HOKITIKA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 15 June 1933, Page 2

HOKITIKA NOTES

(Own Correspondent.) HOKITIKA, June 14. South Westland matters formed the bulk of the business at last night’s committee meeting of the County Council. The Marine Department advised that it was awaiting the completed plans of the Company (South Westland Estates, Ltd.), which is to undertake the improvement of Okarito harbour to enable the export of timber, the Department not being responsible for finalising their plans. The company advised that the delay occurring was not its fault, and it was doing <lll possible to push the project. It I was stated that the Council was doing its utmost to reach finality, fearing further erosion, and desiring protective work to proceed. It was decided that Cron's Road, Harihari district, receive attention. Cr J. Donovan. Okarito, wrote that the Mines Depart iiH'nt and the Dredging Coy. each would contribute £5O toward repairing Five .Mile Creek bridge, and submitting a proposal for the Council to contribute It was decided t u make no contribution. Mrs E Patrick and Messrs JDonovan and J. Green forwarded contributions towards work re Okarito Cemetery erosion. It was decided in response to « request that unemployed labour bo engaged to repair Okarito School footpath appr'oach. It was deei led to have the County cottage at Harihari painted in the spring. Considering the purchase of a boat built nt Three Mile Ferry, Okarito, from Mr T. Casey, was deferred Okuru Advisory Committee Chairman wrote re local urgent work, offering on behalf of Nolan Bros, to contribute £l5 towards Okuru road works; also drawing attention to Turnbull river erosion which was Ibi-Ititening the road and settlers' holdings. It was decided that the contribution would be acceptable when a vote is available. A supply of willow slips is to be provided for TurnInf] river protection, and tin district engineer to be interviewed regarding a grant for protection work. The Overseer was r<■quested to attend to the drainage of Ferguson road with available labour. It was decided the Council had not the funds to re-condition the road surface Inter-Wanganui Dairy Uov. wi'i’i' given permission to remove boulders from gravel. A report . was asked for re. work needed on Gillespie’s track, as to which Mr M. Sullivan wrote. Mr AV. J. Jeffries (Chairman) stated ;i t the Hospital Board meeting that the last Board had entered into its past vear of office facing a big handicap in the form of a debit of £4OO During the year there had been 478 patients as against 451 for the previous vear. 205 uperations compared with 212. while the percontage of occupied beds showed an increase of 6.2. The financial position could bu regarded as satisfactory. The. only disquieting feature, would be that of fees. Staff salaries had been reduced, and if it were all possible, after getting their finances adjusted, and the Department offering no objection, he thought, that the Board should endeavour to restore the cuts in the salaries of the lower paid membcr s of the staff, who were deserving of the increase. The Gael sails on Friday from Wellington for Hokitika. Greymouth lady golfers will tomorrow play a local club team at Ma hinapua links, the draw being as follows: Mrs Winchester v Miss Griffen; All’s Cooke v Mrs Hannan; Mrs Cox v. Miss Tennent; Mrs Baker v Mr s P. J. McCarthy; Miss Lewis v. Mrs Wilkinson; Miss E Cooke v. Miss L. Reyno (Is; Miss Adamson v Miss G. McKay; Mrs Callari v. Miss Kelly; Mrs Wilson v. Airs A. Smith; Mrs Dorreel) v. Aliss J Hambleton; Mrs Alacfarlane v. Mrs Johnston; Airs Moore v. Airs Fogarty; Mrs Murdoch v. Alt’s Meldrum; Aliss Betty Yarrall v. Al iss Jean Hambleton; Miss Billie Yarrall v. Miss Bratt; Airs Tomlinson v Aliss Sheudy; Airs Radford v. Mrs Hogg; Miss Botts v Airs W. Thomas. In the afternoon foursomes over 9 holes will be played, the order being as follows:—Airs Winchester ami Aliss Grifton v. Mrs Cooke and Mi’s Hannan; Mrs Cox and Miss Tennent v. Aliss Lewis and Airs Wilkinson; Miss Adamson and Miss Ale-Ka-y v. Mis Caliari and Aliss Kelly; Airs C. Ross and Mr s A. Smith v. Mrs Cagney and Miss Hambleton: Mrs Gethrey and Mrs Johnston v. Mrs Ir-

