REEFTON NOTES

Grey River Argus, 29 October 1932, Page 2

REEFTON NOTES

(Our Own Correspondent). REEFTON, October 28. Shortly after six this morning Air I. Patterson *s office in Broadway was found to be on fire. There was a fair blaze before the brigade got to work, though they were quickly on the scene, and there seemed little hope of saving the building, as well as the promises on each side. The good sup ply of water, however, soon had the desired effect and the brigade had the (lames under in less than half an hour. The back part of the premises, where the fire started, was gutted and contents destroyed. but, beyond Being damaged by water and smoke, the two rooms in front were not greatly damaged, much of the contents, being principally documents, books, etc, were damaged beyond repair. Air Patterson’s loss is a serious one, as his library of Jaw books suffered severe damage, many volumes being ruined by the smoke. Miller's Ltd., on the west side of Patterson’s suffered damage by the water, which shattered a window and wet. much of the stock. The building On. the east side, used by Air D. Wright, as a paint and paperhanging shop, and by Miss Watt, as a dressmaking establishment, was damaged by water, and Miss Watt's goods were drenched. These included many dresses, costumes, etc, completed and ready to be despatched to clients. Neither Alias Watt nor Air Wright had any insurance, on the building or contents. It is understood that Miller’s Ltd., is insured, bur the amount was not ascertainable. On Mr Patterson's building the insurances were £75 on the building in the Royal Insurance Office, and £2OO on the contents in the Royal Exchange Office, but his loss must greatly exceed this. Mr Patterson states that he left his office nt midnight, ami that, no fire had been lighted there during the whole of Thursday, and he is unable to accour t for the outbreak.

Before conim.enei ng the business of the Tnangahua Hospital Board meeting last evening the Chairman (Mr J. B. Auld) referred to the loss to the district, by the death of Mr G. C. BL'ick, Member for Alotueka, and moved that a vote of condolence be passed to the relatives rtf the deceased. The motion was carried in silence. Mr Jas O’Brien, ALP. for Westland arrived in Reefton last evening, anti to-day met the local Labour Party on .matters in connection with the Motueka election. Mr Grinistone, Groyniout.li, fire appraiser for the State Fire Insurance Office, arrived in Reefton last evening in connection with recent tire in the Drill Hall. At. the Hospital Board meeting today. accounts were passed as follows* Receipts; £373 6s Id. Expenditure: Pecuniary assistance £23 15s, salaries £l7B 10 2d. Electric Light Company £9 14s 4d, Grey Hospital Board £7l ss. North Canterbury Hospital Board £24 0s 9d, Forsyth and Masters, Lto. £l2 12s s<l, J. W. Osborne £1 4s 9d. .Miss Cohen £1 Is. Thos. Dellaca 17s Gd, T. Galbraith £3 Is 9d, Railway Department 15s lOd, A. Whiting 6s 3d. McE'wee and Son £l6 10s 2d. L. Lochore £4 6s 3d, Harold Bros. £64 9s Id. X. Collins £l6 9s 3d, 11. Cohen £5 3s fid, N.Z. Drug Coy. £l5 Is 2d, W. Hobbs £ll 2s 3d. W. Bailey £8 6s s<l. Tnangahua Times Coy. 9s 9d, D. Wright £8 2s, D. Austin 18s 6d, E. AleNright £l4 12s; total, £492 15s Id. The County Council meeting yest.ee day was attended by Crs W. Blackadder (chair). J. B. Auld, J. O. Byrne, D. I‘anckhurst, Thos. Watson, F. W. Archer, W. Clayton, J. O'Regan. A mo. t.ion of condolence with the relatives of the late G. C. Black, AI.P. for Motueka, wtis moved by the Chairman, who feelingly referred to the work that had been done by the late mem-

ber, laying stress on his efforts (hiring the earthquake period. Ur Clayton seconded this, and it was carried by members standing in silence. Alessrs Thos. Phillips, L. E. Morgan, Fell and Harley, the Public Trustee, and Thos. Bell, notified sales of property. The Alinister of Mines advised the Mount. David Sluicing Coy. has been granted a reduction in rent to 2s 6d per acre for one year, from July 1, 1932. C.r J. O’Regan wrote re Wairoa earthquake and Cr Clayton moved, Or Blackadder seconded, that a subscription list be opened, and that the County donate £5 for relief. —Carried. Mr R. McGrone, Westport was appointed County Health Inspector in accordance wijfh Departmental direction. Water connections were authorised for Alessrs J. T. Switzer and F. R. Hay. It was decided to adopt th<» »'pw relief scheme of labour on private property. Unemployed Workers' Movement, re houis worked by an unemployed worker, also giving name.t of men needing further aid, and regarding men having to stand down. It was decided to reply that the Council con’d not alter the hours, also th;;i while the Council will do its utmost

to work with the unemployed men, the Foreman cannot be held responsible for any seeming irregularities that may take .place, as to starting at work. Tnangahua A’alley Farmers Union advised it cannot offer any subsidy for the train to Inangahdrt. Junction on Saturday evenings, also asking the Council’s support on matter of loading bank and stock yards at Cronndun Railway Station. Th e Council decided to support the erection ot stock yards at Cronndun. The protection works at A. Douglas’ properly. Waitahu was loft in the hands of Crs D’Regan and Archer to arrange for the necessary horse and dray labour, the Foreman being instructed to hnvu the work carried out by the unemployed. The Public Works Department forwarded authority for Alirfin’s bridge protection. 11. Astridge forwarded par ticulars of work done bv him on Alexander Track via Brown Creek. It wa 4s decided he be paid for 23 days work on Alexander Road, via Brown Crook nt rates of ruling when the work was done, and Alexander Mines Ltd., be asked to contribute one-half. Wright and Oliphant drew attention to the state of the Cronadun-Capleston Real Mr Goghlan was granted permission to connect his premises with the Canleston water service. Mrs Mooni o was

