WEST COAST NOTES

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18902, 18 January 1927, Page 9

WEST COAST NOTES

PERSONAL.

(3MCIAL TO TM Pilgg.)

GHEYMOUTH, January 17.

Miss Ruby Johnston (Auckland) is the guest of Mrs E. Warnes (Shakespeare street, Greymouth). News has reached Greymouth of the death of Mrs Allen, an old resident of Brunnerton, at the residence of her daughter, Mrs J. Inglis (Pearmont, Sydney). Mrs Allen was a native of England, and 79 years of age. Her husband predeceased her 20 years ago. She leaves a grown-up' family of three sons and three daughters. Mr Arthur Rose, president of the Christ church Licensed Victuallers' Association, who has been visiting Blenheim and Nelson, arrived at Greymouth on Saturday evening. He returned to Nelson this morning. Mr J. Higgins, Grey County Engineer, and Miss L. Higgins, were among the passengers on to-day's outward express.

A motoring party, comprising Mr and Mrs C. Speight, Mr and Mrs R. 0. Duncan, Mr and Mrs Bankart, Mr and Mrs T. Madden, Dr. P. P. McEvedy, and Mrs McEvedy, Mrs Green, Mr Loiiisson, Misses Speight, and McEvedy left Hokitika this morning for the South Westlaud Glaciers. They return to Greymouth on "Wednesday, leaving for Christchurch the following morning.

The death occurred at the Nelson Hospital on Saturday of Malcolm Edward McKay, son of Mr R. C. McKay, of Wcstport, a native of Westport, and 17 years of age. Miss E. Jones, of the Dental Clinic, Wcstport, has returned from a trip to the West Coast Sounds.

Mrs R. Methven, of Westport, left today for Auckland, on a visit to her brother, Mr Hooten, who was seriously injured in a recent motoring accident.

Tho Hon. Mr Mclntyre and Mr J.. Powell arrived in Hokitika this evening to attend the Wcstland County Council Jubilee, which takes place to-inorrow. Mr H. Blyth, of Waipara, Canterbury, an ex-member of the Wcstland County Council, will arrive by to-morrow's express to attend the Jubilee of the Westland County Council. Dobson Relief Fund. The amount received in subscriptions to the Dobson Belief Fund to date totals £1246 12s Cd. Annual Court Returns. The details of the civil and criminal cases dealt with by the Greyinouth Magistrate's Court for the year ended December 31st, 1926, are as follows: — Civil—Number of plaints issued 393, total sum sued for £5611 4s lOd, cases tried 333, total amount claimed £4523 3s 3d, amount recovered £3169 14s Bd, number of judgment summonses 134. Criminal —Number of cases 764, arrests, male 103, female 1, number.of summonses issued 640, total fines paid £2BS 19s. Outbreak of Fire. The Hokitika Brigade answered a call yesterday morning, the cause being an outbreak in Mesßrs Davies Bros. Crown Brewery, Gibson quay. The fire, which was extinguished before any serious damage resulted, is believed to have been caused by a 'spark from the boiler which ignited some sacks in the vicinity. ■ The Weather. Following heavy showers last night, this morning broke 'with a cloudless I sky, and beautiful weather prevailed during the day. Visitors to the West Coast on holiday are being favoured 1 with ideal weather, the climatic conditions being mild and bracing during the day, with cool evenings. There is every prospect of the present favourable weather continuing for. some time.

