(From our West Coast correspondent.)

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVI, Issue 12, 22 July 1898, Page 5

(From our West Coast correspondent.)

July 7th, 1898. A HIGHLY succestf ul concert was held at Reefton on Tuesday last in aid of the Catholic Church Organ Fund, the leading amateurs of the town producing a nio«t interesting entertainment. The success of the concert was in a great measure due to the work and organisation of Mrs. Potts, who is always to the fore in the matter of Catholic concerts. The Town Band of Greymouth, who, at the last contest, proved themselves the premier band on the Coast, have determined to still further increase their laurels, and will compete at the contest to be held at Palmerston North at an early date. As it will take a considerable sum in the matter of expenses, the band intend appealing to the general public to help them, aad will produce a series of winter concerts between now and the date of the contest. The Reefton people, who, for years past, have been chafing over the fact that the Inland Railway terminated at the wrong side of the Inangahua, have d( termined to bring the matter of extending the line down the Buller Valley, before the Government during the present session of Parliament. There is hardly enough population in the Buller Valley to warrant the extension of the line, but there is a fine belt of timber country to be tapped, while a coal seam, it is said, also exists close to the line of proposed railway. Whether the latter facts will bestir the Go\ ernment in the matter remains to be seen. Dr. Mcllroy, the popular medico of Brunnerton, leaves for Dunedin next week, and in the interim Dr. M'Briarty of Greymuuth will act as locum tennis. Since Dr. M'Uroy has been in Brunnerton he has done great service in Catholic musical circles, and as accompanist to the Catholic Musical Society has piloted that institution to its present txcellent position. An entertainment was held in Westport on Thursday last in aid of the Catholic organ fund. The townspeople responded generously and the concert from every standpoint was highly successful. According to the manager of tb.9 Brunner colliery there is every probability, should the present litigation eventuate satisfactorily, of the mine being worked vigorously, and a new era of prosperity for Brunner and district attaining. Mr. Allison estimates the present coal seams stripped as 380,000 tons, which he considers Bhould take five years to work out. He also intends putting down a bore which he considers would tap a large and saleable seam of coal said to exist below the strata at present being worked upon.