THE WEST COAST.

Otago Witness, Issue 3865, 10 April 1928, Page 34

THE WEST COAST.

(From Oub Own Correspondent.) rm - April 4. The position resulting from the Union Company’s decision to withdraw its steamers from the Greymouth trade until there is an improvement in the state of the bar is a most serious one for the district, and already the pinch is being felt. The two principal articles of export, coal and timber, Employ so many men that a continuance of the present restriction on these industries will entail widespread hardship during the winter. There has been during the past few days, with the advent of the spring tides, a slight increase in the depth of the bar. but it is still much below the margin of safety. The Harbour Board has been the subject of some criticism for the state of things, and certainly a long period has elapsed since the harbour improvement scheme was first mooted, but the board could scarcely be expected to have anticipated such abnormal conditions as have recently prevailed. The crisis that has arisen will no doubt stimulate it to some serious and adequate measures of a permanent character. The hydro pneumatic dredge is to be the subject of a conference; but it would be some time before relief could be obtained by that scheme. In the meantime the harbour master’s proposal of a marine harrow is to be given a trial. Permanent satisfaction, however, can only be obtained by- some such measure as the improvement scheme. With that providing 25 per cent, stronger normal current in the river, and a return to the normal rainfall, there should be little danger of a repetition of the present state of affairs. As a result of the holding up of shipping, 425 hoppers of coal out of 500 available have been standing on the Greymouth wharf and many miners are scarcely getting enough money to live on. At Blackball on a recent pay day the men had only one day’s pay to draw for the fortnight. GOLD AT OKARITO. Prospects which have recently been made on what is known as the Five Mile Beach, in the neighbourhood of Okarito. have revealed good prospects of payable gold. Some years ago a company was formed for dredging these sands, but the plant was lost at sea, and the project appears to have been given up. In the early days of this district very rich returns were received from this method of gold recovery. These gold-bearing sands are -to be found from north to south of the district. The harbour works at Greymouth appear to have been responsible for the covering of the auriferous sands in that locality by drifts of shingle. Mr Stewart, mining engineer of Otago, recently had his attention drawn to the probabilities of Okarito, and, after boring operations, has decided that there is a good prospect of success. Confirmatory working of sections of the field more than justified the promise of the bores, and an electric dredge is to be installed at an early date. TOURIST DEVELOPMENT.

A number of representatives of the West land Acclimatisat.au Society and the Westland Progress League met in conference recently at Hokitika with Mr Wilson, tourist agent. Dr Teichelmann presided, and the purpose of the meeting was to try and secure assistance from the Government towards a more systematic development of the tourist attractions of the southern part of the district. It was pointed out that there are many places of great beauty and interest which are never visited on account of the difficulty of access. Some of the well-known resorts, also, require attention. The opinion was expressed that an undue proportion of attention was being given by the department to other districts. More money spent in opening up the wonders of South Westland would pay handsomely. The deputations received a sympathetic hearing, and will bring other matters of importance to the Tourist Department before Mr Furkert 0.1 his projected visit after Easter. JOTTINGS. The merchandise carried through the tunnel during the past week amounted to 10,778 tons, being 3272 tons more than for the corresponding week of last year. Another heavy slip has occurred on the Grey inouth-Barry town road at a point where a similar slide occurred a few months ago. The debris has completely covered the road for a distance of several chains. The point is rather a dangero is one. ... A recent gala day’ held at. Hokitika in aid of the Beautifying Society' was a success financially, and will discharge all liabilities. Steady' progress is being made with the work in preparation for the reopening of the Wallsend coal mine. The foundations are being laid for the winding plant and the machinery recently bought from the Taupiri mines. Sites for ne railway sidings and bins are being surveyed, and the poppet heads, which will be 75ft in height, are about to be erected. Mr W. H. Bade, ticket inspector at Greymouth, has been promoted to the position of goods foreman at Invercargill. 'He is succeeded by Mr Hobson, of Auckland. A coal mine at. Reefton. which has been idle for five months through lack of orders, resumed work this week. Four sawmills were able during the week to resume work through the replenishing of their water supply by' recent rain. The main road through the borough of Brunner, which has been a byword for some years on account of its bad state of repair, has recently been put into order, and is now in excellent condition. It had suffered neglect through a difference of opinion as to the .responsibility for its upkeep. Heavy rain has fallen in several parts of the district during the past week, causing considerable damage to roads in some places. In the Waiho gorge 4in of rain fell on one day. There died at Westport during the week the last of that town’s earliest pioneers in the person of Mr C. G. Perkins. at the age of 92 years. He had lived in Westport for over 60 years. He was the oldest member in New Zealand of the Howard Lodge of Oddfellows. The Grey District Acclimatisation Society is _ to receive from the Christchurch Society 5000 one-year-old rainbow

trout, which will be liberated in Lake Ryan .and Crooked River. The consignment is an experiment, and if successful will be followed by others.