THE WEST COAST

Otago Witness, Issue 4033, 30 June 1931, Page 30

THE WEST COAST

(From Our Own Correspondent.) GOLD MINING. June 24. The Mines Department has granted a subsidy to the Bell Hill Sluicing Company for development purposes. The new dredge for the Okarito Five Company, which is an up-to-date- machine, was expected to .commence work this week. The prospects are regarded as hopeful. A report on operations at the Bell Hill Sluicing Company states that the claim expects to deal with 150 cubic yards of wash per hour, and to receive a yield of 14 grains per yard. Government tests 90 feet from the bottom have given a yield of 43.3 grains. v_ The management of the Blackwater Mines Ltd., has decided after considering a 10 per cent, cut, to reduce wages by ouiy 7 per cent. It has reduced its store charges by 10 per cent, and also the rental on its cottages. These reductions will amount to a shilling a day all round. Beach combing for gold in the black sand is being carried out with fair success in the vicinity of Greymouth at preesnt. Heavy seas have laid the sand bare in places, and one party particularly was successful in striking a quantity of rich sand between tides. Freshes in the river carry large quantities of shingle out to sea, and these are deposited on the beach, covering the sand. Fine weather often exposes stretches of workable beach.

COAL MINES.

The Wallsend Mine stopped work for a time during the week, as a protest against a member of the staff, a shareholder in the Briandale mine, which is “black,” doing survey work in that mine. The stoppage involved the loss of 200 tons of coal. The dispute at Blackball continues without any special development. The union is adopting a policy of intensive boycotting of the tribute workers, forbidding even the attendance of their families at the picture theatre. The workers ou the other hand are starting a store and aiming to be self-contained. The coal from the Charming Creek and Cascade mines still awaits shipment at Westport, the watersiders refusing to handle it. Considerable distress is reported to exist at Millerton where parents have gone so far as to refuse to send their children to school unless free meals are provided.

PERSONAL.

Mr M. H. Moyle, who has died in Sydney, was at one time manager of the New Zealand Clothing Factory at Reefton. He served -with the N.Z. Rifle Brigade during the war. - ~

. Mr M. Malone, of Runanga, who is leaving for Christchurch, has been given a presentation by the Association Football Club in recognition of his services. Mr T. R. Gibb, of South Westland, has resigned his position .on the Westland Land Board, which he has occupied with great credit for a considerable time. The Coriimissioner of Crown 1 Lands and other members of the board eulogised- his capabilities and expressed regret at his resignation.

GENERAL. The West Coast Competitions Society, in which great public interest is taken, held its twenty-fourth annual meeting during the.week at Greymouth. Mr W. B. Gilbert w’as re-elected president, and Mr J. B. Kent vice-president. It was reported that the matter of scholarships for the forthcoming festival had been taken up, and that an effort was being made to revive the choir contest. Competitions in club sections will in future be required to pay a small entrance fee, and three demonstrations of prize-winners will be held, trophies and prizes to be presented at the last. The loss on last year’s festival was £4O 3s 3d.

The road between Greymouth and Hoki-» tika via Kapitea, which cuts’ out the diversion through Kumara and shortens the distance by some eight miles, appears likely, after long agitation, to be accomplished. The Minister for Public Works is now prepared to authorise the amounts available .on last year’s estimates, provided the Westland County Council accepts authority against this year’s allocation; and this th‘e council is prepared to do. Work on the Flowery Creek section is to be commenced by day labour as relief work for the unemployed. The Westport State School, a brick building, is to be demolished, and a new school erected in wood.

The opossum season appears likely to be a poor one this year. The general feeling was in favour of a close season, and only a small number of licences has so far been issued. The Greymouth Beautifying Society, which has a balance of £75 in hand, has decided to expend the money in unemployment relief work about the town. The decision of the Government to discontinue the Junior National scholarship examinations has affected the Seddon medals in this district, which have been awarded to the boy and girl obtaining the highest marks in certain subjects in that examination. The trustees, however,, have under consideration a proposal whereby competition of the medals may be continued.

The Greymouth Watersiders’ Union held a meeting during the week to consider the introduction of a system of rationing the work amongst its members, so that all may get a share". It was decided to meet the shipping companies for further discussion of the proposal. The Grey Electric Power Board reports a continuance of satisfactory progress at the Arnold River Works, where it is expected to have the tail race finished in July. ‘ Since last report a maximum of 68 and an average of 45 men have been — employed. Sixteen new consumers have linked up during the past .month, making the present total 2436. The question or reducing the price of current to the larger consumers was held over till the hydro works are in commission. At the last monthly meeting of the board appreciation ■was expressed of the valuable services rendered by Mr J. W. Greenslade, Mayor of Greymouth, during the five years of his chairmanship of the board, which positidn he has now vacated. His foresight and business ability have placed the board in a sound financial position. The Jubilee of the Watkins medals was celebrated during the week at Greymouth, when for the fiftieth time the medals were presented, to the dux of the school, and, as arranged last year, a second medal to' the scholar obtaining the next highest marks. The Watkins medal was instituted half a century ago by devoting to this purpose the sum of £125, which had been subscribed to send Mr Watkins on a trip to England. The fund now stands at £253 3s lOd. Mr Watkins was the second Anglican minister in Greymouth, a man of catholic spirit and good works. He laboured 10 years here, and died on the ev e of his projected holiday. The traffic through the Otira tunnel last week amounted to 14,729 tons, compared with 12,797 tons for the corresponding week of last year, and 11,195 tons for that of 1929.