WEST COAST NEWS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10061, 1 February 1909, Page 1

WEST COAST NEWS.

; (Per Press Association.) I Christ-church, January 31. | Mi* Seddon, M.P., who is on his \v;iv i<> see .Ministers regarding several matters n; which his constituents are interested, states that the contractors for the Arthur's Pass tunnel expect to have 700 men employed in and about- the tunnel at Otira. and on the Bealey Fiat. Arrangements are being made to jbtain ihe services of a. medical nuui for the district between the Bealcy Flat and Jackson's. The Workers' Union bare agreed to a levy of 6d per member per >cr the purpose, and Mr M'Lenn (one of the tunnel contractors) guaranteed £2O, and with the Government subsidy this should be sufficient- for the purpose mentioned. Mr Seddon intends urging on the Government to grant rights, for which applications have been made, to take water from rivers for the purpose of generating electricity for mining operations. Railway construction between Broken River and the Cass, on the Midland., is being pushed on, and so soon as the distance to be covered by coach is reduced it is possible that arrangements can be made for passengers from the coast connecting with the ferry boat at Lyttelton the same evening, and for passengers, for the Coast from Wellington ronuecting with the Broken River train from Christchurch. He expects that the Ifokitika-Hoss railway will be opened in about a month. Mr G. L. Tacon. a Greyinouth business man. states that though the mining trouble on the Coast has been settled temporarily, there exists a feeling of unrest—a feeling that a trial of strength is imminent between the coal and gold miners and employers. A few agitators, he alleges, are doing all the mischief. The bulk of the miners seem to be satisfied, but those irresponsible agitators are stirring up strife, lie expressed the opinion that when the struggle came it would affect every class in the community, and the principle of preference to unionists will be one of its outstanding features.