WEST COAST NOTES

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18891, 5 January 1927, Page 9

WEST COAST NOTES

PERSONAL. (SPECIAL TO TBS THES3 ) GEEYMOUTH, January 1. Mr P. J. O'Eegan (Wellington), who has been attending the Westport Jubilee n celebrations, is staying with relatives a at the Inangahua Landing. -Mr T. Lawless, chief clerk, Eailway District Engineer's Office, Christehurch, is a visitor to Grej'mouth. Mr Geo. Scott, of the Government j ' Printing Department, Wellington, and a former resident of Cobden, is visiting | Ureymouth. j Mr and Mrs E. F. Bellamy left today for Christehurch. Mr and Mrs 11. Gardiner, of Sumner, are spending a holiday on the "West

Coast. Mr L. Stewart, of Kelson, is visiting Mr and Mrs W. Stewart Leonard, Greymouth. Mr and Mrs F. Kitchingham, who have been mountaineering at Arthur's Pass and the Franz Josef Glacier, returned to Greymouth last evening. Mr C. D. Braidwood, of the Eailway Department, Dunedin, is visiting ! his parents, Mr and Mrs J. Braidwood, j High street. Mr James Gallagher, son of the first member for Buller, who has been attendj ing the Jubilee celebrations at Westport, has returned to Hastings. I Cottage Burgled. One of the summer cottages on the North Beach, Westport, was burgled yesterday, and the sum of £lO stolen. Admittance was gained into the building by taking the key from under the door. Fine Weather. Following several light heat showers during the afternoon, the weather cleared, and gives, every promise of being fine for the Greymouth Trotting Club's Meeting which commences to-morrow. Hokitika Savings Bank. The new Hokitika Savings Bank buildings will be opened for business this week. Akaroa Scouts. The Akaroa Scouts will arrive in Hokitika to-morrow, in charge of Scoutmaster the Eev. A. C. Purchas. They

will spend the first night at the Schoolhouse, South Hokitika, and then cycle to Lake Kanieri, where they will camp till Tuesday. Sunday will be visitors' day. The Hokitika Scouts are making preparations to give the visitors a good time on the West Coast. Dobson Drowning Tragedy. ] The inquest into the death by drowning of John Gibbs in the Grey river, at Dobson, last "Wednesday afternoon, was hold to-day by the Coroner, Mr W. Meldrum. Evidence was given by Baden AVatson I who stated that he, James Gibbs, and John Gibbs, went for a swim on WedI nosday afternoon in the Grey river. I "When at the other side of the river he noticed that John Gibbs, who was about I three parts of the way across, was in. | trouble. He went back and asked I him if he were in trouble, and he shook his head. Ho then told Gibbs I to lie on his back and swim. Ho 1 again shook his head. Witness put his i 'hand under Gibbs's breast to assist J him, but when they reached the curirent witness himself became exhausted and remembered no more -till he regained consciousness on the bank of tne river. Gibbs was a good swimmer. 1 James Gibbs, a brother « of the 1 drowned man, said that when he reached 3 the other side he heard his brother 5 call for help, and saw Watkins going K to his aid. He swam back and told J his brother to "keep his head." He 8 then tried to keep him up. When fi about twenty feet from the shore in g the current his brother sank. WitneM 9 dived and brought him to the surface S again, but could not hold him, and he j sank again. Witness was exhausted, and 3 had difficulty in getting out of th S river. He had never been m for a t Sat the spot before, but had bathe* Jj at the other side of the rocks 8 Frank Glen, a miner residing al S Greymouth, stated that he was walking 1 X,m? the Grey wharf yesterday aboul I fpm and saw Gibbs's body floating I down the river. He followed it dowi i and recerovered it near the tip. 3 A verdict was returned that Gibbs wai ~ accidentally drowned in the Grey rive, IS a Dobson, y and that his brother Jam* • Gibbs, and Baden Watkins, did all « their power to save him, and were t, be commended for their action.

The Holiday Season. There has been a record influx of visitors'to the West Coast for the hob, davs In addition to the heavy passe*S? fraffle by the west-bound express fleets of cars have been arriving daily wi h holiday visitors from Canterburv, Marlborough, and kelson and „"; T scenic attractions are. being Hberally y P tronised. With the rata and other beautiful native flowers in bloom, ?£ bush is looking at its best and. the West Coast is getting a great advertisement as an ideal holiday resort fron the touring parties who are enioying their holidays under perfect Weather conditions.