WEST COAST NOTES

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18228, 12 November 1924, Page 3

WEST COAST NOTES

STREET MAINTENANCE. (steciai. to "rax press.") GEEYMOTJTH, November 11. In replying' to requests from tho Greymouth and Westport Borough Councils for a subsidy towards the maintenance of certain streets, the chairman of tho Main Highways Board states that it is unable to grant assistance to cities or larger borough areas. As tho population of Greymouth is 5050 and Westport 3840, while the rates collected annually are £13,584 and £S2O7 respectively, they must be regarded as coming within this definition. Bailway Commission. Sir Sam Fay and Sir Vincent Eaven, tho Bailway Commissioners, will reach Beefton on "Wednesday evoning, leaving the following morning for Westport, en routo from Boss. They will pay a brief visit to the State mines. Telephones. . Although a cable through tho Otira tunnel is the means by which Canterbury and the West Coast aro connected by telephone, the old lino through the gorge has not been neglected, and recently came through a test with flying colours. It is being -kept ia order as a stand-by.

Mining Matters. For the week ending Saturday, tho West Coast Coal Company - shipped 10,180 tons of coal, and the WestportStockton Company 939 tons. The National Council of tho United Mine Workers, at a recent meeting, decided, to take definite steps to ..wind up the affairs of the practically defunct Federation. It was also decided to issue monthly a mining bulletin devoted: to the affairs of the organisation, and Mr P. J. O'Began was .ap: pointed legal adviser. Tho State mines were again idle to-day, owing to tho bins being full. Armistice Day^' The tolling of- the iirebells, the suspension' of all street traffic, and tho cessation of work at the wharf for two minutes at 11 a.m. to-day marked tho sixth anniversary of tho Armistice. Tho flags flying over several of the buildings were lowered to half-mast. A party representative of the Borough Council and Beturned Soldiers'. Association visited the cenotaph, and tho Mayoress, Mrs W. H. Parfitt, laid a wreath at its foot. At St. Patrick's .Church, and in the schools, references were made to the solemnity of the occasion. Personal. Mr A. W. Downer, postmaster. at Boefton, has received notice of his transfer to Waimate. Mr D. Coll, who was. seriously injured some months ago in ■ a railway accidont at Eotokohu, has recovered sufficiently to be'able to' leave the Reeftori Hospital. ■. , • Mr B. Cohen, chairman of the Omoto-Kaiata School Committee,.and a member of the Batepayers' Association, was tendered a farowoll by the residents of the district, on the eve of his departure on transfer in the Bailway Department t'd Otua. Mr J. Bleinman presided, and presented Mr Cohen with a -case of Loewe pipes, and Mrs Cohen with a silver-mounted hairbrush. ''•'•- Passengers for Chmtchuxch? by, today's ■ express ■ included the; Bev. P. B. Fraser. and' Messrs King and B. F. Perham (Hokitika), Messrs T. Milligan, T. B; ■''' Co'ates," and' F. ! Cohgrevb •' (Grey: niouth); Mr' arid' Mrs ST." Wall'"(Koite ; rangi), Mrs A. Patterson 1 (Hnrihan); and Mr P. O'Donneil (Waiuta). Father D. Loudan returned to Christchurch this morning. Mr H. Chapman/ District Traffic Manager at Christchufch, returned to Canterbury to-day. ■■. •-, Misa H. Kilgour,. secretary of the Grey Hospital Board, 'loft for Christohurch to-day. •''-■!•' ~T /, , The Hon. J. Griinmond, M.L.C.i and Messrs W. J. Jeffries and A. A. Andrews .returned to Hokitika this afternoon.

Casualties. Master W. Hughes, son of Mr and Mrs W; Hughes, of Walsh street, Reefton, suffered injuries to his face and head through being dragged - by ii h°rse. . , ■ . : Mr Duncan MeVicar, one of tho Alexander Reefs proprietary, waa seriously injured while working, oil the battery. He was caught in the belting, and suffered a broken arm and fractured ribs, in addition to facial injuries. Owing to tho inaccessibility of the Alexander Rivesr district, • the. removal of Mr- MeVicar to Hospital will be a long and, painful operation.

The Weather. For the past -week the Coast has been basking in beautiful sunshine,- the weather having, been the best experienced "since before the winter." The pastures have greatly benefited by the seasonable conditions prevailing. There were 68 hours 14 minutes of sunshine at Hokitika last week, and 53 points of rain.

WESTPORT ITEMS.

(SFECI4X lO "THE PBMS.") WESTPORT, November 11. At a meetng of the North Beach Domain Board, held last night, Mr J. Donnelly was unanimously elected secretary. The Board governs section 30, -which was recently declared by Parliament to be a recreation reserve, and it was a matter <jf public contention whether the hutments erected on it should remain or be removed. Tho Minister of Crown Lands made investigations, and ruled that the building should remain at a rental of £1 per annum and 5s for each tent. No further permanent structures, however, will be allowed to be built, and only erections of a temporary kind "will be permitted. The" Board members will meet the executive of the North Beach Surf Club at an early date, with a view to beautifying the beach and erecting dressing sheds. The Boy Scouts are holding a hardup dance in St. John's Hall on Friday night, with a view to raising funds for their summer camp at Carter's Beach. The Westport Technical "High School holds its annual amateur sports meeting in Victoria square on Saturday, and; there will be a programme of events for boys as well as for girls. Great enthusiasm has been displayed during the last couple of weeks by the pupils, who have been practising in the park. Mr G. Parkey, .the popular secretary of the Westport Boxing Association, is training between thirty and forty youths for the juvenile boxing tonrnament to be held on ' November. 29th. Among the trophies will bg tho Foote Cup, Newman Cap, and Vincent Cox Shield. Mrs Meade has recovered from, her recent operation in the Buller Hospital and returned to her home. Maitland, secretary of the Buller District Hospital, ia convalescent from ' hia recent illness. v ' :