WEST COAST NOTES

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18287, 22 January 1925, Page 3

WEST COAST NOTES

IN BANKRUPTCY. (special to "the tsess.") GREYMOUTH, January 21. A meeting of creditors in the bankrupt estate of Reginald John Little, motor-bus proprietor of Kumara, was held this afternoon, Mr A. Naylor, Deputy Official Assignee, presiding. The bankrupt was represented by Mr VT. J. Joyce. In his statement Little gave details of his liabilities which totalled £468 2s sd. This amount was made up as folows:—Grey River Argus Co. £l4 ss, W. H. Batson £.7 10s, Greymouth Motors Ltd. £6B Is 3d, Distributing Agency, Ltd. (Christchurch) £33 143 4d, National Oil Co. (Wellington) £5 19s, Greymouth Evening . Star Co. £l7 4s 6d, Dispatch Foundry Co. £SO 0s 6d, Wild and Bassett (Hokitilca) £39 19s sd, Hokitika Guardian Co. £5, Goodrich Tyre Co. (Christchurch) £2O 16s, United States Rubber Co., Ltd (Wellington) £l6 4s, Christchurch Press Co. Ltd. £4, Westport News Co. £2, Pidgeon and Co. Ltd. (Christchurch) £2O 16s 6d, Dalgety and Co., Ltd. £2 lis lid, Leyland Motors, Ltd. £l6O. There were no secured creditors.

Bankrupt had no assets and could therefore make no offer. Ho said that lie was driving a motor-bus at Nelson prior to March Ist, 1923, and averaged about £4 10s a week. At the end of February of that year he took over a Leyland char-a-banc from Leyland Motors on a hire purchase agreement, paying £75 by way of deposit. This sum was borrowed from four persons and was repaid. Under the agreement £3O a month was to be the amount paid for the hire, of the car, with the right of purchase. He'was running between Richmond and Nelson until the end of July, 1923, but it was a losing proposition, and he came to Greymouth. ■Subsequently he ran a passenger bus between Greymoutli and Kumara until July, 1924, when lie found himself embarrassed by slackness of trade and opposition, so the bus was converted into a timber lorry, this work costing about £SO, and he commenced carting timber to Jackson's at 3s 6d per 100 feet. The mill was closed down and he was rendered idle for six weeks. On its resumption the Public Works Department demanded £2OO as license •fee, and he was compelled to give up the work. Later he < carted for the Kumara Sawmilling Co. for a time, but ceased operations towards the end of the year. ! Leyland Motors took possession of the truck on December 12th. This company had received a total of £5lO, but this amount had been absolutely ?.ost, and he had been out of work for over a month. Mr Batson said he was convinced that Little had not given a, true statement of his affairs and had assets which he refused to disclose. After some discussion the meeting was adjourned sine die. PersonaL

Dr. Ray, of Timaru, has been appointed medical officer for the Black-ball-Roa Medical Association;

Mr and Mrs C. H. Earwalcer, of Baltimore, U.S.A., aro visiting Greyiriouth. The death is reported at Hclcitika of Mrs Gertrude Mary HanrnhAn,, wife of Mr Michael Hanr'ahah, of't lye Mental Hospital staff. The deceased was 49 years of age, a,nd leaves' a" family of eight young children. Mr H. E. Holland, M.jE\, is addressing, meetings in the Southern p'ortion of the Boiler electorate.., He will, open a Dominion. campaign at Taihape on February 2nd, proceeding later'• toNorth Auckland.

Nurse E. M. "Williams has resigned from the Buller Hospital staff. Mr W. H. Maitland is resigning tho position of secretary of tho Buller Hospital Board.

Sunday School Picnic. Pupils of St. John's Presbyterian Sunday School, with their parents and friends, making a train load of about 150, prooeciied • this morning to Omoto racecourse, where, an enjoyable day was spent. County Works. The Greymoutli County Council is expending £SOO received from the Government in the rebuilding of Sawyer's Creek bridge on ..the old Marsden road. Two additional bridgesare to be erected in. this thoroughfare. Other works which the County intends proceeding with are the Moana,' Buru and Grey-Tcremakau -roads.' A. and P. Association.

