HOKITIKA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 15 March 1932, Page 2

HOKITIKA NOTES

(Out Own Correspondent.) HOKITIKA, March 14. The present spell of fine weather is much appreciated, the temperature being as high as at any time during the summer. Last week scarcely any rain fell, and there was hours of sunshine. At the presentation of Fire Brigade competition trophies on Saturday evening there were several veteran firemen present, including Mr Wm. Smith, who recalled a fire alarm a .s it was given in Revell Street 64 years ago. Another veteran, Mr Geo. Davidson, who acted as a judge at the compel!• tions, said the latter were remarkable for clean work and fast limes, the penalties for faulty work being few. The medals won at the competitions were presented by Messrs W. Hall, J. J. Williams R-. Tennent, F. Chestcrman and R. Lynn. It was remarked that cut of the seven winning competitors at the afternoon’s demonstration, six of them were sons of members of the Hokitika Fire Brigade, four of whom had retired from active participation in the work of the Brigade (Messrs Robert Ross, 11. Butland, Geo. Davidson and the late H. Thompson) while the other two (Supt. Mclntosh and Mr D. Duncan) were still active members. During the evening Mr H. Lawn a member of the Fire Police stated his company, Kanieri Electric Ltd., had authorised him to state that in any possible emergency he had power to cut off the current from the whole or any section of the power line, so as to prevent any possible danger to the fire fighters or those in the vicinity. He wished firemen to know that in the event of any fire outbreak he would always be i n attendance and if those in authority advised him of any possible danger, precautionary steps could be taken at once. The offer was gratefully accepted. A tennis match between Kanieri and Kokatahi was played on Saturday, the result being a win for Kokatahi by 17 sets and 128 games to 7 sets and 85 games. In a tennis match, All Saints beat Ross by 18 sets (125 games) to 6 set> (83 games). Results were as follows, All Saints’ names being mentioned last:—Men’s Singles: O’Connell 3, v Ch.etwynd 6; Sando 1, v. Telfer 6; Blacklow 4. v. Freitas 6; Houlahan 6, v. Osmers 3; Richards 4, v. Sumner 6; Donaldson 6, v. Mitchell 3. Ladies' Singles: Mrs Pethig 1. v. Mrs Butland 6; Miss Donaldson 2, v. Miss Secbeck 6; Miss Hedwig 1, v. Miss Hall 6; Miss Chapman 3. v. Miss Anderson 6; Miss McMu’lan 4, v. Mrs Collett 6; Miss Houlahan 6, v. Miss Perry 5. Men Doubles: O’Connell and Sando 2, v Chetwynd and Telfer 6, Blacklow and Houlahan 5, v. Osmers and Freitas 6; Jones and Richards 6, v. Nlitchell and Sumner 3 Ladies’ DoublesPethig and Miss Donaldson 4, v. Mr? Butland and Miss Soebeck 6; Misses Hedwig and Chapman 2, v. Misses Hall and Anderson 6; Misses McMullan and Houlahan 0, v. Miss Perry and Mrs Col’,'*tt 6. Combined Doubles: O’Conno:! and Mrs Pethig 5. v. Chetwynd ami Mrs Butland 6; Sando and Miss Donaldson won by default from Freitas and Miss Soebeck; Blacklow and Hedwig 3, v. Osmers and Miss Hall 6; Houlahan and Miss Chapman, commun-

al default; Jones and Miss McMullan 3, v. Telfer and Miss Anderson 6; Richards and Miss Houlahan 6, v. Mitchell and P-rrv 3.