win and Mi's Fogarty; Mi’s Murdoch and Mrs Aleldrum v. Aliss Betty Yarrall and Miss J. Hambleton; Aliss Billie Yarrall ami Miss 'Pratt v. Mrs Tom'inson and. Miss Sheedy; Mrs Radford and Mrs Hogg v. Aliss A. Meli.tosh and Mrs Thomas. Al the County Council moding last evening accounts for the balance of th*, month of May, totalling £1306 His 3d were passed G. P. Rea, Totara; Christina Passmore, Kumara; and Henham and McKenzie, Matainui, were recommendi’d to be granted slaughterhouse licenses. It was decided to appro\(. an application by D. Jellie, Arahura, on behalf, of Kapiton Mining Syndicate, for permission to take water race under Laniplough track, applicants 1o construct substantial culvert of silver pine and maintain it. Overseer Miller, reported regarding Petersen road works and drainage- of Ferguson road. The Chairman stated Mr J. J. Mclntosh had been interviewed re* a gravej supply from his frontage This had been offered on payment of £5O. The town members found tin* amount was outside their jurisdiction. It was resolved to refer the matter to the Council. In tho meantime the contractor has been requested to carry out the contract in terms of his tender, Air H. J. Reynolds, Waitaha, wrote re Hokitika Gorge footbridge contract,, stating he was uot advised of the 1 full specification and offering to adjust the matter. It was resolved to call fresh tenders for (ho work. At the R.S.A. Executive meeting it w's decided to make inquiries regard jug the formation of a sub-branch at

Kumara. It was decided to hold the annual re-union on Friday, July 28. Tho Secretary reported a net revenue of £24 14s Id from a Paddy’s market. Air AV G. Nolan, Matainui, wrote regard ing an ex-soldior in indigent circumstances. who was recently in hospital, and inquiring regarding if Canteen Funds could be made, available for relief in this case. The matter was deferred for further information. An ex soldier at AVoodstock asked for a grant of clothing etc., from the relief depot. Thu matter was deferred for inquiry The National War Funds Council has forwarded a remittance of £25 to the Westland Patriotic Association. HOKITIKA, June 13. At the Hospital Board meeting last evening there were present; Alessrs AV. Jeffries (chairman), G. Davidson, AV. A. Jamieson, R. Aleharry. W. IL Evenden, AL AlcGitvin, AL Keenan. H. Wells. T. AV. Duff, and the Rev. H. J. W Knights. The chairman congratulated Messrs Duff and Knights on their success at the poll and welcomed them back to the Board. He also extended a. welcome to Air. McGavin who had taken Mr. Heenan’s place. Tie said that the result of the. polling had shown that the Board was carrying tho trust and confidence of the ratepayers. The next year might be a very hard one for the hospital, in common with other hospitals. There would be a, good deal for all to do. The question of the chairman’s honorarium was raised and Air. Jet fries said that he was not desirous of accepting it in view of the difficulty of the times. Air. G. Davidson said that Air. Jeffries was to be congratulated on his generous offer in helping to keep down the costs. He realised that a great deal of time and thought was involved in the discharge of the chairman’s office. The Board’s committees were reelected as at last year. The Matron (Aliss AL E. Anderson), reported that on May 16 there were 54 patients in the hospital, the lowest at any time during the month being 46. Operations totalled 23, and X-rays 10. The Medical Superintendent, reported that the patients in hospital on May 1 were 26 males, 22 females, total 48; admitted during May 25, 9, 34; treated 51, 31, 82; discharged cured 22 9, 31; discharged relieved 1,4, 5; in hospital at May 31, 28, 18, 46. The finance committee reported that receipts during the period amounted to £4 17 5/9 and expenditure to balance of £l9O/15/5. Accounts £925/15/10. There was a debit amounting to £261 18/3 passed for payment. The Nurses and Al id wives Registration Board advised the Westland Hospital was regarded as a B grade training school. The chairman said that early in the year they were told that owing to the low occupancy of beds in- the institution, the Hospital had been graded L-s a B training school. The A grade required 45. Tho number of patients had now gradually increased until during the past five months the average had reached 46.65. With the Figures for June included, the average would reach 48 or 49. It was a serious position, for, if the members of the staff were sent away for training, as they would be. it would mean additional cost to the Boa rd.

It was decitied to advise the Nurses Board of tho position whereas the Hospital Board was in the position to qualify as an A. grade training school, and Iseeking Jan. amendment of the present conditions. Mr. Davidson supported the motion, stressing the financial side of the question saying that. Ihe Board had been requested to economise wherever possible, but this would be impossible if the Board had to incur expenses in training members of its staff beyond Hokitika. 'The Board decided to enter into a reciprocal agreement with the Buller, AVallace and North Canterbury Boards, along the same lines as existing between this body and other Boards. AD - . T. Nolan, Matainui. wrote Asking for particulars regarding the sum of £450 appearing on the Boajil's estimates for South AVestland. The secretary said that he had replied supplying the information. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. E. W. Heenan, who was replaced at the recent poll, the chairman referring highly to his services as a member. The Board also thanked the Municipal Band for its services in the way of band concerts throughout the year. The Rev. Mr. Knights said that the members were indebted to the (-hairman. as a very large proport ion of the year’s good results was due to the tremendous amount of time, service and energy given by him. H<* hoped Air. Jeffries would take the members’ hearty congratulations on the position in which the Board now found itself.