WEST COAST NOTES

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19175, 5 December 1927, Page 15

WEST COAST NOTES

PERSONAL. (StECIAT. TO TH« PMfIS.) GREYMOUTH, December 4. Mr T. 0. Bishop, secretary of the New Zealand Employers' Association, arrived from Wellington yesterday. The Hon. Mr Michel, M.L.C., returned yesterday from Wellington. Mr R. Gore arrived from Christchurch yesterday on a visit to relatives at Runanga. Mr P. Mewburn, Railwavs Coaching foreman, returned yesterday'from a holiday trip to the Bay of Islands. Mrs M. Bradshaw returned yesterday from Christchurch. • Among the outward passengers by yesterday's express were: Nurse Dolph, Mrs J. Haydon, Misses D. Mcßrearty, I. Torrance, and Messrs J. Henderson, H. Sweeney, and T. H.,Coltman. Mr M. Sheard, of the Greymouth Post and Telegraph Office staff, accompanied by Mrs Sheard, returned yesterday from a holiday trip to Dunedin. Mrs V. Fleming, who has been visiting her mother, Mrs P. Gillin, left yesterday for Christchurch, en route to Lower Hutt. Mrs W. Sampson returned yesterday from a holiday visit to Wellington. Among the passengers who arrived by yesterday's express were: Miss A. Mclntyre, Mrs C. Frazer, and Messrs H. St.A, Murray, and Alexander. News was received in Greymouth of the death on Thursday, at Auckland, of Mr Joseph Dollimore, a former wellknown resident of the West Coast. Mr Dollimore, who was about fifty-four years of age, was a native of Blue Spur, Hokitika, and had followed the occupation of a quartz miner for many years in the Reefton and Buller districts. He had lived in the North Island for nearly twenty years. He leaves a widow and family of seven children, The death occurred last week at Bexley, New South Wales, of Mrs Lucy Margaret Collett (nee Jones), at the age of forty-eight years. Mrs Collett formerly resided in Hokitika and later in Wellington and Christchurch, where sha was engaged in social work in connexion with the Salvation Army. She leaves a husband, Commander Collett, in charge of the Salvation Army Boys' Orphanage, Bexloy, and five children, the eldest of whom is fifteen years of age. Mrs A. Thorpe, of Sale street, Hokitika, is a pister. The death of Mr John Coyle, a wellknown Hokitika carrier, occurred on Friday evening after a long illness. He was fifty-seven years of age, and a native of Hokitika. He leaves a widow and two daughters and three sons.

Hokitika Tragedy. A Coronial enquiry into the death of John Thomas Eobinson, aged -three years and eleven months was held at Hokitika on Friday afternoon before Mr D. J. Evans, Acting-Coroner. Evidence was given to the effect that deceased was the elder aon of Thomas Robinson, cordial manufacturer rosiding in Sowell street, Hokitika. During Thursday the child, with a younger brother aged 3 years, was playing about as usual. Ho had a hearty midday meal, but did not eat much at tea. This was attributed to the eating of green gooseberries in the garden, though the boys had been warned against doing so. Both children, who slept together, wont to bed as usual. Soon after midnight one of the boys was crying, and Mr Eobinson, going to the room, found the elder child restless. After the child had been made comfortable he settled down and went to sleep again. At 4.30 there was another cry and the child was pacified. Half an hour later the younger brother came to his parents room and was taken to bed. At the same time the father visited the other child and found him asleep on his left side. About 8 o'clock when he was found apparently dead artificial respiration was tried unsuccessfully, and Dr. Baird summoned. Dr. Baird pronounced the child to be dead. The other boy was ill also and upon examination his removal to the Hospital was ordered. After consultation with the Police, and on tho order of the Coroner, a post mortem examination was made by Dr. Baird. The symptoms and general conditions pointed to death by convulsion, but as there might be other causes due to something which had been eaten, and as the other boy was considered dangerously ill, it was decided to have an investigation by the Government Analyst, and the inquest was adjourned accordingly to await the report. The death of the second child, Charles William Eobinson, aged two years and nine months, took place at the Westland Hospital on Friday evening. Following tho death of his brother, the child was found to be seriously ill, and was taken to the Hospital for treatment, but death ensued towards evening. The tragic loss of the two children in such sudden circumstances was a shock to the whole of the-community. The double funeral took place this afternoon, the cortege leaving the residence of the parents at 3.30 o'clock for the Hokitika Cemetery. There was a very large attendance of mourners.

