WEST COAST NEWS

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21976, 28 December 1936, Page 4

WEST COAST NEWS

BOXING DAY REGATTA

EVENTS ON GREY RIVER CANTERBURY YACHTS’ SUCCESSES The Grevmoulh Regatta Club’s carnival regatta, held on the Grey river on Boxing Day. was most successful. Interest was added by the presence of three Canterbury competitors in the yachting, two of which were successful, gaining two wins. The dredge Mawhera was the flagship. Results: — Poschich Cup, A Class, lour miles— Mystic (C. Brown), scr, 1; Mako (P. McDonald), scr, 2; Dream (C. Uddstrom). scr, 3. Mystic won by two seconds. Wilson Cup, B Class, four miles — Lolita (J. Evans, Lyttelton), Imin, 1; Rascal (R. Blacktopp), 2min, 2; Awatea IP. Brennan), 2min, 3. McLeod Cup. Open Class, six miles — Mako (P. McDonald), scr, 1; Mystic (C. Brown), scr, 2; lanthe (J. Smith), 3min, 3. Special Open Race, four miles— Omana (Alexander, Lyttelton), 7min, 1; Rascal (Blacktopp), 9min, 2; Bounty (H. Blanchfield), lOmin, 3. Wakatere Championship (Darwell Cup), two miles —Albatross (D. Hoggarth and J. Hammond) 1, Avis (L. Shuker and W. Messenger) 2, Charim (R. Trewern (»nd J. Blanchfield) 3. Speedboat Handicap, four miles— Don Juan (D. Miller), scr, 1; Bumble Bee (J. Kelly), 30sec, 2. Half-mile River Swim —F. Dixon 1, Roy Davies 2, K. McLaughlin 3. Rowing Race—C. Uddstrom 1, A, Colville 2, F. Kempel 3. ROADS ON THE WEST COAST PROGRESS BEING MADE WITH IMPROVEMENTS Good progress is being made with the deviation on the main highway at Kamaka and considerable filling work has already been accomplished at Mitchell’s Mistake, where the road will be diverted to run parallel with the railway line. Good progress is also being made with the approaches to the overhead railway crossing at Kiwi, near Brunner. The Otira Gorge road is in good order and has been extensively used during the holidays. CRICKET GREYMOUTH BEATS HOKITIKA ON FIRST INNINGS A feature of the return representative cricket match between Hokitika and Greymouth at Greymouth yesterday was the attractive batting display by P. Allen (Greymouth), who played a chanceless innings until he was caught out at 95. Greymouth won by 92 runs on the first innings. The home side batted first, scoring 196 runs (P. Allen 95, O. Morris 29, B. Marshall 27, A. Vaughan 24;' and M. Marshall 13). Keenan (four for 27) bowled splendidly for Hokitika, five of his 14 overs being maidens. Howatt (two for 20), Griffiths (two for 22), and F. Parker (one for 16) took the remaining wickets. Hokitika replied with 104, Baird (48) hatting attractively. W. Rapley (four for 17) bowled well for Greymouth. H. Greenwood (three for 16), and R. Barlow (three for 36) also bowled steadily. Hokitika, in its second innings, had lost four wickets, for 56 runs at stumps (Stapleton 23, Baird not out 13, Denia 10). H. Greenwood (one for 7), W. Rapley (one for 7), P. Allen (one for 1), and Knapp (one for 11) taking the wickets. WHIPPET RACING BULLER CLUB’S SWEEPSTAKE MEETING There was a fair attendance at the Buller Whippet Racing Club’s sweepstake meeting, held at Gloucester Park, Westport, yesterday. Results; — Maiden Flat Handicap—J. Raynor’s Flying Cloud (14yds) 1, J. Bradley’s Totara Belle (14yds) 2, J. Reas’ The Miser (14yds) 3. Time, 12 2-ssec. Open Flat Handicap—W. McLaughlin’s Rangatira (14yds) 1, T. Davis’s Argyle Lass (12yds) 2, J. Dunn’s Golden Dollar (14yds) 3. Time, 11 9-10 sec. Novice Flat Handicap—T. Davis’s Bingen Rossir (14yds) 1, J. Raynor’s Flying Cloud (14yds) 2, Miss Solomon’s Stanley M. (14yds) 3. Time, 12 l-ssec. Middle-weight Handicap—Mrs Paul’s Pepper Paul (14yds) 1, J. Dunn’s Golden Dollar (13 2-3 yds) 2. A. Sabin’s Dainty Lad Cl4yds) 3. Time, 12sec. Paul Cup, 200 yds, all off scratch—T. Davis’s Argyle Lass 1, A. Walker’s Queen Author 2, J. Dunn’s Golden Dollar 3. Time, 12 2-ssec. Open Hurdle Handicap—W. McLaughlin’s Rangatira (19yds) 1, A. Walker’s Queen Author (20yds) 2, A. Sabin’s Dainty Lad (20yds) 3. Time. 13sec. WESTPORT PERSONAL NOTES • Mr and Mrs Young (Wellington) are spending a holiday in the Buller. They were formerly residents of Waimangaroa. Mrs Cooper (Christchurch) is visiting her father, Major Carr, of Westport, Mr J. Joyce (Wellington) is spending a holiday with relatives in Westport, Sister Hay-McKenzie. of the Reefton Hospital staff, is staying in Westport. Mr G. Thomas and Mr L. Thomas have arrived from the' North Island on a visit to their parents at Westport. Mrs R, Gemmill (Lyttelton) is spending the holidays with her parents, Mr and Mrs W. Taylor, Peel street, Westport. Mr and Mrs Campbell and son, of Port Chalmers, are the guests of Mr and Mrs C. Williams, Westport.

