HOKITIKA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 13 October 1936, Page 2

HOKITIKA NOTES

(Our Own Correspondent.) HOKITIKA, October 12. The Blackball combined Picnic Committee has been granted the use of Cass Square for tho'.r annual picnic, on February 6th, 1937. The funeral of the late Mr David C. Finch, of Arahura, took place on Sunday afternoon, and was attended by n large number of friends. The liev. Harper, of Kumara, conducted the services at All Saints’'Church, and the graveside on which were placed mauv floral tributes.

An accident happened on the Kokatahi road near Klein’s swamp, when a motor-ear, driven by Mr Victor Fleming ran off the road through the stecr‘n'>' gear failing to act. 'the car struck a telegraph pole, which was broken in two places, and the top of the pole crashed through (he top of the car near the d'river’s seat, the car finishing up in the drain, the front wheels being almost covered. The driver did not receive any serious injury, but the other occupant, Mr R. Baird, was cuf about the face by broken glass and, was knocked unconscious, but soon recovered. The recent flood reached a height on the Harbour Board gauge of 10ft. Bins, only some IGins. from the height of the big flood of February of 1935. The rainfall, however, prior to the flood was only about a couple of inches, being heavier inland. News of the death of Mr Richard Galbraith, on October 9th. at Palmerston North, will be received with regret by many friends in this district, where he was Commissioner of Crown Lands from 1919 to the end of 1921. The local Mining Executive finished up on Saturday. During its term, £25,881 has been paid out in subsidies also a goodly sum for equipment. The gold' won by prospectors was worth about half the amount paid out, while some men who went off the subsidy are still winning gold. Hon. H. T. Armstrong advised that it has been decided to place the control of the mining operations in the d'striet in the hands of the District Employment Officer, Grevmouth. He added: I wish to assure you that, any suggestions advanced for further 'improving the scheme will always receive earetui and sympathetic consideration. It is almost unnecessary for me to say that there has never, at any time, been a suggestion of inefficiency on the part of the Committee. It Is particularly pleasing to have received the Committee’s assurance to the effect that its advisory services of the past, which it can no longer render as Committee. will still be freely given as a County Council, should if be necessary for me to call upon their good offices. It is appreciated that your Committee devoted much valuable time towards furthering the interests of their fel-low-citizens less fortunately placed, and 1 cannot let. the occasion pass without placing on record my keen appreciation of the valuable assistance rendered. The following wore approved for renewal of subsidy; V. Rasmussen, Goldsborough; J. A. Stewart, Blue Spur; D. F. Thorpe, .Woodstock; M. P. Krakowsky, South Hokitika; J. Hannah and J. E.lliott, Kanieri; E. A. Dale and F. .A. Thorpe, WoodstoeK; F. M Singer, Hokitika; S. Eastgate, Blue Spuj; W. C. D’iek, Three Mile; T. Kennedy, Kuinara; J J. Thorpe, Woodstock; C. Rist, Waiho Gorge; L. G. Owen. Koiterangi; D. If. Cambridge, Waiho Gorge; L. T. Griffiths, Woodstock; C. Robertson. Woodstock; H. Stephens, Mananui; T. Williams, Hokitika; C. A. Jolley, Goldsborough; L. W. Temperley, Rimu. The amount of gold won for the past, two weeks is 32 ozs. 8 dwts. 4 grs. The number of men at present on the subsidy scheme is 82. Accounts passed for payment, totalled £lB 8s fid. The Secretary for Labour advised the Department approved of payment of special rates to J. J. Busher and T. B. Wilkinson, of

30s per week while doing satisfactory prospecting in the ’l'aipo area, also the payment of a subsidy at the. special rate of £2 10s per week to A. J. Dillon, while working this area with Busher and Wilkinson. Applications for subsidy were approved for S. Straight, Croblsborough; A. Lawson, with C. Mills, Kanieri Forks; J. Case, Kumara; and W. P. Boyd, special rate of £2 10s weekly. The rainfall last week was 3.04 inches, while there was 24 hours of sunshine recorded

\\ oodstoek Cricket Club ha s elected officers as follows; Patron, Mr E. Best; President, Mrs C. Keenan; Y’ice-Prc-sidents, Messrs A. Dale, J. Devaney, J. Taylor, E. J. YVells, J. J. Breeze' G. Webster, G. Walton, O. Head, Al. Nolan; Club Captain, A. Howat; Team Captan, A. Dale; Vice-Captain, L. . Wells; Joint Secretary-Treasurer, J. | Griffiths and A. Dale; Delegate to i Sub-Association, J. Howat. The subscription was fixed at 7s 6d. lit was decided to nominate a senior and a junior team in the competition. The recent flood prompted a member of the Borough Council, Air A. J. Thompson, to give notice of motion at the monthly meeting that the Council, reconsider the former proposal to create a floodbank protection along the front in Gibson Quay. Mr. IL T. Parry supported All'. 'Thompson, who said there will be a terrible howl one of these days, and we cannot delay the position much longer. The level of the river on Friday evening had been only eleven inches short of the record level. YVe have got to stop this water coming in. A hundred pounds spent now will save a thousand pounds later. A gate had been put in, he said to let flood waters out, but nothing had been done to prevent it coming in.

The Council had discussed the matter with the New Zealand Railway engineer, but no finality was reached, chieflv in view of the cost.

