HOKITIKA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 4 September 1917, Page 4

HOKITIKA NOTES

(From Our Special Correspondent) Considerable alarm is expressed at Ruatapu at the spread of sickness in that locality. The desease which takes the- form of pneumonia has so far caused two deaths, while there are many cases of serious illness. Three of the patients are in the Westland Hospital , while the others are being treated at private hospitals in town or at their own homes. Much . interest was taken in the movements of telegraph messengers yesterday morning. At many shop doorways and at. street corners laugh' ing -groups could be seen congratulating those who after many tries had at last been lucky enough to draw a marble in the Military Service Ballot . The last return from the Rimu No 1 Dredge was 21 ozs for 5 days work. Sub-Lieutenant W. E. Shannon R.N.R.. of Hokitika has been on service since the beginning of the war. He enlisted in September, 1914; with the British Section N.Z.E.F., and went out to Egypt to join the Main Body. He was through the various campaigns right up to the Somme, where he was wounded and invalided to England. ■ After some eight months in hospital he was discharged for duty, but being a marine ijngineer, he applied for a commis. sion in the R-.N.R. In due course he was accepted, and took his discharge from the N.Z.E.F. Sub-Lieutenant Shannon is -at Devonport for duty in the Special Service.

At a conference held in Wellington last week, the Hon. G. W. Russel (Minister of Marine) submitted draft regulations in regard to the protection Of quiniiat salmon. One of the regulations provides that during the spawning season no nets of any kind will be allowed to be used inside the mouths of the declared salmon rivers, of which Hokitika River is one. The spawning season is during the months of May and June.

The many friends of Miss Whitten of Sale Street regret to <hear that jshe is seriously ill and has had to ,be removed to the Westland Hos-' pital lor^tteatment. Th» heavy, seas, of the past few days/have again ' . damage in North Revell Street. Many fences and sheds have gone out to Sea, and should the sea make further encroachment the outlook will be rather serious for residents in that vicinity.