HOKITIKA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 16 May 1933, Page 2

HOKITIKA NOTES

(Our Own Correspondent). HOKITIKA, May 15. A local resident was to be seen testing the black sand on the beach this morning, but very little colour was showing, it being only on the surface. Mr Arnold Greaney, who has been visiting his father, Mr Dan Greaney, has left on his return to Invercargill, where he is a member of the staff of the Awarna Radio Station. The m.v. Gael, which yesterday arrived at Greymouth from Jackson’s Bay, brought up from South Westland 183 sheep for the Greymouth stock sale .and also a quantity of butter for the Christchurch market. There has been yet another wet week-end. Last week’s local rainfall was 1.81 inches, while there was 40 hours of sunshine. Rain has continued to-day. Yesterday’s rain prevented the observance of Hospital Day. The staff of the Post Office this morning fa rewelled Mr J. Bell, who has been transferred to Ross Post Office. Mr Cox, Postmaster, in handing Mr Bell a cheque from the staff, spoke of his sterling qualities as a telegraph officer and the manner in which he had conducted himself. Mr Bell thanked the donors, and spoke of his happy association with his superiors and staff. For the Ladies’ Golf Club unearned handicap grade bogey match on Wednesday the draw is as follows: Mrs Mclntyre 7 v. Mrs W. E. Brown 22, Miss Wild 5 v. Mrs B. Andrewcs 22, Mrs Houston 7 v. Miss B. Houston 22, Mrs Wyles 13 v. Miss Cox 15, Mrs Warren 10 v. Mrs B. Wilson 22, Miss Stevenson 15 v. Miss Keller 16, Miss Preston 14 v. Miss Wormington 12, Mrs A. Thompson 17 v. scorer. Captain J. C. Mercer arrived by plane over Hokitika on Saturday afternoon, and later continued his journey to Waiho. He returned to Hokitika this morning, the trip occupying an hour and a-quarter, and he is now awaiting favourable weather to cross the Alps on his return to Christchurch. The latest Gazette notifies the appointment of Mr Thomas Percival Pain to Registrar of the District of Hokitika, and Registrar of Births and Deaths of Maoris at Hokitika, and Registrar of Prisons for the Westland District for the purposes of the Prisons’ Act. The sudden death occurred yesterday at Nelson of Mrs S. Webley, grand mother of Mrs G. A. King, Hampden Street, and aunt of Mrs G.l Eade, also of Hokitika. Mr C. Webley, commercial traveller, is a son of deceased. The Golf Club’s four ball match on Saturday was won by Steel and Thompson, all square; Baker and Morrison being second, one down.

At the Borough Council meeting Cr. M. McGavin put a few questions in accordance with his pre-election promises. He asked by whom deputyreturning officers and poll clerks at the Council elections had been appointed, ami why preference had been shown Messrs Benjamin, Coles and Lindopp, as there were plenty of others capable who were unemployed. The Mayor said Mr Coles, as the returning officer, had made the appointments as statutory officer, while the latter said he was prepared to give work to any necessitous cases, and one of them was unemployed, while one had recently been out of work. Regarding the appointment of poll clerks, he had to choose persons who could do the work and maintain a standard. Cr. McGavin also asked why the Council had approved the appointment last' July of Mr Lodge to the Borough office! at the ratepayers’ expense. The Mayor said the Government Auditor had approved the appointment. Cr. McGavin said that in July last when he waited on the Council about the

appointment, he was told the Council had approved it. The cost to the ratepayers had been £7O. The Mayor said he was not going to let the matter degenerate into a wordy argument. Cr. McGavin said things could be carried on behind closed doors. He wanted to see the minutes. He asked why tenders were not called last year for several pairs of gumboots that were bought. He wanted to know the cost and the brands of those gumboots. The Mtiyor said he did not remember. He bought one pair out of his own pocket. There was no more business before the meeting. Cr. McGavin said he had yet another matter. He stood for the policy of “One man, one 1 .job,” and as the Town Clerk was also a superannuated officer, he would move that the Council request his resigna-' tion. Cr. Heinz said notice of the motion was necessary. The Mayor:. “Cr. McGavin, you are out of order,! and there is no seconder to your mo-’ tion.’’ Cr. McGavin challenged the! Mayor to resign and contest the matter. Did he think it fair for a superannuated officer to hold this position? Several Councillors interjected, and the Mayor then rose, the meeting terminating without any discussion on the various questions put by Cr. McGavin.

