West Coast News.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19035, 2 April 1930, Page 11

West Coast News.

(Special to the “ Star.”) GREYMOUTH, April 1. Records kept by the Greymouth Harbour Board show that the past month has been the driest March for sixteen years. Rain fell on thirteen days, a total of 3.71 in being registered. The month’s fall was in marked contrast to that of March, 1929, when 13.04 in fell, this being the highest fall for twenty years, but only on one occasion during a period of twenty years (in 1914) has the March rainfall been lower than that recorded this year, when 2.70 in fell on eight days. MONTHLY RETURNS. The Customs duty collected during March at Greymouth totalled £2329 16s lOd, over £IOOO less than the total for March, 1929, when the amount was £3427 4s 6d. During March, twenty-four vessels of a total tonnage of 14,159 entered the port of Greymouth. and twenty-four vessels totalling 15,139 tons were cleared outward. During the past month twenty births were registered at Greymouth, com pared with seventeen for the same period last year. Four deaths were notified, compared with six in 1929, and seven marriage notices were issued, this being a decrease of eight on the number issued last March. The Registrar conducted one marriage during the past month and two during March, 1929. During the three months ended March 31, sixty-four births were registered at Greymouth, compared with sixty-two in the first quarter of last year. A total of twenty-two deaths were notified, compared with twentyfour in 1929. Seven marriage notices were issued (nineteen in 1929). The Registrar conducted three marriages and two in 1929. REPORT FROM THE BEALEY. A message from the Bealey to-day reported that the river and creeks were low and the road to Christchurch was in good order. The weather was fine. CRICKET COMPETITION CLOSED. The final meeting of the Management Committee of the West Coast Cricket Association was held last evening, there being a large attendance of members. The following were declared the winners of the various trophies for grade matches:—Seniors, Wingham Cup and Peary Cup, Cobden: juniors, Wingham Shield, Marist; third grade, Seddon Cup, Marist Schools; Stenhouse Cup, Marist. ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL. The Westland Football Association decided to approve a proposed tour of Australia by a New Zealand team. The secretary, Mr Ellery, was appointed delegate to the annual meeting of the New Zealand Association at Wellington on April 15. The Rewanui Club was granted permission to play a Western (Christchurch) team.

At the annual meeting of the Blackball Association Football Club the balance-sheet showed a satisfactory credit. The following officers were elected: —President, Mr J. M’Nicol; vice-president. Mr R. Nelson; secretary, Mr D. J. Cochrane; treasurer, Mr J. Kermode; management committee, Messrs J. Hunt, F. Smith, T. Sneddon. A. M’Dougall, A. M’Nicol, J. Anderson and J. Rarity; auditors, Messrs J. Caldwell and J. Rarity. It was decided to enter a senior and schoolboys' team in the competitions. PERSONAL. Mr W. T. Morpeth, Commissioner of Crown Lands for Westland, retired today after a lengthy service. He will leave for the north to-morrow. Nurse I. Lloyd, of the Christchurch Hospital, is spending a holiday with Mr and Mrs D. R. Lloyd, Cobden. Miss J. Weenink was a passenger by this morning’s express for Christchurch. The Rev Father Gregory left yesterday on a \*isit to Australia. Mrs P. Beck left this morning for Christchurch. On the occasion of their leaving the district, Mr and Mrs G. H. Shaw, of Rotomanu, were presented with a dinner set and a purse of sovereigns. Mr V. B. Nielsen, postmaster at Blackball, who recently received notice of his transfer to Wellington, leaves on Thursday. Mr W. K. Howell, of Waipukurau. the newly-appointed postmaster, commences his duties to-morrow. Mrs Elizabeth M’Neil, who died recently at Dunedin, was one of the pioneers of the Kumara district and resided with her husband and family for many years at Dillmanstown and Kumara. Both Mr and Mrs M’Neil were present at the Kumara jubilee celebrations. She is survived by her husband, also three daughters, Mesdames Long (Melbourne), Pellason (Christchurch) and M’Gill (Dunedin), and two sons,-Messrs John and Frank M'Xeil, of Dunedin. BULLER NOTES. RUGBY UNION AFFAIRS. The Management Committee of the Buller Rugby Union met on Saturday evening. Mr F. Keating presiding. It was decided that Messrs Keating, Colvin and Samuels be a permit committee. and that they act as postponement committee. The president and Messrs Stevens, Samuels, Hammond and the ' secretary were appointed to go into the ' matter of forming an insurance scheme ! for players. The secretary was instructed to write to the New Zealand Union 1 making a vigorous protest against . the W est Coast Union being allotted a match with the British team at Grey- i mouth. Matches with one British ‘ team, the Springboks, New South Wales . teams, and one match with the All ' Black combination had all been played « at Greymouth. while Buller had had . one match of note (with the New South J Wales team) in the last twenty years. The annual meeting of the Karamea ( Rugby Football Sub-Union was held j last week ; Delegates attended from Little Wanganui, Taffvtown and j b mere. Mr George Hawes was elected president. This year each club will 1 play a game each Saturday. CRICKET AND TENNIS. J Hie last cricket match of the season i was played at Denniston between Den- c niston and Tiroroa. The match was < won by Tiroroa, who thus win both t the Buller Cricket Association’s Cup t and the Toll Cup. The cups were pre- £ se "ted by Mr Fowler and Mrs Toll. £ l he Tennis Club had their closing day < on Saturday, the finals of the handicap c events bemg played. Mrs Walker (owe ' defeated Mrs Ford (owe 10), 50-10: t - ( ?s2 dlC b (o * e 10! beat Metson (scr), a ..OU. Mrs Baydon and Miss Clark a (owe 3) beat Misses Brown and Cook 0 liec. o). 40-31; Metson and Mrs Younr l-ec. 4) beat Schadick and Miss Henley 11 (owe 8). 54 52- Metson and Schadick ‘ « i and Button (owe * 3), oO.Sfi After the matches the nresi- 1 dent presented the trophies and thanked the donors. WHANGAPEKA ROAD. The Whangapeka Hoad has been r graded and is m good order once again, f but the road will terminate at Mrs Jenkins's farm. The farms further up the ? valley have been destroyed by the * flood. t MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. ‘ The result of the ballot held on fi