Tawa Tlat Tunnel. Mr G. E. Hunter, of Christchurch, who has been in the Grey district for the past week, for the purpose of organising the Tawa Flat railway tunnel co-operative contracting project, left today by motor for Waiuta, Eecfton, and Westport. and will return to Christchurch via Nelson and Blenheim. State Mines Dispute. It is understood that the dispute at the State Mines in connexion with the question regarding the extraction of pillars in a section of the State Colliery, known as the Anderson seam, reached a further stago during the week-end, when a cavil was drawn allocating places for eight pairs of miners in that portion of the mine. A report is being circulated to the effect that the men will refuse to work the Anderson seam unless the decision of the management is revoked with regard to the extraction of pillars on the grounds that lives will be endangered through accumulations of gas. At a recent conference between representatives of the management and the Union, Messrs J. A. C. Bavne, -Chief Inspector of Mines, and 0 J Davis, district inspector, who were present, held that the extraction of the pillars was a perfectly safe procedure but this view was opposed by the union's representatives, who referred the disputo to the District Council. It is understood that the union some time ago was agreeable to the pillars being remefed, so long as the place was worked by experienced men. It is statea that a large majority of members of the State Miners Union are strongly against any action that to trouble. The Anderson seam 'is close to the mouth of the pit, but some distance from the main haulage road. The union*s decision as to whether or not ! the Anderson seam is to be worked under the terms laid down by the management, will probabiy be known tomorrow.

Inquest. An inquest was held at Greymouth yesterday, before Mr W. Meldrum, S.M., concerning the death of the boy Charles Sweetmau, who left his home on November 24th to go whitebaiting in the Grey river, and failed to return. The boy'» body was found four days later

on the Twelve Mile Beach. After evidence had been heard, a verdict was returned that deceased was accidentally drowned in the Grey River. Motoring Mishap. While Mr Abdo Saraty, of Blackball, accompanied by a friend, was motoring to Hokitika this morning the car left the road between Kumara and Stafford, turning a complete somersault over a bank before it landed upside down in some scrub. Neither of the passengers was hurt. The hood and windscreen were damaged. Gored by a Bull. A boy named Herbert Shannon, residing at Barrytown, was admitted to the Grey Hospital last evening suffering from injuries to the knee as the result of being gored by a bull. His condition is reported as satisfactory. Cricket. Brilliant sunshine favoured cricketers this week-end, and there was some good scoring. Cobden played a drawn game with United B at the Cobden Recreation Ground. Adams and Casey opened for United, and 60 runs were scored before Casey was caught by GilHn behind the stumps. Adams was then partnered with, the veteran Denton, and the board showed 117 before this partnership was broken. The innings closed with 197, the best 6corers being Adams 43, Dentoa 47, Casey 22, and Nightingale 14. Extras accounted for 25. Knapp took sis wickets for 31 runs, Barlow 3 for 46, and E, Dewar 1 for 32. Cobden then batted, and after two hours' play, when time was called, 78 runs had been scored with a loss of 4 wickets. Barlow opened with Kelly, and carried his bat through the innings, playing very safely. His score was 32 (not out), and his was the only double-figure score for Cobden. Case/ took 2 wickets for 17 runs, Revell 1 for 35, and Adams 1 for 7. Playing to-day against Stars, United A declared with 209 runs for 7 wickets, the best scorers being: King 97 (includ--9 sixes), Walton (not out) 38, Spender 21, P. Jamieson 17, and Clark 12. Stars are batting, and have one wicket down for 18 runs, with an hoar and a half to play.