WEST COAST NEWS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17193, 9 November 1923, Page 11

WEST COAST NEWS.

• (Special to the “ Star.’*) CtRET MOUTH, November 8. STREET MATNTENANCE. About two years ago the Kumara Borough Council wrote to the Public Works Department complaining of the heavy traffic passing through the borough streets, most of the traffic belonging to the Grey County, and asked that a commission be appointed to inquire int-o the position. The mills of the Government groiiud slowly, but at- to-day’s meeting of the Grey County Council advice was received that Mr M . Meldrum. &.M., had been appointed commissioner to inquire into the question of the maintenance of the Kumara streets. The Magistrate himself advised that he would proceed with the iuquiry on November 20. The chairman (Mr J. AV. Hannan) said that for two years the Kumara Borough Council had complained of the heavy traffic through the borough, which, it said, chiefly comprised timber lorries. The council pointed out that the county received royalties from timber, and therefore should contribute to the maintenance of the borough roads. The inquiry, would open a big question, said Air Hannan, as a good deal of the Kumara traffic came into the county in any case. The engineer (Mr .T. Higgins) and the solicitor (Mr W. ,7. Joyce) had the matter in hand and would put the county’s case before the commissioner.

MINING RETURNS. r l he value of the returns from the new Big River mine for the months of September and October was £1950. The battery yielded 4420 z 2dwts of gold from (534 tons of quartz, and the cyanide return was 71oz 17dwts of bullion from 350 tons of sand. RATEPAYERS’ ASSOCIATION. Members of the Greymouth Borough Council availed themselves last evening of an invitation to attend the annual meeting of pfche Grey Ratepayers’ Association, at which there was a fair attendance. The president. Air H. H. Allison, presided. The Mayor (Mr AV. H. Parfitt) and Councillors H. F. Doogan, J. O’Brien. M.P., J. AV. Grcenslade. F. A. KitcTaingham, R. J. \\ illiams and A. C. Armstrong were present, and apologies were received from other members of the council. The secretary (Air W. Richardson) read the annual report and balance sheet, which showed a credit balance of 15s od, including, however, a small outstanding liability. Officers for the ensiling year were elected as follows: President, Air H. H. Allison; secretary, Air AV. Richardson ; treasurer, Mr H. H. Herring; executive, Messrs J. Robertson. J. Saunders, W. F. Johnston and J. C. Truscott.

ACCIDENT INSURANCE SCHEAIE. Should the scheme of insurance covering all the countie* in New Zealand be formulated ? This question was raised by Mr C. Ryall at a meeting of the Grey County Council, when the question of renewing the accident insurance policy covering the council’s employees came up for consideration. The managers of the Government Life Insurance Department, New Zealand Insurance Company, Northern Insurance Company and Alliance Insurance Company each wrote asking to be allowed to handle the accident insurance policy. On the motion of Councillor J. Greaney it was decided to make no change at present and to again give business to the Insurance Company. Councillor Ryall then moved that it be a remit t-o the next Counties Conference that an insurance scheme covering all the counties be formulated. This was seconded by Councillor J. Greaney and carried.

HEAVY TRAFFIC BY-LAWS. Tlve enforcement of the Grey County by-laws respecting the. use of heavy traffic will be applied by the council, consequent on the adoption of the report made by the engineer (Mr J. Higgins). The report stated that the roads continued to he damaged by excessive weights of coal, and other sawmills, it was understood, were to be built and the timber carried by motor trucks. Tho councils should consider firstly whether heavy traffic license fees were high enough, and secondly, whether it was not only advisable but also imperative that the by-law forbidding certain weights, unless costs of maintenance were first paid to the council, should be rigidly enforced. All persons offending had been written to by the County Clerk (Air M. Keating), but none of the offenders had come forward with any proposal. Therefore, further action was necessary. Councillor D. Bay butt moved that firms l>e again written to pointing out that unless the by-law is complied with action would be taken. The motion was carried and the engineer was authorised to act accordingly.

