OUR BRUNNER LETTER.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 20 May 1901, Page 2

OUR BRUNNER LETTER.

[our own correspondent.]

Mr Alison, Manager of the Mines," informs me the reason why work was suspended in getting into the Coal Pit Heath workings, was through a fall in the roof allowing a large amount of water to flow —thus causing a temporary stoppage, but work has been resumed, and in the course of a few weeks he will be getting a small amount of coal out which will gradually increase.

So far no further boring operations have boen taking place in the Brunner Mine lease, although it is some considerable time since the company decided to commence. The delay is owing to difficulty in getting timber for poppet heads. As soon as that arrives work will bo proceeded with. While on the subject of boring I might say when the Harbor Board visited us last Wednesday and saw a start made with the machinery and it gave every satisfaction, it was only natural they should in a fitting manner make it a red letter day. We were sorry to see them depart as the Board is a good firm to run the show: We thought ero this that 100 feet of boring would have been done, but so far no start has yet been made.

Our volunteers during the week have heen collecting funds to purchase belts in order to have them when they proceed to Wellington. On enquiring the reason for the deficiency, I was informed our paternal government were importing them from home. I always thought their motto was to support local industry, or '• New Zealand for New Zealanders," but possibly they are not to be had in the Colony. The annual meeting of our Literary institute to elect a committee of management for the ensuing year, was called for Thursday evening, biit lapsed for want of a quorum.

I learn that it has now been definitely decided by the public Trnstee to pay each widow who has married, the weekly allowance of 12s per week, the sama as paid before. The question of arrears due to some of them,.is to be dealt with at a future date.

Work in connection with repairing the Wallsend-Taylorville foot bridge was delayed last week through the want of timber for staging. It is proposed to raise the wires carrying the bridge, and this will bo found a most difficult and arduous undertaking, as it has to be done by placing bearers under the wires on top of the poppet heads. I understand that a meeting of a number of those who were working in the Wallsend mine, just prior to its closing, will be held with the object of collecting facts, and data to prove that the injurious statements made are not correct.

The residents here will regret to learn that Dr. James Mcßreaty, medical officer to the Minors' Medical Association, has given three months notice prior to 'caving here for the purpose of commencing practising in Greymouth. The genial doctor has made himself very popular during bis residence hero and gonoral regret is felt at his departure. Already two offers, have been received from medical men for the position, and a meeting is to be held on Friday evening to, decide whether to accept or invite applications for the position.

A football match Blackball v. Brunner was played on the Recreation Ground here on Saturday afternoon, and resulted in a very easy win for the home team by 12 points to nil. The ground was very sloppy and was against the home team, but it did not alter the result, there being nothing special to report in the way of individual play. The visitors returned i home per special coach yesterday. The census returns are now complete, and the result came as a surpi'ise to most of us. It was expected there would have been a large decrease, but the loss was only GO, although the previous census returns showed GOO of a reduction in our population. The only way we can account for the result is the increase in the number of births. The result shows our population to be distributed as follows : —North Ward, males 35G, females 3G2, total 717; South Ward, males 261, females 278, total 539; East Ward, males 100, females 156, total 316. The total males are 777 and females 795. The number of dwellings in our Borough (349) are nearly all occupied.