WEST COAST NOTES

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19177, 7 December 1927, Page 5

WEST COAST NOTES

DOBSON EXPLOSION.

(SPECIAL 10 THI PBISS.) GREYMOUTH, December G

A case arising out of the Dobson mine explosions on December 3rd, 1926, was heard at the Greymouth Magistrate's Court to-day, when Louisa Catherine Thomson, of Dobson, widow, claimed £152 10s from the Grey Valley Collieries, Ltd., alleging that: (1) About August, 1926, the defendants wrongfully erected fences, machinery, plant, piping, and other works on her land at Dobson, depriving her of the use of such land; and (2) that about December 3rd, 1926, the defendants wrongfully allowed' stones, metal, debris, and other matter to be ejected from its coal mine and deposited on her land and buildings, whereby her house and buildings were damaged and rendered uninhabitable. On the first ground of claim £3O damages were sought, and on the second £122 10s.

Plaintiff was represented by Mr W. J. Joyce. Mr J. W. Hannan appeared for the defendants.

Mr Joyce said that plaintiff's house was right in the line of fire from the explosion, and that it was considerably damaged by the debris blown on to it. Plaintiff had vacated the house, which had been rendered unfit for habitation, and had been blown "out of plumb." With reference to the first part of the claim plaintiff's land had been occupied by the defendants for over twelve months. They had removed their property since they were served with the summons. Counsel held that the company was liable for any damage done by the explosion. There had been some talk that no definite finding of negligence had been brought in against the Grey Valloy Collieries, Ltd., but the fact remained that the mine was owned by the company and explosives were used in it. There could be no doubt that the- accumulation of coal dust caused the explosion, and the coal dust should not have been allowed to accumulate. .

Mr said that £23 had been paid into Court, but liability was not admitted.

Mr Joyte said that if the company denied liability he would have to call expert evidence as to what occurred, and would have to apply for an adjournment.

Mr W. Meldrum, S.M., said that on the face of the pleadings there was a denial of liability. "There is no doubt in the wide world as to their liability," said Mr Joyce. "We have a widow here who has been put out of her house, yet the Dobson Company say it must be proved. We will prove it. If they are going to put us to that trouble, I must ask for an adjournment." Mr Joyce added that he had had several roundtable talks with Mr Hannan, who knew the legal position as well as he did. He never expected that such an attitude would be taken now. In reply to the Magistrate, Mr Hannan said he did not oppose an adjournment provided costs were allowed to defendants. The Magistrate granted an adjournment till December 20th. He said that defendants were entitled to the costs of the adjournment, and these were allowed. Stolen Goods Fomid. During last May a series of mysterious burglaries were perpetrated at Greymouth, when goods were stolen from Mr L. Tnkster's private residence and the business premises of Messrs

