THE WEST COAST

Otago Witness, Issue 3987, 12 August 1930, Page 30

THE WEST COAST

(From Our Own Correspondent.) OTIRA TUNNEL TRAFFIC. August 6. Railway statistics show that the traffic through the Otira tunnel continues to increase, and has made unfluctuating advance every year from the opening of the tunnel. The total for the first twelve months was 258,877 tons, and this has steadily increased until for the past 12 months it has reached 654,276 tons. This is more than 100.000 tons greater than during the preceding year, and represents the largest annual increase. This fact must, however. be to some extent discounted by certain exceptional circumstances. The extended shoaling of the Greymouth bar, for example, diverted a large amount of traffic to the railway that would under normal shipping conditions have gone by sea. Then the cessation of coal imports from Australia, which resulted in larger demands from other parte of the Dominion, had the effect of a heavier output of coal in this district. Fewer stoppages of work occurred than usual during the past year, and the productive capacity of several of the mines notably increased. - Though the tunnel was originally- intended to carry- only 1000 tons per day, •it is now carrying an. average of nearly 1800 tons. This has become possible through the 'running of night trains, which enables the department to make a fuller use of its wagons. The record traffic month since the opening of the tunnel was May of this year, when 72,146 tons were hauled, and uu the last day of that month the highest daily total of 4936 tons was conveyed. The month of July came second in its aggregate, with 65,651 tons, and on the 24th of that month the haulage was 3607 tons. A comparison of the traffic during the past two years shows an increase for thia year in every month, with one exception, in which there was a falling off of nearly 2000 tons. The aggregate tonnage carried through the tunnel since its opening is now 3,133,950. GOLD MINING. At a public meeting held in Reefton it was resolved to urge the Government to subsidise the production of gold by at least £1 per ounce, as an incentive to more vigorous efforts to rehabilitate the goldmining industry in the Inangahua district. Prospecting in the vicinity of the Okarito Lagoon is reported to be encouraging. Some hand-boring in the Mikonui district

is also said to have had good results. The Keystone drill from Rimu Flat has been taken to that locality, and will be tried on the river flats. . If the results are satisfactory a good field will be opened up, as there is ample dredging area. STATISTICS. During the month of July 28 steamers, with an aggregate tonnage of 17,318/ entered the port of Greymouth. The rainfall for the month of July at. Greymouth was 4.48 inches, registered on' 12 days, the maximum day’s fall being: 1.04 inches. For the month of July last year the fall was 7.20 inches, which fell' on 13 days. PERSONAL. Mr G. Anderson, of Hokitika, the, ranger for the Forestry Department, has, been given three months’ leave on full pay prior to his retirement on super-' annuation. Mr J. M. Conrick, of Greymouth, ofthe Public Works Department, has been transferred to Wellington. GENERAL. Some interesting facts about thq present conditions of bush life are reported by opossum trappers. They state that an unusual number of stoats and weasels have been snared. A stoat was found with a tui in its mouth, and another with a trout. One trapper caught over 60 stoats and weasels. In the upper reaches of the Hokitika River, and in the mountains large numbers of deer were found. More red and yellowheaded parrots have been seen than for. many years, and kakas, which for some years have been very scarce, have this season been numerous. The Post Office at Rapahoe, which lias been closed for the past three years, has been reopened. For the purpose of widening the Omotq road at Greymouth. the Railway Depart-, ment has, on -the suggestion of the, Borough Council, agreed to the alienation of certain sections of land for road purposes, and it is hoped that the Public Works Department will also consent, in which case the work,, a very necessary one. will he undertaken at once. At the last monthly meeting of the Greymouth Automobile Association it was decided to make application to the Crown Lands Office for the reservation of a section of the bush land on the Coastal road as a scenic reserve. The locality indicated is in the Mabel Bay and Fox River neighbourhood. Other local bodies are being asked to co-operate. The Hokitika hydro-electric works are being vigorously carried on, and are employing a considerable number of hands. Work at present is being concentrated on the preparation of the site for the power-house, a tramway bridge over the Kanieri River, and a tunnel for the water-race.

A load of coal from this district wa§ lorried to Blenheim during the week, the trip taking seven hours. The hope i? cherished that this may prove the harbinger of a regular road traffic in pro? duce between the two districts. The Railway Department is installing a gasometer in the railway yards at Grey? mouth for supplying gas from the local gasworks to the railway carriages. Encouraged by the success of the excur? sion to the Franz Josef Glacier in June last, and in response to numerous in? quiries, the Railway Department is con? templating the arrangement of another excursion to take place in September. About 600 men are at present employed on road construction in the Karamea dis? trict. nearly £3OOO per month being paid „ out for rationing. At a meeting of the Grey Electric Power Board it was reported that the revenue to June 30 was £3OO in excess of the estimate, while the expenditure was about the same amount more than was anticipated. The loan is expected to cover all commitments in connection with the hydro scheme, and to leave an ample margin. Work at Arnold River was reported as well forward, 77 men being now employed. The total consumers of electricity now number 2208. It is the intention of the board to dispose of the steam plant when the hydro scheme is completed, the risk of failure of power being considered negligible.