WEST COAST NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3672, 29 July 1924, Page 30

WEST COAST NEWS.

(Fbom Our Own Correspondent.! July 22. WAIHO TOWNSHIP. The Lands Department is endeavouring to establish a township at Waiho, near the tourist accommodation house. About 50 sections have been thrown open for selection. This step has been taken in. response to a demand for business and residential sites following upon the opening of the tunnel, and in view of the increasing popularity of this locality as a holiday resort. The land is covered with heavy timber, is practically level, and is on the Main South road. Sections have been set aside for public purposes. The township will be known as Waiho Gorge. FOOTBALL.

A meeting of interest to footballers was held at Greymouth last week. A special meeting of the West Coast League Centre was addressed by the organiser of the New Zealand Council, who reviewed the position of the league in the various centres. Lack of enthusiasm in Hawke’s Bay had resulted in its falling back considerably in that province, while .hare were good prospects for next season at Dunedin. I.le believed that in two years the Otago League would be the strongest in the Dominion. Better relationships, the organiser said, would be established if the various centres kept the New Zealand Council better informed. Suggestions were invited for the improvement of the game. He mentioned that it, was proposed to suggest at the next annual meeting of the council that the head office he removed to Wellington or some other central position. The Blackball Junior League team enjoys the distinction of having won all its games with one exception during the past two years. It is to visit Christchurch next month. Mr J. Steele, (he West Coast representative on the All Black team, has been entertained by various organisations with which lie is connected. The Greymouth and Blaketown Fire Brigades made him a presentation, and he was similarly honoured at a function in Hokitika, where there was a gathering of over 500. representatives being included of all sports associations. EXPORTS. The Westport Coal Company last, week shipped 8369 tons of coal, and the Stockton mine 3283 tons.

For the month of June the exports of coal and coke from Westport totalled 46,094 tons, comprised of 34,168 from the Westport Company, 7817 from the Stockton Company, and 4109 from co-operative parties. For the same period ijhe exoort of timber amounted to 40,593 ft. During that month 38 steamers, aggregating a tonnage of 26,758, entered the port. PERSONAL. Rev. A. G. and Mrs Purchas, of All Saints’ Anglican Church, Hokitika, who are removing to Akaroa, have been farewelled by various departments of the church. Miss A. Holland, daughter of Mr 11. E. Holland. M.P.. is leaving Westport to reside in Australia. At a farewell gathering arranged by the three railway societies, at Greymouth, Mr J. L. Morgan, late traffic manager for the district railways, gave an interesting sketch of his career during the past 40 in the public service. Most of his appointments have been in Canterbury. He has been twice appointed to positions in the Westland section. Suitable presentations were made to him and Mrs Morgan. They have gone to Auckland, en route to Australia on holiday. Mr Ferenal, chief clerk in the Greymouth Public W oi'ks Office, has been transferred to Wanganui. ITEMS. A survey is to be made of the Karamea Harbour with a view to diverting the Otumahana River into the Karamea River in connection with a harbour improvement scheme. A small grant has been made for the purpose by the Public W orks Department. Over 3CO entries have been received for the inaugural show in connection with the Greymouth Poultry Club, which is to be held next week. As a result-of a visit by several directors of the Waihi Gold Mining Company, it is reported that dredging operations will shortly be started at Moonlight, near Blackball. The Ree Ton gold mines are requiring men for the mines. A number of immigrants who took up the work have found it not in accordance with their expectation. The preliminary work in connection with the Westport electrical scheme has been commenced, a track being cut to enable the plant to be conveyed to Mount Rochfort. The foundation was laid last week at Maruia of the new factory for the Golden Coast Dairy Company. The Inangahua County Council is adopting a more progressive policy, and improvement is looked for in this part of the district. A house-building boom has been in progress for the past few months at the Buller mining towns of Millerton and Denniston, and the old style of house is rapidly being superseded by modern structures. For the quarter ending June 30 _ the Rlackwater Mines report to London indicated that the most difficult half of its water-race extension-is completed, and Gat better progress may now be expected The output for the three months was ot gold valued at £18.922. Working expenses totalled £13.038, giving a working profit ot £5304 After allowing for development and other expenses, the net profit over all is £3743. , „ . . , The Westland Hospital Board has been asked by the Otira Progress League to reopen the hospital there. The board, with past experience in mind, has requested a definite statement of the league s financial arrangements in the matter. Dr Teichelmen, of Hokitika, has gone on a visit to Christchurch to confer with the Progress League respecting the publication of the booklet which is in course ot preparation, dealing with the scenic atti actions of this district. The Conciliation Council, which is sitting throughout the Domnion in connection with the waterside workers’ dispute, is holdin a* its sessions in Greymouth this week. The West Coast Bowling Centre has decided to institute a champion of champious competition fo.r singles, 'the rust tournament to'be held at Westport 111 1925. The 1925 bowline tournament is to be held P t Hokitika. The balance sheet showed a credit of £7O. Mr Ring, of Greymouth was re-elected chan man, and Mi M Kay (secretary of the Greymouth Club) ,ecie-t-arv.