THE WEST COAST.

Otago Witness, Issue 3862, 20 March 1928, Page 34

THE WEST COAST.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

mi , . March 14. , e , bar at Greymouth is causing a good deal of disorganisation and loss to shipping and to various industries. During the month of January the depth was less than for the past 15 years, and ever since the recent dry spell of weather began it has been’ more or less unsatisfactory. A depth of 18ft is not enough for fully laden vessels, and consequently steamers have been obliged to short load, which means that work at the mines and on tue water front is affected. In some cases steamers have gone to Westport to complete their load, and thus the royalty of a, shilling per ton has been lost to the Greymouth Harbour Board. In some instances the steamers’ time tables have had to be altered, especially in connection with the Australian trade. Several vessels at a heavy demurrage are detained in port, while others have left partly laden and with nearly half a million feet of timber awaiting shipment. The only immediate remedy is a good scouring of the bar by heavy Hood. In the meantime the Harbour Board is subjected to a good deal of criticism, though what it can do it is not easy to say. JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS.

The Greymouth jubilee celebrations closed under ideal weather conditions, such as had been enjoyed all through the week. There were indications towards the end that the people had had a surfeit of entertainment, and -it was a happy coincidence that the last act of the closing day was to put the clocks back to standard time, with the resulting advantage of an extra hour’s rest on the Sunday morning. Possibly it was the poor attendance at church next day that induced a ministers’ association to pass a resolution against summer time and to express the hope that the Bill would not be reintroduced to Parliament. The only inharmonious note in connection with the jubilee was in reference to the arrangements for the entertainment of the children on Children’s Day. There appears to have been a lack of organisation, the young folk being left largely to look after themselves, so that the day for visitors from the outside places was somewhat wearisome. HOKITIKA WATER SUPPLY.

The town of Hokitika is faced with the necessity for radical improvement in its water supply. At the last meeting of the Borough Council the respective claims were considered of a new gravitation scheme or a pumping scheme. The gravitation proposal would cost from £16,000 to £20,000, which councillors considered to be out of the question at present. After a long discussion it was decided to inquire as to terms for a report on the alternative proposals. There has been one breakdown in the present supply during the past year or two, but the probability is that heavy expense will be entailed in keeping it in order in a fewyears. PERSONAL. Rev. J. Perkins, vicar of All Saints’ Church, Hokitika, is about to leave the district on the ground of ill-health. He will be succeeded by the Rev. H. Nelson Wright, of St. James’s. Ricearton, who is a son of Archdeacon Wright. Mrs J. Steer, of Greymouth, and Miss Steer are leaving the district to reside in Christchurch on account of Mrs Steer’s continued illness. She is the wife of the chairman of the Greymouth Harbour Board. Mrs and Miss Steer were entertained by a number of friends during the -week, and received tokens of good will. Mr Steer, for business reasons, will for the present continue to make Greymouth his headquarters. JOTTINGS. The townsfolk of Runanga and Dunollie are showing a very commendable spirit in spending their spare time in improving and beautifying the Seven-mile Beach, which is the favourite holiday resort of these mining communities. During the past week on several occasions over 100 men were at work protecting the creek and putting the foreshore in order. The Greymouth Automobile Association, in recognition of their work, voted the sum of £l5 towards the expenses. The amount of goods carried through the Otira tunnel during the week was 8427 tons, as compared with 6932 tons for the corresponding week of last year. According to a statement made by the Prime Minister on his visit to the ‘jubilee, the tunnel traffic is by many not considered satisfactory and the opinion held that the opening of through rail communication has been of doubtful benefit to this district. He said that the Government proposed to consider means for securing an increase of traffic.

. Dissatisfaction which has been for some tinie simmering in the Millerton coal mine came to a head during the week, when the management refused to fire a shot that ,in the opinion of the workmen’s insnector should be fired. The men upheld the inspector’s view by discontinuing work until the management should give way.

Bush fires still continue in some” parts of the district. In the Inangahua Valley some fences have been destroyed, and a settlers home was threatened. At Karamea the position has been serious. The townshin was practically surrounded by fire, and the whole of the settlers were out fighting the flames. The damage to property has been considerable, probably amounting to thousands of pounds. The State mines have had a poor run or work so far this year. During the past fortnight only seven days have been worked. The reason has been mainly the natural falling off of orders during the warm weather.

The temperature recorded during the week has been on several occasions unusually high. On one day it was stated at Greymouth to have reached 86deg. At Hokitika the official reading was 82.5.

It is very rarely that such heat is experienced in this district. . The consignment of lambs from the district to Addington has this year constituted a record. The past week’s quota, has been 1140. Besides these there have been a considerable number of trucks of cattle and pigs. lhe ladies of Hokitika are working for a function in aid of the town Beautifying Society. The President, in commending .them for their efforts, stated that since the formation of the society over £lOOO had been voluntarily raised for the benefit of the town reserves. . Complaints are being made of vandalism in the Arthur’s Pass district. The locality is growing in popularity ae a week-end holiday resort, and there is danger, unless care is taken, of the beauty of the roadside foliage being destroyed by acts of thoughtlessness or mischief. The Christchurch Beautifying Society is showing practical sympathy by moving in the direction of having the locality about the head waters of the Waimakariri proclaimed a national park. This is a neighbourhood in which both this district and Canterbury are equally interested.