HOKITIKA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 18 October 1935, Page 2

HOKITIKA NOTES

(Our Own Correspondent.) HOKITIKA. October 17. The Aero Club held their annual bald last evening at the Soldiers’ Hall which was tastefully decorated for the occasion. There was a large attendance who enjoyed themselves t° full. Music was played by the Rhythm and Victorian Dance Bands. A large piece of wreckage measuring about 17 feet' by 14 feet, was washed up on the beach near Hokitika river mouth during the night. Definitely part of a ship, it appears t° be from the stern. It consists of solid kauri Bx 3 planking, coloured green and slate, one colour having been painted over the other. It is thought it might be part of the Moa, which went ashore in the Inter Wanganui some time ago.

J deal conditions prevailed on Tuesday for the golf match on tne local links between the Greymouth and Hokitika Ladies' Clubs. The best carl for the day was that of Mrs J. Hannan, 85—-13 —72. Foursomes were played in the afternoon over fifteen holes, when the most interesting game was between Mrs Andrewes and Miss Adamson (Hokitika) and Mrs Cunningham and Mrs Hannan (Greymouth). This game ended all square on the 20th green. A on c club trophy match played yesterday was won by Mrs C’aliari, who played two above her handicap, 101 —22—79. A meeting of Maori owners ox Bruce Bay sections was held in the Courthouse here yesterday, when there was a large attendance. The Registrar (Mr Fordham) deputy for Judge Harvey ; piesided. Applications for several sections, involving over 12,000,000 feet of white pine; 1,700,000 feet of red pine; 1,000,0*00 feet of matai; as well as a quantity of t'otara, were made by Bruce Bay Timbers, Ltd., for whom Mi J. A. Murdoch appeared.

One application was adjourned. The remainder were approved by the owners. The price accepted was Is for white pine, and 9d for red pine per 100 feet. The following is the text of the resolution as applied to each section: That the timber be sold to Bruce Bay Timbers, Ltd. It’ was necessary in each case that at least two native owners should b e present, supported by not less than three proxies Jrom individual native owners. A quorum was established in each case before discussion began. The resolution was carried in regard to the following sections: Sec. 854—White pine 450,163 ft; red pine 705,524 ft; Sec. 885 — White pine 398,011 ft; red pine 500,228 ft; Sec.B93—White pine 1.567,330 ft; red pine 126,410 ft; Sec. 895—White pine 1.445,551 ft; red pine 301,362 ft; Sec. 900—White pine 728,870 ft; red pine 41,076 ft; matai 760,954 ft; to tara 191,242 ft. The following application was adjourned to Wellington, where the necessary quorum cau be obtained: Sec. 896—White pine 1,021,621 ft; red pine 28,408 ft; matai 209 857 ft; totara 191,242 ft. Resolutions previously carried in respect of the following sections were confirmed: See. 894—White pine 1,937.930 ft; red pine 202,871 ft; matai 00,379 fl'; totara 67,170 ft; Sec. 897—White pi te 3 356,970 ft; red pine 231,151 ft* matai 94.934 ft; totara 32,474 ft; See. 898— White pine 3,240,787 ft; matai 412,241 ft; totara 454,375 ft; Sec. 899—WhiN pine 3.001.346 ft; matai 241.533 ft; totara 7,271 ft; Secs. 2499 and 2500—White pine 886,834 ft. Two Maori owners of timber land al Bruce Bay. Messrs L. George and T. Tainui, opposed the sale of the timber to the timber company with .“which the others made a very big deal at Is and 9d per 100 feet. Thev left the meeting without voting. Westland public works including the construction of the road between Kumara Junction and Ara’hura (Flowcry Creek) , the extension of th e Ma n South road, and the local aerodromeshould engage a fair amount of labour in the ensuing months. At' th aerodrome a canal is being cut to give Fisherman’s Creek a different course to Mahinapua Creek. The depth of the /cutting for the new course of the creek will be over 20 feet at the intake. At present the spoil is being trucked out to constitute a wall round the lagoon, seaward, and on the river side of the finished aerodrome. Soji the trucks will be operated by petrol engines, and two shifts daily will be worked on t'he scheme, one from 4 a.m. io noon, and the second from noon t( 8 p.m. The wall will have considerable length, and will require stone facing. Truckers are also filling in the position of the old Fisherman’s Cm'k bed. while other men J.ij’e reducing Ihc level of the cleared field, lifting the sward, removing the underlay, arid then rebedd'jng t’he turf. There alio are men clearing, leveJ-ling or grading, there being plenty of room f»« • the workers at the respective tasks in hand. The work is under the direet ou of Mr Body, who was responsible for handling the improvement scheme at Wigrain aerodrome, Christchurch. There are now seventy men from Canterbury here for the work, and fifty local men. Fifty huts from Buller Gorge are in course of erection by a team of carpenters, being placed in three rows. lit is likely the camp wili be the clearing ground for outside •labour brought in to improve the southern landing grounds, and also for road works. Me n are to be sent to Wataroa and Waiho for t’he improvement of the landing grounds. Men are now at" Weheka and Okuru (Mussel Point) also, and a few men are to be sent by the Gael immediately for the landing ground at Upper Okuru (Nolan’s). No doubt' Mahitahi will receive attention also, as the locations are considered necessary apart from coastal flying for trans-Tasman flying in difficult weather. In a couple of months the drome will be enclosed by the wall, and will have a run off of as much as over 1.000 yards, thus affording full facility for the largest class of machines expected to land and take off here. Judging by the progress during the past fortnight, the work will proceed rapidly, and when the full complement' of 150 men are placed.