HOKITIKA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 16 November 1931, Page 2

HOKITIKA NOTES

(Our Own Correspondent.) HOKITIKA, November 15. Another dredging venture in South Westland is indicated by an application for a substantial area at Gillespie’s Beach, below Okarito. The area is part of a considerable stretch of auriferous beach country, which is likely to be prospected shortly. This manifestation of interest in beach mining indicates that the gold industry should receive a good fillip next year. No doubt other ports of South Westland holding attractive beach dredging propositions will clami attention. There seemfs to have been the foundation laid on the West Coast nf a real and extensive mining revival during the past year or so.

This year there is a vote of £250 for widening the main road at Harihari, and a vote of £5OO for O’Neil’s Creek bridge at Tetaho, where at present there is a temporary crossing. Excellent progress is being made by Mr D. Stevenson in the construction of the Racing Club’s new grandstand, which should be completed in good time for the midsummer meeting. The main part will be in concrete, and neat in appearance, and as commodious as the former stand, -with two flights of steps in front. Interest is displayed in the progressive move of the Harbour Board toward rectifying the course of the river, and it is to be hoped the design is an early success. Regarding the matter the Borough Council at last ordinary meeting received a letter from the Secretary of the Board intimating that it is urgently desirable to convert the river channel to the wharf channel before the sutiimer months, in order to provide berthage for shipping and to scour the outflow of the town sewers, and further, that it is intended to provide labour under No. 5 scheme, and ask for Council’s co-operation in providing a member of the Borough staff to act as overseer. The request was granted, Mr J. Cutbush is to supervise. Work done by the Borough workmen last month included gravelling on the following footpaths: Hampden Street footpath on the north side between Sale and Brittan Street, and on the south side between Sale and Rolleston Street, Stafford Street footpath between Sale and Rolleston Streets on the north side, and between Sale and Brittan Streets, North Revell Street footpath between Hampden and Park Streets was gravelled on the west side, Sewell Street at the corner of Hampden Street was raised ten inches, opposite Kirwan’s Garage, for about a chain. Drains:—The pipe drain at the corner of Park and Revell Streets was dug out, being blocked with stones and tins, and Sewell Street, drain near the clock tower repaired, the drain outside Woolhouse’s and Howatt, butchery was blocked, this was cleaned [out, and the sumps raised to the level of the footpath. Water: —Four and a 'half chains of 1] inch galvanised pipes were laid down in Park Street and 1 connections made to Staines’, Carters’, and Kilcullans. Two new pipes were put in the main in Fitzherbert Street close to the Cemetery Hill, and two pipes put in the main on the Lake Road between the Black Bridge and Ward’s Road, and the line repaired in several places along the road; the line through Cass Square was repaired, three new collars being required, and leaks in various parts of the town repaired; and Nancekivell’s connection repaired. The average depth of water in the reservoir for the month was Bft Sin. Crossings:—Crossings were put down in Hampden Street at G. Holly’s and R. Renton’s in Sale Street. The farms up Kokatahi way are stated to be looking very well at present, and the season should be a good one.

The School Committee meet to-mor-row evening. At the Borough Council’s ordinary meeting there were present the Mayor (Mr G. Perry), and Councillors D. J. Evans, A. R. Elcock, E. W. Heenan, T. W. Duff. J. King. E. Teichelmann, D. P. Stuart, G. Heinz and A. C. Armstrong. A petition, signed by 14 ’ratepayers in Davie Street, was presented. urging that formation work be , carried out through the Unemployment Scheme. Members considered [that the cost would be too high and after some discussion the matter was I referred to the Public Works Committee. The Borough Foreman, Mr F. W. Chesterman, was granted his annual [leave from. November 23 to December 17 The Treasurer’s report showed I that receipts flor the past period amounted to £392 16s Bd, while payments totalled £998 19s lOd. The Dis- ; trict Fund account showed a credit of j £lOl 3s 9d. Accounts amounting to i £6BB 12s lid were passed. Cr King. I reporting on the question of the water ranks, said that the Fire Board Super'll ntendent (Mr Mclntosh) was opposed to any costly repairs, and that minor repairs would meet the situation for I twelve months. It was decided to 1 effect minor repairs. Mr J. Key wrote [applying for lease of section in Park • Street. —Granted. Runanga Borough ■ Council wrote asking for the support of local authorities under No. 12 1 Highways District in regard to the proposal for No. 12 Highways Council to secure a car for the sole use of the traffic inspector. The N.Z. Refrigerating Co. advised that 337 sheep and one pig had been delivered into Hokitika, during the months of August and September, 1931. The Clerk of the Westland County Council wrote intimating that in regard to the executive appointed at the Unemployment Conference held; I at Hokitika on October 30th last, that. I this Council is entitled to appoint two I members, and asking for the names of the appointees. The Mayor and the | Chairman of the P.W. Committee were I appointed The Sexton. Hokitika Cem--1 etery, applied for permission to attend | to graves in his own time and collect fees. —-No action was taken. The Croquet Club applied for a lease of Mu-

nicipal Reserve No. 569, at the corner of Stafford and Jollie Streets, offering to pay a rental of £4 a year. Mr L. P. K. Gooch applied to surrender existing leases, Lot 1 of Municipal Reserve 801, and Municipal Reserve No. 520, and to be granted in lieu thereof, now leases, for the unexpired balance of the term under Section 5, Subsection (E) of the Public Bodies Leases Act, 9(JB, No. 240.—Granted. Mr T. M. Staines, senr., notified that he desired to relinquish the tenancy of Reserve No. 445, Botanic Gardens, from October 13, 1931.—Accepted. J. E. 'Redder and J. Stewart asked the Council to construct an open drain on the north side of Park Street, between Davie and Jollie Streets. The Seaside Tennis Association applied for permission to construct an asphalt tennis court on the Hokitika beach at the rear of Mr R. Lynn’s section in Revell Street.—Approved, but no title can be granted.

The closing meeting of the season of All Saints’ Young Men’s Club was held on Friday evening. Provisional arrangements were made for a Bible Class and Club rally in Hokitika on New Year’s Day, to which classes and clubs in Greymouth would be invited. It was suggested that they should go to Mount Misery for lunch, and return to the Parish Hall for tea and a social in the evening. Other suggestions were made for next year’s programme. A very enjoyable evening was held when the combined bible classes of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church held a mock court. This was followed by a mock banquet, when a number of toasts were honoured.

For the past month relief workers were engaged on various borough works, including three kept continually in the pit screening gravel for tie footpaths, levelling the sides of streets and filling up depressions, and some were cutting gorse and blackberries on the reserves. New ground was being levelled at the Cemetery, and two men were at times employed at the Abattoirs. Revell Street north, which was blocked with banks of sand and gorse is being cleared away, and a drain is being cut in Davie Street. The spoil from the streets is being used levelling up the sides of streets where necessary.