G. Schaef and Sons, G. Kear, W. Cantessa, and others, while articles were also missed from the s.s. Ihumata, which was in port at that time. Some weeks afterwards a telephone message was received by Mrs Inkster informing her that the goods stolen were located be. neath the stage of the Town Hall. The police were communicated with, and most of the stolen goods, with the exception of those taken from Mr Kear's shop, were recovered. The remainder of the swag was discovered unexpectedly this afternoon by two borough workmen. They were trying to locate a leak in the roof of the Town Hall when they came across the stolen goods above the ceiling of the Town Clerk's office, among which were suitings valued at about £IOO belonging to Mr Kear, also four violins and one mandolin which are believed to have been stolen from the s.s. Ihumata. The rolls of suitings were slightly damaged by rats. Practically the whole of the stolen goods have now been accounted for. Magistrate's Court. Mr W. Meldrum presided at to-day's sitting of the Grey Magistrate's Court. Judgment for plaintiff by default was given in the following cases: —Mrs R. E. Schaef v. Silver Pine Sawmilling Co., £23 10s 9d; G. L. Schaef v. Silver Pine Sawmilling Co., £4l 15s 3d; Andrew Lees v. George Phillips, £l4 10s 4d; McGruers (Westland), Ltd., v. William Henderson. £8 in 3d; Harley and Co., Ltd., v. Rooert M. Jones, £3 19s 6d; G. Schaef and Sons v. Thomas Bcnyon, £4 9s 7d; Harley and Co., Ltd., v. Arthur Freeman, £3 8s 6d; F. Hayes v. Stanley McKay, £lO 19s 8d; D. Douglas v. W. Hart, £2O 4s 8d; S. Hayes v. Agnes Jessie Ord, £1 13s lid; T. E. Monteath v. Victor Wright, £5 4s sd; B. Creagh v. Victor Wright, £lO 12s 7d; Greymouth Borough Council v. Sarah Gibson, £9 lis lid; same v. Florence May Gamble, £l4 is 8d; same v. Margaret Morressey, £9 6s lOd; same v. Sophia May McGrath, £ll 15s; same v. Elizabeth Nelson, £l3 13s Id; same v. Elizabeth Mary Robertson, £l2 Is. On a judgment summons Alfred White was ordered to pay £33 15s 6d forthwith to David Joseph Yorwarth, with solicitor's fee £1 Is, in default one month's imprisonment. Robert Reid was ordered to pay £ls 15s 6d forthwith to Annie Louisa Bernhard, with solicitor's fee, £1 Is, in default 14 days' imprisonment. G. E. Drumm was ordered to pay £4 8s 6d forthwith to Claude Ring, in default seven days' imprisonment. Athelstone Sydney Tomkies proceeded against Robt. D. Crawford for £lO, balance of wages due for driving and repairing defendant's car. After hearing evidence judgment was given for plaintiff for £5, with 13s costs, and £1 6s solicitor's fee. Timber Industry. After a slump of over two years' duration, West Coast sawmillera are looking forward to an early revival in the timber industry. When seen to-day by a representative of The Press, Mr D. Tennent, manager of the sawmilling firm of Stratford, Blair and Co., Ltd., which controls several of the biggest timber mills in the Grey district, said that in of the numerous setbacks which the timber trade had experienced the outlook was now moro hopeful, and he expected that next February would see the industry on a much better footing than bad been the case for the past couple of years. The watersiders' strike in Australia had given the industry a setback, as the present unsettled conditions were retarding Australian shipments. Another impost had been placed on the industry as a result of the Family Endowment Act by the New South Wales Government, which had increased the freight on shipments to Australia bj 6d per 100 feet Although New Zea.

land timber merchants had protested against this increase on the grounds that the benefits from the Act did not extend to New Zealand, they had received no satisfaction.

, With regard to the id per 100 feet royalty which is to be allocated to county councils for improvements to roads used for timber transport, Mr Tennent said that this tax should not have any appreciable effect on the industry, although both timber interests and county councils had to bow to the authority of the Forestry Department, which had assumed an attitude of selfglorification. Mr Tennent anticipatedthat the tariff • amendments recently passed would have a salutary effect on the timber trade, which would also get its share of the general prosperity brought about by better prices for wool and other primary products. "I don't think that there will be much doing in the timber trade before February," he concluded, "and it is possible that some of the mills now having a slack time may have to close down earlier than usual for the Christmas vacation, and operations may not be resumed until later in the New Year than was the custom in previous years." Salvaging a Oar. At the Greymouth Magistrate's Court to-day, before Mr W. Meldrum, S.M., the Dominion Motors, Ltd. (Mr J. W. Hannan), claimed judgment for £2O from Guido L. Schaef (Mr W. J. Joyce). The case was a sequel to a motoring mishap which occurred near the Stillwaler tunnel last June, when plaintiffs' car, with two occupants, left the road, plunging over an embankment and landing on the bank of the Grey river. Plaintiffs alleged that the charge of £4O made by Schaef for salvaging the car was excessive and unreasonable, that defendant refused to deliver the ear until the £4O was paid, that plaintiffs paid the £4O under protest, and obtained the car; that a fair and reasonable jprice for the work done was £l2, but plaintiffs were prepared to allow £2O, therefore plaintiffs claimed judgment for £2O. Evidence was given by William Steer, manager of the Greymouth Motors, Ltd., who estimated that a fair price for the work of raising it to the road (66ft), and bringing it to Greymouth v.ould be from £ls to £2O. Witness would not say that £4O was an exorbitant price, but merely that his firm would do it for less.

