HOKITIKA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 24 September 1932, Page 2

HOKITIKA NOTES

(From Our Own Correspondent). HOKITIKA, September 23. Th-* weather has become dull and rain has been threatening this afternoon. During the past few days there has been a lull in the run of whitebait, comparatively few having been eaught in the Hokitika River, The m.v., Gael, which arrived to-day • from is sailing to-morrow afternoon for Bruce Bay, and will take a number of passengers. A visitor at present to the Glacial region of South Westland is the Pre sident of the International Olympic Federation, Count de Baillet Latour, of Belgium, a well-known figure at the Olympic Games for many scars. Arriving here last evening from Christ church, he proceeded this morning to South Westland. He will travel up the West Coast on his return as far as Nelson, thence proceeding to Wellington, en route for Java and Spain. There will be no football fixture here to-morrow, when the Excelsiors play Stais at Greymouth, while the Kiwis are playing at Westport. At the Warden’s Court to-day there were objections lodged again-t applica tions for prosplecting licenses in the Callaghan ’§ district. Stephen Ralph Havill (Mr C. Sellers) sought an ordinary prospecting license, James Stanley Langford (Mr J. A Murdoch) objected. The objector applied for a similar license to which applicant in the first mentioned case objected. Mr Murdoch contended Havill, as being a director of a company, could not obtain a concession for his own interests if it were not in the interests of the Company fjor him to obtain it. He also claimed that applicant’s pegging of the claim was also at fault, as threle c»f the pegs were on an area for which ti license was already held. The- objector, in evidence, said he had organised the Callaghan’s Goldmining Co. Havill knew witness was going to Nelson to finance tin* concern. The principal cap ital was obtained in Nelson. Havill had rt ceived n considerable sum for his land and was appointed a director of the Company. The Company later purchased Corbett’s urea, which was ienewed last year in witness’s name as trustee for the Company. On August 19th last y<«ar he received the grant. Fourteen days before the expiry, of th'- grant on August 18th, 1932 the Company instructed counsel to lodge a fresh application for the area, of 20 acres, which was done in the name of witness, for which area applicant now sought a license. There was no doubt the Company desired renewal of the 20-acro block license. On ♦his area. Havill had only one peg. which was on the boundary, the other three being on the adjoining block. His Company was the owner of al) the areas adjoining the 20 acres, as w* 11 as lhe water rights. If applicant secured the license it would ’imit the- scope of the Company’s work. Applicant’s son was working manager for the Company and was engaged on the ground. Witness’s Company intended to apply for a renewal. Havill was a direcbir of the Company* when he pvggd out the ar-a. David Miller Pettigrew, dr-dgemaster of Hokitika, said the granting of the application would be detrimental to further sluicing operations. Stephen Havill, th? applicant, in evidence, stated that he became a diiec t or of the Company since December 17th 1931 He had pQgged out his claim on the day following the expiry of the license Prior to going out he was told the area was open for applieatiin. Witness, in reply to Mr Murdoch, stated he had not inquired from the Company what land it held in tho district, although, he was a director and had sold pro perty to the Company for which £B6O had been received by him. Witness knew the license had expired on August 18th, and that the/ holder had been Langford, as agent, for the Company It did not concern witness to inquire from his son particulars of the Company’s areas. Decision was reserved by Warden Meld rum. Fines of £1 each with a n order to return the articles, were imposed on Robert Dunean and Charles J. Dolacour on a charge of stealing a port able forge a steel pinch bar, 501 b of axto grease, of a total value of £4 15s, the property of J. C. Malfroy and Co. from their sawmill on the Christchurch Road 17 or 18 miles from Hokitika, which is closed down, the equipment (having been- left on the premises and in huts. Sergeant King stated the articles were found elsewhere and identified. The defendants, who worked in a claim in Gillan’s

Gully had admitted taking them, thinking they had b“on abandoned, as the mill wa s closed down. C. H. Guth-ri-e said no authority was given to rc move the articles. Defendants stated that the mill appeared to have been abandoned. They luid called, after taking the articles, to see Air Guthrie and give an explanation, but he was away. Percy T. Timmins was ordered repurchase for £1 and return to its owner, John Shannon, fanner, of Koka tahi, a bicycle, which he stated he had sold for the sum mentioned, as Shannon owed him wages which witness was unable to secure from him. Shannon said Timmins had stayed with him a month at a prospecting camp, and had borrowed the bicycle, without re turning it. Six charges of failure to pay the uneinploynrent levy were preferred against J. P. Coulson by Air F. G. Davies, Inspector of Factories. Defendant "as represented by Air A. RElcock, who asked for an adjournment it being granted. R. Al. Durham was charged with breach of his maintenance order i n respect of his wife. Dur ing the last three months, defendant said he had earned practically nothing. The Bench adjourned the case. Seven men were convicted on charges of being on licensed premises after houis and were fined.

At the Warden’s Court to-day, Ross mining applications Were dealt with as follows, by Warden Meldrum: Vivia n Joseph Robinson (Mr J. Alurdoch) special dredging claim and ord inary prospecting license. —Adjourned for a , month; Thomas Clarence Gill (Mr A. R. Elcock), special dredging claim. —Adjourned for a month; David Bishop jellie (Mr Alurdoch), ordinary pros pecting license, four applications.-— Granted, subject to Forestry Conditions; Daniel Dennehy (Air Alurdoch), special dredging claim, two applications. —Adjourned for a month; Gordon Bertram Saunders (Air Elcock). ordin arv pro-specting license. —Adjourned; James Patrick Nolan, and Edmond Walsh (Air Alurdoch), ordinary prospecting license and water-race. —Granted; John James Alclntosh (Al* C. J. P. Sellers), ordinary prospecting license. —Granted. Kumara applications were: —James Duncan Hearne and others, (Air Alurdoch), water race license;— Adjourned. Edward Foley, ordinary prospecting license, six applications. Adjourned; John Alfred Peever (Mr Alurdoch), ordinary prospecting license. -—Granted.