THE WEST COAST.

Otago Witness, Issue 3957, 14 January 1930, Page 32

THE WEST COAST.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) COAL INDUSTRY. January, 8. ’I he Burke's Creek Collieries, better known as the Reefton Coal Company, are making preparations for an extensive development of the property. New machinery is being installed, large additions are being made to the present plant, and an improved method of handling the coal is to be introduced. On behalf of the Mines Department a survey is being made of the whole of the Burke's Creek coal area. The eoal mines at Dobson. W'allsend. Paparoa, and Blackball, have resumed work after the holidays with good musters of men. The State mines will reopen this week. STATISTICS. The Customs revenue at Grej mouth for the month of December was £4131, as com-' pared with £3927 for December, 1928. During December 27 steamers and 1 auxiliary schooner, with a total tonnage of 14,254, entered the port of Greymouth. Rain fell at Greymouth timing December on 21 days, a total fall of 12.82:n being recorded. During December, 1928. there was a total fall of 6.75 in on 15 days. The total rainfall for 1929 was 94.18 in on 184 days, as compared with 89.46 in on 203 days, in 1928. The average rainfall at Greymouth for two decades, from 1905 to 1925, was 97.35 in. the average number of wet days being 179. At Hokitika the fall was slightly below the average, though also in the neighbourhood of lOOin. Storm and flood damage has been much below the average. The bright sunshine recorded for the year was well over 2000 hours, and until the last two months was over the average. PERSONAL. Several changes have been made in the management of the district coal mines Mr W . Parsonage recently resigned from the post of manager of the Blackball mum Mr J. Hughes has now been appointed to that position, and he is succeeded is manager of the Grey Valley Collieries by Mr C. Hunter, manager of the Renown Collieries, Hnntly. He was formerly underground manager at Dobson. One of the boiler makers and the chief clerk of the local railway workshops staff have been transferred to the Hillside Workshops, Dunedin. - Viscount and Viscountess Craigavon are to be tendered a civic reception at Grey mouth on their return from the glaciers trip. Their party has been joined during the week by another li.stinguished visitor, in the pel son of Lady Hore Ruthven, wife of the Governor of South Australia. She motored through the Otii a Gorge to Hokitika. Mr AV. Cuttance, of the Lands an Deeds Department, who died during the past week at Invercargill, was a native of Okuru. South Westland, and was educated at the Hokitika High School His parents still live in Hokitika. Mr A. K. Williams, of the Public Works Department at Greymoutli, iias been transferred to AVellington. Mr T. F. Tomlinson, who has retired alter a long term of service in the employ of Messrs Duncan, M'Lean. Ltd.. Grevmouth, was given a presentation by the mi nibers of the firm. GENERAL. The railway holiday traffic has been fully maintained up to the present, the outward and inward passenger list for yesterday each exceeding 300. The daily expresses are now discontinued. Professor Easterfield, of Nelson, has been visiting the district in the interests of farming. He made an examination of the soil at Pakihi, in the Hokitika district, and of the Arahura Valley, and is of the opinion that great improvement could be made by scientific treatment. He states that in the Buller district excellent results are being obtained from poor land. Lake Kanieri is at present yielding good catches of fish, including brown ami rainbow trout, quinuat, and perch. The chief catches are of quinuat salmon. A combined party of Girl Guides from Greymoutli, Hokitika, ami Kumara have gone into camp at Trentham. A revaluation is being made of the borough of Greymouth, and will be completed by the middle of this month. The Christchurch firm of Messrs Beath and Co., Ltd., have acquired a block in the main street of Greymouth, known as Smiths Buildings, where it is proposed to make extensive additions to their present business. The adjacent section, occupied by sample rooms pf the firm of M'Kay’s, is to have erected on it a suite of shops and offices for a Greymouth syndicate. The weather has been rough and wet during the past week. One period of 24 hours registered a rainfall of 123 points. Rain inland caused a fresh in the Grey River, which may improve the berthing accommodation. One of the steamers in port in changing berths grounded astern on a shoal patch, her bow swinging round and striking another steamer, the fluke of whose anchor entered the plating. The sea on the Grey bar has been very heavy.

Motoring parties to the glaciers during the holidays have been numerous. The bridging of most of the rivers has proved an attraction, though for some more adventurous spirits the elimination of the element of uncertainty and risk has not increased the popularity of the trip. There have been one or two mishaps during the week on the Coastal road. A heavy fall of rock at one point blocked the road and held up traffic for some time. One of the men clearing the debris fell over a cliff and narrowly escaped serious accident. A motorist also, mistaking the ford over the Pororari River, got his car into difficulties, and had to employ horses to recover it. An unusually large proportion of tourists this season have carried camping equipment, and good use has been made of the Automobile Association's provision for parking and camping at Greymouth and Hokitika.

An optimistic report of the past year and prospects for the future from the Hokitika district has been indicated. Both the Kanieri Electric, Ltd., and the Westland Electric, Ltd., contemplate considerable development. The Rimu dredge is to be enlarged. Good results are hoped for from the gold dredging plans on the beaches. Flax dressing enterprise is being largely developed, a company having secured 2000 acres on the Hokitika River flats, and a like enterprise being in contemplation at Wataroa. Both these ventures are by outside companies. Stock and dairy enterprises have improved. the timber industry has recovered to a large extent, and generally there is a promising outlook for the new year.