WEST COAST NOTES

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19161, 18 November 1927, Page 7

WEST COAST NOTES

ENGINE COLLIDES WITH ! TRAIN. i i i i (SPECUf. TO tSZ pszss 1 i GREYMOUTH, November 17. j During shunting operations on the I Grey wharf at about 3.43 this afternoon j a W.D. class locomotive, used for shuntj ing purposes, crashed into a moving i coal train. The collision occurred opposite the Brian Boru Hotel at Mawhera Quay. The coal train, which had just arrived from Dobson,' was proceeding in the direction of the railway weighbridge, when the shunting engine, which was going in the same direction along an adjacent line, swung off its right course and, running along a short length of loop line, which connects with the rails on which the coal train was running, hit the rear part of the train side on. The impact, which was terrific, capsized three coal hoppers off their carriages, strewing their contents on to the street, while several other hopper carriages were derailed. The shunting engine was thrown sideways 011 to the river side of the wharf. Fortunately 110 one was hurt. Driver E. Lonsley, and the fireman, C. Larcombe, who were imprisoned in the overturned engine, made their escape through the top side of the cab. The collision was caused through the points having been switched 011 to the loop line instead of the line along which the shunting engine was proceeding. Immediately after the collision steam was blown off the engine to prevent any possibility' of the boiler exploding. A breakdown crew arrived on the scene shortly after the collision., and the work of clearing up the wreckage was completed at S o'clock this evening. Alleged Assault. Charged with assaulting a woman, Elizabeth Shearer, at Wallsend, on November 11th, a young man named Archibald Chester appeared this morni; in custody before Mr G. E. Perkins, J.P., at the Greymouth Court. On the application of Sergt. J. Smyth a remand was granted until next Monday. Sergt. Smyth 3aid that Chester had left his employment at Dobson and the police had reason to believe that he was about to leave the district. He asked Jthat if bail were granted, that a substantial amount be fixed. Bail was fixed in self £SO, and one surety of £3O. Motoring Mishap. While Mr S. Whitehead, of Moonlight, along with a companion, was returning home from Greymouth in a new sixseater ear, one of the springs of the vehicle broke when rounding a turn in ■the road about two miles from its destination. The broken spring affected the steering gear, with the result that the car plunged over a precipice, burst ing into flames in its descent. The occupants had a miraculous escape, neither being injured. The wrecked car was brought into Greymouth to-day for repairs. The damage is estimated at about £2OO. Faparoa Mine. , Owing to slackness of orders the Paparoa, Mine haa been idle during the present week. Timber Industry. Although the timber industry is still very slack, a move hopeful outlook for an improvement in the near future is shared by several of the local representatives of important sawmilling companies. It is understood that there is a marked improvement in orders for rimu, while the demand from Australia for white pine is also on the increase. . The inter-Colonial steamer Ihumata, which is due during this week-end/ will load 700,000 supor. feet of white pine for Sydney. Personal. Mrs W. liannan, who has been visiting her son, Mr J. W. Hannan, of Greymouth, returned this morning to Christchurch. Dr. Violet Raines, of Brunner, has returned from a holiday trip to Christchurch. Mr J. W, Hannan left to-day for Christchurch. Miss Mabei McCallum, who has been visiting relatives in Greymouth, returned to-day to Australia. Mr Norman Heath, who has been ■visiting the West Coast, left to-day for Auckland. Mr and Mrs E. J. Apple ton, Hokitika, left for Christchurch by to-day's express. Mr A. H. Greenwood left to-day for Christchurch to attend the conference of Cricket Associations. Miss C. Harcourt and K. Duncan, who have been visiting the West Coast, left to-day for WanganuiMr and Mrs P. Callan returned from Christchurch this afternoon. Mr J. G. Doolan, Chief Traffic Auditor, Railways Department, who has been visiting the West Coast, returned to Christchurch this morning. The death occurred at the Grey Hospital this morning of Mrs Elizabeth Gillaly, at the age of 74 years. She was a native of Airdrie, Scotland, and late of Runanga. The death occurred at the Westland Hospital yesterday of Mrs M. B. Davis, late of Otira and Christchurch. Mrs Davis was a native of Wales and 76 years of age, and had been 52 years in New Zealand. She was a widow and leaves one son. The funeral of the late Mr Peter Romas, formerly of Kumara, took place this afternoon. Archdeacon Carr conducted the Anglican service, and Mr J. Steer (D.G.M.) read the Masonic service. Mr Romas was a past master of the Lazar Lodge. The resignation of Sister Maud M. Canning as operating theatre sister at the Grey Hospital was this evening received by the Grey Hospital Board, her intention being to proceed to Scotland to continue her training. She will be succeeded by Nurse M. Williams, now in charge of the Old People's Home. Big Landslide. With regard to the big landslide which came down yesterday and destroyed a section of the Grey-Barrv-town road near Baty's Hill, the Grev County Council sent the following telegram to the Minister for Public Works: "The Grevmouth-Punakaiki road at Baty's Hill has been destroyed by an enormous landslide. The Council has no funds to reopen the road, having already spent more than double the annual revenue receivable from the district. Will you kindly instruct the district engineer to report with a view to granting the Council assistance to reopen the road?"

A similar telegram was sent to Mr H. E. Holland, M.P., in whose district the slip is located. The chairman of the Council, Mr J. Ryall, has received a reply from the Minister stating that he has instructed the district engineer to report immediately, and that the Council's request for assistance will receive careful consideration when the district engineer's report has been sent in. Norses' Examinations. The matron of the Grey Hospital reported to the Board this evening that the final nurses' examination had been passed by Nurses V. Blacktopp, J. Malcolm, G. Meredith, and B. Smith; also that the invalid cookery examination at the Technics! College had been passed

by Nurses A. M. Becker, O. Daly 1 , A. McKay, and B. Ilton. Farmers' Union. The quarterly conference of the West Coast Farmers' Union Provincial Executive was held in the County Chambers to-day. Present: Messrs Jas. Mulcare (president), W. O'Neill (vice-president), W. Clayton, A. McDonnell (Grey Valley), A. Muir, D. Shannahan (Grey), H. Hodgkinson. (Rotomanu), W. Fisher, H. G. Carter (Ngahere), A. W. Bell (Rotokohu). The Auckland Provincial Secretary wrote regarding official propaganda, and giving details of the scheme for the executive's consideration. The president stated that the Dominion Executive was not in favour of official propaganda. Auckland was making a success of it. He thought the best way to get at the bulk of the farmers was to supply the names of blanch secretaries and let the Auckland Provincial Secretary get into toucii with them. Their opinions would then be. ascertained and further action decided on. A motion on these lines was carried. The Buller County Clerk wrote forwarding a copy of the minutes, of the meeting of a number of local bodies' representatives held recently in Reefton to consider the serious position arising out of river erosion on the West Coast, and asking the support of the executive to secure assistance. It was resolved that the executive of the Union be directly represented, Messrs Bell and Delaney being appointed to represent the executive at any further conference held. The question of having weather forecasts broadcast for the convenience of farmers was discussed, and it was decided to refer the matter to the Dominion Executive.