MAILS TO SOUTH WESTLAND

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22035, 8 March 1937, Page 6

MAILS TO SOUTH WESTLAND

MORE FREQUENT SERVICE WANTED REPLY FROM POSTMASTERGENERAL The following reply has been received from the Hon. F. Jones (Post-master-General) by Mr J. O’Brien, M.P., about a more frequent mail service to South Westland:— “In reply to your representations that the frequency of the air mail service between Hokitika, Bruce Bay, Haast and Okuru, be improved, I wish to inform you that when tenders were recently being dealt with, the provision of twice-weekly services was fully considered. My department, however, is committed to a substantial increase in subsidy to continue the existing weekly service and, as the contractors do not make regular flights more frequently, and having regard to the loss already sustained by the department in operating this service, the additional cost of providing the desired frequency is deemed net to be warranted. In the circumstances it is regretted that a regular second weekly trip cannot be provided, but, to meet the wishes of the settlers as far as possible, arrangements will be made for mails to be dispatched when the aeroplanes are making flights supplementary to the regular once-weekly service.” EYED-OVA FOR LAKE MAPOURIKA DEPARTMENT’S UNFAVOURABLE REPLY Mr C. L. Harper presided at the monthly meeting of the council of the Westland Acclimatisation Society. The Department of Internal Affairs wrote saying that it was unable to make a free grant of rainbow trout eyed-ova to stock Lake Mapourika. It was decided to ask Mr J. O’Brien, M.P., to request the department to reconsider its decision, as the stocking of the lake would be an added tourist attraction. Mr H. E. Hefford, Chief Inspector of Fisheries, wrote acknowledging the request for a supply of quinnat ova, and agreeing to recommend the request, subject to supplies being available. It was resolved to recommend an open season for opossums for the coming season over the same period as last year. PAKIHI LANDS DEVELOPMENTAL WORK TO BE DISCUSSED Matters of vital interest to Westport and the Buller district wiR be discussed ait a conference of , Ministers of the Crown and departmental heads arranged at Wellington this week by the Hon. P. C. Webb. The Mayor of Westport (Mr J. -Kilkenny) and the county engineer (Mr C. F. ShqdSck) will leave for Wellington to-day in compliance with an urgent request from Mr Webb that they should take part In the conference. It is understood that the subjects to be discussed ■wiU include the development of pakihi lands, the start of suitable works to relieve unemployment, the Westport aerodrome, and the establishment of certain State industries in the district. REEFTON BRANCH OF LABOUR PARTY The annual meeting of the Reefton branch of the New Zealand Labour party was held with Mr E. Riley presiding. A motion of condolence was passed with the Rollerson, family In the death of Mr Frank Rollerson, who had always been a keen member of the local organisation. The. election of officers resulted as .follows:-—President. Mr E. Riley: secretary, Mr J. McGregor; committee, Messrs P. Strachan, L. McKane, T. '•Bennett, P. Wright, and W. Mitchell; auditor, Mr T. F. McKenzie. The following organisers for the district were appointed:—Messrs E. Riley, iW. Bennett, L, McKane, and J. Cairns. DENNISTON RESIDENT HONOURED A farewell in honour of Mrs J. Brownlie, who is leaving Denniston soon, was given by the women of the Denniston Orange Lodge. After tea had been served Past Mistress J. Worgan presented Bister Brownlie with a gift for the gathering. The recipient suitably returned thanks. During the afternoon items were given by Mesdames W. Henderson, J. Philp, W. Baird, and J. Allan. Cricket Match Hone Heke beat Birchfleld by 16 runs In a single innings match played at Denniston during the week-end. S. Allott (19) and W. Gaudln (19) were Hone Heke’a most successful batsmen, and for the visitors G. Griffiths (17) was top, scorer. Bowling for the visitors, E. Griffiths took two wickets for 12 runs, H, Griffiths four for 34, and P. Hansen -four for 3. For the home side. W, Gaudin took six for 30, and S. Allott four for 4.

DAMAGES CLAIM FAILS

SUPREME COURT JUDGMENT AT GREYMOUTH

A claim for damages, arising out of the death of his son, which was brought by Peter Sinclair, drayman, of Greymouth, in the Supreme Court- at Groymouth, against Edward Henry Shirley, contractor, of Hokitika, failed. His Honour Mr Justice, Northcroft holding that negligence had not been proved and that no pecuniary loss had been sustained by plaintiff. The plaintiff claimed £SOO and costs under the Deaths by Accident Compensation Act, 1908, alleging that due to the negligence of defendant’s lorry driver, his son, Ronald Furness Sinclair, met his death on the main highway at Ahaura bn June 18, 1936, when the lorry, in which the boy was a passenger, capsized.

Mr F. A, Kitchingham appeared for plaintiff, and defendant was represented by Mr J. W! Hannan.

SETTLEMENT REACHED CLAIM FOR DAMAGES AT GREYMOUTH In the Supreme Court at Greymouth a settlement was announced in the civil claim, Peter Hugh Rex (Mr W. J. Sim) v. Walter Henry Blunt (Mr C. S. Thomas). The claim, which was for £ISOO general damages and £283 10s special damages, arose as a result of plaintiff being gored by a bull owned by defendant.

