WEST COAST NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3773, 6 July 1926, Page 56

WEST COAST NEWS.

(Fbom Ouh Own Corhebpondent.) June 30. INDUSTRIAL CONDITIONS. The industrial conditions of the district a 3 reflected in railway and shipping busi- j ness are at present improving. For some weeks the traffic in merchandise through the tunnel has been increasing. The average weekly traffic has been in the neighbourhood of 7000 tons, but during the past month it has steadily gone up to 8000 and 9000 tons, and now during the past week a record of 10,443 tons has been established. The nearest approach to this amount was in July last year, when it reached 10,160 tons for the week ending July 18. On the whole Westland section the railway traffic has been improving of late, and between Greymouth and Hokitika the increase of business has necessitated the running of an extra goods train. The shipping at Greymouth has also been abnormal recently, though this has been partly due merely to the favourable condition of the bar. GOLD. Dredging operations have been commenced during the past week by the New River Gold Company’s electrically driven dredge the power being supplied by the Grey Electric Power Board’s station at Dobson. The site of this dredge is at Dunganville, which is in the centre of what in the early days was an extensive area of gold-bearing country. Dunganville, which was then known as Maori Creek, was once a flourishing township, but, like many other gold mining centres of the past, has dwindled into insignificance. While it is almost certain that there are still undiscovered areas of gold-bearing country in this district, yet experience in recent years has shown that the old areas have not been exhausted, and well repay a second working. It is in the direction of this method that popular opinion is tending to-day, and the success of such a company as the dredging company at Rimu appears to justify it. Several dredging ventures are in contemplation, and it is certain that the alluvial gold mining industry of the district will be largely affected by the fortunes of this latest experiment at Dunganville. Operations at the Alexander .River Mines are suffering through the difficulty of access. A trial survey of a road route from Stevenson’s Flat was recently made by the Inangahua County engineer whose report _ shows that a metalled horse track 6ft wide, constructed according to the Publio Works specifications, would cost approximately £3OOO. He recommends the construction of such a road to a point where it would intersect the present track. From that point a rough track would, for the present, be sufficient, following the existing track along the creek, and this could be made for an additional £7OO. An English mining syndicate is reported to be negotiating for dredging rights in the locality of Moonlight, where it is understood it is their intention to erect an electric dredge. COAL. The electric pump and fan at the Wallsend coal mine are in course of erection, and the mine is being linked up with electricity from the Grey Power Board’s Plant. In a few weeks’ time the mine should be producing coal on an extensive scale. Repairs have been completed to the shaft, and no difficulty is being experienced in keeping the water under control in the' lower levels. With millions of tons ° j C i in sight, and a large area of undeveloped country, there is every prospect of a prosperous career for this old mine. No difficulty is anticipated in finding a market for coal of the quality which this mine represents, and with the realisaucn of what appear to be not unduly optimistic expectations the resumption of work in tVallsend will introduce a period of revived prosperity to the whole of the Brunner district. On this expectation at any rate all departments of life in the community are building. The working of the mines, the Power Board works, and the resulting activity in the Railway Department all lend an o!r of business to this part of the district, which is in sharp contrast to the lifeless conditions which have prevailed for many years. Miners are being employed as work can be found for them, and the houses built by the Grey Valley Collieries Company are being occupied as rapidly as they are completed and will not bo sufficient. A movement is afoot for the improvement of the Dobson Recreation Ground for the provision of sports, and the local school is proving to?. for the increasing number of children. A number of immierrants are amongst the new arrivals at Dobson. ITEMS. The Buffer Hospital has been reinstated as a training school for nurses. The Reefton Hospital Board has decided to apply to. the Minister of Health for a similar reinstatement of the hospital there. The recovery of tho architect for the new Greymouth Trotting Club’s grand stand has enabled him to complete the plans, and an effort will now be made to have the building erected in time for the club’s October meeting. The Grey Power Board has to date received > 580 applications for current for electric lighting. By the time the present applicants have been supplied the power station’s capacity will be fully taxed, and it is possible that the board m#y have to

consider an increase of the present supply within the next 12 months.

There has been unwonted activity in beautifying schemes during the past few weeks. The director of the Greymouth Technical School has, with the assistance of a number of residents, been planting shruos and bulbs in the school garden. A public meeting has been convened at Greymouth for the purpose of reviving the Beautifying Bociety. which has never been in a prosperous condition, and had become practically defunct through lack of interest. The executive of the Hokitika Beautifying Society has entered a protest against a proposal of the Borough Council to cut down trees around Cass square. One of the coal loading cranes on the Westport wharf broke down during the week. Several tramp steamers were in port awaiting coal, and the delay of two days was serious. Vigorous representations were wired by the Mayor to the Minister of Marine pointing out the effect such an incident might have on the bunkering ana reminding him of his promise to s#ure a new crane. Rev. F. B. and Mrs Fraser, who have lived in Hokitika for some years, and are now leaving for Dunedin, were entertained during the week by a number of the church people. The new Bishop of Christchurch will pay his first official visit to this district next week. Scarlet fever, measles, and diphtheria are prevalent in several parts of tne district.