected at Westport removed. The unfortunate wreck of the Ngahare on the Greymouth bar, occurring as it did under almost normal weather conditions, will not tend to popularise the port, and will suggest, especially to timber workers the advisability of utilising the alternative route. VARIOUS. The Greymouth Borough Council has arranged for a visit from Mr J. Young of Christchurch with a view to adopting a definite plan for the beautifying of the town. Mr Young will offer suggestions, and address a public meeting, and advantage will be taken of his visit to try and revive the Beautifying Society. Another project of Greymouth, which at irregular intervals wakens into spasmodic life is that for the erection of town swimming baths. A committee appointed at the last period of activity some time ago is now prepared with a- report which it is hoped may lead to definite results. In tnc meantime funds are, bv various organisations, being quietly accumulated, and the Chautauqua Society, for the encouragement of the- movement has offered to donate 75 percent. of the profit of its forthcoming season to this object. The Chautauqua has always as one of its principles strongly advocated the promotion of clean and beautiy <: ‘ v -n conditions, and this generous offer will do much to dissipate an unfortunate public prejudice which arose here against its work during the earlier years of its appearance. A proposal is being considered at Greymouth of reviving an annual Hospital Saturd..y as a means of raising funds for the Public Hospital, which was in vogue before the war. If the custom which has since then prevailed, of providing funds by an increase of rates, the Borough Council’s responsibility this year will be £2854, or £232 more (him last year. Since the appointment of the present Medical Super-

intendent and Matron, the. Hospital has inci cased m popularity, and is now fully taxed in accommodation. A deputation from the Greymouth Technical College recently urged the speeding up of the llokitika-Greymouth train, so that students could arrive m time tor tire earlier lessons. Similar requests have been made by other interested bodies both at Greymouth and Hokitika. A definite reply has been received from the Minister to the effect that as a change in the timetaoie would interfere with train connections with other places, no alteration could be. made. The Greymouth-Rokitika service is about the slowest in the Dominion. The field instructor of the Agricultural Department has been in Tirnaru arranging a series of lectures for the Winter School which will open at Greymouth on July 22nd. At (he- end of the sessions an opportunity will be given to the farmers to visit the_ Waima-unga State Farm. Unsatisfactory conditions in the Greymouth railway goods shed, due partly to alleged incompetency on the part of the men employed and partly to inadequate shunting facilities, have led to- a combined dopataimn representing the Harbour Board and the Shipping Companies being ari ■ -:-c e '. pi... - .... let , „ ■ u.e .....i.vay Department. The Department is contemplating the provision of additional sidings 111 L :e v. nari yard. Sawmills on the Otira line are just now very busy with plenty of orders in sight. Two new mills are about to be erected. The Minister of Mines has intimated to the Buffer County Council that he. is prepared to spend £3OO on the YVaimangaroaDenniston road under certain conditions. A number of men have been employed pumping out the dip section of the Dobson Coal mine in preparation for the commencement of mining. lor the second year in succession the Greymouth Patriotic Association has been unable to secure a quorum of members for its annual meeting. As rules cannot be altered without the attendance of a quorum it is unable to reduce tne number required and has consequently reached an impasse. The Minister of Public V Porks has agreed to grant £250 towards the formation ol the Stocktori- Tinto w n r o-ad. The Greyniouth Orchestral Society, which is one of the flourishing organisations of the town, opens its 1924 season with a concert during the present month.