Settlement was also effected in the case A. E. Moore v. John Joseph Walter Cunniffe, claim for £450 8s 5d for material and labour for the building of a dwelling. The appeal case, James Shannon v. Adams, Ltd., was not proceeded with.

GIRt CYCLIST’S LEG BROKEN

As a result of a fall from a bicycle in Boundary street, Clarice James, the eight-year-old daughter of Mr and Mrs E. James, Thompson street, Greymouth, sustained a fracture of the left leg just below the knee. She was admitted to the Grey Hospital,

GREYMOUTH .PERSONAL NOTES

Mr and Mrs R. Heffernan left on Saturday* for Christchurch. Mr F. F. Boustridge left on Saturday on a visit to England. Miss J. Burrows, who has resigned from the nursing staff of the Qrey Hospital, was, before her departure, entertained at a kitchen evening in the Nurses’ Home, and was the recipient of numerous gifts. Miss M. McKenzie left on Saturday on' a visit to Christchurch.

HOKITIKA WARDEN’S COURT

The following applications were dealt with at the Warden’s Court, Hokitika, by the warden (Mr R. Ferner, S.M.):—

Hokitika applications—John James Mclntosh, ordinary prospecting license 100 acres, part Crown .land, road reserve, and part section 667, blocks IV. and VIII., Mahinapua S.D., adjourned. Harry Digby James, six ordinary prospecting licenses, block 111., Kanieri, S.D., consented to by lessees. Five granted and one adjourned. Ross applications—Alfred W. Purcell and John Engholt, ordinary prospecting licenses, Two applications, block XIV., Waiho S.D. Referred to Minister for consent. John Clotber, ordinary prospecting licenses, two applications, blocks XVI., Okarito S.D., and IV.. Waiho S.D. Recommended to Minister. Andrew Henry Hedwig, water-race, block 1., Totara S.D. Adjourned. South Westland Rimu Timber Company. Ltd., increased water supply. Granted.

_ Kumara applications—Allan R. Perry, two ordinary prospecting licenses, blocks X. and XL, Waimea S.D. Adjourned, Hura Gold Prospecting, Ltd., renewal of water-race license for 21 years. Adjourned.

Walter Rogers, two ordinary prospecting licenses, blocks XII. and XVI., Waimea S.D. Granted subject to existing rights. Hatters Flat Mining Company, surrender absolute of claim, water-races, and two dams. Surrender of claims granted, and other two referred to Minister for consent. The case of J. McLean v. Rimu Gold Dredging Company was set down for hearing at Hokitika on March 17, as Mr Elcock, counsel for J. McLean, said the hearing vtould take a full day and counsel for both sides would be coming from Wellington. Mr O’Leary, K.C.. would represent the company and Mr O’Regan, Mr McLean.

HOKITIKA MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Mr R. Ferner, S.M., presided at a sitting of the Magistrate’s Court at Hokitika, Dudley Collins was charged with driving a motor-truck In a dangerous manner on a public highway, also with reckless driving over the Hokitika railway bridge.

The first charge was withdrawn, and on- the second count defendant was convicted and fined £l. He was ordered to pay costs. ' Charles Brown was charged with disobedience of a maintenance order. He pleaded guilty and admitted arrears of £55 1,75. He was convicted and sentenced to three months' gaol in Paparua prison, the warrant to be suspended as long as he paid 13s fid a week and 7s 0d a week off arrears. The Inter-Wanganui Co-op. Dairy Co„ Ltd., was charged with selling butter containing excess of water, Mr Murdock appeared for the company and pleaded guilty,

Mr C, L, George said he had been a manager for 18 years and had never had any butter rejected, Some of the butter must not have been thoroughly mixed, A fine of £5 with costs was Imposed, Found unlawfully on the premises of the Club Hotel, a defendant was fined 10s. Another found on the premises of the Three Mile Hotel was fined ss. Judgment for plaintiff was given in the case of Henry Hamer v. R. McLean for £3 3s lid.

HOKITIKA PERSONAL ITEM

Mr G. X, Martin, Commissioner of Crown Lands for Westland, who has been stationed In Hokitika for 12 months, will be transferred to Blenheim at the end of the month; Mr King, of New Plymouth, will succeed him here.

The 8.30 a.m. express from Hokitika to Christchurch was about half an hour late in leaving Hokitika on Saturday morning. The train usually arrives from Ross about 8 a.m., but a motor-lorry broke down on the Hokitika railway bridge ahd delayed the train until 8.45 a.m.

WESTPORT PERSONAL ITEMS

Constable G. J. .Taylor, of Christchurch, has arrived at Westport in place of Constable Surgeoner, who was recently transferred. Members of the police force at Westport, representatives of the Magistrate’s Court office staff, and of the legal profession met at the police station on Friday evening to say goodbye to Constable T. W. Bruce, who has been transferred to Matanui, South Westland. Sergeant C. J. King made a presentation to Constable Bruce and referred to his good qualities as a member of the force, and as a citizen, and wished him, Mrs Bruce, and their son every success in their new home. Constable Bruce suitably returned thanks. Accompanied by Mrs Bruce and Master Bruce he left Westport for South Westland on Saturday.