THE WEST COAST.

Otago Witness, Issue 4085, 28 June 1932, Page 60

THE WEST COAST.

(Fuom Ucu Own Coitr.Est’ONUErrr.)

PERSONAL. June 22, Air R, APTaggart, Alayor of Ruiianga, has been elected chairman of the Giey Hospital Board, in succession to Mr J. W. Hannan, resigned. Air J. W . Hannan, who has been chairman of the Grey Hospital Board for the past 13 years, has resigned the position, owing to the demands of his business, lhe hospital has made great progress during his term pf office, and his rcsigna-’ lion was received with extreme regret. Airs AL Boyd has been elected honorary secretary of the Greymouth branch of the Plunket Society. At the annual conference of the West Coast branch of the New Zealand Farmers Union, Mr A. Bradley was elected chairman.

HERD-TESTING ASSOCIATION. r r Pll , e , a . l,nual meeting of the West Coast Herd 1 esting Association was held at Greymouth during the week, bein' attended by over 100 members from all parts of thp district. The association has practically doubled its membership during the past year. The president’s report indicated that the association is in a sound financial position, and that the allround performances of the herds tested were a cause for congratulation. The averages were better than last year, and bear favourable comparison with any in the Dominion. The figures available to date indicate that the best performance in this district has a good chance of bein ' the leading herd in the country. Air J. Monk, of Kokatahi, secured first place ‘ C oL th , e fi k'ti''es being: 37 cows, 4391 b fat 270 days. Air F. Jacobs was second with 31 cows, 386.21 b fat. 260 days, Highest cow, Mr J. Monk, 6471 b fat, 250 ‘ ay ' S '-rA'R? ? ver Go °- J- -Monk, 3; over 000. Mr J. Monk, 5. He received tlm leacher Shield, presented by the West Coast Agricultural ami Pastoral Associ.ilion lor the best herd. GREY POWER BOARD. Ihe Grey Power Board's works at the Arnold Liver are still slowly advancing towards completion, and it is now fairly certain that they will be readv for the official opening at the end of July. The total number of consumers is now 2634. Keticufation work has been completed at Kokiri, and the sawmill linked up. The chan-man reported that a profit of £2509 had been made on last year’s working. Hie hoard has authority to raise £ll.OOO. and has a reserve of £3600. There will also be the proceeds of the sale of the I*l power house, and the disposal of the old plant will mean a saving of £lOOO I'R mouth, lhe whole of the engineering staff at the Dobson power house, with the exception of the chief engineer, is to >e given a fortnight’s notice, and qualifications for positions at Kaimata under the h} dro scheme are to be drawn up, so that any ot the dismissed staff may re-applv tor employment there. TIMBER. The W estland Timber Workers’ Union complains that certain areas of timber held under scenic reserve are closed against the cutting of white pine, the only timber for which there is any sale here at present. It is contended, in favour of the Lands Department throwing open these areas, that the cutting of the white pine would not affect the scenic vane of the land, that portions of it vvill be destroyed as scenic reserve by the hydro works dam, and that it would provide work for a number of men now on the dole in the locality, and also provide revenue. lhe timber industry remains very inactive. there being practically no sale for red pine, and not more than 33 mills working for three and a-half days per week and with considerably less than the normal number of hands.

GENERAL. The Golden Coast Dairy Factory at Reefton paid lid per lb for butter-fat during the month of Alay, £1327 being distributed amongst its suppliers. The output for the two factories, at Reefton and at Alaruia, has to date (June 17) amounted to 250 tons 13cwt. The Reefton Factory has manufactured 210 tons to date, and the combined output with another month still to go is already 67 tons in advance of that of last season. Some time ago the idea of establishing a bacon factory in the Grey district was mooted, and aroused considerable interest. ’lhe proposal was carried a stage further during the past week, when a meeting of farmers, under the chairmanship of the Alayor, was held at Greymouth. The Greymouth Borough Council was reported to be willing to lease at a low rental a section of land in the environs of the town for a factory, and a committee of farmers representative of the various districts was elected to consider the initial steps. Pig rearing has rapidly advanced in the district during recent years, and this project has every prospect of success. A memorial tablet was unveiled during the week in the district school at Reefton to the memory of Lieutenant-colonel M'illiam S Austin, a former headmaster of the school. There was a large attendance of ex-pupils and the general public. The chairman of the School Committee presided,- and the memorial was unveiled by Lieutenant-colonel Nicolls. A benefit picture entertainment held at Westport during the week in aid of the Alayor’s Unemployment Fund realised the sum of £75. Freight railed through the Otira tunnel during last week amounted to 8180 tons, compared with 14,729 tons for the corresponding week of last year and 12,797 tons for that of 1930. The coal miners’ strike is responsible for a light tonnage in coal this week.

For the first time an aeroplane landed at Waiho during last week. Flying from Hokitika, the ’plane circled over the Franz Josef Glacier prior to landing, and then returned to Hokitika, reaching its destination in 55 minutes. Weather conditions for the flight were perfect.