HOKITIKA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 11 January 1932, Page 2

HOKITIKA NOTES

(Our Own Correspondent.) HOKITIKA. January 10. The men engaged on relief works in South Westland have formed a branch of the New Zealand Workers’ Union, with a membership of seventy-five, and it is expected twenty-five more will soon form up in the Ross vicinity. The branch is known as that of WaihoGorge. and it has also established a Medical Association and entered into an agreement with the Westland Hospital Board. It is to be hoped that the example of the Waiho Gorge-Weheka road workers will be emulated by the men on relief works in other parts of the West Coast, as the need for such organisation is now pressing. The funeral of the late Mrs W. J. Houston of Three Mile .took place on Friday afternoon and was attended by a very large assemblage of friends from all parts of the district. Rev. G. Naylor conducted the Presbyterian services at the residence and also at the graveside on which many handsome flora] tributes were laid. The date on which Captain McGregor

travels to Hokitika from Wellington, with an air mail will be January 20th. The Commissioner of Crown Lands is now ready to consider applications from farmers to employ relief workers. The wet week-end put a ban on all outdoor amusements. Rev. Father Finerty and McKay leave to-morrow for Christchurch, where the annual retreat of the Catholic clergy of this diocese is being held this week. At present a number of the local unemployed are working on the river, endeavouring to create a channel towards the wharf to increase the depth of | water there, others are engaged across the river levelling the ground at the site of the aerodrome. During .the past month, three were employed at the Abattoirs, and two or three for a part of the month at the Cemetery, while four or five worked on the Reserve in town, Cass Square and McAndrew Square. Last month 308 sheep one condemned 51 bullocks, 227 lambs, 24 heifers, 4 cows 11 pigs and 5 calves were slaughtered a t the local abattoir, fees being £73 6s 6d, a decrease of £3 17s 6d on the same month of 1930.

Last month the Borough workmen put in eighteen pipes on the line of the water supply conduit on Tucker Flat, behind Kanieri, the pipes being brought from Lake Kanieri. and a large number of six inch bands being recovered. A further section requires io be laid between the Reservoir and I Hau Hau Road, as two blow-outs have] occurred there this month. This will be | carried out as soon as the water makes up to allow us to carry out this work. I The eight inch main in Hampden St, burst twice during the month near the corner of Sewell Streit, four new .pipes being required to replace the break. A considerable numbr of leaks in the conduit have, occurred this month owing Io the Reservoir running out when the breaks took place. The average depth of water in the Reseivoir for the month was four feet nine inches. At the monthly meeting of the Borough Council there were present the Mayor (Mr G. Perry) and Councillors, T. W. Duff. E. W. Heenan, E. Tichelmann, J. J. King, G. Heinz, D P. Stuart and A. C. Armstrong. Apologies were received from Crs. I). J. Evans and A. R. Elcock. The annual balance sheet was approved “and the Mayor congratulated the Town C'erk on having produced a balance sheet without a tag. Tenders for the printing of the balance sheet were received from Hie Guardian Coy., and the Westland Printing Works that of the former at £6 17s 6d, being received. It was decided to impose a penalty of 10 >per cent., on all outstanding rates after February 6th. The. flu aneial statement showed a net debit -of £509 10s 3d. Accounts 'amounting to £259 4s 8d were passed for payment. Mrs 1. R. Haekell, ’s request that L’vingstone Street, opposite her resid enco, be widened, so as to permit a

motor vehicle to turn, was granted. The use of Cass Square on February 3rd, Reefton School P enic was granted. Mr D. T. Stuart adv’sed that he had relinquished tenancy of Reserve No 533 from December Ist last. The N.Z. Refrigerating Coy., advised that it had sent 53 sheep and 7 lambs here during November The Foreman reported that streets and footpaths were chipped and cleaned in most parts of the town, and spoil used in levelling the low side« of the streets and covering the sand on part of the dump road. The footpath on the north side of Hampden Street, was gravelled with screened gravel fiom Rolleston Street up to the Racecourse, a distance of about twenty

chains and thirty-seven yards of rough gravel was carted to Stafford Street, for widening it between Livingstone Street and the East Belt, and the highways were dragged from the North to the East Belt, the County lorry being used to haul the drag. The drain on the south side of Park Street, between Davie and Jollie Streets, were further extended to within a chain from Jollie Street, the distance excavated now being four and a-half chains. Sale Street drain o n the east side, between Stafford Street and Weld Street was Hushed from the main. This drain would be better if taken across Sale Street, to the west side, and connected with the concrete drain when it would be flushed out in wet weather.