GREYMOUTH NOTES

West Coast Times, Issue 14141, 18 June 1907, Page 4

GREYMOUTH NOTES

(From our own 'Correspondent )

The survey of Point El'zabeth for tbe proposed harbour is about completed, but I expect it will be many months ere its fate is known. Considering tbe season- and the heavy fintmcirl drains there bave been on tbe people of tbe town within the last few montbp, business must be considered satisfactory. 'Presumably the opeoing up of tbe Dew Paparoa coalfields, combined with the extra shipping, has made as muoh floating money as when we bad the Obira ia<lway works.

MrT. E. Comes and Mr Badger tare eaob got a t>!art with thtit new brick buildings in Mack ay Street, and both when completed will b<a a creiit to the. town. Tbe new Gilnier Hotel is .also ma- ing completion. It is satisfactory to see the cx'.ent of the faiih people have in the townV prosperity. Mr Jus. Petrie, with characteristic tnergy, has lost no tima in pultiog iome life ii ti the deliberations of that '*• Weary Will c " of heal bodies, the Grey Hirbour Board, His notice of motion to appoint a commission of experts t) consider the question of a deep sea harbour ia cooj .action with tbe dork scheme, is a .step in tfc'e right direction. While giving Mr Petrie all oredit for looking well ahead into tbe future, I thick he is losing fciglt of the pressing necessities of tbs present. The ■cope of fin coinmiaaion should be con* liderably enlarged, ao as to include not only the objects staged in the motion, but nlso tbe whole question of the equipment of tho poit, as well as the beet method of at ouce increasing the wharf accommodation ; in fact the oomaanisron should be asked for a aomprehensive scheme of harbour improvement on lioeu tr>a: would iuolude a substantial iooreaoe in the wharfage aocommodation within a reasonable time. The Irtgoon ducky, it is stated, will not be available for a'lip^iug for a conaideiablo tune, probably tlilee yras or more* Of couide, tLe construction of a deep sea harbour will bo a hug ,;cd costly jab. In the meantime, wbat is going to become of our c.a 1 ftnd timber trade, both of which are ta^t increasing in volume? Even now a thort Interoupliuo of shipping by bad veuther Cuuses a block that the chip piuy citnpanie , owing to insufficient wharf accommodation cannot overtake for weeks, and ii the meantime tbe mills are overwhelmed with orders for timber wailing »b patent, causing expense to the mil lor* and great inconvenience to their costomi ro. Looking at the steady increase of the timber trade, one dors not need to be a prophet to forsee that complete disor^au isatio* of this irapoitmt industry miict tnaue unless somethiog is quickly clove to remedy matteis. Bawmillprs aod o hers who have to use imported f*>«d ate oom^ia : ning bitterly of the high prices current for horse fe d, which is now »t famine rates. Chaff is worth £6 10s per ton iv ton lots, snd oUBa 9d pt>r bushel. The sooner tie n«w idea looomutivds ar« running on siwmill liner, the beiur fur the millers. Borne of the loo.il fi ois are combining fc • import a consignment of flouc, oatc and ohuff from Melbourne.