Greymouth Evening Star, AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 1901. THE WALLSEND MINE.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 27 March 1901, Page 2

Greymouth Evening Star, AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 1901. THE WALLSEND MINE.

The people of this district are no likely to rest satisfied in mind in re

gard to tho Wallsend mine until it is again opened and working. As we have previously pointed out tho preponderance of evidence is strongly on the point that there is plenty of good coal in the mine, and that that coal was abandoned because there was at the time no demand for coal. This statement has been denied. It has been affirmed that the reason for clos-

ing down was because the coal was worthless, and wo have been told that

;he Westport Coal Company in trying

to bring this coal into the market spent £-50 000. Now, Mr Joachim, general manager of the Westport Coal Company, should be in possession of tho facts, and he fsays the Company lost £BOOO over the mine—not £50,000 as stated by Mr. Mathieson. Then Mr. Joachim says it is incorrect to say

that the Company closed the Wallsond mine to profit Westport. It was closed because the coal was inferior to that of the Brunner, and coal was cut off by faults on all sides. They found then that the demand could he supplied from Jjrunner and they closed the

Wallsend ” Here, then, we have tho explanation in a nutshell. At the

time mentioned tho Brunner mine was well opened and easily worked ; tho coal in tho Wallsend mine merely tapped, but supposed to be cut off by faults ; and lastly, very little demand for coal—so little indeed that the easily-worked Brunner mine was more than sufficient for requirements, and consequently the Company shut down the store which was thus unrequired. Now tho position is changed, tho Brunner mine is almost a thing of the past, the Wal'sond mine is practically

untouched ; and the demand for coal is more than the supply. Under such circumstances there can be no doubt as to the •wisdom of getting the Wallsend mine coal into the market with as little delay as possible.

A largo number of Hokitika people have gone out to Kanicri to visit the launching of Perry’s Reward pontoons. McMitlan and Thompson, contractors, have made a splendid job ; they have also received the contract for the erection of machinery. They expect to have the same completed and dredge working by the end of the month. A special meeting "bf~ijic Groymouth Harbor Board, will bo held aTlfLa.m tomorrow, to consider and deal witbTmformation received by Mr relative to boring rods and sinking bore for coal at Dobson. We understand that the Katangata Company’s rods have been placed under offer. The annual meeting of the Greymouth Brewery Company, will be hold at the Albion Hotel, this evening at 8 o'clock. Messrs H. 0. Harley and Co. will sell by public auction at their rooms on Friday, household furniture and effects, and a quantity of drapery. A small syndicate has been formed for testing that part of the Grey River at the Brunner gorge by means of driving. In the crevices of the rock near the surface excellent gold was obtained at various times in by-gone years, and it is believed that at a greater depth good deposits of gold exist. A trial will be made soon, when it is hoped that success will attend the efforts.

A meeting of the Greymouth Trotting Club will be held this evening at the Club Room, Albion Hotel, at seven o’clock.

Mr and Mrs Leitch well known and respected residents of Blackball, purpose paying a visit at an early date to their friends in England. The residents of Blackball, in recognition of merit and appreciation of respect entertain the worthy couple at a social to be held on March 29th. We remind members of the Druids Lodge that a social will be held in the Lodge room this evening. At the Magistrate’s Court this morning, before Messrs Matheson and M’Brearty J. P’s, M. Blowman was charged with assaulting his son. After taking some evidence the Bench fined accused £1 and costs, or in default seven days imprisonment. The Bench further cautioned accused that if such an offence was committed again, ho would be liable to four months imprisonment—that being the time an order binding him over to keep the peace has to run. The Nelson Education Board has pointed out to the Minister for Education that Nelson and the West Coast are not represented on the Royal Commission on Education and requests representation. The Government have says the “West* port News”, decided to lease the Cardiff Mine to Messrs Lomas and party. As operations are expected to be underway in the course of a fortnight, the district should soon be in a more prosperous condition than at present. The demand for West Coast timbers is still increasing and largo orders are being received from the East Coast. One firm of timber merchants was offered an order a few days ago for one million feet to be delivered in Lyttelton before the end of the present year. It is understood the order was declined. There was a largo body of water in the Tcrcmakau River and Greenstone Creek on Saturday, Mr Bennett, master of the Junction dredge, very wisely does not intend to take any liberties with either the river or creek, and don’t want them to take any with him, and for that purpose he had steam up and kept dredging towards a spot where bis dredge will be able to ride in perfect safety in all weathers.

The Minister for Public Works (says the Post) has promised Mir Colvin, M.H.E., who is at present in Wellington, that ho will instruct Mr M'Glashan, C.E. to make an immediate start with the survey of the propsed section of the Midland Railway between llecfton and Inangahua Junction. From the Junction to Mokihinui is only 20 miles, and Mr Colvin states that if a railway is made between the two places a fine tract of agricultural and coal bearing land will be opened up. Westport and Mokihinui are already connected by rail, and the construction of a line between the latter place and Ecefton will enable trains to run right through from Westport to the Otira Gorge. Mr. P. Tansoy, sharebroker, has decided to place on the market in the course of a few weeks a company to acquire a plant for lighting Kuinara and Dillmanstown by means of electric light, and according to estimates now being got, this should prove a very good investment. Compared with the now expensive kerosene lamps ; the light will bo far superior and less expensive. A boy, said to be about eleven years of a?c, was about to bo sworn as a witness at the Police Court, when the court orderly said that the youngster did not seem to understand the nature of an oath. The Magistrate directed that the boy should make an affirmation that ho would speak the truth ; and then said : “Judging from my experience, I think it is very little matter whether witnesses are sworn or not nowadays.” Mariners are warned to bo cautious when navigating in the vicinity of the Government wharf at Auckland, as the buoy has been carried away and will bo replaced on the next visit of the Hinemoa.

