HOKITIKA NOTES.

Grey River Argus, 23 June 1927, Page 2

HOKITIKA NOTES.

(Cur Own Correspondent.) HOKITIKA, June 22. The Borough authorities have their grader at work to-day and with this handy machine very useful work should be done in the streets at this time of the year. Weld and Tancred Streets are at present receiving attention. Mr E. Kearns, of the Traffic Branch, N.Z.R., Greymouth, who has been on annual leave here for the last ten days, returned north last night to resume duty to-day. A new timber yard here is that of the Gunncrson and Nosworthy proprietary. The latest addition t‘o the motor boats here arc Messrs Harrington and Bergamini’s speed boats, equal to doing sixteen knots per hour. Mr J. Burns, Supervisor at the local Post Office, is on annual holidays at present, and is being relieved by Mr Tclfer, of the local staff. .The death took place in Wellington last Saturday morning of Mr Janies Keenan, formerly of Rimu, and for many years a coach-driver when the regular coach service used to operate between Rimu and Hokitika. The deceased was resident in Wellington for a number of years, and was in the employ of the Railway Department. He leaves h. widow and three children to mourn their loss, and besides three brothers (two of Rimu and one of Woodstock) and one married sister in Wellington. The funeral took place at Wellington on Monday.

At the meeting of the Westland Acclimatisation Society at the County Chambers last evening, the whole of the whitebait fishermen attended for the purpose of discussing matters in connection with the whitebait industry with the Society. After the meeting the fishermen formed themselves into an organised body to be called the Westland Whitebait Fishermen’s Association. The aims and objects of the Association arc to assist the industry and gain information in the way of research. Mr 11. T. Parry was unanimously elected President, Mr D. Dowell Vice-President, Mr G. Howe Secretary, and a committee was set up comprising Messrs A. Appleton, J. Kelly, T. Spoor, A. Cutbush, F. Newman, A. Howe, and H. Stapleton. The fee foi membership was fixed at 2s 6d. The Association is to meet on the first Wednesday of every month. It wqs resolved to send a letter of condolence to the Fisheries Department in connection with the death of the late Mr Ayson.

The best scores recorded at the range last Monday evening by the local Miniature Rifle Club were:—Messrs S. Sharman 35 (possible 35), W. H. Johnson 35, R. Appleton 34, D. Houston 32, A. Wallace 31, R. Paterson 30, J. W. Haile 29, R. Drummond 29, J. Mclntosh Senr 29, E. Wylie 28, V. Bergamini 28. G. Kelly 27. Ladies: Miss Walker 27. Miss O. Stapleton 25, Miss A. Stapleton 18.

The authorities have had some very necessary improvements carried out to the Cemetery Hill road, which had been allowed to drift into rather serious disrepair. The Borough and Mental Hospital authorities combined forces, under Head Attendant Dowding, and the road is now shipshape, being well formed and metalled, and the drains have been attended to-. Some attention is still required for the protecting fence, but otherwise the road may be considered to be in the best order it has ever been. The borough staff are co-operating with the Mental Hospital staff also in regard to an enlarged drainage scheme for the Cemetery grounds.

The usual euchre tournament was held at St. Mary’s Club Rooms last night, there being a large attendance. The prize winners were: First, Mr Turner; second, Mrs Morgan; third, Mrs Butland; fourth, Mr Schroder. The last three mentioned scored 16 points, and played off. Supper was served before the gathering dispersed.

