WEST COAST NEWS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22592, 23 December 1938, Page 3

WEST COAST NEWS

[RESIGNATION OF SECRETARY

GREY ELECTRIC POWER BOARD

POSITION ON CHRISTCHURCH COUNCIL STAFF

Congratulations to the secretary (Mr J. Denford) on his having been appointed to a position with the electricity department of the Christchurcn City Council, mixed with regret at his leaving the employment of the board, were expressed at the monthly meeting the Grey Electric Power Board Held at Greymouth on Thursday evening. Mr J. Smeaton presided. He would be required to take up his new duties at the end of February, Mr Denford said. It was with regret that he ended the happy relations that had existed between himself and the board, but he was taking an opportunity for advancement. All members would congratulate Mr Denford sincerely, the chairman said, and would watch with interest his advancement.

It was decided, with regret, to accept Mr Denford’s resignation and to advertise the vacancy. A special meeting will be held next month to deal with the matter. It was decided to insure members of _ the ’ board against accidents while going to and from meetings of the board.

It was decided to grant' £lO this year ..to the Greymouth Surf LifeSaving Club, £5 5s to the Christmas cheer fund at the Grey Hospital, £2 2s to the prize fund of the Greymouth Technical High School, and the usual grant to' the West Coast Agricultural and Pastoral Association.

Eleven copies will be purchased of the “Story of Old Westland,’’ for members of the board and officers. It was reported that there were now 4465 consumers connected to the board’s supply, including 31 connected since the last meeting. The workmen were extremely busy throughout the district, and it was regretted that some new consumers were waiting until the arrears of work could be overtaken.

OBITUARY

MR T. HALLINAN

The death occurred at Hokitika recently of Mr Thomas Hallinan, aged He was a native of Brighton, Australia, and came to New Zealand 39 years ago. He worked at various saw"Uhs on the Otira line and at Bell

CIVIC SQUARE LOAN

POLL OF RATEPAYERS AT GREYMOUTH

APPROVAL BY LOANS BOARD

The Local Government Loans Board has sanctioned the taking of a poll of the ratepayers of Greymouth on the question of raising a loan of £IO,OOO to purchase land from the Church of England for the proposed Civic square, and has approved of the raising of loans amounting to £9BOO, according to advice received by the Mayor (Mr F. A. Kitchingham). Authority has been given by the board to the raising of £ 1000 to reimburse the borough council for work done on the Omoto road because of the slip on March 21 this year, the term of the loan to be 10 years. This amount may be raised without a poll of the ratepayers. The board has also approved the raising of £B2OO as an unemployment relief loan and £6OO as an Omoto road widening loan, by special order procedure. In these two cases, no poll of the ratepayers will be necessary unless 5 per cent, of the ratepayers demand it. The term of each loan will be 10 years. The £B2OO loan and the £6OO loan are required to reimburse the council for money mainly spent in excess of the legal limit of the overdraft. The £IOOO loan .is required to bring the overdraft within the legal, although the money was legally spent by the council to meet the emergency caused by the slip. Interest is not to exceed 3i per cent, on any of the four loans.

GREYMOUTH TEAM CHOSEN

CRICKET MATCH ON JANUARY 2

The following team has been chosen by the selector (Mr W. Barlow) to represent Greymouth in a cricket match against United (Taumarunui) at Greymouth on Monday, January 2:—Morris (captain), Wallace, E. Taylor, M. Marshall, Lindley, Ellis. Knapp, Vaughan, Tindals, Greenwood, and M. Taylor; emergencies, Guy and Lee.

HARBOUR BOARD RATES

FEES FOR COLLECTION BY COUNCIL

INCREASED COSTS AT HOKITIKA

The charge for the collection of harbour board rates will be £52 a year, because of increased costs, according to advice received from the Hokitika Borough Council at a meeting of the Hokitika Harbour Board, at which Mr M. H. Houston presided. The death of Dr. E. Teichelmann, a former member of the board, was referred to, and a motion of sympathy was carried.

