THE WEST COAST.

Otago Witness, Issue 3995, 7 October 1930, Page 30

THE WEST COAST.

(From Ovr Own Correspondent.)

COAL INDUSTRY. October 1. General relief was felt when it became known that the Railway Department had decided to restore orders for coal to the district mines. The weather during the past week has, however, deferred the immediate advantage that was anticipated. The rough condition of the Grey bar has interfered with shipping, the result being that the* bins at the mines are full, and short time is again being worked. The Rewanui and Dobson mines have several shifts. Some indication of the effect of the Department’s withdrawal of coal orders was indicated by figures prepared by the Harbour Board for presentation at the recent deputation to the Government. The average revenue paid to the Railway Department and Harbour Board per ton of coal is 4s 2LI and Is 6d respectively,, and it was shown that for one week the suspension of orders occasioned a loss of £628 2s 6d to the Railway Department and £l7B 15s to the Harbour Board. Every thousand tons of coal represents an income to these two organisations of from £329 3s 4d to £262 10s.

The Wallsend and Dobson mines haw’ lost time through the disarrangement of shipping. The Wallsend mine is understood to have sufficient orders in hand to bring work back to normal. The Blackball mine discontinued work for two days on account of a fatal accident to one of the miners. This mine has not lost any time as .yet through the depression in the trade.

The output from the Rapalioe mine is steadily increasing, and now approximates 400 tons per day. For a period of four weeks ending September 13 the export of coal from Greymouth amounted to 21,719 tone. 5836 tons being from the State mines, 4529 tons from Blackball, 3836 tons from Dobson, and 2262 tons from Wallsend. Other contributing mines were Rapahde 1408 tons, Paparoa 1108 tons. Castle Point 519 tons, and other mines 2189 tons. TOURIST ATTRACTIONS. •Mr R. E. Champtaloup, touring manager of the Auckland Automobile Association’s information bureau, pays a fine tribute to this district, which he describes as a “veritable fairyland, with its bush, ocean, coastal, river, and mountain scenery.” A feature which impressed him was that the variety of scenery could for the most part be enjoyed while driving, no long; stops or walks being necessary. Tn this respect it differed generally from the North- Island. He passes some strictures on the train arrangements between Springfield and Otira, where the accommodation for tourists who wish to accompany their cars is not such as to attract visitors. At a meeting of the Greymouth branch of the Canterbury Automobile Association it was decided to request the Commissioner

of Crown Lands to declare the road rei serve between Seventeen Mile and the Seventeen Mile Bluff a public reserve.

GOLD MINING. Considerable activity is being shown by the Waimea Creek basin sluicing syndicate near Stafford. Three shifts in the 24 hours are being worked. The claim is worked by means of gravel pumps. The material is sluiced into a sump, and thence lifted 30ft through pipes and streamed over expanded metal tables. Satisfactory returns are being secured. The Hatters Gold Mining Company iq about to commence work on its claim. It has a large area of alluvial land, and has been sinking a number of shafts tq ascertain the scope of the gold-bearing wash. A tunnel has been driven from the Government water race through a terrace to supply the claim with hydraulic power. PERSONAL. The death has occurred at Westport of Mr J. H. Scott, who was born /in Den? mark 83 years ago, and had been 61 years in New Zealand working at most of the early goldfields in the South Island. The death has taken place in Christs church of the wif.e of Mr A. Dudley Dobs son, at the age. of 84 years. She married Mr Dobson 64 years ago. The death has occurred at Nelson, of Mrs T. Pattinson, who was at one time a resident of this district, at the age of 70 years. She came to the West Coast in 1886, and her husband was one of thq 60 victims of the Brunner mining diss aster in 1896. Rev. J. W. Hayward, Presbyterian mins ister at Hokitika, has resigned the charge of St. Andrew’s Church, and will reside iq Christchurch. GENERAL. The traffic through the tunnel for the past week amounted to 10,933 tons aq compared with 13.710 tons for the cots responding week o£ 1929, and 12,393 tonq for 1928. From September 21 to Sep* tember 28 the total carriage was 41.331 tons compared with 52.347 tons for Sep? tember last year—a decrease of 11,0 IQ tons.

Twenty three steamers, of an aggregate tonnage of 13,775 entered the port of Greymouth during the month of Sep* tember. For the last week of the month the slackness of shipping was due rather to bad weather than lack of business.

The twenty fifth annual meeting of the Arahura Dairy Factory was held at Hokitika during the week. This factory is one of the most successful in the dis* trict. Its output for last season was 98 tons of butter, and its quality is indicated by the fact tlfat for the second time it won the gold medal for the South Island, Mr Ward was re-elected chairman of directors.

Intimation has been received from the Minister for Public Works, that after unavoidable delay survey work was now in progress for the reading of the Punakaiki and Rapahere townships, and as soon as it is completed authority would be issued for the expenditure of the money available for Rapahere. Tenders for street formation in Punakaiki will shortly be invited.

The timber industry does not appear to improve. The output is estimated to have fallen to 35 per cent, of its earlier normal product. Orders are divided amongst the mills upon a system which ensures every mill getting in its proportion of working time. For a period of four weeks ending September 13, 2.080,105 ft of timber were exported from Greymouth.

The directors of the South Westland Shipping Company have accepted a tender from the captain and engineer for the stranded ketch Elsie, as she lies on the beach. The purchasers have already begun an attempt to launch the vessel. In the event of failure the Diesel engine and other gear will be taken to Hokitika or Bruce Bay. An effort will, in that event, be made to secure the steamer Gale, which is at present laid up, to take up the southern trade.

A new single storey post office in ferroconcrete is to be built at Westport to replace the brick building that was destroyed by the earthquake last year. After a long period of fine weather general rain set in during the week. For one period of 24 hours a fall of 220 points was registered at Greymouth. The rain was needed, some up-country districts having become very dry and short of water. The rain has made little appreciable difference to the rivers.