Considerable complaint is being made in Wellington by mercantile and other firms at the difficulty of securing boys foe clerical work. A number of school teachers who have been interviewed on the subject consider this to be duo to the fact that so many young men aro leaving the colony for South Africa, that a greater number of boys are now being sent to secondary schools, and that a greater number of parents now send their children to learn trades than was formerly the case.

A correspondent signing himself “ Ashburton ” writes: —“Since the introduction of the universal penny postage, reducing the postage to one penny per half-ounco, there seems to be an idea prevalent that if the envelope is left open when posting invoices and the like the same can be forwarded to any place in New Zealand for a half-penny. As I have more than once had to pay for insufficient postage in this respect, I would like to draw tho at- ' tention of our business people to the fact through tho medium of your columns. To bear out tho above I am enclosing foryour perusal an envelope received by mo from Christchurch this morning. A local paper states that the butchers of Ashburton have reduced the price of mutton by one halfpenny per lb. The Wellington “Times” states that an amendment of the Health Act is to he

made so as to bring the Chatham Islands within the scope of Government jurisdiction as a special district. An old Maori club made of a stone quite different from any the Maoris possess, has been discovered at Mauugaliaruru, in the Poverty Bay district. It is vaguely rumoured in Lovells Plat, says the Bruce paper, that the Now Zealand Colleries and Oil Syndicate intends opening up tho Elliotvalo mine, and constructing a lino of railway to connect the workings with the Lovells Flat Raffway Station.

It is not generally known that no Sunclay entertainment can now be given without the special permission of the Borough Council. Cause 363 of the Municipal Corporations Act provides that “no concert or entertainment of any kind which is open to the public whether by the purchase of tickets or otherwise shall be held or given on any Sunday without the written consent of the Council, and then only subject to such conditions in every respect as the Council may impose. The Council may exercise this power either generally or in any particular case class of cases and may delegate, such ®owor to any of its members.” Wesleyan s at Hamilton recently a resolution condemning the action Government in seeing that the of the Imperial Contingent, |Bien being entertained by the citizens of were provided with beer. The terms of the resolution are conveyed to the Premier in a letter from the Her. H. L. Blamires. In the course of his reply, Mr Scddon said : —“ The Imperial troops were the guests of the colony, and it was the duty of the colony to sec that they were properly entertained. The majority of the members of the Auckland Entertaining Committee hold strong temperance convictions, but were in no asked by the citizens of Auckland to experimentalise in the practice of prohibition on the guests of the colony. Seeing that our guests have now departed, I now speak plainly, and say that the lunch provided at Auckland, both for officers and men, was the poorest they were offered in Australasia, and not at all in accordance with Auckland’s well known hospitality.” Over one and a half miles of the formation of Teratu-Kaitangata railway have i now been completed, reports tho “Bruce i Herald”, and the work is progressing favourably. If tho weather keeps fine, - there is every probability that Mr Miller ( will finish his contract in four montns’ t time. ]

Some time ago, the Government cancelled the Westport Cardiff Coal Company’s leases for non-payment of rent. Representations have been made to the Cabinet with the object of allowing the property to be worked on the co-operation principle, as in the case of the Mokihinui mine, and a decision on the point will be arrived at shortly.

A prominent resident of Wellington is anxious that the citizens should subscribe £2OOO towards the cost of giving a suitable reception to the Royal visitors. He has undertaken to give 100 guineas on condition that nine others each donate a like amount, the balance of the £2OOO to be made up by donation from all classes in the community. H.M.B. Plover, which was reported on Friday as being ashore in the Yangtse river, China, is a single-screw gunboat of the first-class, of 755 tons displacement and 720 horse power. She was built in 1887-88 at Sheerness, at a cost of £37,700 and carries a crew of 76 officers and men. She was re-commissioned at Hocg Kong by Lieut-Commander C. do M. Cowpor on Ist January, 1899, H.M.S. Eedpole, which is reported to have gone to her assistance, is a vessel of similar type and class to the Plover, but a displacement of 805 tons. Having secured the services of a lady who lias gained her experience in some of the best houses in Melbourne, Messrs McKay and Son have much pleasure in drawing attention to their millinery department, which is now one of the most complete in Greymouth. We guarantee all orders entrusted to this department to give satisfaction. A complete stock of Mackintoshes, Jackets, Capes, Underclothing and Corsets, just to hand. — Advt. W. M’Kay and Son, having opened up their autumn and winter goods, are now showing an unrivalled assortment of drapery and clothing. Navy and black serges from Is 6d per yard. Heavy

British dress stuff 10J, Is, la 6dpef jd. -Ajfifclendid goods for winter wear—a lovely iSnge of black fancy dress stuffs and costume lengths—at undeniably low prices. Furs and tippets, a big range, from 2s 6d each, Kid gloves, lined and unlined, and fur tops, ribbons, laces and velvet in endloss variety.— 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. Griffien and Smith.— Advt.