THE WEST COAST.

Otago Witness, Issue 3867, 24 April 1928, Page 34

THE WEST COAST.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

„. , , , April 18. I’airly heavy weather has been experienced over the greater part of the district during the week. The rainfall has been heaviest in the south. At Greymouth the fall for a period of 30 hours was 1.46 in. Tho rain in the back country was not heavy. a s indicated by the lack of flood in the river. At Hokitika the fall was not B o heavy, but general and more prolonged, the result being considerable floods m the rivers and a fair amount of damage. All unbridged rivers were difficult to negotiate, though the service cars got through. A slip ou the Mount Hercules road and ths washing away of the w Waitangi bridge disorganised traffic io some extent. The tramway bridge over the Waitaha River belonging to Messrs Stuart and Chapman, sawmillers, lost five spans, damage that will cost £lOO to repair, while the Tatara bridge near Waiho had its approaches badly washed out. The sea in the Greymouth roadstead has been very heavy, and four or five steamers have been kept outside, some of them for several days, awaiting a chance to enter port. T ketch Elsie, which left Okuru for Bruce Bay, has been for several days lost touch with on account of telephonic interruption, but has probably been sheltering from the weather. The sunshine recorded at Hokitika for the past week was only six hours, wl. ’e the rainfall was 7.14 in, rain falling every day A heavy- slip occurred on the bush tramway of the Kanieri Sawmilling Company, causing a cessation of work.

At Westport freshes in the river have caused further shoaling of the bar, and shipping is held up There is no improvement in tho condition of the Grey bar. the present depth being 13ft. While these two ports are suffering in thi s way, the channel at Hokitika is in a better condition than for some time past, there being a straight run out and a depth of 13ft. GOLD RETURN. The Rimu Gold Dredging Company Ltd., continues to- get good returns, and may claim to be the most prosperous concern of its kind that the district has known for some years Since the company was registered in July, 1920, a total of 68,6300 z of gold, valued at £291,356 has been recovered. The total aomunt of dividends paid to March. 1928, is £19,617. The company employs 52 men. JOTTINGS. A farmers’ excursion similar to that organised last year is to be arranged between this district and Dunedin early in June. There is a probability that farmers fro- all parts of the district will take advantage of it, a special inducement being that the date will synchronise with that of the Dunedin "Winter Show.

Goods traffic carried through the tunnel for the week amounted to 7347 tons, as compared with 7158 tons for the corresponding week of last year. Considerable quantities of stock continue to be despatched to the Addington Market, 11 double-decker trucks of lambs and one of cattle being the largest day’s consignment for the week.

Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Kumara, which was opened on Easter Day, 1878, will celebrate its jubilee on April 29. The first vicar was Archdeacon E. A, Scott, and the present incumbent is the Rev. H. M. Cocks. The Rev. J. W. Hayward, of the Hokitika Presbvterian Church, has been an inmate of the Westland Hospital, where he underwent an operation during the week. The Blackball coal mine, which was idle all last week, has resumed work. The engine roundhouse at Elmer lane is nearing completion, and the staff will very soon move in. The ash and coal hoists, which are practically the finishing touches, are in course of construction. The Grey Acclimatisation Society has during the week received from the Christchurch natcheries 1000 rainbow trout sprats, which will be placed in the sanctuary at Lake Ryan and thence liberated next season in the upper reaches of the Grey River. A further consignment of 1000 will this week be liberated in Crooked River, whence it is hoped they will find their way to Lake Brunner. Mrs D. Heveldt. of Hokitika, died during the week at the advanced age of 92 years. She was one of the earliest West Coast pioneers, having gone to Jackson’s Bay at the opening of settlement there. Her usband predeceased her many years ago, and she removed to Hokitika. She leaves a family of two daughters -and four sons, all of whom, with one exception, are still in this district.

Several options have recently been taken over flax-bearing country in the Kokatahi and Koeterangi districts, and inquiries are being made about similar areas near Hokitika. There have been for some time indications of a revival in this industry, more especially in the southern part of the district. At a meeting of the Greymouth Borough Council, h'ld during the week, it was reported that the Highways Board will visit the district towards the end of the month. A request will be presented f<rr the widening of the Omoto -and Paroa roads, the northern and southern outlets from the town. In their present condition these roads are not very safe for motor traffic. In response to a request from residents an experiment is to be made in one of the Greymouth streets to form a model street, with strips of lawn on each side, the residents having undertaken to keep these in order. In view" of the probability of unemployment during the winter the Works Committee and engineer were instructed to look into the position relative to borough works in hand, and endeavour to find employment for casual hands, who this year will, through the condition of the bar and its effect on industries, be more dependent than at normal times.

Building permits for the month of March were reported to have amounted to £6767.

The Waitaha cheese factory reports an exceptionally good year. The output has exceeded -all expectations. Ninepence per lb has been refused for the balance of the season's product, as all has already been sold for district The unemployed in the district am reported to be numerous, but there is appa-

rently a disinclination on the part of the men to notify the fact. A register of men requiring work, which has been open during the week, records only seven cases.