The funeral of the late Mr T. Robinson left this morning at 10.30 for the Methodist Church, and then for Stillwater Cemetery at 2.30 p.m. At the Warden’s Court, Warden Hewitt to-day dealt with applications as follows: —Frank A. Parker, license for sea beach claim, Arahura.—Granted; Samuel Hyndman, license for tailrace and claim.—Adjourned; A. Gardner, renewable town section.—Granted; Stuart and Chapman Ltd., surrender of water race.—Accepted; 11. C. Houlahan. renewal of town lease, Ross. —Granted; A. S. Anderson, renewal of town lease and now town leases, Ross.—Recommended; Wm. Smith, for town lease, Ross. —Recommended; Charlie Donovan, residence site, Five Mile Beach.—Adjourned for report; M. Nolan, special sea beach claim, Duffer’s Creek.—Adjourned for report. At the Magistrate’s Court to-day, W. F. Barrowman and Leslie Gibbons, charged with failure to notify proper change of address under Defence Acr, were fined 5s with costs 12s and 5s and 10s costs respectively. John Cantrick, charged by the Borough Inspec tor (Mr Park) with leaving a motor car at night without a light, was convicted and fined 5s and costs 22s 6d. Thomas H. Toohey, similarly charged, fined 5s and costs 20s 6d. For allowing cattle to wander, convictions were recorded as follows: —W. Jeffries one horse, fined 5s and costs 20s 6d; A. W. Dowell two cows, 5s and 20s 6d; J. Cameron one horse, ordered to pay costs 20s 6d. Annie Dick and Grace Hamilton, charged with riding a bicycle at night without a light, were convicted and fined 5s and costs 20s 6d each. County Roadman v. J. H. A. Diedrich, a charge of allowing a horse to wander on Wanganui Flat. Same v. Cecil Authcman, one horse. Same v. 11. J. Lovett, one horse. Convictions were recorded in each instance without penalty, the costs being divided among the three, each to pay 29s costs, Court costs 12s, and counsel 10s 6d. Same v. H. J. Levett, one horse. Ordered to pay costs 22s 6d. Inspector of Weights and Measures v. Thos. Stopforth, charged with failure to supply proper receipt forms for coal supplied and with selling coal not in specified quantities. A plea of guilty was entered. Fined 5s and 10s costs on one charge and ordered to pay costs 20s 6d on the other. S. F. Orr v. J. G. Roberts, claim £3. Judgment for plaintiff with costs 23s 6d. Inspector of Fisheries v. Kanieri-Hokitika Sawmill Coy, a charge of allowing sawdust to enter Hokitika River.—Adjourned till first sitting by Magistrate Meldrum .

The ketch Elsie arrived back from the South yesterday with sheep and a quantity of fish, including crayfish. She will shortly leave for Picton where she will have a thorough overhaul, and stronger engines put into her. Mrs Moir, of Otira, is .visiting Hokitika. There were thirty present at the meeting last night of those interested in w’hitcbaiting, Mr G. A. Perry (President of the Acclimatisation Society, which convened the meeting) presiding. The object was to supply information to tho Marine Department as to

the fish. A motion that the present regulations be continued was withdrawn. The Chairman said the fishermen wore mistaken if they thought the Society would do anything inimical to the industry. Other speakers endorsed this. Mr Perry moved that the coming season be used for the fullest research on the points raised by the ! letter from the Marine Department, and that a Committee of those intimately engaged in the whitebait industry be set up to confer with the Acclimatisation Society and collect all possible information and advise the Society on the various points raised. Mr Newman (Kanieri) seconded the motion. In the’ course of discussion, the difficulty of fixing a definite season was pointed out. The “run” of the fish depended on the weather, which affected the state of the rivers. The weather was variable, some times delaying, and at other times extending the season. The supply of fish in those circumstances naturally showed some variation due in the main to the reasonable conditions. The motion was carried and the following committee was appointed: Messrs Foote, Howe, E. Appleton, Cutbush, Parker, Newman, Spoor, Kelly. It was decided the Committee should report by July 7th, tho date of the next meeting of the Acclimatisation Society, when it will be necessary to reply to the letter from the Marino Department. ? The new hall at Ilari Hari was formally opened with a social function on Monday evening, when the settlers gathered from far and near. Motorcars went from Kokatahi and Koiterangi in the north to Weheka in the south, and every intervening centre was represented. The main building is 72ft x 40ft with lean-tos on both sides. The floor space of the main building is 60ft x 40ft, and there is a neat little stage 12ft deep, with proscenium and side dressing rooms. The attached rooms at the side of the main hall provide on one side for a library, ladies’ room and creche. On the other side provision is made for a gent’s dressing room, long supper room and a kitchenette, well appointed for the special service required in that quarter. The hall, which is now almost completed is costing, under the contract and extras, some £B5O, and is a very substantial building in every way. There was an attendance in all of 300 people for the opening ceremony, which was performed by Mr T. E. Y. Seddon, M.P. Other speakers included Mr J. A. Murdoch (County Chairman), W. 'Searle, W. H. Chinn and W. Jeffries (members of the County Council), and Mr W. Thiele (Chairman of the Inter-Wanganui Dairly Factory), and Mr J. McKay (chairman;. The function ended with dancing till the small hours of next morning.

