WEST COAST NOTES

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20497, 16 March 1932, Page 5

WEST COAST NOTES

PERSONAL. (special to rax rszss.) GREYMOUTH, March 15. Mr and Mrs R. Crompton (Suva) are visiting the West Coast. Mr and Mrs \V. Toomey arrived from Christchurch on a visit to the West Coast to-day. Mr and Mrs N. Parkin (Geraldine) are visiting friends in Cobdcn . Mr and Mrs E. Kosewall, -who have been spending a holiday in the North Island returned to-day. Mr "William Greenwood, of the Public Trust Office at Hastings, arrived today on a visit to his parents. Mrs N. Patrick (Auckland) and Miss Margaret Tennent (England) arrived yesterday, and aro visiting the glaciers. Mr li. B. Miller, of the Jubilee Institute of the Blind, Auckland, is visiting the West Coast. Obituary. The death occurred at the Grey Hospital yesterday of Mr Christian Nielson, aged 95 years. He ivas one of the pioneer goldminers on the West Coast, and was the first inan to find gold at Nelson Creek. He was a native of London, and had no relatives in the Dominion. State Mines. The Liverpool, colliery is idle to-day, owing to a fall of stone having occurred at the tunnel mouth of No. 1 section. It is not known when the fall, which is a considerable one, will be cleared sufficiently to permit operations being resumed. The other sections of the State Mines aro working as usual. Magistrate's Court. At the sitting of the Greymouth Magistrate's Court yesterday, Mr W. Meldrum, S.M., presiding, Robert William Shaw, aged 23, was charged with the theft of a diamond and sapphire tie-pin, valued at £lO, the property of William Eosenbery of Tiroroa. He was remanded, On the application of the police. James-Thomas Mclnroe was convicted and ordered to pay 10s costs on each of four charges of failing to pay his unemployment levy. Defendant pleaded that he was unable to pay the levies owing to having been out of work. The secretary of the Unemployment Committee stated that he had adyised defendant to write to the Commissioner, and claim exemption, but this had not been done. For driving a motor car- at Dobqpn, in a manner dangerous to the public, William Burnett, jun., of Reefton, was convicted and finejl £5. with costs. • Prospecting. A meeting of delegates from the various unemployment committees on the West Coast met at Greymouth on Saturday to discuss the formation of a Central Committee, and to consider the question of gold prospecting •by the unemployed. Mr J. W. Greenslade (the Mayor) presided, and delegates from Ross, Ho-' kitika, and Greymouth were present. The Westport committee wrote that it could not send a delegate, but was in agreement with the objects in view.

As the result of discussion it was agreed:—(l) That a Central Committee be appointed; (2) that local committees be authorised to spend money to open up tracks to facilitate gold production, and to employ men on consecutive days equal to the number allowed for four weeks; (3) that a special sum be allocated weekly oyer and above the amount required for the No. 5 Scheme; (4) that it is desirable to locate new reefs and' prove them, and that the committee be authorised toallocate money out 4 ; of the funds, to provide tools and food, and to extend the subsidy period on the recommendation of the local experts or Inspector of Mines; and (5) that the , Central Committee meet /every three ' months, or if desirable, more frequently.

Collision. A 'collision occurred near the Kaiata bridge 'on the Grey-Beef ton Main Highway between two cars driven respectively by Mr Beauchamp, of Greymouth, and Mr IV Warren,' of Taylorville. Both vehicles suffered considerable damage. Association rootball. The annual meetiiig of the Greymouth Association Football Club was held recently, Mr J. B. Paton presiding. It was decided to nominate teams in thesenior, junior, and third grade competitions. The following, were elected officers for the ensuing season: —Patron,"' Mr J. Sharp; president, Mr J. B. Paton; secretary and treasurer, Mr C. •Eestieaux; committee, Messrs A." Crawford, F. M. Smith, P. Bayley, W. Hall, G. Mac Donald, C. Howes; delegates to the Weatland Association, Messrs Eestieaux and Hall. The annual meeting of the Taylorville Association Football Club was * held on Saturday. The election of officers resulted:—President, Mr Geo. Dixon; patron, Mr C. Senior; secretary and treasurer, Mr A. E. Pickering. , ' Swimming. A swimming carnival was held in Greymouth last evening, when the John. Burns Cup was takeii from the holders, the Grgymouth team, by a team from West port. Westport gained a total of 19 points, Greymouth 3-5, and Cobden 9 in the contest. E. McConville, fcolder of the New Zealand 50 yards official record, en-, deavoured to reduce his time, fcut. failed owing to slipping as he was diving off the board.