WEST COAST NOTES

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19174, 3 December 1927, Page 17

WEST COAST NOTES

PERSONAL.

iSPICUI. 70 THI fMgl.) j GREYMOUTH, December 2. j The funeral of the late Mr Kichard Wills, of Eeefton, took place at the Reefton Suburban Cemetery this afternoon, when there was a very largo attendance of mourners from all parts of the Inangahua district. The cortege included a large representation of members of the Masonic Order. The Rev. S. J. Webb officiated at the graveside, the Masonic burial servico being read by W.B. C. P. Mori. Mr Frank Cooper, of Waiuta, is seriously ill in the Reefton Hospital. The golden wedding of Mr and Mrs T. Jorgenson, of Brougham street, Westport, was celebrated last evening, when a large number of relatives and friends assembled at their home. Mr Jorgenson is 73 years of age, and Mrs Jorgenson is 72. They arrived in New Zealand about 52 years ago. News has been received at Westport of the death at Johannesburg, South Africa, on November 19th, of Mr Adam Jamieson, who was for many years manager of the Westport • Coal Company. The death occurred at Westport yesterday of Mr John Boland, a native of Ireland, and 87 years of age. Mr Boland had spent over 60 years on the West Coast, having followed goldmining pursuits at Brighton, Addison's and Westport. He had also managed various goldmining claims, and was at one time in the employ of the Westport Harbour Board. Tho Mr Boland was a single man. Struck by Log. While working in a sawpit at Maruia yesterday afternoon, Michael Boyle, a member of a co-operative road construction party, received severe head injuries through being struck by a rolling log. He was taken to the Reefton J Hospital. His condition is serious. Pea Rifle Accident. James Agnew, son of Mr Agnew, of the Railway Department, Reefton, was admitted to the Eeefton Hospital yesterday suffering from an injury to an eye as a result of a pea-rifle shooting accident. He underwent an operation for the removal of the injured eye, and is reported to be progressing satisfactorily. Timber Industry. A more healthy position in the timber industry is indicated by the gradual disappearance of large quantities of timber which have been lying on the skids for many months at several of the mill sidings along the railway line between Hokitika and Otira. Since last week one and three-quarter million feet was brought to Greymouth for shipment to Australia, while four hundred thousand feet was sent through to Canterbury.

Plunket Society. Ideal weather favoured the Greymouth branch of the Plunket Society for the sale of work in aid of its *unds which was held at the Drill Hall this afternoon. Good business was done at the various stalls, which were presided over as follows:—Girl Guides (in which every article on sale was made by Girl Guides), Misses H. Coates, Hopkinson, Tilleyshort, Marshall, and assistants; sweets, Mesdames A. H. Wilde, D. M. Robertson, and J. W. Hannan; cake, Mesdames W. Bell, Black, and H. R. Barrett; tea rooms, Mesdames O'Brien and Alderton; work, Mesdames J. McLean, C. Moss, and H. Garde; jumble and bran-tub, Mesdames Leahy and T. Tilleyshort; flowers, Mrs P. M. Dennehy. A most successful children's fancy dress ball was held in the Drill Hall this evening, which was followed . by an adults ball, the proceeds from both to be devoted to the funds of the Society. Telegraph Poles. The steamer Kamona, which is due to arrive to-morrow from Napier, has on board one thousand telegraph poles for the Post and Telegraph Department. Opossum Skins. ' ■ At a meeting of the Westiand Acclimatisation Society, the receiver of opossum revenue wrote stating that additional skins received brought the total for Westiand up to 13,255.. The letter was received, the opinion being expressed that the stamping of the skins in the locality of recovery had a good deal to do with the increase shown. Arahura Eiver. As the result of representations made to the authorities by Mr T. E. Y. Seddon, M.P., on behalf of the Grey and Westiand Acclimatisation Societies, protesting against the proposal to prevent Europeans from tronf fishing in the Arahura river, the Westiand Acclimatisation Society has now been advised that fishing will be permitted. The Westiand Society recently placed seventy thousand fry in the river, which is noted as a fine stream both for breeding and fishing purposes. Tunnel Traffic.

The amount of goods traffic sent from the West Coast through the Otira tunnel for the week totals 8963 tonß, of which amount 2022 tons were railed through yesterday. Tor the past five weeks an average of 8950 tons per week has been maintained.

Continuous Telephone System. The Chief Postmaster at Westport has been advised by the Secretary of the Department that the request for continuous telephone exchange attendance has been granted as from December Ist. Continuous attendance at the Westport exchange therefore, commenced last night. Whitebait. It wa3 stated at the meeting of the Westland Acclimatisation Society that the run of whitebait this year had been most satisfactory, and there was no occasion to suggest a close season next year. The whitebait in captivity at the hatchery for experimental purposes were being closely watched. So far there was nothing special to report in regard to the fish, which were apparently still normal. Dobson Mine. Owing to the failure of the Grey Electric Power Board's supply to the Dobson mine on Thursday morning, the miners employed on the day shift refused to enter the mine on the grounds that the mining regulations required the fan to be working continuously for two hours prior to the men entering the mine. The management then decided to close the mine down for the remainder of the week. The mine will resume operations on Monday. A coincidence in connexion with the suspension of operations is that tomorrow was the anniversary of the Dobsou colliery disaster which occurred about 4 o 'clock on the morning of December'3rd, 1926, involving the loss of nine lives. Buller Licensing Committee. A meeting of the Buller Licensing Committee was held to-day. There were present: Mr W. Meldrum, S.M. (chairman), Messrs B. Elley, J. Menzies, and J. O 'Began. The 'following transfers were granted: Ferry Hotel, Bapahoe, to John Darwell; Prince of Wales Hotel to G. Smith; Alpine Hotel, Burnett'a Face, to T. B. Phibbs; Batira'a Hotel, Mawne- ! raiti, to J. P, Foster. _

Cbild Scalded. While being prepared for a bath, a girl named Bartlett, eight years of age, residing in Buller road, "Westport, slipped in to the hot water before cold water had been added to lower the temperature. She was severely scalded about the legs and lower portion of the body, and was admitted to the Westport Hospital where her mother, Mrs W. Bartlett, has been an inmate for the past two weeks. Child's Sudden Death. The four-year-old son of Mr and Mrs T. Bobinson, of Sewell street, Hokitika, was found dead in bed this morning. The ehild appeared to be in itfl usual health yesterday.