WEST COAST NOTES.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 285, 7 May 1898, Page 4

WEST COAST NOTES.

fBY OUR WEIiLISOTOS CORRESrONDEST.] GREYMOUTH, April 27. ON THE WALLABY. A HOLIDAY trip is as necessary for the welfare of a journalist as for ordinary mortals, and that point being conceded, the next question is—whither? Due consideration pointed to only one direction—the.enemy's stronghold. A glance at the map of the South Island and the roll of the House of Representatives shows that no less than six electorates in a bunch arc all Scddonite, viz., Watrau, Kelson, Motueka, Buller, Grfcy aud Westland. To these places then, with bag and baggage, not forgetting the indispensible pencil and a sheaf of paper, your own correspondent ventured to feel the pulses of the free and independent electors who are content or otherwise to have for their mouthpieces such obedient creatures of the democratic autocracy we live under as Mr Graham of " not in the order of reference game." Mr O'Regan, who assimilated Henry George's "Progress and Poverty " some years ago, aud has never forgotten it nor learned anything since. Mr Rody McKenzic, who onlv makes his voice heard in the House to be promptly called to order by the Speaker. Mr Mills, of the innocent face and the desire to remodel the criminal law so that our judges' decisions shall be upset by a vote of the House and the redoubtable King Dick himseif, ruler of all of them.

Truth to tell the constituencies, so far as I have been able to judge yet, are not at all in love with the conduct of their members. On the contrury, there are signs of a revolt of no ordinary sort Growling both deep and loud, and a determination to have a change of some sort, and the sooner the better, is to be heard among all classes. Three days spent in Nelson were enough to demonstrate the fact that the present M.H.R. will no more rind a seat in that close proximity to the Ministerial benches, which he appropriated iu his political infancy as being a step towards a portfolio. Nelsou, which in the early days of the colony was the most radical of the provinces, is again radical to the extent of a consumiog desire to tear Seddooism out by the roots. "Give a common honesty and wc will do without the luxury of a sham working man's Government" is the feeling there. The member himself, once so prominent at street corners advertising himself, his influence with the Government, and his minute knowledge of the affairs of the Bank of New Zealand, is no more to be seen. He prefers oblivion to cynical remarks. The races were on during my visit, and we journeyed by train to the course. The distance is eight miles, and a small hill intervenes in that distance. The engine was of ancient type, and on the up-grade made desperately hard work of pulling the few carriages. The passengers were excited at the probabilities of reaching the top of the grade, and it was about even betting wc would have to go back and make a fresh start with a lighter load. But wc got up after much gasping on the part of the locomotive, and it was noticeable that the driver and stoker were perspiring to such an extent us to suggest that they and not the engine had done the work. However, the clown hill part of the journey was negotiated at a fair speed considering the state of the permanent way, the " special " train averaging 14 miles per hour. Coming back the eight miles occupied 62 minutes, or about eight miles per hour, but no one was at all put out. The first-class carriage wc occupied was evidently a Conserrative vehicle. It had not been painted since the line opened. The bare wood was showing in irregular patches, the panels were suncracked, nails drawing out to the peril of passengers clothes, and the motion indicated that the wheels had worn unevenly and were no longer perfect circles. An atteiypt had been made to varnish the interior, but the result was discouraging, for both the operator and the material he used must have been of the sorriest description, and the net effect was that of an application of stockholm tar laid on with a mop during a storm of coal dust. The floor of the platform was rotten and dangerous to tread on, the floor cloth in rags, and the cushions villainous. Yet Ministers have recently asserted that our railways are in better condition than in the days of the Commissioners. This statement possibly is true so far as regards the special trains Messrs Seddon and Co. travel by. The U.S.S. Company's steam service is worthy of all the commendation bestowed on it by globle trotters and colonial travellers, but some people are never satisfied. We had a growler or two on board on the trip to Greymouth, but I succeeded in making them more contented with their surroundings by describing the condition of affairs in the early sixties when treble the fares were charged and no accommodation whatever, and very little chance of anything to cat was the accepted return the passenger got for his dearly bought ticket. However, an incident occurred, which was, for the time, a litt'c discouraging. The engines suddenly ceased working, and for over six hours the steamer drifted anyhow. Had the wind been blowing its customary direction, from the northwest, things would have looked uncomfortable with the ironbound coast near Rock's Point so near ; but the Union Company's boats carry duplicates of valves and other parts likely to co wrong, and after most of us were tucked up in our bunks and calmly sleeping, everything was put right and nobody a bit the worse. ludeed, it may be said, that there is no place in the colonies where a. man is so sale as on board a Union boat. He can't be run over bv a train or knocked down by a scorching 'cyclist. In a gale of wind there are no falling trees or flying sheets of iron, and there is no risk of being run in by a policeman desirous of making a case. GREYMOUTH. Greymouth is dejected and naturally so. The chief industry, the coal trade, has had an extinguisher put on it, owing to the judgement of the Supreme Court in favour of the widows of the 05 miners who were killed in the lirunner mine two years ago. The whole story, from first to last, is one which it would be well if it could be blotted out of the history of the colony. Here was a mine opened in 1564 and worked continuously since, which was notorious for its danger. It has always been known as a "fiery" mine, and as such required more thau ordinary care and supervision by the Government Inspector. After the disaster oueof those whitewashing tribunalsknown as a Royal Commission was sent down to take evidence and repo't. The evidence taken was that of alleged experts, some of whom were interested parties. That of working miners and others who knew the condition and surroundings of the affair were refused. The experts were unanimous that the explosion was caused by a blown-out shot igniting the dry eoul dust, and that the inspection o! the mine was satisfactory. No one knowing anything of the Brnnner Mine accepted the report as other than a poor attempt to shield the Government, the Inspector and the company, for the evidence of the Inspector himself was to the effect that he had not been in that part of the mine for 70 days, and that Daked lights were used. Theu came an appeal on behalf of the bereaved ones for help, and it was nobly rcspcuded to. Some £IO,OOO was subscribed by the people of New Zealand and divided so that the widows and orphans all had satisfactory provision made lor them. Most of them, in fact, are now better off than ever before. But one of those eminently foolish labour Bills which Messrs Seddon aud Co. assure us are blessings, contained clauses which left an opening for claiming damages from the company and litigation commenced and continued, with the.

result that the company was ordered to pay £7700 and costs. The company itself is in anything but a healthy condition, and u in fact in the course of having its property handed over to the debenture holders. But the Seddonian Act says the property is liable, Mid the lawyer for the widows, having obtained a charging order, seizes upon the money for coal sold aud so leaves the company with nothing to pay wages and so work is stopped, and now the miners are appealing to the all powerful Premier, who says the law must take its course. Also to the widows to get their lawyer to stay his hand. The mineis are very angry with the widows, because, having been provided for by the publ'c, they argue that they should have been satisfied. There is an idea prevailing lure that the Government will take possession and run the concern as a State coal mine. In such case, it is said the company will draw the pumps and so destroy the mine. Altogether a pretty kettle of fish, and all because a Government Inspector failed iu his duty.