CHRISTMAS IN HOKITIKA Although Christmas eve in Hokitika was wet, the town was busy, and shopkeepers say trading was brisk. The Kokatahi-Koiterangi Band played music at various sheltered spots. On Christmas Day the Municipal Band played carols in the residential part of the town. The weather continued dull and wet and the Hokitika river flooded.

SOUTH WESTLAND SCHOOLS

MANY IMPROVEMENTS SOUGHT deputations to minister for education Further requests for improvements to schools in South Westland were considered by the Hon. P. Fraser, Minister for Education, on his way to Waiho last week. A new school building had been promised to Ross by the Hon. S. G. Smith, said Mr H. Osmers, chairman of the Ross School Committee, but, although plans had been prepared, imthing further had been done. He said that the Canterbury Education Board would not repair the present building because a new school was to bo provided. Mr Fraser said that when he returned (o Wellington he would consider the | matter with the object of helping the school committee as quickly as pos-1 A request for a school at Kakapotahi was made by Mr G. H. Chapman. Mr Chaoman said that there were about five or six families there, and that there would be about 15 or 16 puplis. There was an inclination for the district to increase in population. If the school could get the number of pupils stated, the district was entitled to a grade 1 school, said Mr Fraser in reply. He would consider the request. Permission to construct school baths with a grant of £35, and the labour of five men for six weeks, was asked by Mr P. S. Hansen, chairman of the Hari Hari school committee. The gram had been made for improvements to schopl grounds, ho said. He estimated Iho cost of the baths at £4OO to £SOO There were no funds on the estimates for swimming baths, but he would lake up the matter of using the grant which had been made for the grounds, for building swimming baths, Mr Fraser replied. Fruit for School Children Where children were given milk at home as in dairying districts they should be given fruit at school, instead of the milk, as suggested by the Government, was a suggestion made to Mr Fragcr by Mr Hansen. Mr Fraser said that he would consider the matter, but that there were difficulties. He realised the need for making fruit available in districts where it was scarce. . The need for manual training in country schools was mentioned by Mrs J. J. McKay, president of the West Coast Federation of Women’s Institutes. She said that it might be possible to have a caravan equipped to teach the children cookery and dressmaking. While prepared to consider any scheme, Mr Fraser said that he doubted the practicability of i the caravan scheme, and suggested that the institute should go into the matter and forward further suggestions to him. Lffck of medical service available to Public Works employees at Bruce Bay was mentioned by Mr N. H. Brown, a member of the Westland County Council at Wataroa. He also referred to the need for drainage at the settlement. A promise that he would look into the matter was made by Mr Fraser, who said that he should soon have a departmental report on the subject. The possibility in the near future of having to extend the Wataroa school was referred to Mr T. Htfcßride, chairman of , the school committee. Where school committees wers working as they were at Wataroa he would be pleased to consider any necessary extensions, Mr Fraser said.