WEST COAST NOTES

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19176, 6 December 1927, Page 7

WEST COAST NOTES

COAL INDUSTRY.

(BMCIAT, TO TH* P3185.)

GREYMOUTH, December 5,

Mr T. 0. Bishop, secretary of the New Zealand Coal Mines Association, who arrived from Wellington on Saturday, met the representatives of the Miners' District Council on Saturday evening with regard to a dispute in connexion with the terms of the pumping agreement at the Blackball Mine. The dispute was settled to the satisfaction of both parties, and Mr Bishop left this evening for Keefton, en route to Westport, where he will confer with the Miners' District Council regarding disputes in the Buller district. Mr W. Balderstone (secretary of the West Coast Miners' District Council) will leave to-morrow morning for Westport, to attend the conference. State Mine Dispute. Mr H. E. Holland, M.P., has received the following communication from the Minister for Mines: "I promised you at a recent interview respecting the dispute at No. 2 State Mine, with regard to pillar extraction, that I would ask Mr Bayne and Mr Davis to furnish a report on this matter, and I append hereto a copy of this report."

The report reads: "On November 21st, accompanied by Inspector Davis, Mr King, and representatives of the Miners' Union, including Mr Balderstone, I inspected the section in the Anderson seam No. 2 State Mine, from which it was proposed to extract pillars, and discussed the conditions with the parties who were present. My investigations convince me that the Union was wrong in contending that these pillars should be left in for safety reasons. The main level leading into the Anderson seam from the stone drive is along a ridge in the cofl seam with the coal dipping on both sides as well as ahead. Pumping has, therefore, to be done in this section to keep it free from water. If the pillars are allowed to stand for any length of time, the roof would fall in. If the pillars are extracted now the pillared area would be flooded, and that way made perfectly secure, both frbm gas and fire. I am decidedly of the opinion that it would be a better and safer practice to extract these pillars without any further delay. After our visit Inspector Davis and I wrote a joint letter to the Union, setting out our views." When work was resumed at the mine this morning, the men who cavilled for pillar places in the Anderson seam refused to start work. About seven men, including two pairs of miners, are involved. Although the Union is supporting the men in their action in refusing ta work the Anderson seam, the remainder of the men wero working as usual to-day. In the event of no settlement being reached with regard to the pillar question, within the next few days, it is understood that a special meeting of the West Coast Miners' District Couneil will be convened to deal with the dispute. Coastwise Eoad. The Minister for Public Works has advised the Grey County Council that provision has been made in the Supplementary Estimates for the work of bridging the Punakaiki and Porarari rivers on the Grey-Westport coastal road. The sum of £250 has been allocated for each bridge. It is expected that the work will be put in hand early next year. Tourist Season. Bookings made up to the present time at Greymouth and Hokitika for the 1937'28 tourist season exceed all previous records. In many instances reservations have been made up to March next, Busy Bees. Sheltered from the glare of the bright eunshine which is being enjoyed on the Wept Coast, a swarm of bees has taken up its abode since Saturday last between two of the columns on the first storey of the Greymouth Post Oflice. Although the honey producers are located close to an open window near the telephone exchange, they appear to be working full time in spite of their noisy surroundings. Incipient Tire. Shortly before 1 o'clock this afternoon the Fire Brigade received a call to an outbreak in a vvashhouse at the rear of 8 residence in Alexander terrace. The fire, which was of. a trifling nature, was extinguished with a bucket of water. Technical School Hostel. The work of erecting the Technical School Hostel at Karoro will be sufficiently advanced during the next week or two to permit the furnishing of the building to be proceeded with. Overloaded Lorries. On informations Joid by Inspector A.J. Sloss, on behalf of the Highways Board for No. 12 district, several defendants were proceeded against at the Magistrate's Court to-day, before Mr W. Meldrum, S,M., for alleged breaches of the heavy traffic regulations. Fines and costs totalling £8 15s 6d were inflicted PP John McFarlane, of Kuniara, lorry-driver, on two charges of conveying loads exceeding the maximum weight on classified roads in the district. Francis Patrick Watson and Janetta Galloway Watson, of Dillmanstown, eawmillers, the Owners of the lorry were fined £2 and £2 19s lDd costs. Neil Weenink pleaded guilty to operating a motor-lorry with a load exceeding the maximum weight of six tons on the road between Arthur's Pass and Kumara, which is classified as ft thirdclass road. A fine of £2 was imposed and £3 15s costs. Personal. The Rev. Canon T, Hamilton, who has been assisting the Rev. Mr Perkins, vicar of All Saints' Church, Hokitika, in his duties for some months, will return to-morrow to Christchurch, Canon Hamilton will bo succeeded by the Rev. Walker Knowles.

