THE WEST COAST.

Otago Witness, Issue 3868, 1 May 1928, Page 34

THE WEST COAST.

(Fbom Oub Own Cobbespondbnt.) MAIN HIGHWAYS BOARD. , r , , - April 25. Members of the Main Highways Board who have been visiting the district during week were met on their return from W-aiho by deputations from the Grey Automobile Association and the Borough Council in reference to various matters of urgency, chief amongst which were the widening of the Omoto and Paroa roads and alterations to the Teremakau bridge. A request was also made for the completion of the road between Awatuna and Hokitika, which would shorten the distance between Greymouth and Hokitika by nine miles. The board was sympathetic, and pledged itself to a subsidy of £1 for £1 towards widening the Omoto road. It promised to do what it could towards the leremakau proposals, though they would involve heavy expenditure. GREYMOUTH RAILWAY STATION. . Giej mouth has been for a long time agitating for a new railway station, but I”* 1 ® encouragemen t has been held out by P e P artm , ent - However, at a meeting ot the Chamber of Commerce during the week it was announced that a central station is to be erected on a site at .Elmer Lane, where the round-house has just been completed. This site is about a mile out of the business part of the town on the Hokitika line. It will be very convenient for residents in the direction towards whrnh the growth of the town is extending, but a long distance from the suburb of Cobden, on the opposite side of the Grey River. The Department, it appears, does not approve of Elmer Lane as a. name for the new station, and has invited suggestions. The only suggestion submitted so far is Mawhera, the original name for Greymouth, but the matter has been held over in the meantime. TUNNEL TRAFFIC. The goods traffic through the Otira tunnel has naturally been increased by the abnormal silting of the Grey bar, and the consequent diminution of shipping, lhe traffic for the past week constitutes a record, reaching a total of 12,015 tons, which is nearly 1000 tons higher than the previous record. It was evenly distributed oyer the week, each day, with one exception, carrying 2000 tons or more. The tunnel was designed to carry 1000 tons per day, but from the outset that amount has been exceeded, the weekly average having been well over 7000 tons. During the corresponding week of last year the traffic hauled was 5731 tons. GREY HARBOUR. In response to a largely signed request from residents in Greymouth, Runanga, and Blackball, a public meeting was held during the week to consider the question of the state of the Greymouth Harbour. The meeting was largely attended by .epresentatives of the various ee-tree and local bodies. The chief speakers were the Mayor of Greymouth and the member for the district. Mr Seddon traced the history of the port from 1879 to the present, showing that under various schemes the depth of the bar had steadily increased. The present condition is quite abnormal, and due to the unprecedented spell of dry weather. The financial loss to the district, it was considered, will as a result of the holdup of shipping run into tens of thousands of pounds. A good deal of discussion took place on the question of the appointment of a full time engineer to watch the interests of the Harbour Board. A resolution in favour of such an appointment was carried, the strongest opponent of the proposal being the chairman of the Harbour Board. A resolution was carried that the Minister of Marine be asked to arrange to have the Harbour Board made elective. A good deal of dissatisfaction was expressed at the apparent lack of enterprise on the part of the present board, and a strong desire to have the Mayors of Greymouth and Runanga on it. Preparations are being made for a trial of Mr Stewart’s scheme for dredging the bar, and it is expected to be in operation in a week or 10 days. JOTTINGS.

The Department for Internal Affairs has approved a recommendation of the Westland Acclimatisation Society that the opossum season in the Westland district this year extend from June 11 to August 11 inclusive. Notwithstanding the department’s ban upon the introduction of opossums to any new areas, there is evidence that bv some means they are finding their way into new localities. Traces were recently discovered of illicit trapping in districts outside the recognised areas. In common with other places, the farming communities in this district are generally opposed to the Daylight Saving Bill. At a meeting of the Kokatahi Cooperative Dairy Company a resolution was recently unanimously passed pledging the company to vote against any further term of the Bill. Dr Helen Dougall, assistant surgeon at the Grey River Hospital, has resigned her position, and will leave next month. After a rough spell of nine days, during which the Grey bar was unwo *<able, the sea moderated sufficiently during the week tv enable vessels to cross. The depth of water had been down to 12ft, but is now over 20ft. Four steamers had been nine days waiting in port, and several were standing off and on in the roadstead. In one or two instances vessels were ordered on to Westport in preference to waiting. The improved condition is a relief to the seamen and shipping companies, and to the waterside workers. For several weeks the wharf labourers have had only intermittent work, and last week none at all. The wage sheet, which averages from £7OO to £BOO per week, had sunk to £lBO. The production of honey in the district for the past season promises to be equal to that of any preceding year. In 1925 there were 1591 eases; in 1926, 627; and in 1927, 1143. This year there are at present 1187' cases of 1201 b each awaiting grading at Greymouth, and a further 400 bases are expected to come in. These represent producers over the whole district. The biggest producer this season expects to turn out 350 cases.

In connection with the Grey Power Board the consulting engineers have reported that levels for a hydro-electric source of power are being taken at Lake Hoehstetter, and that they will shortly complete their reports on other localities. An additional unit has been added to the Dobson Power House generating plant. In® appointment of an engineer-manager to the board has been confirmed.