The secretary reported a credit balance of £3BO.

The signalman (Mr G. Howe) reported the bar was in good condition, and carried an average of 12 feet of water. About 120 feet of the south wall had been seriously weakened by scouring during the last flood. There was a good depth of water at the berthage. The board decided to arrange a meeting with Mr J. O’Brien, M.P., after the holidays, in an effort to place the necessity for harbour protection works before the authorities. It was decided to notify the borough council to exercise more care in the dumping of rubbish behind the tipheads. The board decided to assist the Hokitika Beautifying Association as much as possible, and suggestions were made for the planting of trees along the river frontage.

SHIPPING

PORT OF GREYMOUTH

[THE PRESS Special Service.] GREYMOUTH, December 22. The Karu Is loading timber for Miramar, and is expected to sail to-night. The Kartigi is loading for Wellington, and is expected to sail to-night. The Totara is loading timber for Miramar, and is expected to sail to-night. The Waimea is due to-night from Nelson, and is expected to sail to-morrow on return. She will return again next Wednesday to load timber for Port Waikato.

The Korowai is due from Auckland with cargo to-morrow morning. She will load for Wellington and Miramar. The Kaitoa is due on December 30 to load coal for Picton.

PORT OP WESTPORT WESTPORT, December 22. The Gabriella, en route from Wellington and delayed by heavy weather, is now expected to-morrow to load for Auckland and Port Whangarei. The Kakapo is expected to leave Wellington to-day and will load to-morrow afternoon for Wellington and Miramar.

CLEARING KARAMEA CEMETERY

DECISION BY DULLER COUNTY COUNCIL

IMPROVEMENTS NEEDED FOR GROUNDS

The Duller County Council decided at its monthly meeting to clear up the Karamea cemetery so that the trustees could arrange for it to be kept in order by a part-time caretaker. Cr. W. R. Simpson said that Mrs Hawick, a resident of Karamea, had offered to provide material for new fencing and paint to clean up the general surroundings. Before a caretaker was appointed the grounds needed extensive improvements, such as clearing long grass and other growth. A well-kept cemetery, he said, denoted the refinement of a community, and he would start a fund to keep the grounds in order if the council did the initial work.

A complaint about the dust nuisance near Fairdown and parts of Waimangaroa was made by Cr. J. Ward, who asked that the tar-sealing programme be amended to include the section of road from Deadman’s creek to Smiths corner. At Waimangaroa persons living near the overhead bridge got all of the dust from the rise. Besides being unhealthy, this dust was a menace to children and others using the roads. The matter was left to Cr. Ward and the engineer-clerk (Mr C. F. Schadick> to arrange if possible. Cr. D. Kerr said that the overflow from the 14 mile creek was scouring out the highway near this place. If something was not done there might not be any road at all in a week or two.

The engineer-clerk said that the Railway Department and other bodies concerned were taking up the work immediately after the holidays. The clearing of the big drain near Birchfleld was referred to the engin-eer-clerk.

The engineer-clerk said he had sent a sample of oil ta.:en from the Maruia district to the Government Analyst. Cr. Simpson said the Hon P. C. Webb (Minister for Mines) deserved credit for his oil-testing ventures in the Gisborne district.

HOKITIKA BOROUGH COUNCIL

MR D. P. STUART TO FILL VACANCY

A poll was taken on Wednesday to fill a vacancy on the Hokitika Borough Council. The voting was as follows: Ernest Webb Heenan .. 185 David Patrick Stuart .. 438 Mr Stuart will fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mr H. L. MicheL

PERSONAL NOTES

GREYMOUTH

Miss M. Cochrane left yesterday for Motueka.

Miss M. Mead left on a holiday visit to Christchurch yesterday. Mr and Mrs R. Wilkinson have returned from Christchurch. Mr and Mrs J. Sheldon, of Christchurch, are on a holiday visit to Greymouth.