COTTAGE DESTROYED. A fir© broke out in an unoccupied four-roomed cottage in Bright Street, Cobden, at midnight last night, and completely destroyed the structure. Tho Cobden Fire Brigade, in spite of the lateness of the hour, turned out promptly, and soon had the flames under control, although the building, owing to the furious hold which the flames had, was not saved from destruction. The efficient work of the brigade prevented the flames from spreading to the Cobden Hotel, which is situated in an adjacent section. The building was owned by Air DRyall. Barrytown. and it is not known what the insurances are. Some time ago Messrs Shanks and Alorris used the place as a storehouse for coal but it has not recently been NEARLY AN ACCIDENT. Two men and one jigger narrowly escaped being run down by the Ministerial special train yesterday, shortly after it left Aloana. The men evidently did not expect a special and just had time to fling themselves off the jigger and get clear. The train stopped, but proceeded when it was seen that the men were uninjured. A LUCKY ESCAPE. Dynamite’s deadly susceptibility to heat was again rather vividly demon - j strated at Ten Mile Bluff a. few days ago, when a settler decided to warm a quantity of the explosive. The operation wont on at the side of his hut. All went well until a search for some sticks luckily led the man away from the place, and he had not gone tar when a terrific roar caused him to look around, and lie beheld the side of his hut flying skywards with his pet eat, whose black form was silhouetted against the white clouds. Returning when all was safe to the wreckage he : found his black cat dazed but unhurt, I but the settler estimates that although j it is only a. young animal it lost at j least five lives in the explosion. WEDDING. A wedding took place yesterday at St Stephen’s Church. Reef ton, of Seneth Saunders, eldest daughter of Air and Mrs A\ r . Saunders, Blackspoint, to AVilHam Allan Cairns, eldest son of Air and Airs AY. Cairns. The Terrace, Reefton. The service was fully choral. The bride entered the church on the ann of her father, who gave her away.

Tho only attendant was Aliss Saunders. Mr Saunders, jun., attended as best man. Air and Airs Cairns left by the afternoon train for Palmerston North en route for Shannon. where Air Cairns has been transferred. OBITUARY. News has reached Reefton of the death at AVairoa (Hawke’s Bay) on Saturday of Air Frank Lynch, sole son of the late Air James Lynch, formerly of Reefton and Westport. Deceased wa-s a native of Reefton and was about forty-six years of age. He leaves a widow. The death occurred recently at Hawera of Mr Alfred Cadman. who was born at Greymouth fifty-four years ago- He received his early education here and as a young man worked in the mines on the West Coast, in the Auckland district, and in New South Wales. Later he took up farming. Three years ago he went to Hawera, where he had resided since. He leaves a widow and one daughter, aged fourteen. VALEDICTORY. A pleasant ceremony took place aftet the annual meeting of the Greymouth Ratepayers’ Association, when tho president (Mr H. H. Allison), on behalf of the members, presented Air AV. M. Richardson, honorary secretary of the association, with a fountain pen in recognition of his services to the ratepayers. MINISTERIAL. At the Municipal Chambers this morning the Minister for PuhlicWorks (Hon J. G. Coates) received a deputation from the Grey County Council. He said that he was glad that the people of the West Coast were satisfied with his work. Personally, he was not a bit pleased with it. but he did his best, and believed that a personal inspection of the district and a consultation with the departmental officers were more satisfactory than giving grants in n promiscuous manner. He was inquiring for particulars with reference to railway and road matters, and would give attention to the proposed development of the Coast Railway. The Alinistei said that when 'the

county’s request was published it made it just a question of how much work could bo done with the available money. He agreed to look into that matter and also agreed to most of the requests. This concluded public business at the Council Chambers. After taking some private deputations the Minister left to inspect tho Tainui Street railway crossing. The Minister and party left by special train at 10.45. proceeding to Jame’s Aline at Rapahoe. The Runanga station was inspected en route and a visit was also made by the Alioister to the Seven-mile bridge. The party then went on to waiting lor the purpose of convening them to Punakaiki. On reaching TenMile the Minister inspected the bridge now in course of construction there, and on the road to Barrytown the opportunity was taken to demonstrate the handicap under which the settlers laboured owing to the incomplete state of the bridging over Baker's Creek and Fagan’s Creek. Barrytown was reached at noon and the Minister received several private deputations there. After lunch the par tv motored on to Punakaiki. The Minister and some of his staff later journeyed over the incompleted portion of tho GrevniouthAVestport Road on horseback, riding as far as Buller Creek. To-morrow Air Coates will visit Hokitika and on Saturday will go through from Hokitika to AYestport. QUE EN C A RNTA'AL. The Technical School queen contest resulted : Misses A. Higson (Rose) 6809, R. Cairnev (lw) 5994. R. Ferguson (Daffodil) 4224. R. Al’Pherson (Poppy) 3573. E- Tillyshort (Abolet) 2259 and G Keith (Bluebell) ‘2OOB. The following amounts have been collected so far ; Flower Queens’ carnival. £3ll 4s 7d ; yesterday’s fete, including side shows, sweet and jumble stalls, tearooms, etc., £l6B 11s. The exact sum by which the school equipment fund will be benefited will not be known until after the crowning of the Carnival Queen. The amount carries a subsidy.