HOKITIKA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 12 April 1928, Page 2

HOKITIKA NOTES

(From Our Own Correspondent.) HOKITIKA, April 11. This part of the West Coast, like the Buller, lias had a heavy rainfall. Light rain fell early yesterday, and as the day wore on it increased to a steady downpour. Throughlast night heavy rain 'continued, but it stopped after daylight. The rainfall for the 24 hours to nine o’clock this morning totalled 2.32 inches. As a result, there is a fairly good run in the Hokitika River The Hokitika Athletic and Cycling Club h Id their sports on Cass Square to-day. The threatening weather in the morning affected the attendance; still, there was a fair number of the public present, the rain holding off. and the sports proved very interesting. A report from the deer-stalking camp at Landsborough, South Westland, goes to show that the season has opened auspiciously. There are some 25 stalkers this year, and they are accompanied bv 25 guides and packers. Everything points to a very successful season for South Westland.

St Mary’s Club opened its euchre season last evening, but as the weather conditions were nut favourable, there was only a fair attendance. The following were the successful players. Mr AT. Ale Gavin 1, Mrs Veale 2, Mrs P. Kidd 3, Mr J. Tibbles 4. Supper was served at. the conclusion of play. It is expected there will be a good influx of visitors from the North for the Westland Club’s races to-morrow. Greymouth patronage at these meetings makes all the difference between success and failure. It is stated opossums are rapidly increasing in the far south of West land, and that near Milford Sound they abound, bodies minus tin' skins found there showing that trappers are well aware of their opportunities. Th' depth of water on the Hokitika Bar is at present equal to that on the Grey Bar, and it is in better condition in that respect than for many years! past. There is a straight run to sea of 13 feet. However, there is also a danger. The main current of the river, down tin* centre channel, is flowing directly against the north breakwater about the signal station, when* there is a depth of well over 30 feet at low waler. The erosion is making a danger to the training wall, where one pile at least has washed out, and fallen away. The scour is sweeping into the river the sand at the back of the breastwork, and there is a possible danger, in the event of a heavy flood, of the training wall being endangered at that particular point. From the signal station to the river mouth there is a deep channel, the water being deeper than it has been for a considerable time, the last few light Hoods having a far better effect than former heavy floods. At the County Council m-eting, it was yesterday reported that out of an allocation of £321, the Northern Riding spent £294. Tn the Central Riding the allocation was £BOB, and the expenditure £BO4. The Southern Riding spent £846, out of its allocation of £BB6. Th ■ total allocation was £2015, and of this £1945 was spent, leaving unexpended £7O. There was £167 available per month for the Riding expenditure, and the expenditure was £162 monthly. In the County Fund Account, the overdraft a year ago was £3140, the highest for several years. The year which closed on the ,31st ult left an overdraft of £1617, thus showing a recovery of £1523. The revenue generally was well maintained. The rates collected approximated the total for the previous year, though £3OO were lost by the withdrawal of non-rateabl * timber-bearing lands. The sum, however. was made up under another heading, about £3BO being collected by the special timber levy for th? lost rating power. It is not contemplated, it was stated, that it will bp necessary to

increase the general rate for this year, while it is hop d with the subsidy to be derived for secondary highways that additional funds will be available for separate Ridings and County road works generally. The County Overseer, Mr Milner, at yesterday’s Council meeting made a recommendation for a road tractor to be procured for more economical methods of grading and repairing district roads. Mr Jeffries expressed surprise at the report of the Overseer, in view of his former report of two years ago that the tractor would not be suitable. What was going to bo done with the two lorries and all the other machinery that they had, and what was the cost of running the present machinery? Mr Searle said he had supported a tractor being procured before the second lorry was obtained, but having two lorries now, he would not support a tractor, unless one of the lorries was disposed of. Mr Chesterman said when he went with Mr Millner to Christchurch they found a tractor was not suitable for hauling out of gravel pits. Mr Wells was of opinion a tractor was not as suitable for County work as the lorries, but was all right for grading roads, lie did not think th. y could do without the lorries, which had earned their cost. Air Chinn was greatly in favour of a tractor, and said Mr Millner was quite within his rights in altering his opinion after the experience he had had. The Chairman moved that the matter be referred to the Clerk to report at next meeting as to the cost involved. and as to the personnel and running cost of a tractor. Mr Donovan seconded, and the motion was carried. Mr Jeffries moved that the Treasurer report at. next meeting as to the cost of running the motor lorries since their inauguration. Air Searle seconded, and the motion was carried.

