HOKITIKA NOTES.

Grey River Argus, 7 December 1928, Page 2

HOKITIKA NOTES.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) HOKITIKA, December 6. -\i the Magistrate’s Court this morn nig a country resident was convicted mi a charge of being found drunk in Weld Street, and -was fined 7s. The s.s. Gael sails for Bruce Bay and Okura to-morrow night at 8 o’A party of Druids from Westland Lo .ge travelled to Runanga on Mon--1 y owning la t to fulfil a challenge er the Robin on Shield. After an in .c.e ting competition, Hokitika were •ieelar d the winners, the judges specii‘!y cc in men ding the work of the Iloki *’kn. The officers of the Seddon Lodge ■> re then installed by the D.P. Then nipper was served, and a number of toasts honoured. “Auld Lang Syne’’ concluded a happy evening, and the Hokitika visitors departed with many thanks for the reception given. On Sunday last. Mr L. Gild), of Waiho Gorge, while driving a Studebaker sedan ear near Ruatapu. got into some loose gravel turned over by the graa er, and skidded, the car cap izing. The .nudguards were dented and the top fef the car was crushed in, but the en-

gine was not affected. The car was towed back to the Ross garage. Mr Gibb escaped injury by a very narrow margin.

While driving a Ford truck last Friday. Mr George Searle, of Haribar’, had a narrow escape from injury. Th'* knuckle of the steering stem was smashed off. the truck being instantly out of control. It lurched across the road and crashed into a stump, da mnging the chassis and undergear.

Nominations for the Westland Trotting Club’s meeting on JanuFry 3rd dose with the Secretary, Mr M. Houston, on Friday evening at 9 o’clock. The following are the results o' th? commercial examinations held in con section with the National Business Co’h’ge, Sydney, at St Columbia lie’s Con cent on October 31st last:- Speed 'borthand: Anne Toker 80 wor<’- per minute, May Neville GO Gwen Jacob 80. Advanced shorthand: Rita Coyl? 88 per cent. Rita Graham 86. Monica Knowles 85, Ethel Howard 82. Elementary shorthand: Patricia GilloolyOO per cent Milly Boyd 90, Esine Han rahan 80, Jean Cameron 79, Ellen Dale 7G. Advanced bookkeeping: Monica Knowles 88 per cent.- Ethel Howard 81, Rita Graham 80. Alimentary bookkeeping: Milly Boyd 89 pci' cent., Patricia Gillooly 85. Esme Hanrahan 73, Ellen Dale 71, Jean Cameron 70. At St Mary’s Clubrooms last even - ing there was a very successful juven } il c ball, at which the following were the fancy costumes and prize winners: Baggy Breech ers, Johnnie Cameron; Rainbow, Joyce Seddon; Mouse, Leo nora Screen; Choir Girls Jean an J Frances Orr; Lily. Kathy Stoup; Van ity Bag. Joan Heenan; Winter, June Heenan; Westland Ale, Kevin San dors; Darby and Joan. J. Robinson and Silvia Sanders; On the Road to Ruin, Siddy Da vein; Black Cat, Eddy Screen; Indian, Bobby Screen; Wireless Jackie Ryan; Sailor, Allan Orr; Judge, Teddy Orr; Peter Pan. Billy Davcrn; Robin Hood, Jackie Davern, Miss Crinoline. Doreen Hagar; Xmas Cake, Jean Hagar; Grandma, Pat Dav idson; Lavender, Lola Hagar; XmaJ Tree, Mary Rvan; All Black. Danny Ryan; Clown, Pete Willoughby; Tramp. Willie Orpwood. Prizes Girls: Mary Ryan 1 and silver medal, Lola Hagar 2 Sylvia Sanders. Specials: Jean and Frances Orr, Jean Hagar, June Heenan, Doreen Hagar and Leonora Screen. Bovs: Willie Orpwood 1 and silver medal Jackie Ryan 2. Siddy Davern 3 Specials: Danny Ryan and Kevin Sanders. The judges were Mrs Nig - mgale and Mrs Blake. The Commstte. desire to thank the following who cot.

tributed donnti <fns: Tennents, jewellers (silver medal); Mr J. Giese (sii ver medal); anil the following mono tary donations: McKay and Sons Clothing Factory; Mesdames J. Turner and F. Groufsky, Messrs P. McGirr Howard and I*. Kidd.

For a fortnight there has been a con tinnous shoal of smelts going up ths Hokitika river, probably the largest on record. Il is being followed by large Hocks of sea birds. Salmon trou' likewise in large numbers are in the wake lII’ I lie shoal, and will no doubt destroy n big portion of the shoal before il readies its destination in the creeks up-country. It is the opinion of some whitebait fishermen that had the weather boon better during the ear ly part of the season, these fish would have entered Ihe river in the form G* whitebait. There are two species of whitebait, the fish with the dotted line extending from the head to the tai. mid a much stouter fish with a yellowish tint, and known to fishermen as the jellyfish species.

At Harilmri yesterday a eonferenr of settlers ami officials was held ns to the proposed protection works along the north bank of the Little Wanganui River, necessitated by river erosion which threatens the Inter-Wanganui Settlement as a whole. Those presen-, included a number of settlers representing the River Board, Mr J. Minch mi (who objects to the protection work, which it is alleged endangers his pro perty), and with Ivm his counsel, Mr 11. F. Doogan, of Gicymouth; Messrs H. 11. Sharp (Inspecting Engineer), Mr T. A. Johnston (District Engineer of the Public Works Department) Mr E. A. Wells (County Chairman), and Mr W. IL Chinn, M.C.C Apologies were made for the absen-e of Messrs Searle and Jeffries, M’s.C.C. Mr W. Thiels presided, ami explained the settlers were anxious that uie work should pro ceed, to save the Flat from future flood damage. It was explained, on behalf of Mr Minehan that he sought security against damage to 'iir> uortn ern and southern pr.-pertics. He was prepared to sell the former at cost price, or would accept cob’peusation in advance of £2OOO, And take the risk o’ damage. Mr Sharp referred to the lia bility which it was explained was oi the River Board 12 the controlling authority. The Government had offer ed a subsidy on the application of the Board mid the Engineer had advised a plan, which the County Council had be n asked t 0 carry out. The rcspon sibility for any damages would rest primarily on the River Board. Mr Wells said the Coun’y Council could’ not accept any further liability in the matter, but was prepared to assist with its staff mid plant in expediting the work. It was pointed neither the Board nor the settlers wished to do Mr Minehan aijy harm. They recognised his position and the reason why l he was taking action to safeguard his interests. Mr Sharp said that on his return to Wellington early next week he would place the whole matter be fore Mr Furkert (Engineer in Chief) and thereafter they would be advised as to the Government attitu-lc. In. the meantime, work would have to bi deferred, though steps could be taken: to procure piles and a soluble all nee essary material. But in view of the contingent liability as to legal action, he advised that the work be not started meantime. Eventually Oils course was agreed to.