SOUTH BEACH NOTES.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 18 November 1901, Page 3

SOUTH BEACH NOTES.

(By Observer)

During the past year or so this locality has loomed into prominence, though the developement of the mining and timber industries which have so long lain dormant.

Modern inventions have superceeded the primitive methods of persuading Mother Earth to deliver up her treasures, and the ground which involved the slow and laborious toil of the miner is now being worked by powerful machinery.

Though ill fortune septus to have pursued those dredges which have got to work,' it is firmly believed by those capable of judging that most of the difficulties have been surmounted and that there is golden store f nr them In the near future. There are several machines yet to be erected, and tenders for the Freehold Co’s pontoons close in a week or so. This company have had their claim very carefully prospected with very satisfactory results. The dam is being constructed under the supervision of an able engineer and rapid progress is being made with the work.

The timber trade is very brisk just at present and the various sawmills are very busy. The old established Nelson Creek mill may be seen puffing away for all it is worth as the are speedily transformed into timber of considerable commercial value.

Close by is Stratford and Co’s logging engine where a gang of men are employed cutting logs for their town mill. A little further south is Mr T. Butler’s mill, which is the largest in the district and is capable of cutting a large quantity of timber. The mill is situated at the Gladstone siding and the logs are obtained from the high country in the vicinity. A very powerful automatic brake has been invented by the proprietor and fitted on the trucks for the purpose of steadying them down the inclines. By a very ingenious device (he brake is applied only when necessary, and leaves the wheels free where the grade is level, so that the same speed can be maintained throughout the whole journey. There is no doubt we shall hear a good deal more about this brake in the near future, as it will prove very valuable to sawmillers who have high country to work. It might also be applied to railway trains. An Express train fitted wiih this brake could bo brought to a sudden standstill, while a runaway would be an impossibility. An entertainment for the benefit of the Qreymouth Hospital will take place in the Paroa schoolroom on Friday evening next and promises to be a great success. A very strong committee of ladies and gentlemen have taken the matter in hand, and as there will be a great display of local talent, there is no doubt the affair will be most enjoyable and the funds of the Institution considerably augmented. The beautiful lagoon which stretches along the beach from Paroa to New River offers many facilities for boating, which it seems are about to bo taken advantage of. A syndicate, of young men at the Gladstone sawmill have just had constructed to their order, a pretty little yacht designed for pleasure and picnic parlies on the lagoon. The launch of the “Lillian” as she is named, took place a few days ago. The hour having been previously arranged, everything was in readiness, and the boat slid gracefully into the water, and as the wind was favourable a short cruise was indulged in. The “Lillian” is a model of beauty and workmanship, and reflects considerable credit on her builder, who, since the launch, has received orders for no less than three similar boats.