HOKITIKA NOTES.

Grey River Argus, 15 April 1929, Page 2

HOKITIKA NOTES.

(From Our CorresooUdent.) HOKITIKA April 14. The Hospital Board’s levy, as to which the County Council has asked particulars, was debated by the Borough Council., which also has decided to obtain a detailed account of the Board’s farming operations The Board’s levy on the Borough, stated th e Town Clerk, is £B6l, as against £738 last year. This would mean an increase of the charitable aid rate from 2Ad to 3d-. Cr Heinz stated that before ac cepting the levy, the Council should ask for more particulars of the farming operations of the Board, and on his motion the de ailed balance sheet as to these was asked for. Cr W. J. Jeffries asked was not Cr Heinz a member of the Hospital Board? Cr Heinz said they should have these particulars. He did not criticise the hospital administration in general. Cr D. J. Evans, in seconding the motion, said if the hospital rate were increased by a halfpenny in the £, that it would mean, a curtailment of the gen oral borough rate, because they could not increase that. If that were done, it would certainly be necessary to cur tail necessary works in town. If i were possible for the Hospital Board to make a material saving it should be done. Cr Jeffries said he was on the Board seven or eight years ago as a county representative, with the idea of keeping down hospital expenditure. It would be impossible to reduce this year’s levy a penny. The cost per bed at the local hospital was the third low est in the Dominion, and costs every where had increased. The farm operations provided the hospital with milk eream, butter, bacon, eggs and poul try. Meat had cost this year £2OO more than last. He gladly welcomed inquiries, and if any thought they could do better than this Board, they should contest the coming election. The Mayor, when Cr Heinz sought to reply, pointed out there was no business before the meeting. The :ioed for a mail service twice weekly is felt by the Weheka residents, who in view of the road now being an improved one, are asking the authorises to make thia provision.

Th, e following additional nominations have been received for the position on the Executive of the Westland Acclimatisation and Tourist Associa tion, which is to ho elected on Thursday:—President. Mr J. J. Mclntosh; Vice-President, Mr A. N. Baker; Committee: Messrs J. Cooper, C. Berendt. A. Nancckivell, R. J. Apple ton, H. Wells, R. Spoor, A. Howe and S. Holley. General regret was felt yesterday at the news of the death of Mrs Wells of Woodstock, wife of the Cotin y Chairman, Mr E. A. Wells. Deceased wh 0 was 57 years of age, leaves a fam ily of two sons, Messrs B- and 11. Welly and on u daughter, Mrs E. Stoop, of Woodstock; while she is sur vived by her mother, Mrs John Mor ris of Kanieri; a sister (Mrs Gordon), and several brothers, including Messrs William Morris (K.okatahi), Richard Morris (Greymouth), Edward Morris (Kanieri) and John Morris (Gisborm). At the local abattoir last month th'' stock slaughtered included 22 cows, 18 heifers, 66 bullo-ks, 207 sheep, 128 lambs. 29 pigs. 6 calves. Fees for the period were £73, or about £3 less than for the same month last year. Mr James Donovan has been nominated as a candidate for the Southern Riding at the forthcoming County election.

At the Presbyterian Church to-day, Rev F. C. Long, M.A., who for 16 years was a missionary in India, was he preacher. The Borough Council at Friday’s meeting discussed the matter of the -eqpest to the Fire Board for a motor hose reel made by the Fire Brigade Superintendent and brought up by Cr Elcock (a member of the Fire Board), who said it had been stated the night-wa'ehman would have to hav e hia services curtailed, on the score of expense. Councillors expressed the view that it would be inadvisable to dispense with the services of the night-watchman, and the very efficient manner in which the Fire Brigade were carrying out their duties render ed it unnecessary to make any altera tion in the general arrangements, especially as there is no fire alarm sys tom in the town, while if a motor engine were provided it would mean a considerably increased cost in upkeep and would necessitate a caretaker, so that economy would not be served. The Borough Council has granted use of Cass Square for a West Coast Fir e Brigade Demonstration next November. The Borough Council has decided to support the objection of the N.Z. Municipal Association to any reduction in motor taxation.

The *vcal reservoir last month averaged a depth of 51 feet. The Borough Foreman’s report states that during the month tar-sealing was continued in Weld Street and finished to the Clock Tower, from Revell Street and Sewell Street, from the Clock Tower to Gibson Quay. Stafford Stree*, from Sale Street to the East Boundary, is being gravelled with 200 loads of pit gravel and 469 loads of beach gravel. Two 18 inch concrete drain pipes were put in Livingston Street hill. The drain on the south of Hampden Street, between Brittan and Davie Streets, was cleaned. A break in Weld Street was repaired. An ear hen ware drain was put in across Brittan Street path. Gorse and blackberries was cut in Livingston Street between Hampden and Stafford Streets, in Sewell Street between Park Street and the North Belt, and in several other streets. Three new water pipes were put in, and some fire p ugs were received.