There was great satisfaction among the whitebaiting fraternity when Dr. S. Teichelmann was elected President of the Acclimatisation Society, as it it felt that the Hokitika river will now he safeguarded against sawdust for the culture of fish. In its annual review the local Acclimatisation Society stated that a study was attempted of the growth of whitebait at the Hatchery, but the re-, suit was not satisfactory. However, an excellent season was experienced and general satisfaction expressed at the run of whitebait. The oppossum season was a successful one. The total skins accounted for in the district were 112,980, which was an increase on the previous year. The authorities have Jfcrain been urged to permit the liberaWn of oppossums in South Westland, a which has been supported by tne skate Forest Service. So far permiss inWft withheld. In the meantime the t H-nfety has set aside £2OO for the introu < i\on of new opossums into the district jA soon as permission can be obtained. Afffee ( Department has been requested diftelare an open season for the dist rict dift the coming season. In regard i ( stalking, all blocks in the Haa- .li were taken up,

but few licenses were issued for the Arahura-Kakatahi territory. The season is now in full swing in the Haast region where 25 stalkers with guides, packers, etc., are operating. There is the promise of a good season. The fame of the Haast herd has gone abroad, and overseas visitors may be expected annually. It is proposed to revise the blocks or shooting are.-" after this year’s experience, and it would bo well to have a map of the doer district reproduced for sale at a price to recoup the cost of publication. Deer culling has been carried out in accordance with the year’s programme, authority being given to kill up to 800, and this total was approximated. Similar authority could be given this year. The Society on the Tourist side, assisted with a subsidy in regard to small road works at Lake Kanieri, and also with respect to publicity efforts through the Progress League. It is offered to assist with road work in extending a vehicle road to the round route to Upper Kokatahi. To facilitate access to Lake Alahinapua some help might be preferred also with regard to the completion of the road from Ruatapu.

The Hatchery Committee report Air Ridland commenced his duties at the Kanieri Lake Hatchery on the 17th. August and had everything in readiness to receive ova on the 19th. August. The Committee ordered 400,000 Brown trout eyed ova and 200,000 Rainbow. The whole of the Brown trout ova was supplied in several consignments, all in first rate condition. : Unfortunately only 80,000 Rainbow eyed ova came the first consignment of 60,000 arriving in excellent condition, but the second consignment of 30,000 was not so satisfactory. Tn all probability that was due 1o the lateness of th© season, it being the 14th. October when this consignment arrived. Mr. Ridland considers that of the total amount of eggs received 95 per cent of the Brown and about 90 per cent of the Rainbow wore hatched out. This is considered a very high per centage, and reflects great credit on the packing of the eggs for transport, and the excellent attention by Air Ridland. The Grey Society’s share of the fry, viz., 190.000 Brown and 40,000 Rainbow was delivered (three consignments) in a very satisfactory condition. The Westland’s Society’s share of the fry was liberated as follows.—Brown Trout:—Arahura River 70,000, Duck Creek 40,000, Harris, Creek 40,000, Shenandoah 20,000, Lake Kanieri 20,000. Rainbow Trout, Lake Kanieri 40,000. It was the intention to liberate Rainbow trout in compliance with the expressed wish of the late Air. L. F. Ayson in Lakes lanthe and Mapourika, but owing to the small amount available, it was thought the expense would be too great for such a small quantity of fry. It was therefore decided to liberate the whole in Lake Kanieri. Mr Ridland relinquished his duties for the season on the 6th. Nov. The hatchery building requires renovation before effective hatching can be done in the coming season and the work has been entrusted to Air. Stevenson. The Grey Society which have decided to co-operate in the hatching again, and to meet their half of the repairs up t othe amount of £5O. It is hoped to put the work in hand immediately. The Committee recommended that the same method of procuring the ova be adopted next season viz., purchasing from the Southland Society. ■'