At the County Council Mining Committee meeting, Messrs J. A. Murdoch (chair) and M. Keenan attended, also the Supervisor, Mr J. A. Cooper. Extensions of subsidy granted were:— Willoughby and party, R. A. Thorpe, Moore and Robertson, W. White and party (fortnight’s subsidy to construct a track at Wataroa); A. McNeill and W. Fleming. New applications granted were; T. V. Tymmons (Stafford), I. T. Harris and F. H. Martin (tunnel at Humphreys), J. McDonald, claim at Carson’s Creek, Kumara Junction; J. Lalor, sluicing claim, Kumara; F. D. Payn, to open sluicing claim with R. Fleming, Kumara Junction; J. Roxborough and L. J. Millyn, Stripland Creek, Lake Kanieri; W. Holmes and R. Harold, upper reaches of Wataroa (recommended). E. H. Heenan advised he was continuing on gold subsidy with W. Holiest Reports were receive

ed from the following: A, P. Mitchell, Timpson, Thorpe and Muir, Baker and Timms, Moore and Robertson (2), Willoughby and party (2), J. Irwin and party, Dick and party, J. Busher (Arahura River), D. Feeney, J. N. Fox; also H. J. Neilsen, who notified he wishes subsidy to expire on 31st inst. Honi Meihana also reported, further particulars being awaited. Accounts to the amount of £67 Ils were passed for payment. A report is to be obtained re application of R. F. Harris, Bruce Bay. Applications directed to register were: Jas. Macky (Matainui), T. T. Andrews (Bruce Bay), T. Taylor (Taipo). The Unemployment Commissioner advised an allocation had been made for two men working on Taipo Creek, also acknowledging receipt of copy of minutes of meeting; also instructions re protection of areas worked by subsidised prospectors; also re granting subsidy to S. O. Holley. The Public Works Department advised price charged for second-hand tents and tlys, which could not be bought new under £4 10s. —Request agreed toThe Manager, Bank of New South Wales, stated the Bank would render returns asked for in respect of gold sales. Four men have been placed on the Taipo track by the Executive to open up a route to the back country where prospectors have been engaged. An additional number will be placed, on the track. which serves a wellmineralised district. Arrangements are being made also to improve access up Wataroa river, where over 30 men are working, several without subsidy. In this district gold is being won chiefly from the river beaches, but parties are now driving to test the hill country. A South Westland resident advised there were now sixteen men blacksanding on Bruce Bay beach, but the Hunts, Black and Paringa beaches were not being tried. The late heavy sea had combed the beaches down, and gold was being won at Bruce Bay. One subsidised party reported the recovery of three ounces of gold in the Karangarua district. Mr J. A. Murdoch (Chairman of the County Mining Executive) stated at the meeting on Saturday that he considered the provisions of boots for the unemployed, to be obtained from the manufacturers, was an injustice to boot retailers. An opportunity should be given those in the retail trade to supply the boots of suitable quality and price, and thought the LTnemployrnent Board should empower local committees to so act in their respective districts. He moved that representations be made to the Minister that local boot dealers be given the opportunity to supply boots as needed in the out-districts. Under the Government scheme only centres where boots were manufactured on a large scale would derive any benefit, and small traders! in scattered districts would lose a considerable portion of yearly trade. Mr Keenan seconded the motion, which was carried. Of course, the Board may raise the primary question as to whether the benefit of these boots should go to boot vendors or unemployed wearers. At the monthly meeting of the Borough Council there were present: His Worship the Mayor (Mr. G. Perry) and Crs. D. P. Stuart, M. McGavin, G. Heinz, A. Thompson, A. C. Armstrong, T. W. Duff, A. R. Eleoek, and J King. An apology was received from Cr. E. Teichelmann. The Mayor expressed the Council’s appreciation of two ex-Councillors, Mr. D. J. Evans, (who did not seek re-election owing to ill-health), and Mr. E. W. Heenan, who was defeated at the election. The Council decided that letters of appreciation be sent to each, the wish being expressed that Cr. Evans’ health would improve. The following committees were elected: Finance: the Council as a whole; public works, Crs. Stuart. King. Heinz and Thompson; abattoir, Crs. Armstrong, Heinz and McGavin; reserves, Crs. Duff, King, Eleoek, McGavin and Thompson; library, Crs. Stuart, Teichelmann, Thompson, Armstrong and Duff. The abattoirs report was as follows: Stock slaughtered during April: 55 bullocks, 14 cows, 8 heifers, 231 sheep, 166 lambs, 20 pigs, 19 calves. Fees £66 2/-, as against £7O/10/- for April, 1932. The Finance Committee reported that receipts for April amounted to £459 19/3, and expenditure to £666/2/4. The District Fund Accounts totalling £558 were passed for payment. The Council decided on the second Friday in each month, the finance committee to sit at 7.30 p.m., and the Council at 8 p.m. The finance committee’s recommendations that Mrs. Coyle’s rental on a reserve lease be reduced, and that Miss Andrews be appointed to a full-time position on the staff were approved.

