WEST COAST NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3805, 15 February 1927, Page 34

WEST COAST NEWS.

(From Our Own Correspondent) February 9. It is somewhat anomalous that though the timber industry continues dull throughout the district, several new sawmills are being opened in the Inangahua district. A COSTLY MISTAKE. A stroke of misfortune last week befel a company of sawmillers in that district. They were charged with having cut timber for milling purposes on Crown lands. It was shown in evidence that the offence was committed unwittingly, and a nominal fine only was imposed.. The costs of appraisement, hoyever, were heavy, so that the defendants were mulcted altogether in a fine exceeding £CO. SAWMILLS CLOSED. One of the largest sawmills in the Hokitika district, situated at Lake Kanieri, closed down during the week. Fully a dozen mills are now’ closed, and dozens of others are working only part time. There are 400 fewer men employed in the industry than there were at this time last year. — COAL AND GOLD. The coal miners in the Buller district are working steadily, and large quantities of coal are being shipped. There is almost a house shortage in Westport, due partly to the fact that the immigrant miners leave their families at Westport ow’ing to the lack-of housing at the mine centres. The Westport Coal Company contemplates conveying its employees from Denniston to the mines by motor lorry, and is asking the County Council to widen the road in places. The New Big River gold returns for January were 199 tons of quartz crushed for a, return of 25 ounces of gold, of an estimated value of £lOO. OBITUARY. Mr Thomas Baxter, a well-known sawmiller, died during the -week at the Greymouth Hospital, as the result of a cycling "accident at Kumara. He was born 59 years ago at Hokitika, and had lived all his life in this district. He was associated with the sawmilling industry almost from its inception on the Coast. He was a prominent bowler, and a man of fine qualities of character. He leaves a widow and several grown-up sons and daughters. Mr Jack Gaudell, a-member of a wellknown Greymouth family, died recently in Wellington after a lingering illness. He rendered valuable service in the war, and was an invalid practically from the time of his return. He leaves a widow and one child. His mother, one of the most highly respected residents of Greymouth, removed recently to Christchurch. ITEMS. Brunner appears to be growing in popularity as a week-end resort. ' The road has recently been much improved, and quite a number of motor cars make the run every week. A launch runs to the various bays. With one or two more bridges the motor trip could be considerably extended.

, A largely attended meeting, representative of the various local bodies and business men, was held at Greymouth during the week to urge upon the Government the several district requirements. The importance of increasing the duty on imported timber was stressed, and the necessity of expediting the carriage of mails on the grounds of the tourist traffic and the facilitating of settlement was strongly emphasised. The resolutions of the meeting are to be followed up by a deputation to the -Prime Minister on his return. Since the meeting the district engineer has been authorised to place 20 married men from amongst the unemployed on this work. This is something to the good, but if Mr Coates’s assurance is to be fulfilled, and the wish of the people realised to have the road ready for next tourist season, the work will have to be undertaken on a much larger scale than that. ' In connection with the question of thm unemployed the Minister of Public Works has authorised work to he given to 10 Dobson miners and 12 sawmillers on specified road works, and has empowered the Grey County Council to employ men on other road works which are now authorised The goods traffic through the tunnel for the past week totalled 7652 tons. The annual bowling tournament of the West Coast Centre is being held this week on the Greymouth and Runanga greens. Several of the Christchurch clubs are represented. Fifty trucks of fat lambs and cattle have been railed during the week to the Addington market -from various parts of the district. -- The Railway Department is about to erect 10 workmen’s dwellings on a railway reserve at Karoro. The cottages are to be of five rooms, and the site is one of the most pleasant in Greymouth. A distinguished English visitor in the person of the Hon. Mrs Ronald Greville has been touring the district during the past week. The special excursion train which it is proposed to run from, Greymouth to Otira to meet the excursion to Arthur’s Pass from Christchurch on February 20 promises to be largely patronised.

The unusual spectacle of a large whale disporting itself outside the surf was witnessed at Westport during the week. Following the lead of the waterside workers last week, a number of organisations, the State collieries, schools, and others, have been celebrating their annual picnic. A successful sale of store cattle and sheep was held during the week at Kokatahi, and the prices were equal to those usually obtaining at Arahura. A proposal is being mooted in Christchurch to celebrate a “Back to the Coast” occasion in this district about next Christmas or New Year. The Dobson Miners’ Union has offered, if the plant and power are provided and the State mine will assist, to unwater the Dobson mine for £3OOO. The offer is being considered. Mr J. Shiels, who has been coaching foreman at Greymouth for the past four years, arid w’ho has gone on an extended tour prior to retiring on superannuation, was entertained by the railway staff on the eve of his departure, and presented with a gold watch and silver-mounted umbrella. He will reside permanently at Bluff. Negotiations have been proceeding for some time in the district in connection with a proposal to manufacture wood pulp. At a sitting of the Warden’s Court at Greymouth during the week an application was granted in connection with this industry for a water-race license for generating electric power. At a meeting of the Greymouth Harbour Board during the week specifications were submitted by the engineer for the proposed electric hydraulic suction dredge to be used in connection with the lagoon docks. It was decided to have plans of the proposed works prepared and forivarded for approval to the Governor-in-Council.