WEST COAST NOTES

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18906, 22 January 1927, Page 17

WEST COAST NOTES

PERSONAL. (special to the press.) GEEYMOUTH, January 21. Mr F. Pawson, business agent of the New Zealand Railways, will arrive in Greymouth on Monday next. During his visit to the West Coast Mr Pawson will make arrangements in connexion with the organisation of the farmers' excursions from the West Coast to Canterbury and vice versa. Mr W. Taylor, who for the past six months has been stationed in Greymouth as a telegraphist, will leave tomorrow for Auckland to take up duty at tho Auckland Telegraph Office. He will be accompanied by Mrs Taylor.

Mr E. Caldwell will arrive to-mor-row from Auckland to take up duty on the staff of the Greymouth Telegraph Office. Mr T. Parry, manager of the Union Bank, Waimate, is on a visit to his mother, Mrs A. Adams, Shakespeare street. He will leave for Waimate on Monday.

Miss Dillon, who has been spending a holiday in Greymouth, will return to Wellington to-morrow. Mr K. H. Richmond, of the firm of Messrs Richmond and Reynolds, Greymouth, will arrive from Christchurch at the end of January, to take up his residence at Greymouth.

Tourist Office Bookings. Bookings at the Government Tourist Office, Greymouth, consistituted a record Tor the Christmas and New Year holiday season. Owing to the unfavourable weather prevailing during October and November there was a slight falling off in business as compared with the previous years' corresponding period. It is anticipated, however, that the bookings will be exceptionally heavy during the next three months.

Greymouth Police Court. At a sitting of tho Greymouth Police Court this morning, Mr A. Naylor, J.P. presided. The sentence on William Eule on a charge of trespass, which was heard on January 14th, was deferred until January 31st. Two men who were arrested by Constable Corcoran last evening, on a charge of making a disturbance in a public place, wero each fined 10s, and costs. Suppression of their names was ordered by the Court.

Trotting Club's Grandstand. At a meeting of the Greymouth Trotting Club it was decided to proceed immediately with the re-erectio'n of the new grandstand, which was destroyed by fire a year ago. Plans and specifications for the new stand were discussed and approved. It is expected that the stand will be completed in time for the" October meeting.

Lifrwood Bowling Party. Tho Linwood Bowling Club's party which is touring.the West Coast, dividled up at -Hokitika this morning, six members of the party making the journey to tho Franz Josef Glacier, while tho others, who to-day visited the Kiinu •Flat dredge and Lake Kanieri, will return to Christchurch to-morrow morning. The remainder of the party will leave Hokitika for Christchurch on M6nday. Before the party separated this morning a presentation was made to Mr James Allen, who had acted as secretary, while the occasion was taken to felicitate Mr J. Papps on the occasion of his 71st birthday.

Chamber of Commerce. , The monthly meeting oi: the Greymouth Chamber of Commerce was held this afternoon. Those present were: Messrs J. McLean (chairman), J. E. Williams, A. Naylor, W. B. Kettle, W. B. Cunningham, 11.I 1 . H. Kitchihgham, L. B. Miller, T. E. Y. Seddon, M.P., W. H. Parfitt, N. B. Callum, and H. D. Mace.