Thursday last to determine seats on the Management Committee of the Depniston Medical Association resulted as follows:—Chairman, Mr T. Whittle; treasurer, Mr M. Hewetson; member of the trustees, Mr A. Dellawav; committee, Messrs J. Smith, R. Leyshon T Lawson and F. Nelson. PERSONAL. Sir and Mrs Owen, sen., are visiting their son, Mr Cyril Owen, of the “Westport Times ” staff. Mrs Legh, of Christchurch, is making a lengthy visit to her daughter Mrs Arthur of Russell Street. Mr Frank Metson, brother of Mr J Metson, director of the Westport Technical High School, has been appointed secretary to the Timaru Harbour Board. Mr and Mrs Norman Parker have returned from a holiday spent in Canterburv. Mr Thomas has been, appointed stationmaster at Granity. Mr Campbell fills his position at Westport. Miss Hungerford, of the Health Department, is at present visiting the district. Mr Johnston, District Engineer of the Public Works Department, with Mr Bascand, engineer, and Mr Sharp, from headquarters, were in the district inspecting works and roads last week. The death took place of one of Karamea s oldest residents, Mrs Pettit, of Arapito. She was seventy-two years of age, and had lived in Karamea for forty-three years. At one time, as Miss Robb, she taught the school at the Promised Land (now called Arapito). She leaves one son and two daughters

HOKITIKA ITEMS. FAREWELL GATHERINGS. (Special to the “Star.’’) HOKITIKA, April 1. Mr W. T. Morpeth was farewelled the staff of the Lands and Survey Office and presented with a set of entree dishes. At the citizens’ farewell function he was presented with a gold-mounted pen and pencil. Eulogistic speeches were made by the Mayor, the county chairman, the chairman of the Education Board, and others. Mr Thomas Cagney, chief draughtsman, has been appointed Commissioner and takes up his duties at once. He has been stationed here for some years. Mr M’lntvre, of New Plymouth, has been appointed chief draughtsman. Mr Morpeth leaves by! car in the morning for Blenheim, en route to New Plymouth. It is intended to hold a farewell social in honour of Mr and Mrs T. E. Y. Seddon at Hokitika during Easter week. The presentation of a piece of plate was decided on at a meeting last evening.

GREYMOUTH BAR WILL BE DEEPENED

: NEW SUCTION PLANT DAMAGED ON TRIAL. (Special to the “ Starr.”) GREYMOUTH, April 1, Glorious weather and little swell on the bar made conditions ideal for the trial this afternoon of the Stewart hydro pneumatic plant, which is designed to increase the depth of water at the entrance to the port. Great interest was taken in the trials and hundreds of interested spectators assembled. They witnessed the tug Westland traversing the bar once with the gear in operation, and as the vessel went astern preliminary to repeating the operation, they were spectators of an unexpected mishap, which damaged the apparatus and caused the trial to be abandoned, pending repairs being effected. The depth on the bar was seventeen feet. Proceeding seawards soundings showed a steady increase in the depth until twenty-eight feet was registered. When the tug was going round to make the test against the ebbing tide, the pipes, which were on swivel joints on either quarter, were lowered to the bottom by two sets of block and tackle, and the tug steamed back into the river. Proceeding slowly, the Westland left behind a long wake of churned up and discoloured water, the only indication to those ashore that the apparatus was actually operating. Abreast of the south tip the tug moved at about a knot an hour and it was noticeable that the water astern contained much spoil which was being carried gradually seawards by the ebbing tide, combined with the flow from the river. All went well and upon the vessel reaching deeper water inside the bar, the order was given to hoist the pipes from the bottom. This was done with the block and tackle gear attached to a superstructure of hardwood protruding over the stern. The tug then went astern towards the sea again, the intention being to make another run against the tide with the apparatus in operation. When right on the bar where the ground swell was most pronounced, a mishap occurred which spoilt the trial. Evidently the pipes had not been hoisted sufficiently towards the horizontal, and as the tug went astern a pipe struck the bottom under the starboard quarter. With the way on, it acted as a lever and gave the vessel a violent tilt to port. The weight was too great and something had to give way. The heavy hardwood superstructure showed ample signs of the strain during a short interval, in which those on deck promptly scattered to safer places. Then the cross beam over the stern carried away and the pipe broke off at the swivel joint on the starboard side. Released from the pressure of weight of the boat, it swung over and over, emitting a volume of water until it was secured.

Next it was noticed that the steering gear was jammed, as some part of the wreckage had fouled the rudder. The tug -syas wallowing in the swell and was not far from the north tip, when by the aid of a line and winch the obstruction was removed and steering way was regained. The tug returned to her berth in order that repairs could be effected to the superstructure and a new beam affixed to replace that which was lost. The only damage done was to Mr Stewart’s gear, as the superstructure was of his own design. The apparatus was not in operation at the time of the mishap, which was due entirely to the end of the pipe having struck the bottom and acted as fulcrum as the tug steamed astern. When repairs are effected another trial will be made.

The demonstration to-day left the impression that the bed of the sea on the bar had been considerably disturbed by one stroke made across it by the hydro-pneumatic plant.