WEST COAST NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3808, 8 March 1927, Page 34

WEST COAST NEWS.

'From Our Own Correspondent-) March 2. The managing director of the Rimu Flat Gold Dredging Company, who has been on a visit to the district returned to America during the week. During his stay here he made arrangements for prospecting boring operations to be undertaken on an area of 800 acres in the Teremakau district which have been taken up by the company. The work has already been commenced, and if prospects warrant it a large electrical dredge will be erected. Work still continues with good results at Rimu Flat. A successor to the present manager of the dredge is -due to arrive in May. On his arrival the present manager will return to America. GREY HOSPITAL. The plans for additions and alterations to the Greymouth Hospital have been forwarded with some suggested amendments to the Department of Health for approval. The laboratory, which is urgently needed, will be proceeded with at once. The Minister of Health is to be invited to officially open the new nurses’ home. The nurses will occupy the building in a few weeks’ time, and a function to raise money will be arranged for at a later date. Dr Theodore Easterfield, o’f Nelson, a lady doctor, has been approved as resident medical officer, and -will undertake her duties next week. WESTPORT-STOCKTON COAL COMPANY. The annual meeting of the WestportStockton Coal Company, which was held during the week, showed that for the first time in the 20 years of its existence the assets show no increase in value, but are less by £7OO than in 1925. The year has been a good one. The output of coal was increased by 26,000 tons, and the demand was even greater than the

production. Flume haulage was tried during the year, but the old method of electrical haulage has been resumed. Changes have been made in organisation and in the management. The report concludes with confidence as to the future of the company’s operations. ITEMS. 'The Railway Department is proposing to make liiangahua Junction the terminus for the Nelson-Greymouth service instead ofr Reefton. This change will considerably shorten the motor run, though none of the gorge scenery will be excluded therefrom, and will allow for a slower rate of travel through the most picturesque part of the journey. Some beautifully fine days have been experienced lately. In the Reefton and Inangahua districts there have been some sharp frosts, very unusual at this time of year, and the higher ranges have been snowcapped. The Greymouth Borough Council is requesting from the Forestry Department a report on the advisability of planting trees for shelter on the Blaketown Beach. The Council has voted £250 to the Municipal Swimming Baths Fund, and a further sum of £250 will be given in the next financial year. The sum of £2200 had already been raised by voluntary contributions and local efforts, and a further £750 was all that was required to complete the scheme.

For the past' week the goods traffic railed through the Otira tunnel from this district amounted to 9226 tons. Elaborate preparations are being made at Greymouth and Hokitika for the Royal visit next week. At the latter place the proceeds of the ball will be devoted to the funds of the Returned Soldiers’ Association. The official welcome will be held in Cass square. The ball in honour of the Royal visit at Greymouth will be held, although the visitors will not be able to be present. Two parties of overseas tourists, numbering 34 persons, on their return journey to Christchurch adopted the unusual course of motoring from Hokitika to Arthur s Pass. Under the ideal weather conditions which prevailed, this route would add considerably to the pleasure of their trip, as this road passes through some very fine bush country which is not included in the orthodox tourists’ route of travel. Although the tourist season is getting well advanced, the trains from. Christchurch .ire still well patronised by pleasure-seekers. The first annual competition of West Coast Fire Brigades was held at Otira during the week. Five brigades competed in the various sections, and the aggregate of points gave the Greymouth Brigade first place. The cup is one presented by the brigade and residents of Otira. Unfortunately the weather during the competition was of the worst. Building permits to the value of £4684 were issued at Greymouth during the month of January. An air of prosperity prevails in various parts of the district. In several centres in the south large new halls are being built. Accommodation is being increased at Waiho, and private accommodation is being provided at Fox Glacier. The approaches to the Waiho bridge are now complete, and the official opening will probably-be held this month. Final preparations in connection with tl e unwatering of the Dobson mine were completed during the week, and the work of pumping is now proceeding. Three shifts will keep the work going continuously, and the operations will probably occupy five or six weeks. Mr H. G. F. Coles, who has been postmaster at Hokitika for the past five years, is retiring next month after 41 years’ service. He will take up his permanent residence in Hokitika. He is a native of this district, though he joined the service in Dunedin and has had appointments in various parts of the Dominion. The blackberry season is in full swing in this district, and the prevailing fine weather is favourable for the harvest. The crop is unusually good, and the export of the berry is considerable. Fifty-four double-decker trucks of stock, 47 being of lambs, were on one day of the past week railed to Addington. The bulk of the stock was from the Grey Valley. The export of lambs this season has been considerably larger than usual, and will constitute a record. The tourist branch of the Westland Acclimatisation Society is laying itself out to entertain the visitors to Hokitika on the occasion of the railway excursion from Christchurch a few weeks hence. Cass square will be placed at their disposal, teams from various branches of sport are being organised to meet them, and arrangements are being made for short motor trips to several places of interest.

The Greymouth Borough Council expects to save £2500 per year by the substitution of the electric pump for the steam pump at the municipal waterworks. The. .cost of pumping with the electric pump is estimated to be less than £lOOO per year.