HOKITIKA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 4 October 1934, Page 2

HOKITIKA NOTES

(Our Own Correspondent). HOKITIKA, October 3. During the opossum trapping season just ended, a total of 11,107 skins (was stamped by the Customs Officer at Hokitika, the stamping fees amounting to £415 3s 3d. Tire ladies’ six-a-side hockey tournament and the men’s hockey match were postponed this jafternoon on account of Cass Square being taken up with the annual sports of the State School. The Greymouth men’s hockey team did not travel to Hokitika in view of the lack of a playing area. Last month ended with 78 men remaining on the No. 5 Unemployment Scheme, or 39 fewer than at the start of the year; 21 men on the 4A Scheme, 19 fewen than on January 1; 33 on the 4B compared with 48 on January 3 ; and ”3 men on track and prospecting, or 7 fewer than on January 1. There were 151 on goldmining relief, compared with 106 on January 1. During the month, regi'stnations here (with total figures for the last 1 nine months in parentheses) under the 4A and 4B relief “contracts” were: 4A applications 14 (70), granted 8 (56), decliner 2 (10), pending 4 (4), voucners issued 25 (275). 4B applications: Held over December, 1933, 9, applications received 9 (105), granted 5 (5 men), pending 3 (3), cancelled 1 (5). Large consignments cf timber from Westland and South Westland mills continue to be railed to Greymouth from here, some arriving hero by motor lorry and more by rail. An impromptu debate between junior members of St. Alary’s Debating Cub was held in the club rooms last evening. The subject’ was: “That sport should be allowed on a Sunday.’’ The result was fn favour of the negative side by a small margin. The teams were: Negative—Messrs J. Hanrahan, J. Fitzgerald, L. Keen and C. Haussmann; Affirmative —Messrs W. Schroeder. M. Dwan. T. Keown and M. Hanrahan. The judge was Mr P. Mulrennen. The Giael and Te Aroha are loaded with timber, and ready to sail for Wellington when the conditions permit.

A meeting of the native owners of • and at Bruce Bay, from which the Bruce Bay Timber Coy. wishes to obtain the timber, was held to-day under the presidency of the Native Land Court Registrar, Mr Fordham, when the Company mad# offers lor the red innd white pine, totara and matai on 'these reserves for sawmilling purposes. The areas, situated in the Bruce Bay and Karan gar a a sur I vey districts, are as follofws, together with the sums offered for the timber contract:—Bl 7, ’Section 891, Bruce Bay, £593 12s Id; Bl S, Section 892. Brr.ce Bay, £1531 15s 6d; Bl 5, Section 896. Bruce Bay, £739 19s; Bl 8, Section 897. Bruce Bay. £lB6B Ils 6d; B‘ 5, Section 898, Karangarua. £2383 13s Id; Bl 5, Section 899, Karangarua, £1689 Is 2(1; Bl 5. Section 809. Karangarua, £1146 5s 2d. Mr Upham appeared for the natives, end Mr Murdoch for the Company. Mr D. P. Stuart, representing the Company, was present. Tn regard to Sections 89“ and 898, four owners present, with proxies for the other cwners. agreed to accept the prices offered. Tn the ease of Section 891, three of the native owners were present, and tnvo prox’es wore received. One owner. Air L. George, remarking fh?J at the last meeting, the owners of this Section did not agree to accept the price ' offered, stated he sti.’.i felt that he could not accept the price offered, and would rathen see the timber stand than accept it. Air T. Tainui said they absolutely iefused to fall in with the price. It /was i.'O good for the others to come and dictate to them. If the Company ngreed to the owners’ price, they might do business. A motion to accept the price was defeated. It was stated that the Company was bearing the cost of the sitting of the Court.