WEST COAST NEWS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17570, 22 June 1925, Page 12

WEST COAST NEWS.

(.Special to the “ Star.”) GREYMOUTH, June 21. PERSONAL. Mr Y\ . J. Joyce, who lias been attending the Nelson Supreme Court sessions, returned to Greymouth oil Saturday. Advice lias been received by J. D. Bingham that S. Mears lias been added to tho South Island Rugby League team to play at Auckland. Mr FT. Hopgood left on Saturday for Christchurch, where his brother, Mr William Hopgood, is seriously ill. Mrs J. Lythgoo left for Timaru on Saturday. Mr J. A. Oh Bayne, Chief Inspector of Mines, who has been visiting the West Coast, returned on Saturday to Wellington. Constable W. Corcoran, who sustained a broken shoulder at Rugby, is progressing satisfactorily. (.'unstable E. M. Best, of Hokitika, is relieving Constable Corcoran. Mi* Justice Alpers, accompanied by Mrs Alpers, is expected to arrive from YVestport by ear oil Tuesday morning. Mr and Mrs It. Hall will return from their honeymoon tour bv Tuesday’s Christchurch express. Miss Nellie Wood., of Reef ton. left on Saturday for Christchurch, where she will reside in future. Mr Stevenson, who had boon visiting friends on the West Coast, returned to Wellington on Saturday. Tho Rev. O. Robinson, of Reefton, is spending tho week-end as the guest of the Rev. J. F. Martin. Ho preached at St. Paul’s Church to-day. Dr J. F. C. Moore, medical superintendent at tho Grey River Hospital, continues to be indisposed. Mr If. R. Sotherau, of the Greymouth Post and Telegraph Department, leaves for Nelson on Monday on transfer. INCIPIENT FIRES. During the last few* months incipient fires have been discovered in overhead vents for the smoke to make its escape from the locomotives in the Greymouth railway engine sheds. The outbreaks are believed to bo caused by the sparks emitted from the engine ■ stacks lodging on tho woodwork, which \ is very dry owing to the heat from the engines. THE WEATHER. Severe frosts and fogs prevail in Reefton at tho present time. Owing to the water shortage necessitating cutting oil tho water supply at night, bursting of water pipes is a common occurrence. TREATMENT OF SLACK. Mr A. R. who returned to Reefton on Tuesday from Christchurch and tho south, reports that 1 lie company now being formed for tho treatment of slack cool in the Reefton district is receiving considerable support. ADDRESS (IN ELECTRICTTY. In an address on electricity to the members of tho Jvaiata and Omoto Ratepayers* Association last week Mr J. Lytligoe. the. Grey Power Board engineer. stated that ho intended delivering a. series of similar addresses throughout tho Grey district. HOTEL CHANGES HANDS. Mr H. Hoy, of Christchurch, has taken possession of l he. Lakeside Hotel, M.oana, having purchased the lease from Mr A. 11 ill, who intends to reside in Greymouth. GREY FIRE BOARD. At Friday night’s meeting of the Grey Fir© Board, Superintendent T. Clarke submitted a return showing the number of district fires for the year as nineteen. Tho value of the property concerned was £16.806, loss to insurance companies £6OS, and the total loss £.1733. Tho most serious fire was that which destroyed Stratford and Blair’s mill, the damage being £1232. A new fir© station is to be erected in High Street. The Fir© Board ori Friday night decided to purchase a sit© in upper High Street next to the Recreation Hotel, on which if, is intended to erect a brick building consisting of two rooms (sleeping accommodation for men), and a, small meeting room. The estimated cost of the , building is £SOO. j Superintendent Clarke of the Grey- l mouth Fire Brigade has completed thirty-five years’ service with the brigade. Secretary Walton holds the unique position of completing thirty seven years' service, and at Friday night’s meeting of the Board it was decided to forward to them letters of congratulations. Fireman Lynch has completed twenty-five years’ service. Mr Jesse Steer was on Friday even ing for the eighteenth successive term, re-elected chairman of the Greymouth Fir© Board,