HOKITIKA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 27 April 1937, Page 2

HOKITIKA NOTES

(Our Own Correspondent).

HOKITIKA, April 26.

The Hokitika sailed this morning at. 10.30 for Wellington, timber laden. The Gael sailed for Bruce Bay at 10.45 this morning, and is due back on Thursday, .then sailing for Wellington. The rail-car was not used this morn, ing, a steam engine with steam-heated carriages being utilised for the inward early monning train. The inquest ‘/on the late Albert Simms, the victim of the Fitzherbert Street fatality, will be resumed at the Magistrate’s Court, Hokitika, on Friday next, April 30lh, at 10.30 a.m. With a perfect day for Anzac Day, the parade moved off from 'the Drill Hall, headed by the Munit-pal Baud. Thcie was a very large assemblage of Ketui-ned Soldiers, Boy Scouts and Ter ritorial . The attendance o f ‘-he general public was not as large as in pie. vious years. The parade marched to the South African Monument in Weld Si'-reet. where Lieu'tenant F. McGtegor placed a wreath, and the Territorials .fired three volleys and the “Last Tost’ sounded’. The parade moved on to Cass Square and as embled round the Cenotaph, where the main ceremony look place. Wreaths were placed on 'the memorial and the hymn “O Yabant; Hearts,” was sung. Captain Diu«n. mond followed in prayer and then Fas. ter Cave gave a scripture reading. The hymn “Onward Christian Soldiers” was followed by an address- by Majo-r .1 Abel, M.D.‘, of Wellington. The rec»’s sional “God of Our Fathers’' was sung and then the Territorials fired three vollevs, being followed by the “Last Pos't,'” and “Reveille,” by Bugler Ross. The Benediction by Rev. M. H. Fe st followed, (the ceremony concluding by the returned men filing past, dropp.ng popp'es on the memorial. After the parade, the icturned sol. diers marched to the cemetery, whore a short service was held at the memorial plot tJlicre. Speaking' of the number who had not joined' up with the Businessmen’s Association, Mr W. 11. Stopforth, the chairman, stated he thought it. was only a ’ matter of time when eve-y tradespe'r. on in the town w;ould appiy for membership. They might yet make a canvass, but up to the; present it had not been necessary. Messrs F. C- Eade. of Christchurch, and L. G. Parry, of Hokitika, members of t/he Canterbury Mountaineering So. ciety, last week made a traverse of the region around Kea Pass, taking eight days for their venture. They travelled from here to Frew’s Creek and Kea Pass, and last Wednesday began an ascent of Mt. Button, which lies within a “v” made by the intersection of Harcourt and Vincent Creeks. The latter which falls in fierce preeipitious cascades to the Whitcombe River, ifed by snowfields in Kea Pass. Sur. rounding Mfi Button are Mts. Fredici, 7,013 feet; and Carl, fi.553 feet; bot.i having been climed in 1933-34. The route up Mt. Button extended over steep tussocky slopes to the 000 feet level, thence via a narrow serrated ridge of broken schi-fl to the snowcap on the eastern face. The weather was now changing, and large patches of mist obscured the view beyond th.rty yards. A westerly wind blew the snowout from the steps uphill, making progress difficult. The final 100 feet was accompli hed under light! snow, and a stav at the top was limited t 0 the building of a eairn. Camp was again reached just before nightfall, and snow- and 'wind breaks weie elected for the n'ght. On Thursday morning, the return to Frew Saddle’was hampered by six inches of snow, which made t'he ascent of a narrow col between VfScon: and Carl Creeks extend over a full day. By Friday morning 2ft. 6iii;. of now covei ed the Saddle, and still under constant snowing. Frew Junction was reached at 4.30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday were spent in returning So Koiterangi, and Hokitika was reached on Sunday evening.

Alajor Abel addressed a meeting nt the Tow-n Hall o n Saturday evening, in support of the formation of a Rei Cross Society lieu e. He was welcomcd by the' Alayor, Air G. A- Perry. After a very interesting address, quest ons asked‘by those present were answered- and dearly explained by Alajor Abel. I-.! was resolved that those present. Alessi” AlcCabe, AfcGrcgor, Halt, Agnew, Alillen. Whitford, Brawn, Pat erson Stuart, Dr. Wilson, the Alayor, and Alayore.es, consider the desirability of forming a branch of. the N.Z. Red Cross Society in Hokitika, and that the following be appointfcd a. sub. cwmm.ttee to otganise a branch of the aforementioned society: Dr. WiLon, Matron M. E. Anderson, Alessrs A. Agnew and C. Hart, with Air F. AlcUabe as provisional organiser. A hearty vote of tha.nks on tbe mot.on of Alt O’. Hart, seconded by the Alayor, was accorded Alajor Abel for his address Alajor Abel said Red Cross Societies existed in 63 countries. The Society was at present functioning -strongly in Spain and admiirstering a'd and help io .t'he injured and -needing on both sides of those engaged m warfare. On its committee were men of high position, doctors, Oiown Princes, barristers and solicitors, and leading’ figures in ma-ny countries. The headquarters of the Red Cross Society for the whole world was in Paris, con--Trolled by a Boa'id of Governments, compo ed of representatives from the 63 countries which recognised the Red Cross Society. At the time when the liasffi -records wtore compiled, a little over a year ago, -there were 32 million Red Cross memben-s. In N.Z. there were 23 districts and from each or those districts, which had' Red Cto--s Societies, two members, were elected as representatives on a Dominion. Executive Council, of which the -speaker was chairman. In New South Wales, :n Australia. £lB,OOO had been collected by children for Red Gross work, and three in. titUt ons for the- keeping or destitute children 'had been built and were in operation, while a fourth was in course of erection. A similar movn. merit was afoot in Canada. One branch, now being strongly utilised -was the rendering of first aid o n highways -.to persons involved' in motor accidents, etc. This branch wa- started by an American Red Cross Society about a vear ago. Dining Alajor Abel’s address the gale rocked the Town Hall building, and one of tlm w.ndows on the inland side of the building was shattered, the glass falling in pieces on the outside.