(From a West Coast correspondent.)

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVI, Issue 6, 10 June 1898, Page 31

(From a West Coast correspondent.)

West Coast, May 27. The weather predicted by the Australian meteorologist btruck the West Coast on Monday last, and its severity was not over-stated. Fierce winds, intermittent showers of hail and ram, and " celestial artillery." It is not to be wondered at that the various outings arranged for Her Majesty's Birthday did not eventuate. Although we are very loyal over here, our loyalty stops at a certain point ; and so the Queen's Birthday, '1)8, was not marked by any outdoor festivity. Another old West Coaster, Mr. Pat M'Dermott, passed away at Hokitika on the 19th inst. As a result of the closing of the Brunner mince, the output from Westport has largely increased, the output from the northern port last week totalling 9000 tons. I notice that a new company have taken up coal area in Westport, and will commence operations immediately.

The morning paper in Hokitika, the Went Coast Times, has been trying to agitate a movement in the matter of bringing over the redoubtable Scobie M'Kenzie, or some leading member of the Opposition, to deliver a series of political addresses on the West Coast, antagonistic to the Seddon Government. The West Coast Times. , despite the fact that its candidate waa ingloriously defeated at last election, still foolishly imagines that the star of the Premier is on the wane, and that it is within the range of ihings possible that if a strong Oppositionist were to face the irrepressible Richard, the latter would be ousted from the Hokitika seat. This idea is not supported by the main body of the electors. No member of the New Zealand legislature is as becure in his seat as is the present member for Hokitika. The Rev. Father Malone. has succeeded in forming a musical society in Brunnerton. The young men of the Catholic congregation, to which the membership is confined, have taken up the matter eagerly, and with the energy and ability of the Rev. Father, the society should go ahead and prove successful. Messrs. Cashion and Arnott, the two young West Coasters who started the Hasting* Standard some two years ago, have evidently not been satisfied with their venture, the paper having passed into new hands. The anxiously-awaited Brunner mine case has at last been settled in the Appeal Court at Wellington, the full Bench deciding that the debenture-holders have a prior claim on the assets of the Company. The defendants have been allowed the option of appealing, and I learn, on good authority, that counsel for the widows intend referring the point to the Privy Council. In the meantime it is probable that the Company's property will be put under the hammer, and that the mine will be in full working swing immediately. An old celebrity of Okarito, Mr. T. Stewart, more familariy known as " Billy Barlow," died at the port of Okarito last week. Deceased was for years a correspondent to the Grey River Argus under the norn dejrtmnr of the " Mountain Rat." Although following the precarious livelihood ot a '■ fossicker," Mr. Stewart was a brilliant and original writer, and his contributions were always looked forward to by the public with great interest. Had " Billy," followed up the journalistic groove when young there is no doubt but that he would have made a capable editor, but, like many other intelligent men, he struck the Coast when the gold fever was at its highest paroxysm, and ended his days a worn out '■ fossicker." The night-watchman of Grey mouth, Mr. E. Goodall, who has been in the service of the borough and a member of the fire brigade for the last twenty-five years, was last Wednesday evening presented by his Worship the Mayor with a long-service medal. Mr. Goodall who has grown grey in the service of the town, has proved himself a trustworthy and painstaking servant, and the complimentary remarks that fell from the lips of the Mayor in making the presentation are heartily endorsed by the ratepayers. A reef, two feet thick, and carrying good gold has been struck in the claim adjoining the Croesus, upper Blackball. The find was not unexpected, though the long fruitless search that had preceded the discovery of the golden leader, had somewhat disheartened the enterprising owners of the mine. The various dredging ventures gone into on the West Coast of late years, have mure or less been disappointing ; some through the inefficiency of the mod us oj/n-andi, and others through the poor returns obtained— the latter reason being a predominant one. The dredge on Lake Mahmapua has proved an exception to the rule if the -»teady and permanent returns obtained are a safe criterion. For the p. riod May o— May 27, 1 llioz. of amalgam was netted, representing some £2(10, giving a splendid margin over and above working expenses. It is the intention ot the proprietors to buy the dredge which is, at present rented to them, and as the lead on which they are at present operating is looft wide and covers a large area, many years profitable dredging may be looked forward to. Some bhort time ago the Greymouth Borough Council appointed Mr. S. Ainsworth dairy inspector, and notified the Government Department to that effect. To their surprise the Council received a communication from the Colonial Secretary's office stating that the Department of Agriculture deemed it inexpedient to appoint any one not in the Government service, and on this ground objected to the appointment. The Borough Council are somewhat nettled at the inconsistent attitude assumed by the Department, as naturally enough the local body are quite competent to select a qualified dairy inspector. The councillor intend combatting the point with the Department, and more will probably be heard of the matter. The Rev. Father Servajean, parish priest of Ahaura, has been transferred to Christchurch. The removal will be hailed with regret by all the friends of the Rev Father on the Coast. Father Servajean some five years ago, took the place of the Rev. Father Briand as curate to the Greymouth parish, where he made many friends, among those outside the congregation as well as vs ithin. On the Ahaura parish becoming vacant, Father Servajean was entrusted with the charge of same, and one of his first undertakings was the erection of a new church, the old edifice being out of date and too small. The church, thanks to the business tact and energy of the Rev. Father is I understand, entirely free from debt. Father Servajean was a musical enthusiast, and whilst in Greymouth presided over the Catholic Band, and did a great deal of work in connection with the choir. On all sides the Rev. Father was extremely respected, and as I previously remarked, his removal will be deeply regretted.