GREYMOUTH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVIII, Issue 17, 20 August 1886, Page 17

GREYMOUTH.

(From oar own Correspondent.)

August 9, 1886. ReferkinG- in a former communication to the Native Reserve at Grey mouth, I mentioned that the Government introduced a bill into the Assembly which, granted leases of 63 years, with the right of renewal for a further period of 63 years, to the present occupiers of allotments. This statement was rather premature, for although it was reported here that such a bill was being drafted, and it way generally believed that the bill would become law, yet the Government did not bring it before Parliament. When, however, the Government did introduce a bill on the subject, the disappointment of those immediately interested was great, as its contents proved to be totally different from what was expected. The sub-lessees were ignored, the statute of '83 was rendered worthless, and all improve* ments were given to the lessees. A public meeting of sub-lessees was at once convened is Greymouth, and a, deputation, consisting of Messrs. W. H. Jones and Joseph Petrie, was dispatched to Wellington with instructions to kill the Bill, or failing in that, to effect suitable amendments in it. The Premier agreed readily to the proposals of the delegates, and promised to redraft the Bill at once upon the lines laid down by them. Meanwhile the lessees determined to actively and vigorously guard their own interests, and a long telegram (costing, I hear, twenty shillings) was sent by them to Wellington. Suddenly tie Premier was attacked with gout (with telegram ? but cliacun a son, gout), and was confined to bis bed for some days. The delegates were forced to return home without having seen the amended Bill carried. The South Island Native Reserves Bill runs an excellent chance of being shelved for this session, and things as far as Grey mouth is concerned remain in [stato quo. It appears to me that the sub-lessees went to work, in tbe first instance, the wrong way altogether. Had they met the lessees, and laid their grievances fully and clearly before them, there is hardly any doubt but that all they now demand, and even more than they demand, would be conceded. For there is not one lessee having dealings with under-teaants that would not at any time allow the said tenants compensation for bona fide improvements. They are willing to do that now j they have always been willing to do it. Mr Robinson, of the firm of McKeome, Robinsoa, and Avigdor the contractors for the first section of the Midland Railway, arrived some time ago from Cbristcburch. He has brought with him a surveyor, and will make a thorough examination of tbe district between Greymouth and Nelson , before actual work is begun. Mr Eobinson will await the arrival of hia pajtner, Mr Avigdor, who is expected to leave England upon the completion of an extensive railway contract the firm has now in hand in the south of Ireland. The firm would have taken up the full contract through to Reef ton were it not that at the time of Mr Robinson's departure from London, the surveys and plans were not full enongh to warrant them doing bo. Mr Robinsoa seems to think there will be no difficulty about making a suitable pajing line through the district, as his firm have constructed lines in tho north of Europe through very similar country, and these are paying fairly well. He has been joined since his arrival here by Mr Gardner, the engineer, under wdose superintendance the work will be carried out. The section taken up has been found to be that from Springfield westwards. The company propose to start from both ends, with the least possible delay. They telegraphed to the Government the other day, asking permission to proceea at once with a section commencing at Brunnerton, notwithstanding tbe fact that full plans had not been submitted to the Ministry for their approval, the full plans being on their way ont from England. The Government readily agreed to the proposal. Government contemplate shortly calling for tenders for a new railway bridge at Brunncrton, and for that reason, they do not seem to favou r a foot-bridge being constructed. They hold that the County Council should construct the latter- From representations made to the Minister for Railways, by the Harbour Board, regarding tbe necessity of running trains to Brunnerton on Sundays, it has been decided that trains should run on that day. A meeting was held in the Good Templars' Hall, Brunnerton, on the 21st ult., to consider the advisability of forming a rifle corps in Brunnerton. Mr. F. McParland presided, and about 50 signified their willingness to join. It wsb resolved that tbe corps be called the " Brunnerton Rifle Volunteers." The following officers were elected : — Captain, Mr. F. McParland ; senior subaltern, Mr. G. Adams ; junior subaltern, Mr. G. Carter ; sergeant-major, Mr. Chas. Curtis ; secretary, Mr. John Ward ; bugler, Mr. Thos. Elliott. Thursday, from 7.30 to 9 in the evening, was fixed for drill. Through tbe efforts of Mr. Guinness, M.H.R., the toll has been been removed from the foot-bridge at Bruanerton. The Wallabi has been re-sold to Messrs. Hungerford and McKay, contractois. The price paid for her was £200. They are endeavouring to launch the boat themselves. When the day appointed for the sale of tolls on Cobden Bridge arrived, it was found that the Coal Creek and Cobden residents, assisted by some Greymouth friends, had raised a fund to purchase the light to use the bridge, bo as to throw it open to the public. As soon as the auctioneer announced the upset price of the tolls to be £150, Mr. Batty, of Coal Creek, rose and said : " On behalf of a number of residents of Coal Creek, Cobden, and Greymouth, I am prepared to offer you £150 for the right to use Cobden Bridge, and I have the money in the room to pay the first instalment." Mr. D. Ryall, of Barry town, explained Mr. Ba.tty"s object, which was, he said, to throw the bridge open to this pmblic. No other bid being made, the auctioneer declared Mr. Dai \ to be the purchaser. Our bar continues to renaam in i xcellent condition. The Harbour Master, in his last report, stated that there was an average of 14ft. of water for the previous mouth, and although there had been very heavy seas lately, yet there had been little or no silting. Two hydraulic cranes are in course of construction for our wharf, at the works of Sir Wtn. Armstrong, Newcastle-on-Tyne, they are to cost £4,300, and will be shipped from England nejt month.

Owing to the rapidly increasing demands for their coals, the Brunner Company have been obliged to supplement their own fleet of steam-colliers by two others which they recently chartered, viz. the Timaru and the Waitaki. The former is not neve to our, port, but the latter made her first appearance here last week. She formerly was engaged in the Kamo Coal Company's trade, but consequent on the limited demand for that coal, she had been laid up in Auckland for some time. The Waitaki is capable of carrying about 240 tons of coal ; she can steam close on 11 knots an hoar, and has very superior passenger accommodation. She is commanded by Captain Peteraen, widely known as late chief officer of the Pelham. The wreck of the Brunner Coal Company's fine steamer, Pelham at the Bluff is a very serious loss to the owners and to our port. The Pelham was valued at about £10,000, and was ensured for only £4,350. She was nearly new, an excellent sea-boat, capable of carrying 500 tons of coal, and conld be relied on to keep within her contract time. Sympathy, very great sympathy, indeed, is felt for the owners, but sympathy doei not purchase a steam-boat every day, let alone such a one as the " Pelnam." Thoroughly well organised and managed as the CompanyV fleet is, this disaster will upset their arrangements very considerably for a time, and make it difficult for them to fulfil their many contracts throughout the colonies.