HOKITIKA NOTES.

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 September 1917, Page 7

HOKITIKA NOTES.

(Our Own Correspondent.) BOROUGH COUNCIL, The Hokitika Borough Council held its fortnightly meeting on Friday when there were present; H. M. Coulsoh (Deputy Mayor), S. Preston, A. H. Stapleton, J. King, R. King, A. Parkhill and H. Thompson. Apologies were received from Messrs G. Wood and H. Blank for being absent. Inward correspondence was received from the Public Trustee, forwarding cancelled coupons for £B7 10s interest on account of abattoir loan. —Received. From Hawera Borough Council in regard to particulars of abattoir and Fire Board.—Received. Air Jarman to reply to former and Mr A. A. Andrewes. the latter. The Treasurer reported receipts £l6B 15s 2d, payments £163 16s 3d, credit balance £BB 18s 3d.—Received. Tiie Finance Committee recommended paying accounts amounting to £4O 2s. — Received and adopted. From Borough inspector, referring to

an article in the Guardian and the explanation by the Deputy Mayor to the Magistrate. The inspector stated he had received instructions from the Deputy Mayor to "hold the matter over" in. regard to a case where a citizen had motor spirit stored in excess of the amount allowed by license. He wished to state that he considered the statement misleading, and, had he not leceived the instructions, he would certainly have taken action against the offender. Mr Coulsnn explained his action in connection with the business. He stated there seemed to he a, hit of misunderstanding in connection with the whole business. What had actually happened was that lie had given instructions not to prosecute until the Council met and to hold the matter in abeyance until then only, Mr R. King thought there should be no interference with an officer in the carrying out of his duties. Mr Coulsnn took exception to the' word interference. On the motion of Mr Coulsnn. seconded by Mr H. Thompson, the letter was received. The members of the Council took a stand against the insinuations cast agains the people of Westland in regard to the jury system by the Legislative Council. The Deputy Mayor had wired Sir William Hall-Jones in Wellington. protesting against the accusations, and had Reived the following reply: “From my knowledge of the good people of Westland, I am confident any enquiry will prove there is no reflection upon their honor and integrity. Handing your telegram to the Times.” Mr Coulsnn, by leave moved: “That this Council protest to the Right Hon. the Premier at the general charges levelled against the conduct of the jury system on the West Coast, and points out that, so far as the Westland portion of the. West Coast is concerned, the. charges and reflections are without cause' or justification : and, further, that as the action of the Government in the past in creating several centres on the West Coast for sittings of the Supreme, Court has not met with the apparent approval and success desirable the Government be urged to revert to tlie former practice of making Hokitika the assize town for the West Coast.” Mr J. King seconded the motion, saying he thought it was high time they looked after themselves. He would like to see the old regime brought hack, and the whole sittings held here as formerly. The motion was carried.

RISE IN THE RIVER

The recent heavy run in the liver brought down a largo amount of diiftwood, a portion of which was deposited on the beach near North Revolt Street. Saturday was quite a busy day on the beach for the residents in the immediate vicinltv and a good supply of firewood was piit above high-water mark by the gatherers, both old and young. Among the debris on the beach were found several fish, such as flounders, herring cod. etc., but what aroused the most curl.witv was a young octupus that was washed up. ft is not often that these put in an appearance on the West Coast beaches, but the finding of an occasional one is a proof that they are about. I hey are rather naslv customers to meet in the water, and it is to be hoped they do not increase in numbers here, as sea bathing will lose some of its charm when it is known that these monsters of the deep frequent these parts.

TIIRY SYSTEM

1 wish to remind readers of the Star that it remained fur » Westland jury to bring in the correct verdict m the famous Connelly case and this in -spite o ie. fact, that be had been tried previously and other juries had found a contrary verdict. Taking all these things into consideration. it is hardly fair to include Westland in the caustic remarks made, in the Legislative Council against the West Const.