HOKITIKA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 27 November 1920, Page 4

HOKITIKA NOTES

(Our Own Correspondent.)

The warm northerly wind and raii; on Thursday night brought down ; very heavy flood yesterday morning The river was running bank-high mos: of the islands being under water as also wer©-some of the low portions oj the town; but no damage was done The flood was about 16 inches lowoi than the big flood, which we had earh in the year. Mr. R." Todd, of the local Railway 'Department, is at present on holidav.s There is at present a good deal "0.1 sickness about town, and' one canim wonder at this, the way the wcathoi has been this last month. The Hokitika River has been flood ed no fewer than twelve times durinj. the last five weeks, but they have been mostly small floods. At the local Hospital Board meet ing, Mr. R. Wild was rc-clccted chair man. The Board decided to rcfust the Kumara people's urgent request tc allow the doctor's residence there tc be made available for the new doctoi (Dr. Greenwood). The chairman saici tho doctor was appointed without any reference to a residence. The resi dents urged they had erected the residence 30 years ago by .voluntary subscriptions, ad it was the only one in the town available for the doctor, and might, if refused, prevent the doctor remaining. Mr. J. P. Evans was the only member in favour of thje request being granted. The Kumara Commitee forwarded £75 contributions, and W. H. Batson enclosed an enquiry re money handed in to the trust account. The Board decided to buy the laundry plant of Mr. J. Nash at Greymouth, for £1525. In the recent London Associated Board musical examinations here, among t>ic one Advanced and seven Intermediate passes which the Convent pupils were successful in obtaining, Miss Mary Rae succeeded in getting honours in Intermediate. As far as can be ascertained, Hokitika is the first centre in New Zealand in which Mr. Quaifc has awarded piano honours. On Wednesday last at Christchurch, the wedding of Mr. Jas. Miller (Ruatapu) and Miss Bessie Good (Hokitika) took place. The bridegroom was attended by his brother, Mr. A. Miller, while Miss Celia Knight acted as bridesmaid. Mr. Alf Good gave the bride away. SPORTING. "Furlong" supplies the following racing notes: — Training operations on the racecourse on Tuesday morning were or a very high order. The first to make his appearance was Tantalus, and with Waslcy in the saddle he did the circuits at a steady pace. Allan Dale ,gave Tyson the circuits at a slow canter. The son of Coronet is looking a picture. Lady Middlcton, Palludium and Grand Diichy arc spelling in the paddocks. The former two arc in good order, but Grand Duchy is not in any too good condition. Inch North, with Johnson up, and tho Gasolene — Hari Hai-i Jilly, with McCarthy up, wore given easy exercise on the trotting track. I notice that both these youngsters have a tendency to look for the gate each time they come round, and the boys' action in pulling them up and walking them past, seems to me to iii-:-rtase the horses' knowledge of the danger. It is strange that all south-jrn-bred horses have a tendency to leave the track. I must state, however, that both the youngsters show great promise. Tom .Staines gave Prince Mac four rounds on the hard. This, fellow avus pulling hard at the end. ! Fred Smith gave Tanekaha a sj>in in, the sulky; but the best he did was to leave the mile behind in 2.40, after covering tho first half in 1.15. He seems to be a bit roguish. Mary Hill Avas given four rounds, and worked very well, but both Tanejkaha and Mary Hill seem to bo (troubled with their wind. v J Dick Thompson had a youngster by Denver Huon — Bell 11., and is knocking him into shajpe. Allan Dale gave the son of Jedran — Rita H. a few rounds. This youngster is pacing very well. "There were a good few visitors to the course last Sunday, and one could notice that the club has made a start vrith its democratic idea of charging the one price for all parts of the course, ffhe dividing fence between the totalisator and the outside, stand has been removed. This wise step should benefit the local club, now that it is becoming very popular. > There is perhaps one other item which they could well attempt; it is really worth a trial, and that is the use of the 10s. totalisator. We all know many 'a fellow would risk 10s., but when it comes to £1 he cannot find anyone to share with, him in his fancy, and therefore the totalisator loses the 10s. The Grey Club, no doubt, attributes some of its success to the 10s. tote. However, a trial by the local club would do no harm, but it would really put tho scheme to the test. The caretaker has the grounds in capital order. The tracks are looking well, and the trotting track is to receive a top-dressing, which will greatly improve it.