Magistrate's Court. At a sitting of the Greymouth Magistrate's Court to-day, Mr W* Mcldrum, S.M., presided. Cyril Neville, commission agent, Greymouth, was charged with having driven a motor-car on tho Stillwater road on November 30th, without having number plates displayed as required by tho Motor Vehicles Act. The information was laid by Trafflc-li»pector A. J. Sloss, who was represented by Mr \\. J. Joyce. Defendant pleaded, guilty, and Mr Joyce stated that it was Neville's second offence. A fine was imposed of £2, with costs 7a* Neville was further charged with having driven a car at a dangerous speed on the fctni-water-Ngahere main road. Traffic-Inspec-tor Sloss said he "was motoring to Greymouth in a car driven by his son, and when coming on a hill near Ngahere where the road was very dangerous owing to the visibility being bad, he saw Neville coming in a cloud of dust. Witness pulled up his car to avert an accident. Neville admitted that the rate he was drivjng was between 28 and 30 miles an hour, but as he frequently blew his horn lie did not consider there was any danger. Ho was able to pass Sloss on the hill without pulling up, and the latter did not have to move off the road to let him pass. He had been driving motorcycles and cars for the past five years. Tho surface of the road was good, but the visibility was bad at the hill. He considered there was barely room for two cars to pass at the point. He could point out at least twenty dangerous places on the road from Greymouth to Reefton. „ His Worship said that the charge of driving at an excessive speed was a serious one. One of the worst faults with the West Coast roads was that they were too narrow. At the particular part of the road mentioned the visibility was bad, and there was a sharp rise. He held that there was a grave risk-of a serious accident through Neville taking the hill at a dangerous pace. A fine was inflicted of £5, with costs 7s, and solicitor's fee £3 3s.

William Boberta was charged on six counts with having obtained under false pretences with intent to defraud, the sums of £ls at Greymouth, and £5 at Hokitika, on January 2nd; £5 at Greymouth on January 4th, and £lO at ITawheraiti on January sth. Accused pleaded guilty, and elected to be dealt with summarily. The charge of being an idle and disorderly person in that he had insufficient means of support, on which Roberts was remanded from Beefton, was withdrawn by the police. Detective Murch said that the accused came to Greymouth from Wellington on December 13th, and proceeded to Hokitika for the races on January 3rd. He went to the Bank of New Zealand at Hokitika, which was closed, and he went to the back of the building and saw two clerks. He spoke to one, and said he was a Government veterinary surgeon, and had an account at Duncdin. He asked for a cheque book, and was given one with four blank cheques in it. The accused mutilated two of the cheques, but borrowed others, and obtained monev by this means from several hotelkeepers. The accused said ho arrived in Greymouth with £IOO. He had, however, been drinking heavily since ho returned from the war. His Worship remarked that unfortunately for the accused ho had a long list of sentences, and under the ( circumstances he must impose a term of imprisonment. Accused would be sentenced to six months' imprisonment on each charge, the sentences to be concurrent. For failing to render personal services under the Defence Act, Francis

Sweetman was. fined 10s and costs 7s. Stacey Joseph Oxenham appeared on remand on a charge of stealing the sum of £ll 5s belonging to the New Zealand Government. Upon the application of Detective Murcli,] a further remand was granted until/January 24th. Bail, was renewed. • • • William Henry Briggs, of Lyttelton, was sued for arrears of maintenance of his wife,, amounting to £2O, and was sentenced to two months', imprisonment, the warrant to be suspended so long as he paid off the arrears at the. rate of £5 per month, first payment to.be made on January 24th,

South Westland Route. The erection of tho bridge across Cowhide Creek, by the Westland County Council, which is expected to be completed this month, will remove another of the wet weather obstacles to motorists ou the South Westland road. The bridging of Parker's Creek, which w also completed, will overcome another troublesome crossing when floods prevail. A start has been • made ,to confine Dry Creek prior to erecting a traffic bridge. The groynes. are now in position to assist in controlling the stream, and are doing satisfactory work. As soon as the materia] for the bridge arrives, bridge building by tho Public Works staff will be put in hand. Tho Westland County Council will' erect bridges at Cameron's Crefek and Granite Creek, on the main South' road, as soon as material is received. • Zalas bridge will be overhauled soon. These works will all be a great boon to southern motor traffic. Sunshine and Bain. For the week ended yesterday, 59 hours of sunshine and 250 -points of rain were recorded at Hokitika. Westport Coal Shipments. Tor the week ended Saturday, the Westport Coal Company' shipped 6784 tons Dcwt of coal. The local sales were ns follows: Coal, 160 tons 9cwt; coke 22 tons 2cwt. Hokitika District Excursion. At a special meeting of tho Hokitika School Committee held this morning, Mr H. E. Swcney, presiding, it was reported that the Reef ton School's excursion was taking place at Hokitika on Wednesday, February 2nd After discussion it was resolved m order not to clash, that the excursion to Point Elizabeth be postponed until the following dav, Thursday, February 3rd.