HOKITIKA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 19 February 1932, Page 2

HOKITIKA NOTES

(Our Own Correspondent.) HOKITIKA, February 18. Tho Warden’s Court to-day again re fleeted the revival of interest in gold mining, there being seventeen applications before tho Court. Those from Ross were the most numerous. Water races and tho dam there wero questions under notice. A witness opined that the dam at Ross, which cost £4OO. was a “white elephant.” At. the Westland Land Board yesterday an application by Mr L. Stuart for an area of 300 acres in Waimea district (Block eight) was objected to by Kumara residents, represented by Mr J. A. Murdoch, who said the area was a flat in Teremakau Valley which miners had used since 1888. There would be no objection to the applicant. having a grazing license, but if the miners were going to suffer as a result there was an objection to the grant. Mr A. Fensome, a minor in the locality, said that if the application wero granted it would prejudice the miners, and would block everything. Mr Murdoch said that if it were granted it would be a serious blow to mining at Kumara. The application was adjourned for one month. Mr W. Meld ruin had a busy day at the Court to-day, considerable interest being taken in a case regarding whitebaiting brought by the police against fishermen, and reported in another column of this issue. A fine of 5s and costs was imposed in a case where a man was charged with failure to pay the unemployment levy, and pleaded guilty, but pleaded not guilty to a charge of failing to deduct emergency unemployment charge from wages. It was stated that the case arose out of a visit of an officer of the Unemployment Board. Defendant was fined 5s and costs on the first charge, and convicted and discharged on the second. The defendant remarked that he did not see why the authorities should “pick on him,” when there were others in the town who were still further in arrears. The Magistrate goodhumouredly suggested that these defaulters would also soon be “picked on.” A motorist who went on the wrong side of a traffic dome was fined ■ 5s with costs. The Warden’s Court to-day dealt with the following applications from Ross: Herman Osmers, trustee (Mr Elcock), town lease.—Adjourned. Mayor and Councillors of Ross Borough Council (Mr Murdoch), water race license (Mr Elcock for objectors). Stuart and Chapman (Mr Murdoch), tramway. — Granted, subject to formal conditions. West Coast Gold Development Co., Ltd. (Mr Elcock), ordinary prospecting license.—Adjourned. Aage Mygina (Mr Elcock), ordinary prospecting license, th ret* applications.—Recommend>*d for granting. Geo. Williamson (Mr Murdoch), water race.—Adjourned, same( application dam license.—Adjourned. Ernest Geo. Poole, surrender of mining privilege (Mr Elcock). —Approved. J. J. Mclntosh, ordinary prospecting license, two applications (Mr Elcock). —Granted, subject to conditions. The Kumara applications were: Adam Samuel Cunningham (Mr Elcock), application water race license. — Granted. Same, ordinary prospecting license.—Withdrawn. Gardiner Davidson Wilson (Mr Murdoch), ordinary prospecting license, four applications. —'Adjourned. Hokitika »apnlications were as follows: Henry Jones (Mr Sellers), ordinary prospecting license.— Withdrawn. Same, ordinary prospecting license.—Withdrawn. Christian Cook (Mr Murdoch), application for water race.—Adjourned. Same, application for water race license.—Adjourned. David Copperfield Finch ordinary prospecting license.—Granted subject to Forestry conditions. An inspection parade of members of the Hokitika Fire Brigade will be held to-morrow evening at 8 o’clock by the Inspector of Fire Brigades. The Municipal Band played an enjoyable programme on Cass Square last, evening. The fishing boat Monica IL returned to port yesterday evening with another large catch of fish, for which there was a ready sale. Good catches have been made since she started trawling hereabouts.