The Fire Board advised that, the Council’s contribution would bp £2BO for the year, payable quarterly, in advance, the first instalment being due on the Ist May. The Sanitary Inspector, Greymouth, forwarded a report of inspections made during April, 1933. The entry of the Gael to the River Haast last week reminded a local resident that he entered the Haast in the s.s. Waipara in 1886. Tn the intervening 47 years it is not recalled that any other boat entered the river. The Gael had to enter the Haast as the Okuru harbour was not workable. At a meeting of the Hokitika Chrysanthemum Society, the statement of accounts in respect to the recent show showed a profit of £l3/9/-. The produce stall showed a falling-off on previous years, also the doors, but the show was one of the best held, and the result was considered very satisfactory, considering the times and increase in prize money. Hearty congratulations were tendered two of the members (Messrs 11. Fitzgerald and Lincoln) on their success at Hokitika and Greymouth shows. Several suggestions were made for improving the schedule for the next show. A vote of thanks was accorded the secretary (Mr. A. W. Yarrall) and Mrs. Yarrall for their work in connection with the Show. The ingress of the sea behind Revell Street certainly calls for attention, lest the ultimate effect will cause loss

of valuable property. An engineering report ought to be obtained. At the Borough Council meeting Cr. Elcock was elected as Deputy-Mayor. Cr. J. King proposed Cr. E. Teiehelmann.% Cr. M. McGavin proposed Cr. Thompson, who headed the poll, but while thanking Cr. McGavin, he said he did not desire the office. He proposed Cr. Elcock, who said ho considered Cr. Teichelmann should have the position, having longer service. Cr. Elcock was elected, Cr. Heinz rescinding his nomination. The Borough Council received a notification from the Local Unemployment Committee that the previous representatives, Messrs Evans and Heenan were no longer members of the Council. . The Mayor said that, although ‘ these gentlemen were not now on the Council, they were still the representatives, and until they resigned the Council could not appoint other delegates. Cr. McGavin said that they did not necessarily have to resign. It was in the Council’s power to make the appointments at once. Cr. Duff: 41 Although they are no longer on the Council, the Council can re elect them to represent the borough.’’ The Mayor: “We only recommend them. The Board appoints them. M The letter was held over till next meeting, the idea being that the Town Clerk ascertain if both are willing to act for the borough.