while premises were untenantod. 't was decided to recommend the rent due on .mining privileges held by Wealth ofi Nations Mine. Ltd., be treated as irrecoverable. The Fire Brigade drew attention to the state of the fire boll tower in Lower Broadway. The Forman was- instnictcd to ascertain the cost of erecting the Strand fire boll in iron. The Brigade's request for several articles of equipment was referred to the Town members ami Cr Archer to confer with the Captain and Secretary of the Brigade with power to purchase the required equipment, the Brigade to be requested to furnish the Council with an inventory of all property in their possession. APerry asked if it were possible to

grant him a grazing- license over land in the vicinity of the pipe lino on Alexander Road. He was recommendo j to apply to the Land Office. Dispatch Foundry, Greymouth, enclosed quota •ions for plies, also (’obdc'u Engineering Coy. The procuring of pipes waleft in the hands of town members and Mr Archer. Air Longman, a •settler of Burton’s Creek, waited :ir» the Council, relative to reading access to this ground. He stated £GO would construct an Bft track right to his property. Cr Clayton moved that a grant of £l5O be asked for the construction of Byrne and Soinmerville’s Road, and that application be made to the Unemployment Committee for assistance for this work. The Un ••mploymont Board notified the Council that the track to the Alexander Mine from the top of the hill to the mine must be only three feet wide. Cr Auld took strong exception and pointed out the track via. Stevenson’s Flat was only six miles long, while the Snowy River route was 22 miles. ('r Archer said the Unemployment Board were misinformed relative- to this road, and proposed that the County Clerk write to the Unemployment Board very fully on Ihe matter. Seconded by Cr Auld and carried. If was resolved that an extra day’s work be given to mi‘n working on Brown Creek road at. County rates, provided the men eamp on the work. The blockage in the stream on th ( . roadside hi Afaimai was left in the hands of the F'oreman for attention. Seventeen days’ work had been done on the Alexander track. Seven men have been working on this and the camps have been re-erected near tin* top of the hill. Cr Clayton reported on his interview with Wild and Robertson re the Rough River Sawmill Road. On his motion it was resolved that the Public Works Department be asked 1<» compete* Burton’s Creek road to Rough River sawmill. Or. Auld moved that tlie Defence Department be asked to rebuild the Drill Hall. Cr Archer seconded the motion, which was carried. It was, resolved to ask the Electric Light Company to remove ;v light pole at the School of Alines' corner, also to erect a further light in Bridge Street. The mutter of attention to water table on Waiuta Hill b<‘leit in the hands of the Foreman; the

Cemetery Creek to IH>1 H > cleaned, and that the Foreman be instructed to place the necessary culverts in the road at Specimen Hill, Capleston. Ur Archer moved, and Cr Panckhurst seconded. that Buller Road from the Station to town be cleaned u.p. and graded on the sides by unemployed labour.—Carried. It was resolved that the Domain Board be asked to erect con vein eiices o l( the Domain. A t the monthly meeting of the Jnangahua Hospital Board, M-ssrs J. B. Auld (Chairman). T. Scaright, G. IJ. Al<-Inroe, J. (). Byrne, T. R. Watson. W . F. Arch-.'r, W. .Blackadder. W. Clavton and Dr ATarshall (Aledical Superintendent) w‘r ( . present. Wniut a Miners’ Medical Association wrote n‘ '•([iiiprnont of Waiuta Hospital, stating its Secretary would wait upo n the Board. Alessrs .Murley and Ord waited upon the Board stating the terms were too hard, and trusting the Board would allow them the use of the furniture* and a nominal rental. They suggested that these articles be given to the Association fr<e The Chairman (Mr Auld) moved that unless Waiuta Aledical Association guarantyM patients’ payments at 4/6 ]»x'r day, all patients be charged the full rate 9/ per day, and the Board take the risk of collecting the fees. Mr Archer soeondc'd. The motion was curried. It was resolved that the Board’s form-er resolution regarding payment for equipment at Waiuta Hospital be adhered to. Grey Hospital Board wrote asking co-operation to secure early payment of balance outstanding on account of the timber workers.—The Chairman ami Secretary wi're in stniefed to attend to the matter. The Empire Canc-r Campaign Society, Christchurch, wrote stating the Chair man was appointed a permanent mem b<‘r of the General Committee for N> Ison and Westland Division. Margaret Patterson applied for position of probationer. —Fill'd fur reference. J. Williams wrote accepting lease of Board’s property on Buller Road, for a further term of three years, and enclosing a year’s rent. Matron Gibson’s report stated the ball receipts exceeded £7O. The Board expressed its appreciation the Alatron ami staff. Mat ron Gibson reported Sister Peters had been off duty throe* weeks, following a minor operation, and asked that -^ rs Ramsay be granted sick leave. —It w <‘ ls decided that the latter lie granted sick leave Dr. Alarshall, Aledical Superintendent. reported for the month: —Admitted 19. disehatg'-d 15. died 2, remaining 30 operations 6, anaesthetics G. out-patients 1, attendances 10, births 10. It was decided to cooperate with the Returned Soldiers’ Association in endeavouring to secure pensions for returned soldier patients i n hospital.