THE WEST COAST.

Otago Witness, Issue 3861, 13 March 1928, Page 34

THE WEST COAST.

(Fbom Oub Own Cobrespondent.) March 7. With the departure of H.M.S. Veronica on Monday morning the curtain fell upon the last act in the Greymouth jubilee celebrations. The Mayor, the member for the district, and representatives of local bodies were present on the wharf, when, amid cheers from the crowd and responsive cheers from the ship, the man-of-war glided out over a glass-like bar. The whole of the jubilee celebrations were marked by enthusiasm and crowned with success. The weather was on its best behaviour, and the people, resident and visiting, entered heartily into the spirit of the occasion. The promoters have reason to congratulate themselves upon the success of their achievement. ’ At the official luncheon tendered on Jubilee Day by the local bodies to about 250 pioneers and visitors in the Town Hall some good speeches were delivered. Many interesting events of the past were recalled," and in reference to the future a uniform spirit of optimism was shown. The Prime Minister in a comprehensive address spoke hopefully of the timber outlook, and stated that in spite of the slump there had actually been an increase in production during the past year as compared with the previous year. While many thoughts have been turned to the past years, and the pioneers have been rightly honoured, there was a specially significant and equally important emphasis laid on the years to be, in connection with the second great function of the week, viz., the entertainment • f over 6000 school children on Children’s Day. . A pleasing and deserved tribute was paid by a number of former residents of Greymouth to one of the finest spirits in the district in the person of Mr F. H. Kilgour, manager of the Grey Star newspaper, who through the paper had done so much to help the celebrations. He was presented with a silver-mounted oak tray and cut glass decanter and glasses. A nathetic incident, coincident with the jubilee celebrations, was the death at Feilding of a Mrs Webb, a former resident of this district, at the advanced age of 103 years. Amongst the children who came to Greymouth on Children’s Day were a number from a far south school who had never before ridden in a railway train. In reference to the timbe. trade, to which the Prime Minister alluded in his jubilee address, he stated that the Government was desirous of using only New Zealand timber, but that properly seasoned timber of uniform sizes and right quality lias not been obtainable. He hopes that when the Government committee brings down its report proper grading, classification. and seasoning will result in the Government departments using practically all local wood. THROUGH A STRANGER’S EYES. The impressions made upon the mind by a first visit are sometimes very near the truth. The Mayor of Christchurch, who paid a visit to the district during Jubilee Week, has stated that three things impressed him. One was the ruin wiought to the land by old gold diggings, large areas in the e search for gold having been overturned and rendered permanently unfit for agriculture. Another was the extent of country overrun by blackberry, thousands of acres appeared to him to be returning to a worse condition than the original wild state. In mitigation of these conditions it may be said that the impressions are probably exaggerated. Both the old gold diggings and the blackberry are most in evidence near the main roads which led to the goldfields. To substantiate his extreme statements the visitor would need to get away from the arterial highways, which he probably had not time d °’- -? he tblrd , fac - wbich impressed the visitor was the strong hold that Labour has in some of the mining centres., At Kunanga, for example, the Mayor and counciHors are all Labour men, Ao controlled the Public Hall and the only nature show, and who owned the bowling green. He was struck with the apparently po P u,arl *y co-operative mining, the universal adoption of which he ITEMS. Ca 7’ ied through the tunnel rt„ part week amounted to 9592 tons. J? or the corresponding week of 1997 if ftr Th = month of February was 35,946 tons an of 3820 tons on that of February, During the past week the Westport Coal Company shipped 9633 tons of coa),and the Westpor ..-Stockton Company 6558 tons. The Public Works Department has approved a grant of £lOOO without conditions for the Haupiri Junction to Haupiri road, and authority for the expenditure has been given to the Grey County Council. At the last meeting of the Westland Acclimatisation Society it was decided to expend £l5O in repairing and enlarging Kanieri hatchery, and to set aside £2OO towards the cost of establishing opossums m South Westland, subject to the necessary approval being given. It was reported that quinnat salmon are becoming established in Lake Kanieri, and application is being made for a further supply of ova. The Westland County Council is this month undertaking the widening of the J-'ake Kanieri road, for which a vote is available. . The Westport bar is abnormally shallow just now,, and its condition is seriously

hampering the export of coal. Vessels are restricted to a draught of between 17ft and 18ft, and the loss to the Union bteain Ship Company for the week turongn having to short load is estimated at £lOOO. Watersiders and miners also are suffering through the slackness of work. i Beautifying Society has decided to told a gala day tu.f month r * un dB towards the improvement of the town square and the beaches, and the Provision of additional attractions *°r rhe children.s playground. . d !? finishing touches are being given to the Elmer lane railway depot at h The xv Oa i l bins ’ wbich will 6° f t above the level of the ground, are being erected, the final ballasting of the lines running into -the depot is proinstaTlfd. an 6 eleCtFic light is bein g Twenty-seven steamers and one sailing vessel, aggregating 16,694 tons, entered of February reym ° Uth dUring the montb Hokitika Borough Council is con;s“ P x tlns appointing an engineer to leport on a more satisfactory and permanent water supply for the town. lorty-six double-decked trucks of lambs several of cattle and pigs/ were railed to Addington during the week.