HOKITIKA NOTES

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 September 1938, Page 2

HOKITIKA NOTES

[our own correspondent.] HOKITIKA, September 5. There was a large attendance at tire annual re-union of the Hokitika —Westland Branch of the R.S.A. on Saturday evening. The function was presided over by Mr. R. G. Millen, President of the local branch. Representatives were present from most of the West Coast branches. The usual toasts were duly honoured, interspersed with song and story, the latter relating chiefly to active service. Mr. A. H. Lawn presided at the piano. Death has taken toll of local Returned Soldiers during the past fortnight, no less than four having passed away, viz., Messrs. Frank McCabe, Herbert Winter, Albert Woolhouse and Amos Dowell. The excursion to Hokitika, on Sunday from Christchurch brought a fail’ number of visitors. These distributed themselves to Lake Mahinapua, Lake Kanieri, and the Hokitika Gorge, while two teams of lioskey players engaged the local teams, and beat them. The firebell rang out about 2 p.m. yesterday, the cause being, a. scrub fire in close proximity to tlie residence of the Misses Ward on Cemetery Hill. No damage was done. The death took place at the Westland Hospital on Sunday morning, of Mr Oswald Head, of Kanieri, after a brief illness. Deceased was a native of the district and aged 56. He leaves two sisters, Mrs Ed Howatj (Hokitika), and Mrs Geo. Morris (Kanieri), and two brothers (Messrs G .Head (Westport), and W. Head (Wataroa). Mr Amos Dowell died at his residence, Stafford Street, Hokitika, this morning, after a lingering illness. He was a member of the well-known Dowell family, and was a returned soldier. For some time he conducted the Central Hotel. Deceased was 46 years of age, and a native of Hokitika. Besides his wife he leaves a family of two daughters, Mrs C. Schroder, and one infant Jill, and . Masters Eddie and Lloyd Dowell, also . four brothers, Bert, Eddie (Christ- j church), Avery (Te Kinga), Durham ( (Greymouth). and five sisters, Mesdames Brookes (Hokitika), W. Died- i richs (Kokatahi), and G-. Wright i (Runanga), Mrs P. Freebury, Mrs S. < Briggs (Christchurch). i ■ Mrs H. B. Bock, who has been on ■< an extended holiday to her daughter t in England, Mrs D. Woodward, is touring the Continent.