HOKITIKA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 12 September 1935, Page 2

HOKITIKA NOTES

('Our Own Correspondent.'' HOKITIKA, September 11. The district is still under more 01 less of a screen of smoke from scrub and bush fires, which appear along ail of the roads and in the heights. At evening the sight in some places is picturesque. The dry nature of tht growth and the presence of the strong wind assisted in increasing small outbreaks to generous proportions, but little damage to property has resulted. Sparks from a -nearby rubbish fire were blown on to Mr. T. Nolan’s house at Wataroa and the rear portion of the building was set alight but the outbreak was soon extinguished. At the height of the bush fires in the Tetaho district the homesteads of Messrs. W. Chinn, A. Chinn, A. Reid and F. Gunn were threatened by flames. It was only desperate efforts on the part of fire-fighters that prevented the residences from being destroyed. Some outbuildings were damaged. Parties were out all Monday night resisting the advance of the fires. The progress of the flames were arrested. thereby removing the danger to the homesteads. Although not extinguish ed, the outbreaks in the vicinity of habitations are under control. A large fire was burning in La Fontaine swam]> yesterday and parties of men are engaged in confining its progress and keeping it under control. At the Magistrate’s Court this morning before Messrs. M. H. Houston and A. E. Benjamin, Justices, the police charged William Patrick Roberts, alias Herbert Leah Paterson, aged 33 years that on August 24, at Hokitika, with intent to defraud, he did obtain from James King the sum of £6 9s 2d in cash and 10s lOd of goods by falsely representing that a cheque drawn on the Bank of New Zealand at Hokitika was a gond and valid order for the sum of £7. Sergt. King applied for a remand, stating the accused had only been arrested at Weheka last night by ('unstable Best, and they desired he be brought before the Magistrate at Greymouth. A remand to appear at Grey mouth on Saturday morning was grant A meeting of local bodies and organisations in the Hokitika district is being convened for next Monday night with the object of assisting in an increased sale of Health Stamps. Money raised in the Westland Hospital district will he immediately made available for the benefit of children in that district. The meeting on Mon day will be held in the Town Hall at 7.30 p.m.