At a meeting, of the Committee of the, Inangahua A. and P. Association, nine members .consented to, act as a Canvassing Committee, and it 'was decided to ask the Eotokohu branch of the Farmers' Union and Messrs W. Kearns and Panckliurst to assist.

Rifle Shooting. The following were the seven highestnet scores in a shoot by members of the Greymouth Defence Rifle Club for' two trophies presented by Messrs W. Garth and Beath and Co.: C. Richardson 97, J. Young 93, J. Mackay 93, R. L. Jordan 93, W. Garth 90, W. Green 90, E. R. Moss 82.

Swimming. Dr. W. McKay presided last evening at the annual meeting of. the West Coast Centre of the New Zeaalnd Amateur Swimming Association. Tlie annual report stated that the medals won at the West Coast school championships would be presented when the schools resume.

The following officers were elected: — President, Dr. McKay; vice-presidents, Messrs E. McDonnell, W. A. Mullan, A. H. Lawn, J. Simpson and W. J. Blacklow; delegate to the Association, Mr A. McDonald; auditor, Mr G. L. Osborne; hon. secretary and treasurer, Mr A. N. Baker.

The programme for the Grey Club's Carnival was approved. A race was lieid at.Cobden this after-, noon by the Greymouth Swimming Club. The distance was 90yds, and the following was the result:—Lynd (lsec) 1, Griffen (lsec) 2, King (oscc) 3. Ten started.

The Hokitika Club has decided to hold a gala night next Wednesday, with the band in attendance.

Arrangements are being made by the Greymouth Life-Saving Club for tuition by the captain cf the New Brighton Surf Club and Mr Batchelor, of the North Beach Club. A demonstration will take place at Blaketown beach on Sunday.

Bowling. Notification has been received by the Hokitika Bowling Club that two rinks from the Wellington Club will visit the town on February 14th. At a meeting of the General Committee it was decided to comply with the request for a match. It was also agreed to be represented at the forthcoming tournament by two official rinks.

Hokitika Fire Brigade. At a meeting of the Hokitika Fire Brigade, it Was decided to send a team to the demonstration in Christchurch, and to submit the name of Foreman McGregor aa one of the judges. After some discussion on the inadequate-water s.upply, it "was agreed to forward a letter to the Borough Council pointing out

the danger looming over Hokitika in view of the fact that the town had no protection if the resoryoir was empty. The letter will urge on councillors the imperative necessity of augmenting the flow into; the reservoir. Cricket: The secretary of the. West' Coast Criclcct Association has been advised by tho New Zealand Council :that its Management Committee will consider the dispute over the Wingham, Cup. Fire. The danger to some of the West Coast townships from bush fires, which are raging in every direction, was illustrated this afternoon, when the vicarage at. Ahaura, occupied by the Rev. Di Hay, wa3 totally destroyed, . together witli a number of sheds and outbuildings. A bush fire re,ached some dry blackberries, which burnt fiercely, - and it was by this means that the residence caught fire. •It was an old structure, but recently renovated, and a couple of rooms were added. It is not . known definitely whether there wero any insurances. Mr Hay is a heavy loser, as nothing was saved.

Householders in tho district arc issuing an appeal to farmers to desist from burning operations in victf of the great danger to the township, which is practically without water. Destruction was wrought by a fire, which originated near Dead Man's Creek, North Ngahere, and swept an i.rea of bush endangering sawmills and f destroying over two miles of tramway owned by Mr S. Taylor. \ Details are meagre, but it is probable tliat the damage done runs into several hundreds of pounds. '

County Elections. Considerable interest was manifested in the West.land County by-election today to fill the vacancy in the Southern Riding caused by the.death of the Hon. J. Grimmond, M.L.C. Following were the final figures:—J. Donovan, 117; J. J. Mcintosh, 136. An official re-count will take, place on Monday.