HOKITIKA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 16 April 1932, Page 2

HOKITIKA NOTES

(From Our Own Correspondent.) HOKITIKA, April 15. There were few cases at .to-day’s local Court sitting. A case against a Ross resident, E. Nelson, of failure to pay the unemployment levy was adjourned. Judgment by default was given in the case of the Westland Hospital Board v. Frederick Boakes, £8 15s 6tl, and. costs £1 10s 6d. Hector Turnbull was charged with disobedience of a maintenance order. The case was adjourned. Alterations are being made to the municipal water supply service, and users are expected to be sparing in the meantime. The Golf Club opens its season tomorrow, the draw for the 18-hole course being as already published. At a meeting last evening .to organise the usual Anzac Day commemoration a similar programme to that of former years was adopted. There will be the usual parade under Capt. C. Bleach, headed by the band, and including the R.S.A. Volunteers (who will constitute the firing party), Girl Gu.des, Boy Scouts and senior scholars of the schools. At the Princess Theatre, the Mayor will give an address, Rev. Knights will read Scripture, and Rev. Naylor will lead in prayer. The occasional address will be given by Captain Abbott, a n d the benediction will be pronounced by Rev. Hailwood. The war memorials will be visited at the close of the service and military honours paid. The returned men will later visit the Cemetery. It is stated that all the sitting members representing the County on the local Power Board, Hospital Board, and Harbour Board as well as all County Councillors are likely to stand for reelection.

At the Warden’s Court to-day, Mr W. Meldrum, Warden, dealt with the following Hokitika applications:—AL bert Cederman (Mr Elcock). dam.— Granted, subject .to Forestry conditions. John Marks (Mr Elcock), ordinary prospecting license.—Granted, subject to existing rights. E. R. Dymock, and Westland Gold Prospecting Syndicate, Ltd., (Mr Murdoch) application for certification of protection.—Recommended. James S. Langford (Mr Murdoch), .three ordinary prospecting licences. —Two were adjourned, the third being granted. Edward Mitchell, ordinary prospecting license.—Granted, subject to Forestry conditions. Stophen McLeod Honey, ordinary prospecting license.—Granted. Marganet Stephens, license for residence site. —Granted. Tony Shroy, ordinary prospecting license. —Granted. Kumara applications were:—Gardiner Davidson Wilson (Mr Murdoch) ordinary prospecting license, four applications.—Granted. Public Trustee, application for duplicate license. —Granted. Ross applications were: Hermann Osrners (Mr Elcock), Trustee St. Paul’s Church, application for town lease. —Granted. George Williamson (Mr Murdoch) license for water race and dam. —Adjourned. Archibald Martin (M r Murdoch) water race license. —Granted, subject to Forestry conditions. Neil Duncan McNicol, prospecting license. —Granted, subject to Forestry conditions. To-morrow a benefit football match at Rimu will be played between Rimu an,] Excelsior Clubs, the latter’s team being:—Hamilton, Jones, Mitchell, Sh.oder. Rimmer, Hughes (2), Davidson, Reese, Stevenson, Parker, Leslie, Eager. Richards, Thompson and Palmer. The Rimu team will be selected from the following: Hyndman, Inglis, Lewis, Growcott (2), Broadbent, Brown. Thorpe, Crase, Boyd, Ogilvie (2). Keenan, Agnew, Dale, Kelly, O’Connor (2), Smith. Mclntosh and Senior.

The annual meeting of the Hokitika Acclimatisation and Tourist Society was held on Thursday evening, nineteen members being present. The reports and balance sheet were received as satisfactory. The Executive report stated that the year had opened with a credit balance of £lO4l 18s Id, and had closed with a credit of £lOO4 13s 7d, a decline on the year’s work of £37 2s Od. The report of the Hatching Committee disclosed that the expenditure for ova was £302 and the hatchery exp’enses £193 the Grey Society contributing half the cost of the above. Deer stalking returned £63 last y ar. but this year’s return will be less tha n half, as English stalkers who contemplated the trip have postponed their visit until next year. The usual arangements were made for deer culling. but only £23 was paid out. The gamp licenses returned £3l. During the year the Society imported 200 ph asants from the North Island, at a

cost of £llO. the b rils being distributed chiefly in South Westland. Opossum revenue earned from the previous year, but which came to credit in the financial year under review, totalled £192. Last season was a close season and it hag been recommended that the present year be the same, several Societies moving in that direction. The Hatchery Committee reported that the season commenced earl'er than usual, due to the necessity for the Curator being in attendance while repairs to the race and settling tank were being effected. A new footbridge across the river was erected. The hatchery plant is now in thoroughly good order and with the exception of a box at the intake from the race, which needs renewing, the Society should not have any further cause for expenditure for some time. A loading stand was erected. Mr Ridin nd commenced duties on the Ist April, 1931. The Society was fortunate in spurring a consignment of quinnat ova from Hakataramea. This arrived on the 16th June, 215,900 ova being .the amount. The ova hatched out splendidly. The fry were liberated in the tr'butaries of the Hokitika River and in Lake Kanieri. Very few fish were caught this season in Lake Kanieri. It is hoped that with the constant stocking, Lake. Kanieri will in the near future be a much more p’opular fishing resort. The Grey Society co-operated in the hatching activities with mutual advantage. A total of 350,000 rainbow ova, and 650,000 brown ova were hatched out, and except a consignment, of 150,000 brown ova from Christchurch. the whole supply hatched out excellently. The Grey Society has in-

timated that it will not be requiring any fry .this season, but will concentrate on frustrating poaching. In consequence the Committee has ordered 500,000 brown ova at the reduced price of 4/- per 1000 from the Southland Society. The attention of the Society was drawn .to the number of men fishing without fishing licenses, and it was suggested that & reward be offered for any information leading to a conviction. The election of officers resulted as follows:—President, Dr. Teichelnian n (re-elected); Vice President. Mr J. J. Mclntosh (re-elected); Hon. Secretary and Treasurer, Mr H. N. Osmers. Messrs W. A. Rowe and H. W. Lodge were, also nominated, and the first named was elected on a ballot. The Secretary’s honorarium was fixed at £l2 per annunu Council, Messrs A. C. Armstrong, A. N. Baker, W. Braddon, S. Godfrey, B. Kelly, J. King, E. J. Lloyd, H. T. Parry, R. Paterson. G. Perry, R. Stuart, H. Wells. Mr D. J. Evang-Was appointed a'n auxiliary member. Mr D. J. Evans (retiring Secretary) was appointed a life honorary member. The following Hatchery Committee was appointed: Messrs A. C. Armstrong, W. Braddon, E. J. Lloyd, Hector Davidson, Cecil Preston, A. Kelly and A. Thompson. Prior to the annual meeting the following members of the Council met: Messrs Armstrong (chair), Braddon, King, Baker, Kelly, Parry, Mclntosh senr., Stuart, Wells, G. Perry and Dr. Tcichelmann. A letter was received from the Department, of Internal Affairs advising that the question of a close season for opossums will receive consideration and that a reply will be sent later. The Grey Society forwarded payment of claim for hatchery maintenance, and stated that they would concentrate this year on ranging th e district. This was received with regret, as the hatchery is now in good working order. A letter was also received from the Toaroha Spr’ngs Committee thanking the Society for the donation.