Thomas Bertie Baty, motor engineer, said he saw the car on the river bank on the day after the accident. He had intended, if he got the job, to quote £lO or £l2 for lifting it and bringing it to Greymouth. He did not say that Schaef had not put in £4O worth of work.

Defendant said that Mr Brooks, the representative of A. and T. Burt, Christchurch, gave all instructions for the recovery of the car. Brooks was the driver of the car, and witness understood he also owned it. He told Brooks that salvage would be expensive, and the price quoted was £4O. Brooks agreed to have the work done if the car was worth salvaging. It was almost a perpendicular lift. He paid Mr W. Greenhill £l4 for his assistance with two lorries. Twelve men were employed on the job, the total cost being £46 4s, but he adhered to his qu*te of £4O. The Magistrate said tke fact that the owner of the car itude arrangements with Schaef and tnat the price was mentioned would in itself be sufficient to entitle Schaef to claim £4O, but he showed further that it was a very difficult job indeed, that a number of men were employed, and that he paid a carter £l4 for assisting. The difficulty in connexion with the job and the number of men employed indicated that was not an undue price. It was the price originally quoted lu the owner, who had been satisfied with

it. Judgment would be given for de fendant, with £1 10a witnesses' expenses and £2 2s solicitor's fee.

Forestry Plantation Menaced.

Bush fires on the Eoss road on Friday evening spread to the forestry planta. tion, and about 60 acres of new plantation, containing trees two years old, suffered considerably. Although a fair amount of damage was done, the injury might have been more serious but for the strenuous efforts made to suppress the outbreak. • Plunket Society.

The total amount raised for the Greymouth branch of the Plunket Society at the sale of work last Friday was £66 7s 6d. The Weather.

In contrast to the beautiful weather prevailing recently, to-day was wet and squally. No fewer than six motor-cars were towed into a Greymouth garage during the day through the driving rain finding its way into the interior workings and affecting the mechanism. Sunshine and Bain.

The sunshine and rain records at Hokitika for the eleven months to the end of November were, respectively 1884 hourß 58min, and 104.67 inches. For the previous year (1926) to the end of December the figures were 1889 hours 36min and 118.69 inches. That sunshine record is therefore easily beaten this year, and ia now approaching the normal record of sunshine which is over 2000 hours a year. Personal. Mr H. G. Davies, Chief Postmaster at Westport, and a former Greymouth resident, left to-day for Christchurch. MiBS A. McKendry left for Christchurch this morning to enter Lewisham Hospital to undergo special treatment. Prior to his departure for Hokitika, where he has been transferred, Mr R. Berrett, of the Westport Post Office, was presented by the Chief Postmaster (Mr Davies), on behalf of the staff, with a leather suitcase.

Miss L. McAndrew left to-day for Christchurch.

Mr F. Costello returned from Christchurch this afternoon.

Mr C. W. Carver, Clerk of the Court, will leave Greymouth on December 21st, on transfer to Hokitika. Mr L. W. Louisson, of Hokitika, will succeed him at Grey, and will commence duty on December 21st.

Mr A. E. Perry, formerly of Hokitika, has arrived from Dunedin. Sister Canning, of the Grey Hospital, left to-day for Christchurch, en route to Scotland, where she intends to pursue her studies. Miss Belle Eenaut arrived from Christchurch this afternoon. Mr H. A. Gilbert arrived in Hokitika yesterday evening via Nelson and Reefton. Mr Gilbert, who is accompanied by Mrs Gilbert, left this morning for the Glaciers.

Mr L. llcGinley, Postmaster at Port Nelson, is visiting his parents, Mr and Mrs Jas. McGinley.

News was received at Hokitika of the death of Mrs Carr, wife of Mr G. J. Carr, general manager for the Rimu Goldfields, Ltd., which took place this morning at Christchurch. Since her arrival at Hokitika from America, some months ago, Mrs Carr had been in illhealth, and some weeks ago was taken to Christchurch for furthor treatment. It was known that her condition had been serious for some time past.