A sentence of one year’s imprisonment was to-day imposed by Magistrate Hewitt on Percy Thomas Timmins, and George Casey, alias Kasscy, alias George Kasseybaum, charged with theft of £5 14s, the property of William Jones. Both accused elected to be dealt with summarily, and pleaded not guilty. The chief witness was William Jones, an old African, who stated he was an old age pensioner residing in one of Mclntosh’s huts on tho south'side of the river. Was in his bed on Thursday at 7 p.m., when the door -was shoved open. He went to strike a light, and two men came in. The smallest one said he had plenty to oat but wanted some tea. They made some tea and also put on the fire some things in a billy. The big man put wood on the fire. After they had a feed they were very sociable. Then the big man took out a knife and stuck it in a box alongside the bed, close to his face. He was not sure the knife produced was the one. While the tall man was talking .to witness the other man was searching his place. After a little while the smaller man said: “Are you satisfied,” and witness said, “Yes.” The man looked on the. shelf where the silver was, on the table opened boxes and parcels. Did not see them actually taking anything out of his pockets. He was in his bunk, with one man sitting alongside. His five pmnd notes wore in his watch pocket of the vest, pinned in. There were about 14s in silver on the shelf. When the men left he got up and looked for his pound notes and the silver, and found it was all gone. Ho recognised the tall man in the dock, Timmins. His vest had been shoved back. He found a threepenny piece on tho ground afterwards. Tho men stayed about two hours. It was raining hard most of the time. Other witnesses were Paul Renton, P. Renton Junr., T. Gillooly, J. J. Mclntosh, A. Cowie, P. Daugherty, Constable Best and Sergeant King. For tho defence Casey gave evidence that they left Auckland on June 12. and reached Christchurch, then coming on along the line and reached Greymouth, leaving there on Wednesday last, coming to Hokitika on Thursday afternoon. Went to Stuart’s mill, and then went to the Pioneer hotel and Gilooly sent them to Mr Mclntosh. Afterwards went back to the Pioneer Hotel and saw Mrs Gilooly about 8 o’clock, and did not leave the hotel again that night. Had £2 18s when they reached Hokitika and his mate had about 17s. Cross-examined, witness denied having told Gillooly that he had obtained one pound at the Post Office. On Sergeant King questioning witness as to his previous career, objected to tho question as to previously having been in trouble. His Worship over-ruled the objection, and Sergeant King handed in a list to which the witness agreed that some were correct and some were not. He admitted a conviction for theft. The other accused did not give evidence. The Magistrate said the man robbed was of good character. Accused said they were never across the Hokitika river. There were two witnesses who gave undoubted evidence that the men were there. They were then looking for a hut to stay the night, but they camo back to the hotel that night after the robbery was alleged to have taken place. Casey admitted a list of previous convictions. His Worship said this was the meanest kind of theft. He would sentence them both to one year’s imprisonment with hard labour at Paparoa Gaol. Rugby Football fixtures for Saturday are:—Juniors: Ross v. Kjokatahi at Ross (Mr Williamson referee); Excelsior A v. Rimu at Hokitika, 3 p.m. (Mr W. Kearns referee); Excelsior B bye. Third Grade: Rimu v. Excelsior at Hokitika. There will be no senior match here. Kanieri journey to Grey and play United on the Park at 3 p.m'., and Excelsiors play Magpies at Gladstone at 2.30 p.m.