HOKITIKA NOTES.

Grey River Argus, 26 November 1928, Page 2

HOKITIKA NOTES.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) , HOKITIKA. November 25. The steamer Gael, which has left on her first South Westland trip, is a trim little vessel, with exceptionally good . accommodation for passengers. She will be an ideal boat for pleasure trips t„ the Sounds, as over a score -could travel in her. in addition to the crew. The Hokitika Gas Coy has declared a half-yearly dividend of 2s per £6 share, this being the hundredth divident the company has paid. The new holder is proving a great advantage, and the company hopes to improve its reticulation shortly. Recent visitors to the Franz Josef Glacier included Sir Thomas Parkinson, Dr Pearson. Miss Larsen (U.S.A.), Messrs Wilson and Leslie, Miss Cuthbert, Dr Duncan (Rotorua), Mr Mur-: phy (Dawson’s Falls), Mrs and Miss Hamilton (Oamaru), Miss Gardiner (England), Miss Fanshaw (London), Mrs Brownlee (Amberley).. Mr Percy Hutchison (London). Miss Brackley (LAidon), Mr Anthony Prinsep (London), M r and Mrs Wainwright (Wellington). Mr and Mrs Mazengarb (Tuanatu), Mr and Mrs Wood (Christchurch), Mr and Mrs Steel (Wellington), Mr and Mrs Sullivan (Grey; mouth), Mr and Mrs Turner £Woolston), Mr and Mrs Birch (Christchurch. Misses White-Parsons and Davison. (Christchurch). The County Council shortly will start the erection of bridges at One Mile Road Murray Creek and Municipal Creek, in the Koiterangi district. It is hoped the bridge over Slatey Creek, near Waiho Gorge, will be ready this week for wheel traffic. The Waikukupa bridge re-erection is now to start, and ought to be completed early in the new year. A sum of £7OO is to be spent on the main highway between Waiho and Weheka. At the Borough Council meeting a report from the Reserves Committee was adopted recommending that 100 yards each of beach saad and street gleanings be put on tie Cass Square playing field, and other improvements be made to gates, costing in all £25. Tenders are to be called for carting pipes along Kameri Lake road. The Treasurer reported receipts £35 5s 4d, payment £1315 18 s Id, credit balance £7Bl Is sd, on fixed deposit £l2OO. Accounts amounting to £423 5s lid were passed for payment. Advice was received from the Public Works Minister re completion pf the Kumara Junction-Flowery Creek coast road, stating that the expenditure of the amount required to complete, it is at present unwarranted, but it is considered that certain improvements are necessary between Kumara and Chesterfield, and an item of £6OO (£2 for £1 subsidy) was included on the estimates. The Under Secretary for Mines wrote asking for information respecting an amount contributed by the Council towarris development of mining. Mr Heinz, referring to the water supply., suggested the installing of a pressure valve and two relief valves would be of decided value. It was decided that the sub-committee refer to this subject also. The Secretary,, Swimming Club, wrote thanking the Council for a donation of £5O towards the improvement of the baths.

It is stated that there is every possibility of the white pine timber trad 3 being opened up between Okura and Greyml-’uth during the coming year . A considerab o holding of freehold land in the far Sout h carry.-, ing a large quantity of white pinei has been acquired, the owners I* ing a well-known Canterbury! milling firm carrying ctoj' a business at Gr. ymout.i and the Otira Line. The firm Wallis Bros, in order tef develop the southern trade are now negotiating for the building of a special boat for the trade, atfd a boat after the <T sign of the Zingara. is contemplated, but witu greater ,power, larger . carrying capacity and smaller draught. The boat is intended to be motxr driven, and 1, s propped to bring sawn timlrw direct to Greymouth where it will b« loaded into the steame.s trading to. Australia. This undertaking is now so far advanced that the building or the vessel by an Auckland firm is decided upon practically, and (Steps to initate the nulling project in the vicinity of Okuru are about to be undertaken. The, opening up of the timbe r trade with the far south is one of the' large industrial developments ’of Westland which must come in the not distant future, and this initial undertaking on, such definite lines will give the eventual undertakings a special impetus and bring the full accomplishment for.some of the sehemlis in mind very much nearer. The far south; must have ai great future it, as its timber resources come to; be its! d to economic advantage.