M • R. B. Mi’ler, representing the Jubilee Institute for the Blind, Auckland, is at present in Hokitika, making his annual collection for the institution. The m.v. “Gael” arrived this morning from Op.“ n Bay Island, with 15cwt, of fish, all groper and blue cod. She sailed this afternoon for Okuru for a load of cattle. Playing at the Mental Hospital ground, Kiwi cricket team defeated Hokitika by 72 runs. Batting first. Kiwi scored 53 (Spence 24). For Hokitika, Toohey took 5 for 13. Hokitika replied with 37, Parker taking 4 for 11 and Stapleton 3 for 4. Kiwi in the second innings scored 84, Parker sco’ing 45 not out, and C. Jolly securing 6 for 29. Hokitika scored only 28 for their second -effort, Stapleton getting 4 for 9. The death occurred at her residence, North Revell Street, of Mrs Frances Webb, after a long illness. Predeceased less than a year ago by her husband, she leaves two daughters, Mrs A. Laughton and Miss Rachel Webb, and two sons, Messrs Thomas and William Webb, all of Hokitika. She is also survived by her mother, Mrs Youngman, South Hokitika, five sisters, Mesdamps Burt (Christchurch), C. A. Brown (Oxford), Green (N. Island), J. Brown and Howard (Hokitika), and one brother (Mr A. Youngman) Oxford. The late Mrs Webb was in her fiftieth year, and her death will be regretted by many friends. At last meeting of the Hokitika Boxing Association there were present Messrs J. Stafford (chairman), E. W. Heenan (Secretary), D. Dowell, F. McGregor, M. McGavin, O. Hahn, J. Atkinson, R. Furness, and F. Ballinger. The secretary reported that Johnnie Leckie and Harry Johns had accepted the Association’s offer to fight a 15round contest in Hokitika at the Swimming Bath Stadium on the evening of March 30th, the race night in Hokitika. Satisfactory financial arrangements were agreed upon by the Association and the boxers. The Association I resolved to try and arrange the following preliminary contests:— D. Chisholm v. G. Mclntosh (3 two-minute rounds); M. Walsh (5 stone) to be matched with a Runanga boy of the same weight for three rounds. Prices for the contests were agreed upon a& follows:— Ringside 5/-, top seats 4/-, Ladies 2/-, School Children 1/-. It was resolved to hold an amateur tournament about one month later. It was decided to ask the Railway Department to have the Ross train delayed till 9.30 to allow the Ross people to attend the contest on March 30. The secretary was instructed to arrange for a police permit and a permit from the Stamps Department, and to apply for permission to use the Baths Stadium. 1

At the last meeting of the local Un employment Committee there wen present Messrs G. A. Perry (chairman) Cox, M. McGavin, E. Heenan, N. War ren, A. Lawn, D. J. Evans, H. Harvey L. Ditely, and G. A. Coles (secretary) There was a letter from the Board'r< the resignation of Mr Coles as secre tary of the Committee, regretting the resignation and pointing out that as the local bodies derived all the laboui from the Board’s scheme free it was the duty of the local bodies to endeavour to carry out the secretarial duties, Mr Coles stated that it was necessary for him to resign as he could not carry on the duties. The work had increased beyond him, and he could not spare the time from his Town Clerk’s duties. He asked the Unemployment Board to appoint an officer from the local Government Buildings to undertake the duties, but the Board apparently could not : arrange this matter, and perforce he i had to carry on. The Chairman intiI mated he would write to the Board at Wellington and make it clear that the Town Clerk could not spare the time to attend to the duties. Mr McGavin asked did not the Town Clerk have assistance. The Mayor replied it was necessary. The work was of such a nature that it could not be divided among two clerks, and that would lead to confusion. Mr Harvey said the Committee made no funds with which to pay a clerk, and as the Council met the position and paid the cost, the matter was not one for the Committee members to argue over. It was then agreed that the present arrangement continue until some other satisfactory arrangement could be agreed upon by the Board in conjunction with the local committee. The Hokitika District Prospecting Association wrote asking that the Association inspector’s report be accepted by the Committee with regard to gold mining subsidies. This was agreed to. The Association also intimated that it was their desire that the men should be allowed to work their allotted time in their claims instead of on the roads. It was agreed by the members that this was impracticable as there was already a separate scheme for the mining. The Masterton Unemployment Committee wrote asking support in urging the Government to run a state lottery for the Unemployment Relief Fund. Members voiced their opinion for and against, and on the question being put to a vote, it was decided to support the Masterton Boards request, the Chairman and Mr Evans voting against the motion. One unemployed worker (a returned soldier with a wife and family) reported that the investigation officer had reduced his time from four days to three days on account of his receiving a war pension. It was resolved to ask the Board to grant four days. One application for a transfer to another job was recommended, as the work was too heavy for the applicant. who needed work of a lighter nature. The Secretary reported that, gold subsidies to the amount of £387 had been paid to date for a return of 10 ozs., 12 dwts. of gold (value about £56). A number of farming proposals wore approved of, and four applications for work of a reproductive nature on their own holdings were recommended to be forwarded to Wellington for appt oval. At the Borough Council’s monthly meeting there were present the Mayor (Mi* G. A. Perry), Crs. T. W. Duff,'E. W. Heenan, A. R. Elcock, A. C. Armstrong, J. King, D. P. Stuart. G. Heinz. D. J. Evans, and Dr. Teichlemann. The treasurer reported; Receipts £464/17/6. payments £ll7O/17/3. debit balance £330/15/-. Accounts amounting to £631/6/1 were passed. Mr D. Breeze, secretary, Poultry Club, advised th?/ Messrs .1. .1. Breeze, F. Groufsky, and W. Hall had been appointed trustees of the Horticultural Hall. The Auditor-General wrote re Section 40 (h), Municipal Corporations Act, 1930. intimating conditions under which the constitutionary limit can be increased for the purchase of timber from the

