HOKITIKA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 27 March 1928, Page 2

HOKITIKA NOTES

(From Our Own Correspond ;nt.) HOKITIKA, March 26. A fire broke out at an early hour this morning in the hairdressing saloon of Messrs Stephens Bros, and it was fortunate that it was discovered by Miss Devaney, of the Club Hotel, on the opposite side of the street. Hearing an unusual noise, she got up and looked out, noticing the fire, and at once gave the alarm to the nightwatchman over the phone, and the firebell sounded at 3 a.m. The proprietor, Mr. Peter Stephens, is at pro sent absent at Westport, attending the race meeting, and the last person to be in the shop on Sunday evening was Miss Stephens, who was there at 6 o’clock. The Fire Brigade were soon on the scene, and though the fire had a good hold of the front shop and flames were belching out into the street, the water, of which there w'as a full pressure, at once got the upper hand, and the danger of the fire spreading to the adjoining premises of O’Connell and Caliari was averted Thb front shop and hairdressing saloon wer c badly gutted, •’and the 'stock in the shop and fittings were destroyed The premises of Messrs O’Connell and Caliari, furniture makers were undamaged, and though only separated by a five foot right of way it was found unnecessary to remove any of f he stock. The insurances of Stephens Bros are £.150 on two billiard tables (damaged by water), £5O on fittings of hairdressing saloon (practically a total loss) in South British Office; and £5OO on the stock in trade, in the Royal Exchange. There was £420 on the building in the National and Victoria Offices.

The local Observer for the Dominion Meteorological Departmest reports that there were 50 hours 18 minutes of sunshine and 2.77 inches of rain for the past week. The heaviest fall of rain being on Friday afternoon when 2.32 inches fell. The district schools’ picnic sports, which werc postponed on account of too many other atrractions at Greymouth, are to take place on Cass Square on Wednesday afternoon next. The Highways Board will visit, Hokitika in about three weeks’ time The main south highway will also be traversed by members of the Board before returning north, via Westport and Nelson.

The South Trader “Elsie” arrived yesterday morning from Milford Sound and Okura, crossing the bar at 11 o’clock. There Was a heavy sea running, but she made port in good style. She brought'a number of pigs from Okura. The /captain reports a very high tidal rise at Milford Sound of about 20ft. on Wednesday last.

The rain, . again began falling at 10.30 this morning, and continued all day, with the force of a typical norwest down pour, the soil is now well saturated, so that there neither a farmer /nor 'gardner iV/ed complain any mor P on that score. The annual Kokatahi-Korterangi sports will be hold on April 18, at Hokitika, and a very good all round programme is being arranged. Mr. Holmes who is reporting on the town water supply has inspected the pipe line Rf various points, when several sections wore tested. An inspection was made also of the reservoir at Hau (Hau. Tt is understood Mr. Holmes will liavo some important recommendations to make to the Council in respect to the improvement of the present line and supply. The advantages of th e all-night telephone service was appreciated this morning when the fire broke out in Revell Street, enabling the alarm to be given promptly through to the nightwatchman in the tower, thereby assisting the Fire Brigade in making a first-class save. The Westland Progress League complain that the Government is neglecting local tourist resorts, whereas lavish expenditure has gone on at. Rotorua. Waitomo, Egmont. Hamner, the /Hermitage, and the Cold Lakes, to mention onTv’a few localities, while even modest expenditure in Westland is vetoed, although £lO,OOO is to be spent in providing accommodation at Milford Sound. Tt is pointed out that at other places the Government has spent many thousands of pounds in providing accommodation, but in Westland, whether at Lake Kanieri, Waiho Gorge, or Weheka. it is left to private enterprise to find the thousands ami, to the credit of a progressive people, the money has been found. The statement that for the curent financial year only £560 lias been set down for Westland out of a total vote of £91,924 is regarded as proof that the district is sadly neglected by the Tourist Department. The League is drawing attention to the need for improved communication by road, rail and sea for the large amount of produce now coining out of South Westland, also for improvements to the Maa st Pass route with a view to giving better access to Otago. Other matters to be brought up at the annual conference of the Progress Leagues, to be held in Westport in about six weeks’ time, are increased public works expenditure on undertakings of a national character, better publicity with a view to developing tourist resorts by the aid of moving pictures, and the development of railway and harbour works.