THE HOKITIKA BAR

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22194, 10 September 1937, Page 10

THE HOKITIKA BAR

VIEW OF MEMBER OF HARBOUR BOARD “NO DANGER OF TOWN BEING FLOODED” Mr M. Houston presided at the meeting of the Hokitika Harbour Board, last evening, at which a long discussion took place on the present condition of the bar. signalman reported that the channel was in a very unsatisfactory state. The river was 2ft 6in below normal, and a bank had been thrown across the mouth through the action of the sea. It was the unanimous opinion of members that there was no danger of the town being flooded through the blockage at the bar. A flood in the river would quickly wash the bank away.

The suggested diversion of more water to the north channel in order to improve the berthage and to keep the bar in better condition was discussed. It was resolved to ask the Employment I ivision of the Department of Labour for men to enable the board to turn the stream into the north channel. It is hoped to have the work done as soon as possible. A letter was received from Mr James O’Brien, M.P., regretting the board’s inability to accept the Government’s offer to provide wages for the rebuilding of the retaining wall along the north bank because of lack of funds for the purchase of necessary material. The secretary produced a statement of the board’s loan. This showed that £25,000 had been borrowed in 1911 at 31 per cent.; £13,955 had since been paid off the principal, and £17,120 by way of interest, making a total of £31,000. Nearly £24,000 of this had been paid out of rates, and the balance out of revenue. About £II,OOO of the loan was still owing. SEDDON SHIELD REPRESENTATIVE SIDES ANNOUNCED The Duller side to defend the Scddon Shield against Nelson, at Westport to-morrow, was announced by the selectors late to-night as follows: —Full-back, F. Neighbours; threequarters, J Hill, A. Dunn, R. Butterfield; five-eighths, S. Stewart, A. Strachan; half-back, B. Finlayson; forwards, R. Pratt, G. Orman, J. Lake, G Mason, J. Brown, G. Wilson, A. Caldwell, T. Phipps; emergencies, forwards, D. A. Hudson, K. Corrie; backs, J. J. Gonley, D. Strachan.

After refusing to change the personnel or placings of the team for recent matches in spite of obvious weaknesses, the selectors have announced the team for Saturday with certain changes that might be termed eleventh hour experiments. Instead of dropping F. Neighbours because of his previous displays as second five-eighths, the selectors iiave put him at full-back, a position in which he has never previously been tried. He is a strong tackier, but his kicking is an unknown quantity. A. Dunn has been transferred from full-back to centre, where he should prove useful. The fiveeighths arc Stewart and Strachan, who should go Well together provided they can both curb their common tendency to run into the forwards. On the whole, changes made in the forwards, consequent upon the inclusion of Caldwell in place of K. Corrie, may prove beneficial. Corrie has locked with Wilson iti all representative fixtures so far this season. Brown, previously a side row man, will replace him at lock. Caldwell has taken Brown’s former position. He has been playing spectacular football for his club this season and should prove a valuable recruit.

Mr R. Blazey, of Christchurch, will referee the match in place of Mr S. Hollander, who is unavailable. The Nelson team is as follows: Full-back, Scoltock; three-quarters, Boyce, Busch, Watson; five-eighths, Cooke, Brinsdcn; half-back. Costello; forwards, Andrews, Fleet. Lusty Craig. McKay, Drummond, McLean (captain), Lovell. Emergencies: Backs. Turley, Bass; forwards, Bennington Wishart. WESTLAND REPRESENTATIVE RUGBY TEAM The following players have been selected to represent Westland in the game against South Westland for the Dittman Shield:—Backs: Stapleton Agnew, Garden, Muir, Roberts, Fleming, McGlashan. Forwards: Key, Thorpe, Weiblitz, Thompson, King. Gardiner, J. Jones, Tainui. Emergencies: McCarthy, Harrison, West, Clarke. The game will be played at Hokitika to-morrow. ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL JUNIOR TEAM TO PLAY CANTERBURY The following junior representative West Coast Association football team has been chosen to play Canterbury for the Dewar Cup on September 18: Perrin, Lee, Bailey, Duggan, Balderstone, W. Paton, Kerr, Erskine, Philips Cruse, J. Paton. .J. Paton will travel as player-manager. The third grade match between Runanga and Technical B will be played at Runanga at 1.30 p.m. MUSIC EXAMINATIONS / HOKITIKA RESULTS The following pupils of the Hokitika Convent were successful in the theoretical examination of the Trinity College of Music held last June:--Advanced Junior Division—Patricia 83 (honours); June Cunningham, 8? < merit); Jean Park. Junior Division—Kitty Brennan. 91; Eily Haddock. 90; Mary Foster, 88 Preparatory Division —Doreen Ritchie, 100; Marie Toomey, 100; Lena Clements, 96; Betty Hahn. 94; Errol Foote, 92: William Barltrop. 88 (honours); Joan Stewart, 75 (merit). HOKITIKA BRANCH OF LABOUR PARTY Mr J. L. Turner presided at the monthly meeting of the Hokitika branch of the Labour Party. It was decided that the branch should hold a ball on Labour Day. October 25. The secretary was instructed to send a letter to the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) congratulating him and his Government upon past achievements and assuring him of the continued support and confidence o£ the party in Hokitika.

CUP PRESENTED TO TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL A handsome silver cup has been presented to the Westport Technical High School by Mr F. S. Wood and his sons, of Westport, in appreciation of the benefits they received when attending the school. The principal (Mr J. Metson) desires to express appreciation of the gift, which, he states, will be allocated to some suitable annual competition. ' . , Another former pupil of the school who desires to remain anonymous has undertaken to provide an honours board for the school.

WESTPORT PERSONAL NOTES Mr and Mrs A. Thompson, of Westoort, are visiting Hokitika on holiday. Mr R. Donaldson, of Taumarunui. i' visiting his sister,-Mrs P. Morgan, of Westport. Mr C. Smith, of Westport, has returned from Auckland and Christchurch, where he has been completing annual leave, the first portion of which was spent in an islands cruise. ■ Mr and Mrs B. Fowlds, of Oparara, Kuramea, have returned from a holi-

day visit to Christchurch and the North Island. Mr H. J. Thornton, secretary of the Nelson Education Board, and Mr A. H. Leaper, the board’s architect, have been visiting the Duller district. Mr W. Struthers was appointed senior meter-reader for Westport at a committee meeting of . the Borough Council on Wednesday night. Mr J. Johnston, of the Railway Department clerical staff, who left yesterday on transfer to Wellington, has been the guest at several farewell gatherings in the last few days. On Saturday night he was met by members of the Railway Social Club. Mr B. Lucy, on behalf of Mr Johnston’s fellow-employees, presented him with a silver cigarette case and wished him success and good luck in the future. Members of the Kawatiri Rowing Club said good-bye to Mr Johnston on Tuesday evening. The club captain (Mr W. Craddock) presented the guest with an inscribed fountain pen. Mr Johnston has been for several seasons a member of the Old Boys’ Football Club senior fifteen, and on Wednesday evening he was the guest of his fellow club members. The president (Mr P Smith) presented him with a leather suitcase.