HOKITIKA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 16 June 1933, Page 2

HOKITIKA NOTES

(Own Correspondent.) HOKITIKA. June 15. I The wharf is under repair at present i In the vicinity of the Harbour Board sheds, decayed portions of piling having been removed and the structure strengthened. Efforts are also being made to improve the berthage opposite the sheds. Locally, as in other places, a movement is projected to form branches of the Mountaineering and Tramping Club of Canterbury, which has now a numerous and active membership. The objects include not only that of trampii g on the ranges, but the formation of search parties in cases of need. It is also proposed to have improvements effected to tracks, huts and bivouacs on the mountain routes. General regret is felt at the news of the death of Mrs Mary Adamson, of Harihari. wife of Mr John Adamson. The funeral takes place on Saturday, at 2 p m. at Harihari. At the usual meeting of Koiterangi Women’s Institute a very interesting demonstration of making puff pastry wa s given by Mrs J. .1. Michel. The competition “The Best Apple Pie.’’ was won by Mrs 11. Dimmick. Mrs S.| Havill being second. Mrs W. Jamie-' son and Miss P. Sparkes gained firstl and second place respectively for the 1 best woollen scarf. A novelty “Lighting the Candle” was won by Mrs E. Smith. A dainty supper served, by the hostesses, Mesdamcs Harcourt and W. Jamieson and Misses P and F. Sparkes brought the meeting to a close. For the senior Rugby match at Ross on Saturday between Boss and Excelsior teams, a special train is being run from Hokitika, leaving at .125 and leaving Ross at 5.-15 p.m. on the return run. Kokatahi ladies’ hockey team defeated Hokitika B by 3 to nil yesterday in the Hokitika Sub-Union competition. Misses Cron, Sherriff and Michel were the scorers. Rover B team defaulted to Hokitika A. Miss V. Sutherland, of the Presbyterian Indian Mission in the Punjab, last evening delivered an interesting address, illustrating by slides, on the work of the Mission in the Kharoi district where Miss Sutherland is stationThe Old Girls’ Basketball ('lull held« a very successful dance last evening at Ali Saints’ Hall, there being a large attendance. The work done in the County by unemployed labour during the past mon’Ji included the clearing of part of Redman’s road; filling the lorry for repairs to portions of Waitaha Settlement road; casual labour clo-arcl a huge wind blown three from Totara i mad; constructed a plunked crossing at the river overflow on Kakapotahi bridge approach; repaired boggy portions on the lower end of Happy Valley track. No. I lorry and the Austin grader commenced grading Wataroa roa Is and six miles of road were graded at the end of the month; also repairs t<> portions of Wataroa Flat road, including some gravel filling over the concrete pipes in Whale ('reek; opening twelve chains of drain on I Kokatahi road; repairing motor worn holes on the secondary highways, cleaning 25 chains of Lang road drain; (■'earing, cleaning drains and watertables on Lake Kanioii road; construe tiig at LS inch diameter pipe culvert . replacing a defective culvert on Whitcombe Valley road; tilling gravel for repairs to Stations, Upper Municipal and Hokitika Flat roads; clearing' drains on Cropp road; assisting with' fencing at golf links; filling a hole and im'tailing a short section of South Hokitika to Mananui road: clearing Rjnlapti beach road and a portion of roa I on the eastern bank nf Mahianapua ('reck; also removing a large wind blown tree on Milltown road. Casual labour repaired the road leading to ford crossing of Kokatahi River to conm L-t with Koiterangi Road. The South ‘Westland Estates Coy., of Auckland, has written as follows regarding Okarito harbour improvement, to the County Chairman. Mr W. J. Jeffries: —“1 have to acknowledge receipt of your night letter of the 30th ultimo as follows: —“Okarito erosion again becoming acute. Marine/Department states delay due to absence of your proposal and plan. Please expedite and advise as to position.’' While regretting very much to hear that erosion at Okarito has again become acute I wish to place on record the fact that this Company is in no way to blame for the extreme delay which has taken place in regard to the gazetting of the Order-in-Council. by which the port would la* handed over to this Company The position is that the Company, some lime ago. submitted, plans and specifications to what was proposed to be done at Okarito. After holding these fur the best part of two months, the, Mariip. Department informed us that they would require modification in certain respects. Wo immediately agreed to fall in with these modifications and carry out the work in any manner whi<h I In* Government suggested. Again after a long delay. Wr wore informed that a registered engineer would have to draw up new plans which I hey would examine, ami. if approved, pass. Naturally a registered engineer is not going to sign plans without making a full investigation so that his own name may be guarded. It is most unfair for the Marine Department to say that absence of plans has held the matter up- Had they told Us this three months ago, the plans would hav e been prepared then. However, our en giii< ,, r is at work on these pans now a, ,1 I understand that everything should be finalised within the next week nr two. I may say that even at this late stage the question has been raise.l a s to how the Company proposts to deal with the fact that the tide rims in nt Okarito for 5 hours in comparison with an outflow of 7 hours. What Oris has to do with the bi.il.l’rng of a port al Okarito I do not.

know, but apparently the Department wishes to ascertain that this point has been considered. You may rest assured that we are doing everything possible to push the matter ahead, but in view of the difficulties which have arisen iu the past thq Company defin itely will not incur anp’ further expen diture until all the Alans are passed and the harbour defiuwely in the com pany.” /