During Friday’s flood the north harbour wall collapsed for about one hundred feet, which dropped into the sea, hanging together, but sonic of the loose piles are coming ashore on the north beach this morning. The fishing launch, the Ford, owned by Mr. J. Cuttance, sank at its moorings just above the Orewa with which there was some trouble in the afternoon with the moorings. Otherwise the vessels hung 'mt safely through the flood. The flood in the Kokatahi valley was cf an extremely heavy, nature. Following the death at Westland Hospital of David Copperfield Finch, jf Arahura, as the outcome of injuries received at Kumara Junction on the eight of July 24, an inquest was openid at Westland Hospital by the Coroner, Mr. A. E. Benjamin. After the widened of James Yoeman Finch, a brother of deceased, was given for the purpcfse of identification, the hearing was adjourned.

Votaries of wrestling and boxing fans, will have the opportunity of witnessing contests at the Princess Theatre to-njorrow night. Among the competitors will be J. Harris (West Coast middle and heavyweight champion); J. Anderson (Hokitika, heavyweight); T. Hatton (welterweight); W. C. Chapman, P. C. Peters (light weight champion of West Coast), J. Williams (Blackball), Burn (Cobden), McLean, Johnson (Kumara). At the Borough Council’s monthly meeting the financial statement showed That receipts during September amounted to £3083, and expenditure to £lOl7. There was a credit of £766 in the district fund account. Accounts amounting to £292 were pissed lor payment. The Foreman (Mr F. W. Chesterman) reported that most of September was spent repairing damage on the pipe-line about a mile from the lake. A section of wooden pipes below Ward's road needed attention. A burs: pipe between Stribling’s and McKay’s Creek had been repaired and other bursts in Hampden Street and at the foot of Hau Hau hill. An application for consent to transfer of lease of municipal reserve No. 575 from G. G Wright to Bruce A. M. McKenzie was approved; also a new lease for G. and D. Davidson for a property. The Westland Hospital Board advised it had been necessary to increase the original estimate for the erection of the nurses’ new home from £7OOO to £9OOO. Crs. 11. L. Michel and E. L. Park were appointed to represent the Council .it the consecration service in connection with the opening of All Saints’ Church on November 1. A sum of £l9 10s was' received from the Butler Estate bequest in connection with the children's playground in (he Square. Cr. A. J. Thompson suggested the Council establish a rubbish dump at Shallow Rush, which would serve for many years. Cr. 11. L. Michel thought the rubbish wa? becoming a menace in this town. In one part near the present dump, rubbish was being placed almost on the roa.fi. Musi the Council resign itself to a situation where the people could dump rubbish when and where they I iked i It was pointed out that, the appointment of a contractor had been tried out, but without success. Cr. T. \V. Duff moved the matter be referred to. the Public Works Committee for a report and recommendation, which was carried. Stock slaughtered at the municipal abattoirs during September was as follows: Cows 22, heifers 32, bullocks 59, sheep 236, pigs 18, calves .11, condemned 2 cows and 1 pig- Fees for the month were £64 5s Gd. as against £67 10s Gd for the corresponding month last year. The N.Z. Refrigerating Co. delivered 122 sheep into Hokitika during September. At the children’s fancy dress ball held in conjunction with the annual Hospital Ball, awards were as follows: Bovs over 8, D. Barlthrop (negro) J. M. Muir (Chinaman) 2. N. Lang J. P. Hagar (drum major) -1: boys under 'B, J. Tomlinson (barrister) 1. A. Park (Red Indian) 2, R. R. Hall (page boy) IM. Boyd (golfer) 4. Costumes receiving special awards were .Eastein Boy. Soldiers, Penquin, Pea, Pirate. Empire Trade. Girls over 8. -Jean McIntyre and Margaret Anderson (doctor and nurse) 1. Shirlev Andrews (Lmpeior of Abyssinia) 2, Iris Henderson (Cossack) 3; girls under 8, Jocelyn Gooch (matches) 1, Wenly Chapman (sunshade) 2, Joyce Staines (buy British) 3, Margaret Burrows (chicken) 4, Shirley Ross (beach girl) 5. Costumes for which consolation prizes were Lampshare, mid-Vietorian. Little Dutch Girl, 80-Peep, Dolly Varden, Little Miss Muffitt, Miss Crinoline. The Department of Labour has advised the Borough Council that the Employment Department will make available from the employment fund, a subsidy at the rate of 12 per cent, of the total cost of the contract tor the Hokitika Water Supply Scheme, conditional upon 80 per cent, ot the contractor’s labour being engaged from the register of eligible unemployed, and the borough or the contractor to have the right of selection of the men. The Borough Council on Friday received a copv of the report of a deputation from the South Island Travel Association which waited on the Government, pointing out the necessity of financial assistance from local bodies. The Council, while sympathetic to the proposal decided to defer consideration of a grant until a later meeting. A request that the Borough Council. when forming any new by-laws should insert a clause that all new buildings, or those reconstructed, within the business area, should have 9 inch brick walls erected between the buildings, was received by the Council from the Hokitika Fire Board last evening. The Town Clerk (Mr 11. G. Coles) said it would mean making special building by-laws, appointing and paving a building inspector. The De-puty-Mayor (Cr. 11. L. Michel) said the time had come when willy-nilly building should be combatted. The matter was deferred.