WEST COAST NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3806, 22 February 1927, Page 34

WEST COAST NEWS.

(From Our Own Correspondent) February 16. The persistent agitation which has been kept up for sonic time for the completion of the Greymouth-Westport Coast road is beginning to show practical results. The Minister of Public Works has authorised the district engineer to put from 20 to 30 men on the work, and has promised that a start on a large scale on the bluff section will be considered at an early date. The latter statement suggests a feature that has been kept in the background by the advocates of the completion of fne road —viz., that though only a comparatively short length of the road remains to be finished it includes some of the most difficult and costly work. Though the completion of the road will cost £20,000, it is admittedly an undertaking of more than mere local value. The Canterbury Progress League has recognised this fact, and has lent its support to the district efforts to move the Government to action. Not only will the road be valuable from a tourist point of view, but it will shorten the distance between Westport and Greymouth by 40 miles, and render more easily accessible a large area of land for settlement. The Nelson Land Board is surveying 30,000 acres for settlement, which requires this road for access. Some fine timber country will also be opened up. There appears now to be a reasonable probability that the work will be completed this year. TIMBER TRADE. The slackness in the timber trade is still adding to the list of the unemployed. In the Buller district, at Ngakawau, Karamea, and Little Wanganui mills have reduced their hands. At one mill there are 12 fewer men employed than at normal times. In the Lake Brunner district, where sawmilling is the staple industry. the same conditions prevail, and the outlook is considered serious. ITEMS.

Trouble arose during the week between the engineer of the Grey Power Board and the employees, which threatened to suspend the board’s operations. One of the employees was dismissed by the engineer, whereupon the whole outdoor staff threatened to resign unless he was reinstated within 48 hours. The board met to consider the situation, and after three hours' discussion the engineer’s action was endorsed, lint he was asked to reconsider his decision in reference to the employee. This resolution satisfied all parties, and the man was reinstated the next day.

An unsatisfactory sequel appears to have resulted from the recent sale of the Kuinara water-race to the Westland Power Board. The Grey Power Board was prepared to negotiate for its purchase, but retired in favour of the Westland Board on the assurance of the Minister of Mines that in the event of the Westland Board not purchasing the Grey Board should have the offer. It was later reported that a sale had been effected to the Westland Board. A rumour is now current to the effect that the race is to be under the control of a private syndicate which is authorised to supply electric power. A protest has been sent by the Grey Power Board to the Minister of Mines against what it considers to be a breach of faith. The actual position is, however, not yet clear. The Blackwater Gold Mines (Ltd.) reports for the month of January 2300 tons crushed, yielding 884 oz, valued at £3755. Forty-seven tons concentrates were also treated, yielding gold valued at £377. Amongst the visitors during the week have been a number of delegates to the Medical Congress. Many of them motored through the Otira Gorge, and then continued by road to Hokitika, on their way to the glacier. This route passes through some of the finest road scenery of the old coaching days. The Runanga and Greymouth Borough Councils and the Cobden Town Board have decided, at the instance of the Runanga Borough Council, to co-operate in trying to secure a more suitable water supply. The matter- will be fully discussed at a meeting to be held this week. Some dry and hot weather has lately been experienced. The temperature of the district is usually equable, extremes of heat and cold being rare. A tempera-

ture, therefore, of 82deg in the shade, such as was experienced during the week, proved very, trying. Advantage was taken of the fine weather by holidayseekers, and the two half-holidays found large numbers at the various resorts around Greymouth. Lake Brunner proved very popular. A film of the holiday places on that lake is being prepared, and will show, besides its tourist attractions, some unique features of the sawmilling industry, such as the rafting and towing of logs to the mills. The .Railway Department will run an excursion, train from Greymouth to Otira next week, at the same time as one from Christchurch to Arthur’s Pass. The rata is in full bloom in the forests, and the Otira Gorge will appear at its best. The plant for pumping tlie Dobson mine is in course of installation. The motors are being imported from Sydney, and will be of considerable power. The Runanga School Committee has accepted a tender for the erection of swimming baths, which are expected to be ready for next summer. In viejv of increased demands on its space, the Greymouth Technical School Board is asking for the erection of three additional classrooms. Plans will be ready by the end of this month, when tenders will be called. 1 He new switchboard is being installed at the Greymouth Telephone Exchange. Amongst visiting deer-stalkers in the district is Mr Godfrey Williams, of }Vales, who. with a large party, is camped in the Makarora district. * The camp consists of 30 tents. New bathhouses are being erected at the sulphur springs at Waiho, where the stream of tourists continues. The roads just now are exceptionally good, and the unbridged rivers are low and easily fordable. The consignment of stock to Canterbury is assuming quite large proportions. A train of 36 double-decker trucks of lambs and pigs was despatched one day, and a mob of 5000 lambs was motored from the south to the railhead at Ross, also en route to Addington. The goods traffic railed through the tunnel during the week amounted to 8915 tons.