THE WEST COAST.

Otago Witness, Issue 3961, 11 February 1930, Page 32

THE WEST COAST.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) REEFTON DAIRYING. February 5. The Golden Coast Co-operative Dairy Company at Reefton is likely to establish a record this season in its butter output. This has already reached a value cf £20,000, with several months to go. Its output for January was over 30 tons, and for the season so far. ]lO tons. Its Maruia branch has had an output of 20 tons. GREYMOUTH’S PROGRESS. A lady resident of Greymouth has presented to the Borough Council a section of land on the south-eastern outlet from the town, to be converted into a park. This will be a fine asset to the town, that particular part of which has, during recent years, made particlularly rapid growth as a residential suburb. The judgment of frequent visitors is probably as reliable an indication as can be obtained of a city’s growth. Commenting on the improvement in Greymouth a commercial traveller recently stated that on every visit he naid to the town be noticed new evidence of its prosperity, and that it showed more signs of growth than any town between Picton and Hokitika. A satisfactory fact about this progress is that it is not in the nature of a boom, but of steady advancement.

STATISTICS. During January 24 steamers with an aggregate tonnage of 14.820, entered the port of Greymouth. This tonnage is several thousands below the average. The average depth of the Grey bar for last year was 24ft 6in, which was greater than any other year since the harbour improvements were made. During January the rainfall at Greymouth totalled 6.42 in, which fell on 17 days. During January of the previous year the fall was 6.48 in on 18 days. The driest January for the past ten years was that of 1928, when 2.81 in fell on five days. For the year 1929 the total value of building permits issued in the borough of Greymouth amounted to £49,143. The timber cut in the district for the quarter ending December 31, 1929, was 20,075,600 ft. Of this quantity 8,387,500 ft were railed through the tunnel, the balance being shipped, or used locally. For the nine months of the current financial year a total of 59,201.200 ft has been produced by Westland mills. This is an increase of 6,000.000 ft on that of the corresponding period of the previous year.

PERSONAL. Another of the rapidly diminishing band of pioneers of the district has died in the person of Mr A. Irwin, at the age of 91 years. He arrived in the Dominion 70 years ago, and took part in the Gabriel’s Gully gold rush. Mr E. A. Wells, a member of the Westland Hospital Board, has died. Miss Lloyd, late matron of the Westland Hospital Board, who recently resigned on the ground of ill-health, has since died in Wellington. The board proposes to erect a tablet to her memory. Dr Bruce Baird, surgeon superintendent of the Westland Hospital, has resigned his position. The board, at its last meeting, placed on record its appreciation of the doctor’s 10 years’ service at the Hospital. Dr Allan Hopkins, of Hamilton, has applied for the position, and has been recommended by the board for appointment. Mr C. A. W. Warren, of Hawke's Bay. has been appointed first assistant at the Hokitika Public School. Mr Partridge, rector of the Hokitika High School, has resigned his position, having accepted an appointment to Wanganui as inspector under the Education Department. Mr F. Stanton, of the Greymouth Railway Department, has received notice of transfer to Christchurch. Mr Ken Williams, who has been transferred from the Greymouth Public Works Office to the head office in Wellington, was on the eve of his departure given a presentation bv the members of the staff. Nurse Becker, of the Greymouth Hospital staff, has accepted a position in the Lewisham Hospital. Christchurch.

JOTTINGS. During the past week several of the annual picnics were held by various organisations. The State mine's picnic, which was held at Hokitika, was patronised by 1200 people, the conveyance of whom required two special trains - . Amongst. the tourists visiting the glaciers next week are to be two parties of Americans, one of which consists of over 20 persons. During his visit to Hokitika last week the Minister of Mines was interviewed respecting the extension of the railway beyond the present terminus at Ross. Some time ago when this proposal was brought before the Government, the Minister of Railways stated that the traffic did not warrant the expenditure. Mr Veitch, however, says that with his knowledge of the district he is strongly in favour of the suggestion. A visit to the district is expected from the Main Highways Board next month or early in April. A consignment of 22 double-deck trucks of fat lambs was despatched to Canterbury on market day this week. A memorial baptismal font to the memory of the late Mrs Miller was unveiled last Sunday in St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church. Westport, in the presence of a large congregation. The West Coast Cricket Association is having the cricket ground at the Greymouth Recreation Ground improved. During January the duty collected at the Greymouth Custom House amounted to £2995, as compared with £2203 for January of last year.