'• The chairman stated that the various statistical returns for last year were very encouraging. The total value of permits for new buildings and building repairs in Greymouth amounted to approximately £50,000. The coal exports for 1926 totalled 217,369 tons, as compared with 192,537 tons for 1925, an increase of 24,832 tons. The flood damage to the Blackball bridge and the Dobson mine explosion were responsible for a slight decrease in the export of general goods, which totalled 2528 tons, as compared with 2624 tons for the previous year, but the general business prospects for the current year were very bright. Unfortunately there was _no improvement; in the position regarding the timber industry, the exports showed a falling off of 441,677 super, feet as compared with ,the previous year's figures. The millers, he said, could rely on the whole-hearted support of the Chamber, and the member for the district, in doing everything possible to bring about an improved state of affairs in the industry. In conclusion he stressed the urgency of the early completion of the Greymouth-Westport coastal' road, which was a work not only of local l>ut of Dominion importance. The question of taking steps to prevent acts of vandalism to scenic resorts was discussed, and it was resolved that the matter of making application to the Minister for Lands for plans defining the scenic reserves in the Grey District be left in the hands of Messrs Seddon and Kitchingham. The appointment off a representative from the Farmers' Union on the Chamber was left in the hands of the chairman and Mr McCallum. A letter was received from tho secrotary of the Dobson Collieries, Ltd., appointing Mr Allan Smith as the Company's representative on the Chamregarding the Chamber's request to the Railway Department for the erection of a Biding at Bapahoe, Mr McCallum stated that there were six coal-min-ing co-operative parties operating ui the Eapahoe district at the present time These parties would require sidings and he thought it would be advisable to hold the matter over in the meantime. It was decided to adopt the suggestion. , , ... It was resolved that the Automobile Association be requested to erect a sign at the junction of the Greenstone and Blackwater roads on the route to Mitchells (Lake Brunner). With a view to facilitating outdoor works in the district, Mr Kitchingham moved that the Minister for Internal Affairs be requested for a weather chart furnishing the particulars of the weather on" the West Coast from day to day covering tho past 25 years. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr Greenslade,, that the Minister for Mines bt, communicated with in connexion with the construction of the proposed road to the Alexander Beefs asking that tho road be made via Waiuta, which was the more economical and serviceable route. Reference was made to the unsatisfactory replies received from the Post-master-General' and Minister for Customs with regard to the condition _ of the Post Office and Custom House buildings. It was stated that the accommodation in the Post Office building was quite inadequate for the staff, and

also that the present arrangements were causing considerable delays and inconvenience to the public. The building was in an insanitary state. The chairman referred to the disgraceful condition of the Custom House which was crumbling as the result of the depredations of the borer. He said that the building was a' disgrace. It was decided to protest again to the. authorities regarding the state of the building.

, Timber Industry. Eeferring to the continued depression in the timber industry on the West Coast, Mr W. B. Cunningham, manager of the Greymouth branch of the Union Steam Ship Company, Ltd., stated at the Chamber of Commerce meeting this afternoon that he intended to arrange for a special steamer to convey timber to Melbourne, but orders were available of .only 150,000 to 200,000. super, feet. At this time last year, said Mr Cunningham, orders were availablo for 1,000,000 super, feet. He stated that thero was a slight improvement in orders for white pine from the Australian 'cities.

Tunnel Traffic. Goods traffic railed fioni the West Coast through the Otin tunnel for tiie week totals 7534 tons. Greymouth-Westport Boad. The speedy completion of the Grey-mouth-Westport : coastal road was stressed at the meeting of the .Greymouth Chamber of Commerce to-day as a work of national importance. The ohairman, Mr J. McLean, stated that it was about time that some definite steps were taken in tho matter, as he considered there was no reason why the road should not be completed before the .end of the current year. The formation of the whole of tho road with the exception of about 2i miles had been completed. The work necessitated the bridging of the Fox, the Porari and the Punakaiki Kivers, and the total estimated expenditure of road and bridge construction involved an outlay of about £20,000. The coastal road would bring Greymouth within three hours' communication of Westport,and would considerably facilitate transport between Canterbury and Westport. Continuing, the chairman stated that the completion of the coastal road had tho support of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, and he felt sure that the Canterbury Chamber would be only too eager to co-operate in bringing about its early completion. Mr T. E. T. Seddon, M.P., stated that the project had the entire support of the whole of the South Island members of parliament. He suggested 7 that the whole of the unemployed in the district could be absorbed in the work if the Government would have it pushed on. The Minister for Public Works had been evidently misinformed when* he stated recently that there was no unemployment on the West Coast, as everyone present knew that this statement was incorrect. While the formation of the road was being completed, the construction of the bridges could also be proceeded with, and this work would absorb the whole of the unemployed in the district. Mr W. R. Kettle said that 'when the Hon. Mr Coates made his last visit to the West Coast he made a definite promise to the effect that the road would be completed without delay. The chairman then moved that representations be made to the Minister for Public Works through _ Mr Seddon, stressing the national importance of the work, and asking that immediate steps be taken to bring about an early completion. The motion was seconded by Mr Kettle and carried unanimously]! It waß also decided to communicate with the member, for Buller, the Christchurch members of Parliament, and the various Progress Leagues and Chambers of Commerce in the Canterbury, Marlborough, Nelson, and Buller districts, asking • for their co-operation.