THE WEST COAST.

Otago Witness, Issue 4029, 2 June 1931, Page 32

THE WEST COAST.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) COAL MINING. May 27. A party of Reefton miners which had been for some time out of work undertook contract work at Charming Creek mine, which had been idle for some time. About. 20 representatives of the Stockton Miners' Union proceeded to the mine and requested them to desist. Upon their refusal to do so a demonstration took place amongst the Buller miners. Some 200 of the Stockton and Millerton employees visited the mine, and their attitude became so menacing that the contracting party was persuaded to stop work. During a subsequent meeting held at Ngakawau to discuss the situation the hotel where the contractors were staying was stormed and considerable damage done. The tactful intervention of the police prevented further developments at the time. A co-operative party is opening up what is considered will prove to be a good seam of coal at Moonlight. A market has been secured in Christchurch, and production is expected in about a month’s time. A further co-operative venture is to take place on a coal area between Brunner and Blackball, where also an article of good quality is expected. These two mines should provide work for a considerable number of men. The Miners’ Union at Runanga is making objection to men working in cooperative parties at the Briandale mines, on other than State leases. There is no change in the situation at the Blackball mine. A further effort to arrange a conference between the management and the Miners’ Union has not been successful. OBITUARY. The death has occurred at Hokitika at a comparatively early age of Mr W. H. Newman, head of the firm of Newman’s Motors, Ltd. For some years he was connected with the old coach services from Blenheim to Nelson and this district. He then took up farming in the Blenheim district. Ten years ago he came to Hokitika and bought out the motor service established by Mr S. Clements. This service ran from Hokitika to the glaciers in the one direction, and to Arthur’s Pass in the other. Mr Newman developed it considerably, and also conducted a taxi service in Hokitika. He was a foundation member of the White Star motor services, of which he was a director. He had been for some time in poor health, and had retired from business. He took no part in public life, but was well known and highly respected throughout the district. He was 53 years of age. He leaves a widow and one son, who carries on the business.

PERSONAL. Mr J. W. Graham, who has been mailroom supervisor at the Greymouth Post Office, and ■who has been transferred to Hastings, received a presentation - from the staff at a farewell meeting during the week. Mr J. Fowler, station master at Greymouth for the past five years, has retired after 39 years’ service. He was presented with an inscribed gold watch. Mr A. H. MTCane, president of the West Coast Rugby League Centre, has been elected a vice-president of the New Zealand League Council. Mr L. R. Nash, of the Public Works Department, who has been transferred to Wanganui, was on the eve of his departure presented by the district engineer, on _ behalf of his fellow-officers, with a wristlet watch. A large gathering assembled at the Greymouth Harbour Board’s offices during the week to honour Mr J. Guider, who has been railway foreman on the wharf and is now retiring on superannuation after 35 years service. The meeting was representative of the shipping and railway staffs, and universal testimony was borne to the quality of service Mr Guider had rendered. A handsome gold watch was presented to him, and a gold brooch for Mrs Guider. GENERAL. The freight through the Otira tunnel for the past week amounted to 13,427 tons compared with .16,992 tons for the corresponding week of last year and 14 341 tons in 1929. ’ The West Coast Rugby League has received a gold medal for presentation to the best schoolboy player in a seven-a-side tournament to be played on June 3.

Talking pictures are to be introduced by an outside company within the next few weeks at Runanga, Reefton, and Millerton.

The Greymouth Borough Council has decided to ask several of the leading life insurance companies to submit superannuation schemes for the borough employees. A previous scheme, to be subsidised by the council, was held in abeyance, as it appeared that the council had no power to subsidise.

By a strange coincidence misfortune fell upon both the gold dredges working in the Hokitika district during" the past week. A large hole was staved in one of the pontoons of the Rimu dredge, giving it a bad list. Temporary repairs were with difficulty effected, and the machinery will be transferred to the new pontoons, which are approaching completion. At Awatuna heavy seas broke into the dam-, allowing the water to escape and leaving the dredge high and dry. Repairs are being made as rapidly as possible, and it is hoped that a resumption of the work which was promising well will soon be possible. Some of the unemployed in the Reef ton district are putting tbeir fortunes to the test in what is known as Soldiers’ Creek, in the neighbourhood of the town. This ground has been twice gone over by Europeans and Chinese, but there is considered to be still a possibility - of some return-. .The completion of a bridge over Brown River now affords good road access from Bell Hill to Rotomanu. A number of men under the unemployment scheme are engaged in road formation in this locality, and within a few weeks another important bridge will be finished. These works will mark a further stage in the opening up of this part of the Grey County. The Public Works Department has advised that the restoration of the WestportKaramea highway is sufficiently advanced for the road to be open to continuous traffic for all vehicles.

Captain M’Gregor, of the Christchurch Air Force, who has been visiting the district, recommends as an airport an area adjacent to the Omoto racecourse, neat Greymouth, in preference to one at Cobden, as offering a take off in four directions as compared with two in the case of the latter site.

A long and heated discussion has taken place in the Greymouth Borough Council on the subject of a loan of £lO,OOO for an extension of the town water supply. A date for a poll had been fixed some time ago, but it did not eventuate through some hitch in the arrangements. A section of the council now considers that the work might be done out of revenue. No finality was reached at the meeting.