WEST COAST NOTES

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19139, 24 October 1927, Page 3

WEST COAST NOTES

WEATHER IMPROVES. (SPECIAL TO THE P8E68.) GBEYMOUTH, October 23. The disagreeable weather conditions experienced on the West Coast during the past few days gave promise of imprc- ' this afternoon, when the sun made a welcome reappearance and peeked shyly out through sullen clouds to shed its rays on a water-logged landscape, while a lively westerly wind assisted to dry up the rain washed streets and roads, and removed all traces of the flood waters which invaded Victoria Park on Friday. There was a heavy shower re d about aoon to-day, and although there were only spasmodic bursts of sunshine there are good prospects of better weather. There was another 'heavy downpour in the early hours of .Saturday morning, with the result that the rainfall registered at Greymouth at 9 a.m. yesterday totalled 110 points. The storm uprooted a giant tree, which fell across the rai' line on the section Jacksons and Aiekens, smashing the signalling wires and disorganising traffic generally. Goods trains between Otira and Greymouth were held up for about six hours and ■■ special train carrying about 270 passengers wlrich left Christchureh at sis o'clock yesterday morning did not reach Greymouth until about 3.45 in the afternoon. The passengers had an unpleasant trip and arrived in Greymouth tired and hungry. The Grey river is still carrying a good deal of flood water, but, is quickly getting back to normal. There are not likely to be any shipping movements until to-morrow, owing to a heavy swell on the bar.

In spite of the many drawbacks occasioned by the heavy weather the» big floods in the Grey river, will completely scour the bar channel which had badly shoaled, causing considerable loss ito the port and the coal industry, through ships having to leave here only partly loaded. The flood will greatly increase the depth on the bar and will consequently give an impetus to the coal industry. At Hokitika, where the rainfall was much heavier than at Greymouth, Friday night's downpou- caused a recurrence of the previous' day's flood in the Hokitika river, which was very high and backed up in the lower parts of the town. So far only minor damage has been reported; A crossing at Waitaha Lagoon (South Westland) was washed out.

"With the exception of the approaches to several bridges being washed u .v»ay the Grey County roads were not affected and road traffic is now restored. The weather showed further improvement towards evening nd the lowering clouds which have obscured the sky during the last week, had almost disappeared. The wind veered around to. the nor'-west and the prospects for fine weather seem /fairly assured.

Personal. The Hon. Mr Michel, M.L.C., Hokitika, left yesterday for Wellington. Mr Dudley Oliver (Timaru) is visiting Mr and Mrs A. V. Oliver (Cowpcr street), Mr E. T. Spidey, superintendent of Eailway workshops, left vesterday for Christchurch. Mr K Simmers, engineer in charge of..the Elmer Lane railway works, is visiting Christchurch. ~ Mr and Mrs A. E. Le Fevre left yesterday on a holiday trip to Dunedin. Mr N. B. McCallum lef,t for Christchurch yesterday. Mrs Carr, wife oiSMr Carr, manager of the Bimu Company's dredge, who recently arrived from America, is seriously, ill. It was proposed to remove her to Christchurch on Thursday for spc i medical attention, but owing to the heavy weather- the journey was . ?ostponed until yesterday. ' Mr and Mrs G. R. Hunter, Christchurch, and formerly of Kunanga, are visiting Greymouth. Mesdames H. Orams (Featherston) and T.. Smith (Gisborne), who have been visiting Greymouth on account of the death of their mother, Mrs K. Johnson, will return to the North Island oh Tuesday. , Mr C. Shirley, postmaster at Denniston has been transferred to the Telegraph Department of the Westport Post Office.: Mr Berret has been transferred to Denniston as postmaster. The iuneral of the late Mrs A. Johnson, anold resident of Greymouth, took place a.t Karoro yesterday morning, when there was a large attendance of mourners. Tic Anglican services at her late residence and the graveside were conducted by Archdeacon Carr. The 1 death occurred at Westport on Thursday evening of Mrs Dixon, wife of Mr John Dixon, of Victoria road, Westport. She was a native of Boss, but had spenjt most of her - life in Westport. Besides her husband? she leaves one son and two daughters.

Hotel Accommodation. There is a large influx of visitors to Greymouth for the Grey mouth Trotting Club's Meeting, the hotel accommodation, being taxed ito its full capacity. The special excursion train from Christehurch yesterday brought a large number of ex-West Coasters, who are spending the week-end with relatives and friends. Trotting Club's Excursion. Owing to the unfav ".rable weathor outlook this morning, the Greymouth Trotting Club's round trip excursion to Lake Bfunner, via Te Kinga and Mitchell's was poorly patronised. lne special excursion train leaving Greymouth for Te Kinga carried about_6o passengers, a similar number leaving by car for Mitchell's. Eailway Transfer*. It is reported that the question of transferring the Greymouth railway workshops staff was considered on Friday, when Mr E. T. Spidey, superintendent of Eailway workshops, conferred with Mr Whiley, local workshops foreman. So far as can be learned the intention to. remove the whole of the staff will not be adhered to, as it- is ! likely that a considerable staff will be required at Greymouth. It vis understood that the transfers will not take e'ffect for about a year. Electric Supply Pails. • Yesterday's stormy weather affected the electrical installation at the Grey Power Board's Omoto sub-station causing the consumers connected with that supply to' be cut off until repairs were effected at about nine o'clock m the evening. The electrical supply to the pumping station was also out of action this mofningfthrough flood damage, and eas power was utilised to work the pumping engines. The current supplying the Borough and other parts of the district was not affected.