Kanicri-Hokitika Sawmilling Company. Cr. Heinz suggested the matter stand over for the present. Cr. Eleock said the Superintendent stated at the lasi meeting that at the upper end of Sewell Street if there were a fire, the Brigade would have to stand by and look on, as the water would not be able to reach the locality. The Mayoi suggested the overseer and Town Clerk report as to the cost involved and the value of properties affected. This proposal was agreed to. The Secretary. Hokitika Fire Board, forwarded an extract from the report of the Inspoe tor of Fire Brigades,, drawing attention to the necessity of providing adequate water supply for fire purposes in Davie Street, Rolleston Street, Beach Street, and the north end of Sewell Street. Arthur Appleton and ■ Huia Appleton applied for a twentyone years’ lease of one acre of part Municipal Reserve No. 466. This was referred to the Town Clerk with power to act. Mrs A. Appleton notified that she wished to relinquish the tenancy of Municipal Reserves No. 585, 586, and 587, from the 30th June, 1931.—Surrender accepted. Th 0 State Fire ami Accident Insurance Office, Wellington, asked that a “contracting out” agreement be executed in respect of a worker.—Approved. The Chairman, No. 12 District Highways Council, Greymouth, asked for details of plant owned by the Council, and used on Main High-ways.-—Received; Town Clerk to reply to. The Town Clerk reported that the tender of Cyril Coyle for the supply of beach grit at 2/- per yard had been accepted and that the tender of Cyril Coyle for 140 silver pine posts at 1/- per post had also been accepted. It was resolved that the erection of a wire fence round the Botanical Reserve which was first to be cleaned up, be then carried out. The Mayormoved that the regulation forbidding motor traffic in Revell Street on Saturday nights be extended sine die. Seconded by Cr Evans and carried. The report of the Town Clerk in favour of a charge of £2 for an extraordinary water supply for Mr T. Robinson Jnr., was accepted. It was resolved to make a request to the annual meeting of the Westland Licenced Committee that with a view to economy the salary of the clerk to the Committee be reduced from £4O to £3O. Last month at the local abattoirs

, there were slaughtered 16 eows, 22 heifers, 39 bullocks, 249 sheep, 161 lambs, i 7 pigs, 13 calves. Condemned: 1 cow. j Fees for period: £64 7/- (same period last year £6l/17/-). Work done last month in the borough included repairs to Hampden and | Park Streets. About eighty-five loads , of screened gravel were carted on to | them. North Fitzherbert Street and the North Belt were repaired. Twentyfive loads were carted on Livingstone Street cutside Mr Hackell’s. Davie Street, crossing into Hampden Street, was widened six feet. Six new pipes were put in Tattered Street and Gibson Quay intersection, and two new pipes at the corner of Rolleston Street and Gibson Quay, and two new pipes the corner of Hamilton and Sewell Streets, while two chains of pipes were put in the line at Hau Hau hill between the Reservoir and Hau Hau road. Water services were put in at. Mr H. Jones’s corner of Bealey and Stafford Streets, and at the Farmers’ Central Meat Co., corner of Fitzherbert and Stafford Streets. Fire plugs were repaired in Revell and Brittan Streets, new washers being repaired. Crossings were put in at J. Robinson’s in Jollie Street, and J. Wilson’s, Gibson Quay. A good fall of gravel was brought down in Sale Street pit. The average depth of water in the Reservoir for the month was 6ft 9in.