Mr H. R. Young left yesterday on a visit to Christchurch.

Miss M. Eager, of the University of California, San Francisco, is on a visit to Mrs G. L. Barker. Mr and Mrs R. S. Martin left yesterday on a holiday visit to Auckland. Mrs I. Delaney left on her return to Rangiora yesterday. Miss N. Darby yesterday left for Palmerston North.

Mr E. A. Egan left yesterday on a visit to Dlenheim and Wellington. Mrs J. Laurenson left yesterday on her return to Wellington. Dr. D. M. Logah, medical superintendent of the Grey Hospital, left yesterday on a holiday visit to Dunedin. Dr. N. F. Greenslade is relieving Dr. Logan and Dr. J. McDonald, of Wellington, is acting as house surgeon. Mr R. Steel, who was married recently, was met on Wednesday by his fellow members of the staff of the Greymouth Harbour Board and presented with a dinner service. The presentation was made by the secretary (Mr W. B. Gilbert), and other speakers were the harbourmaster (Captain H. Moar), Messrs D. C. Milne and A. Richardson.

Captain F. W. Cox, who recently retired from the position of harbourmaster at Greymouth after 23 years’ service, was presented with a fireside chair by members of the staff on Wednesday. The presentation was made by the secretary (Mr W. B. Gilbert), and other speakers were Captain H. Moar, Messrs D. C. Milne and A. Richardson.

WESTPORT

Mr T. Llewellyn (Waiula), who has been visiting Westport, will leave for Dunedin to-day. Misses J. Fairley and R. Richards (Waimangaroa) left yesterday on a cycling tour of the Blenheim district.

HOKITIKA

Mrs H. P. Cooke, accompanied by her daughter, Elsie, has returned home after a holiday in Wellington. Mrs Walton, of Nelson, and her daughter, Sheila, are visiting friends in Hokitika.

Miss N. Chesterman (Granity) is spending her holidays with her parents, Mr and Mrs F. Chesterman, Hampden street. Miss June Armstrong, a pupil of the Hokitika District High School, has received advice of her selection for entrance to the Teacher’s Training College, Christchurch. Mr H. F. Cooke, manager of the Hokitika branch of the Bank of New South Wales, is an inmate of the Westland Hospital. Mr Burrell, of the head office, Wellington, is acting as relieving manager. _,

PROSECUTION- OF SAWMILLERS

COMPLAINT AT MEETING OF COUNCIL

INDUSTRY HAMPERED IN DULLER DISTRICT

Strong criticism of the action of the Duller Acclimatisation Society in prosecuting sawmillers for allowing sawdust to flow into streams containing trout in the Duller district, was expressed by Cr. J. H, Powell at the meeting of the Duller County Council on Wednesday. He claimed that the infliction of severe fines would have the effect of harming the timber milling industry. Only at the last sitting of the Magistrate’s Court, he said, one sawmiller said he would have to close his mill because he could not prevent his sawdust from running into a river, which was really a sludge channel, designed to take away such material.

“It is ridiculous,” he concluded, “If all the trout in the Duller river were killed to-morrow they would not make a decent feed.”

The chairman (Cr. D. J. Archer) and Cr. W. R. Simpson agreed that the penalties were outrageous, the last-named saying that the provision of special sawdust clearances would cost some sawmillers an extra £1 a day. Cr. Powell moved, and Cr. Simpson seconded, a motion that the attention of the Minister for Internal Affairs (Hon. W. E. Parry) be drawn to the position as explained, and that he be asked to take some action to prevent the ruination of the timber milling industry in the district. Cr. W. H. Mclntyre opposed the motion. He said that sawmillers could prevent at no great cost their refuse from getting into the rivers, and, in any case, when the sawmillers dumped sawdust in • these streams they knew that they were breaking the law. and must pay the penalty. He considered that the suggested motion would carry no weight with the Minister. New Zealand was world-famed for its trout fishing, and if this sport was killed the Dominion’s tourist trade might be affected. He said that no mills in the district would cease working because of the society’s activities. The motion was carried, Cr. McIntyre dissenting.

