Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1901. POST AND TELEGRAPH HOVEL.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 16 February 1901, Page 2

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1901. POST AND TELEGRAPH HOVEL.

The Chamber of Commerce at its meeting last night passed a good, useful resolution—and one, it is to be hoped, will bear fruit - in drawing the attention of the Government to the wretched, leaky and dilapidated old structure that now does duty as a Post aud Telegraph Office. Last session a vote of £3OO was put on the estimates for patching up the old building. The residents by petition and agitation pointed out the absurdity of such a proposal, and that the money expended would be absolutely thrown away. Apparently the department has accepted the general opinion, for no expenditure has taken place. It is to be hoped that the desire of the residents in regard to a new structure will also be given effect to, and that we will see a sufficient vote on the estimates for necessary public buildings. In the matter of postal and telegraph trade Greymouth, after the four principal centres, stands high in the list; yet small localities, not doing more than a third of the trade, are provided with substantial stone edifices, while Greymouth has had to content itself with an ill-arranged, undesized, rotten and leaky wooden structure. But, quite apart from being unequal to the requirements of the public, it is from a sanitary point unfit for those who have the misfortune to be compelled to work therein. In the telegraph room, which, of course, is now from eight till midnight to some extent open to the public, are often eight operators in a small, badly ventilated, evil-smelling apartment, that so far as space and other requirements are concerned does not comply with the Factory Act. In wet weather, too, the position is even more uncomfortable, the water coming through in several places, while, to add to all, the entrances are so badly arranged that on the opening of a door the employees have to sit in a veritable funnel, the

draught being more than disagreeable. If we go to the front we have like inconveniences to face; and indeed, nothing good can be said of the building. From the first it was a perfect botch, reflecting no credit upon anyone connected with the structure, and now, independent of the fact that from the first it was a misfit, it is quite behind the requirements of the town, and dangerous to the health of those who occupy it. A new building is necessary, and we trust Mr Guinness will see that we are provided with it.

The Buffer Junction return for this week is 42 ounces for 158 hours dredging. An excellent result.

We remind trainers and owners that nominations for Ml events, on the first day of the Greymouth Trotting Club fiteeting, close this evening with the Secretary. A large quantity of dredging material arrived yesterday, for the Grey Consolidated and Greenstone Creek dredges ; also a largo quantity of timber for the Woodstock dredge. The revenue on the Westland Railways four the four weeks ended January sth was £0,207 13s 9J, and the expenditure £3,147 16s 2d. Nearly one half of the total revenue is from the Grey-Brunner division.

A meeting of the Greymouth Football Club and members of other clubs will be held this evening, at the Commercial Hotel Greymouth, to consider the proposal to send a team away, and arrange matters generally for the coming season.. Those who attend Trinity Church tomorrow evening will have an opportunity of hearing Miss Galloway’s sweet soprano voice for the last time, she having k'ndiy consented to sing during the offertory “ The Soul’s Awakening ” with violin obligato by Mr A. Apted and organ accompaniment by Mrs York. Miss Galloway expects to to leave for Christchurch next week where she is to be married to Mr Raymond of Timaru. She will carry away with her the good wishes of the whole community. The Hospital loses in her a most popular and efficient matron, one whose bright smile, sunny temper, and cheerful disposition, must have done much to lighten the load of sickness amongst the unfortunate inmates. The trustees will find it hard to replace her, while socially and musically her absence will be a great loss to Greymouth. The affability of her manners combined with her well known musical ta’.ents and her willingness to assist, made her presence well nigh indispensable at gatherings whether social, religious, patriotic or charitable. We wish her much happiness in her future sphere of life.

The Coal Commission is notified to hold a sitting at Greymouth on Monday when anyone desiring to give evidence is notified to be in attendance.

The two Masonic lodges at Reofton hold a combined emergency meeting on Sunday afternoon when a Lodge of Sorrow will be held in memory of Her late majesty the Queen,. Grand Patroness of the Order.

The census of Hew Zealand will be taken on the night of Sunday 31st March next. There is a penalty of £2O for wilfully refusing or neglecting to fillup, sign, and deliver the form, or to answer the necessary enquiries, which the enumerators and sub-enumerators are authorised to make, or for making false returns or answers or for obstructing any person in the performance of any duty imposed on him by the Act. A shock from an earthquake, lasting for about thirty seconds and moving in an east and westerly direction was experienced at Westport on Thursday. Colonel Crole Wyndham says that it only costs the Imperial Government £2OOO a day—the Britannic’s charter price—to keep the Imperial Guard in the colonies.

Mr Robert Arthington of Leeds, who left £250,000 to foreign missions, lived a recluse at Headingly in that city and a photograph of the room in which ho lived shows that the apartment contained a table, a chair and a stool. All his wealth was made from a local brewery. Ho lived most parsimoniously and alone. A woman seldom, if ever, crossed his threshold. Ho had been disappointed in love He is stated to have left in all £1,000,000 to charities. He was of spare build and habitually wore a broad-brimmed hat and worn-out black clothes of antique shape. An unprecedented occurence took place at Waipahi on Sunday, when a whirlwind swept across the farm of Mr E. Bagrie, doing considerable damage to the outbuildings. The roof of the cowshed and stable was lifted high into the air and brought down at a distance of 200 yards with such force that the sheets of iron wore driven into the hard ground to a depth of Bft. The woodwork was reduced to matchwood and scattered over the adjoining fields. Several shoots of iron were bent and twisted and torn to ribbons. The damage was not confined to buildings but fences also suffered. For a distance of one chain of fencing the droppers were blown clean off the wires, and the wires slackened.

The inferiority of the French miners to English colliers is shown by the fact that the average output of a minor in the Department of IS T ord or Pas do Calais is only 152 tons per annum, while that of a Durham collier is 333 tons more than double ; also that the cost per ton of coal put on the French railway is nearly 9s, while in Durham it does not exceed ss.

The Dresden Piano Coy., of Dunedin, being heavily overstocked in musical instruments purpose holding a gcniuue clearing sale of high class pianos and organs by all the best English and German makers. The sale commences on Saturday, the 9th inst. and will bo continued for 10 days only, -when no reasonable offer will be refused. Pianos from 20/- monthly, and organs from 10/0 monthly, every instrument fully warranted for 10 years. This is really a splendid opportunity of securing an up-to-date instrument on very easy terms. Second hand Pianos and organs taken in exchange as part payment for new ones, and full market value allowed. The Dunedin representatives, Messrs A. Jackson and J. Gof ton, will be pleased to answer all communications addressed to them care of Ecvington’s Post Office Hotel, Greymouth, or at the local agents Messrs J. W. Easson and Co., Inspection invited. — Advt.

At the Union Store, is to be had a very fine assortment of all kinds of fruit for jam making ; also a largo assortment of jam jars. Order early to save disappointment. Griflien and Smith.— Advt. J. Gofton, the Dresden Piano Go’s tuner, is - at present in Grcymouth. Orders left with J. W. Easson and Co. or Post Office Hotel, will bo promptly attended to.—Anvr.