WEST COAST NOTES

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18372, 4 May 1925, Page 11

WEST COAST NOTES

FARMERS' UNION. (irxaAL io "not russ.") GUErMOUTH, May 3A meeting of tho Greymouth branch of the Farmers' Union was held last evening, Mr D. Shannahan presiding over a good attendance. A letter was received from the clerk of the Grey County Council, advising that the Coal Creek road was now being widened in accordance with the Union s request. A letter was received from Mr C. S. Dalgleish, Government Fields Instructor, advising the arrangements in connexion with the farmers' winter school. After discussion, it was resolved to make application for four lectures at Greymouth. Monthly Statistics. Permits for the construction of four new dwellings were issued by the Greymouth Borough Council in April. The total value of the work authorised was £3312, which figure is greatly in exeess of the value of the buildings for which permits were taken out in April, 1924. The vital statistics registered at Westport in April were as follows: —Births 14, marriages 7, deaths 7. The sum of £3241 5s 2d was collected in Customs duties at Greymouth last month, and £441 5s 8d in beer duty in the same period. Thirty vessels, aggregating 18,385 tons, entered the port. Tug-of-War. A tug-of-war contest was held at the Town Hall last evening in support of No. 3 candidate in the Queen Carnival to raise funds for a municipal swimming bath. There was a good attendance, ten teams entering the competitions, and some even pulls were witnessed. Kotuku and Cobdcn met in the final, and after a hard contest Kotuku won. The members of the winning team were B. Koeti and the brothers Hasn and Denze. The Cobden team consisted of O'Connor, Dcwar, Mclntyre, Scalmer and Eoehe. Eeefton School Committee. Mr B. Auld presided at a meeting of the Recfton School Committee. Mr Brett, County Engineer, was authorised to "draw up specifications for levelling the. school ground. Miss Hutton was appointed assistant teacher. Magistrate's Court. At a sitting of the Magistrate's Court at Kumara, Mr H. P. Lawry, S.M., prosided. Isabella Levy was charged with supplying liquor after hours. The Bench held that Mrs Levy, who was acting as manageress of the hotel, was not legally entitled to supply liquor, and a fine of 30s and costs was inflicted. Greymouth School Committee. There was a full attendance at tho first meeting of the new Greymouth School Committee. Mr J. Tennent was in- the chair. The rector (Mr H. H.. Allison) reported that since the reopening of tho Main and Blaketown Schools the attendance had been satisfactory. The average was 532 out of a roll of 561 at the former, and 86 out of 90 at Blaketown. The Misses M. Phelan and Lilburn had been appointed to the teaching staff. The appointment of Miss Gladys Cullen as assistant mistress was approved. Messrs E. .Barrowman and Seott were appointed a sub-committee to organise a campaign for the purpose of raising £125 to meet the committee's liability in connexion'with the heating system. Mining Matters.' ~ ... Work at the South.Blackwater mine is progressing very satisfactorily. The engine-house has been completed, and all. the fitting done. The change-house has been erected, and the hot and eold water service completed. A start will now be made to erect the smithy, and the completion of the water-race is expected by the end of the coming week. When this is done, the sinking of the shaft will be commenced in earnest, and this will be pushed on with the greatest possible expedition. Work has been started on the road from Huknwai to the Blackwater battery. An electric plant is to be erected for the treatment of concentrates, and the ground has been pegged out in readiness. Westport Library. At the annual meeting of the subscribers of the-Westport Library, it was reported that the credit balance amounted to £2OO 12s 2d. Messrs Bradley, Tnlloch, Dallaston, Maitland, Harkness, and Fairhall were appointed a committee for the ensuing year. Personal. Captain Stein, who was formerly in charge of Salvation Army work at Bakaia, has been transferred to Hokitika. Mr and Mrs T. Lewis, who are leaving Waiuta for Waihi, were tendered a farewell by the residents on Saturday evening. Mr C. Campbell, house steward at the Westland Mental Hospital, has left for Nelson, where he has received a similar appointment. Mr and Mis J. H. Atkinson returned to Tim am on Saturday. Mrs E. J. Kitching will leave on Tuesday for Auckland, where she will join Mr Kitching. Mrs J. Hutton left on Saturday for the United Sta'tes, where she hopes to recruit her health. Prior to her departure, the teaching staff of the Technical School presented her with a travelling clock.

Dr. Keith and Inspectors Pitcaithley and Dalgleish are visiting the Keefton district. Mr and Mrs John Dick, of Eeef ton, are touring the Dominion. Mr John White, a West Coast pioneer, died at Kumara on Friday at the age of 85 years. The deceased was a native of Ireland. In the early days he was a champion wrestler. He leaves t\vo daughters and one son. Golf. The first ladies' medal match of the season was played yesterday at Omoto. In the senior competition the best scores were as follows:—Miss Kettle 93, Mrs McCarthy 96, Miss Sheedy 98. Junior: Mrs Thorpy 44, Miss Higgins 54j Miss Kilgour 6L.