LEARNTOSWIM CAMPAIGN

BULLER DISTRICT COMMITTEE FORMED

A Buller district committee to assist the learn-to-swim campaign was formed on Wednesday night after an address had been given by Mr N. A. Ingram (general secretary of the National Committee of Swimming and Life Saving). Mr Ingram .'said that 1000 voluntary instructors were required to teach 75,000 children. He outlined schemes of instruction by special coaches, who would travel round the Dominion and impart their knowledge to district instructors. The films and radio would also be used and expenses would be

granted various districts where a great deal of work was required. In districts where there were no swimming facilities canvas-lined railway carriages would be used. The chairman (Mr C. M. Robertson) agreed with Mr Ingram that 10 or 15 yards was an ample distance for a beginner to cover. Mr R. Hill (representing the Catholic schools) promised his co-operation, and that of the schools, with any schemes decided on.

The following were appointed to the committee: —Messrs C. M. Robertson, P. Foote, and Miss Joan Walls (Westport Swimming Club). Messrs D. Lutton (State School). R. Hill (Catholic schools), and H. T. Hartley (secretary).

NOMINATIONS FOR SPORTS

AXEMEN’S AND CYCLING EVENTS AT WESTPORT

The following nominations have been received for the Holland Memorial Sports Committee’s axemen’s carnival at Westport on December 28;— Holland Memorial Chop, 14-inch underhand, £SO, £lO, £5 —T. E. Egan. D. Mather, T. Jackson, T. Dunster. D. Geary,

W. Neame, E. Blackmore. D. Gilsennan. A. E. de Bou. G. Shaffey. W. V. Snow. V. Rhind, M. Junovich. J. R- Jacobs. H. Bannister. W. Maloney. G. Gilman. A- flu—erty. T. Bannister. A. Wybrow. J. Pretty, D. Pearson. H. Smith, C. Gilman. T. Pretty, J. Douglas, and J. Malone. Upright Chop, 13-inch log, £3O. £7. and £s T. E. Egan. D. Mather. T. Jackson. T. Dunster, D. Geary, A. E. de Bou. W. V. Snow. V. Rhind. C. Gilman. J. Jacobs. H. and T. Bannister, W. Maloney. R- Stuerty, R. Wybrow. J. Pretty, H. Smith. Open Underhand Chop. £3O. £7. and £s W. Evans, T. E. Egan. T. Dunster. Wybrow, J. and T. Pretty. W. Neame. D. Pearson, £. Blackmore. H. Smith. D. and L. Gilsennan, J. Wafer, A. £. de 800. Schwass. C. Gilman, W. V. Snow. H. Richer. B. Simpson. J. Douglas. R- Simpson. W. Rhind. J. Woodcock. C. Donaldson, J. R. Jacobs, W. Maloney. L. G. Wilson. and P. Malone.

Double-handed Saw. 14-inch log. £2s. £3. and £2— T. Duns tar and mate. T. Rogers and D. Mather. J. Rogers and J. Rogers, E. Blackmore and mate. Simpson brothers. W. Rhind and Simpson. M- Janovich and A. Peterson. C. Donaldson and mate. J. Calder and P. Malone. H- Smith and Smith, T. Bannister and Geary. Cycling Events, for £3O prize money— P. Bone. A. G. Mehems, P. G. Duffy. A. Bennett. D. A. Morland. G. A. Coleman. R. W. Mclntyre. M. G. Sheldon. D. BiCodington, J. Cooper. J. Archer. C. C- Wood, G. Bennett. J. Coleman. Clemence. T. Robinson, T. Grose. V. Hogarth. J. Lament, E. Baker, C. Hargreaves.