Mr Paul Fogarty, who is studying for the medicaj profession at the Otago University, is spending the vacation with his parents, Mr and Mrs M. J. Fogarty, Smith street. Messrs 0. L. Gregg, and H. Wylie, Underwriters' representative on the West Coast Fire Boards, are visiting Greymouth. Messrs H. Affleck and E- T. Condon, of the Greymouth Railway staff, leave on their annual holiday to-morrow. The death occurred last night at Waiuta, of Mr Frank Cooper, aged 44 years. He had been ailing for some time, He leaves a widow and a young family, ' The death occurred yesterday pf Mrs Peebles, 8 very old and highly-respected resident of Three Mile, Hokitika, and widow of Mr Andrew Peebles. She was 84 years of age. She was a member of St. Andrew's, Presbyterian Church, being one of its first members, and for many years conducted a babbath School at Three Mile. She leaves a family of four daughters-Mesdames Sneddon (Blackball), 0, Ward (We - lington), Brown (Hokitika), nnu Haim ton (Three Milt)—and two sons Mr A. W. Peebles (Boss), and Mr Chas. Peebles (Greymouth).

Mr R. S. Kent, the Divisional Superintendent of Railways for the South Island, is due to arrive at Westport tomorrow.

Dr. and Mrs Menzies, of Denniston. left this morning for Wellington. Mr Thompson, conductor of the Westport Municipal Band, has accepted the position of bandmaster of the Paimerstou North Garrison Band, at a salary

•t 1 £2-30. and leaves for Fa'merston North on Wednesday. Commissioner James Hay. Territorial Commander of the Salvation Army in New Zealand, will arrive in Westport on Wednesday, He will be accompanied by Brigadiers Bladin and Wallace. The death occurred under tragic circumstances yesterday at Westport of Miss Mary Doyle, eldest daughter of Mrs J. Doyle, of Queen street. Westport, at the age of 39 years. Miss Doyle was nttending S o'clock Mass at St. Canice 's Churcn, when she collapsed, and died within a few minutes after being taken out of the church. Death was apparently due to heart failure. Cricket. The cricket match between United A v. Stars, played yesterday, was won by United by 14-1 runs, on the first innings. Stars' best scorers were Cooper 28, Mullins 11, Reynolds 10. United Juniors defeated Watersiders I by an innings and 74 runs. Playing at Brunner, Nelson Creek defeated Brunner by an .innings and fi2 runs. Outbreak of Fire. An incipient outbreak of fire was discovered at the Westport railway station ( Saturday evening. The cause of the outbreak, which started underneath the stationmastcr's office is unknown. The brigade quickly subdued the flames, only slight damage resulting. Continuous Telephone Service. For some time past the Westland Progress League has had in hand the matter of securing a continuous service at the Hokitika Exchange, which now numbers about 250 subscribers. A two-thirds majority of those respectively with business and residential telephones was necessary, involving 170 signatures. It is understood the necessary number has now been secured, and the petition for the change over, which has to go to Wellington, was lodged to-day. When instituted, the continuous service will involve an addition of two more hands to the nokitika staff. Westport Trotting Club. Thr successful tenderer for the Westport Trotting Club's booth was Mr Ralph Hansby, whose tender was £ll7 10s. Mr Amery's Tour. Mr Tj. S. Amery, who is now mountaineering nt the Hermitage, is due to travel up the Coast at the week-end, reaching Hokitika at 3 2.30 p.m. next Monday, and departing at 2.30 p.m. Millerton Miners' Union. The Millorton Miners' Union propose to call tenders shortly for the erection at Millerton of a modern building for use as a Miners' Hall, also for theatrical entertainments. Goldmlniug.

Keen interest is being shown in the projected goldmining operations at Newton Flat, on the Buller river. A company is to be formed to divert the Bulier river through a narrow neck at Newton Flat. The proposed diversion will dry about a mile and three-quar-ters of what is believed to be an exceptionally rich portion of the river. In the year 1863 ten thousand ounces of gold wero obtained by miners on tho Buller diggings, and old newspaper files show that one party of four men was getting one pound weight of gold per man per day. lij view of the staggering yiolds from the Buller river's banks above low-water level, it would appear that the promoters have every reason to be most optimistic of finding rich deposits of the metal when the water has been diverted, Quick Work. Tho Westland County authorities have shown dispatch in the rebuilding of th Duck creek bridge, on the Kokatahi road. The old bridge was dismantled last. Monday, and it was hoped to have the new bridge so far advanced this evening to permit of light traffic crossing the structure. Shearing Season. Under the ideal weather conditions prevailing, shearing is in full swing, and with the satisfactory prices now being obtained for wool, some good cheques shoulu find their way to the West Coast. A Westland settler roceived Is 8d per pound for a parcel of wool sent to the Christchurch sales last wenlt.