HOKITIKA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 7 August 1937, Page 2

HOKITIKA NOTES

[Our Own Correspondent] HOKITIKA, August 6. A sou-westerly gale prevailed today, following a stormy night, and there were heavy showers at intervals during the day. Rev. D. S. Thorpe, of Akaroa, has accepted the position of Vicar of All Saints’ Anglican Church, Hokitika. Cars driven by Miss Williams, of Woodstock School, and Mr. A. Parkhill, Hokitika, collided yesterday, afternoon at the intersection of Stafford and Bealey Streets, the vehicles being damaged on the mudguards and bumper bars, but the occupants were not hurt. A fine of £3B 8s 6d (with costs), which included restitution which is to be made, was imposed fo-day by Mr. R. Ferner; S.M., on Clifford Boyd Ogilvie, who pleaded guilty to a charge laid by the District Employment Officer, Thomas McDonnell, that at Hokitika on March 15th. last, he made, with a view to obtaining a benefit under the Employment Promotion Act, 1937, a false declaration as to the income of his wife. Mr. M. B. James appeared for the defendant. The Employment Officer said defendant registered as unemployed in September, 1936. For eight weeks ending on March 15, 1937, defendant made a declaration of his and his wife’s earnings for that period as having amounted to £4. Two previous declarations were made stating earnings were nil. Information had been received by the Department that defendant’s wife was employed at a restaurant and inquiries showed she was receiving the award wage of £1 15s per week. Defendant should have declared his wife's income to have been over that period £l4. Defendant had stated his wife’s earnings from September 1936, amounted to £47/5/0, of whicn over £l6 had been required for paying a house keeper, rent, etc. The total sum bbtained by defendant through the false declaration was £33/8/6. Counsel for the defence said the facts were as stated by the Emploj ment Officer. The restaurant at which de. fendant’s wife was employed was owned by her mother and actually she obtained 10/- in cash each week Defendant, his wife and two children lived at the back of the restaurant and had their meals on the premises The major part of his wife’s earnings went to cover this. Defendant had not made the declaration in a deliberate attempt to defraud, but was rather ignorant of what was required in making the declaration. The Magistrate said defendant had obtained money raised through taxation for the assistance of persons out of employment. This class of offence had caused Courts all over the Dominion considerable concern during the past few months, and proceedings should be taken to empower Magistrates to inflict a term of imprisonment as punishment. It was quite evident ordinary restitution was no check, and in addition there must also be punishment. At the Magistrate’s Court, Allan James Gardiner was fined 10/- with costs for driving a motor truck at. Kanieri on May 25 without a license Laurence Gooch obtained judgment for £69 11s 6d against Henry Reid in a civil claim. At the Acclimatisation Society s monthly meeting last evening, it was resolved to cancel the lease of the present occupant of the Society’s property at South Spit and to advertise it as for lease by tender to close with secretary on Wednesday. The secretary reported that 400,000 quinnat ova from Hakataramea, 200,000 brown ova from the North Canterbury Society, and 150.000 brown ova trapped locally, had been received, and the quinnat were ready for liberation. Twenty-six permits to trap opossums and 26 licenses had been issued, but sufficient returns were not yet to hand to indicate the nature of the season. Accounts amounting to £5/12/11 were passed for payment The Internal Affairs Department advised that it had been decided to disapprve of an extension of the opossum season. It was decided to inform North Canterbury Society that several pairs of grey ducks which it had requested would be too difficult to obtain. ■ At the Kokatahi Women’s Institute, over which Mrs F. Cron presided, the competitions resulted:' Bran biscuits, Mrs. P. Crough 1, Mrs. F. Amberger 2 Mrs. F. Cron 3. Best knitted scarf: Mrs J. W. Kelly 1, Mrs. J. Monk 2, Miss R. Wieblitz 3. A dainty afternoon tea was served by the hostesses, Mesdames Meharry and Wieblitz. Arrangements were made for a social afternoon to be given to Mrs. Russell,

who is shortly leaving the district. A demonstration on rug-making was given by Mrs. Wieblitz, which was very interesting. It was decided to ask the Westland Hospital Board to alter the visiting hours at the Hospital and to ask if a country afternoon could be given at the surgery. At the Warden’s Court the following applications were granted: Andrew Henry Hedwig, Ross, water race, 4 heads, term 21 years, also special sea beach claim of 2 acres, term 21 years, Blk. I, Totara b.D.; Mannie Te Rangi, extended sea beach claim, 2 roods, 24 perches. Blk. X. Bruce Bay S.D. for 8 years; Trustees for Methodist Church, Ross, lease in mining township, Sec. 988, Ross, term 21 years; David Bishop Jellie, 0.p.1. of 80 acres, Blk. XI, Waimea; James Murphy, surrender absolutely business site, license; Michael Kelly, renewal of license for an extended sea beach claim, No. 5473, term 10 1 years; N.Z. Prospecting and Mining Ltd., 20 0.p.15., 100 acs. each, Blks. I and V, Kanieri; Thomas Roberts, renewal extended sea beach claim, 10 years. The following applications "were adjourned: N.Z. Prospecting 1 and Mining, Ltd., 70 0.p.15., 100 acs. each, Blk. II and 111, Kanieri S.D.; Alexander McDonald, residence site, Blk. X, Waimea; Kanieri Gold Dredging, Ltd., water race, 30 heads, terms 21 years. Blks. I, 11, and VI, Kanieri, and certificate of abandonment of W.R. No. 4879 (objection by D. P. Stuart). Arahura Gold Dredging Ltd., applied for water race, 20 heads, term of 21 years, Blks. 11l and IV, = Kanieri S.D., and Blk. XIV, Waimea S.D.; objection by J. C. Malfroy and !. Co., Ltd. Mr. M. B. James appear- - ed for both parties, and asked leave to withdraw the objection. Leave . was granted and the application was !. recommended to the Minister for consent. A meeting of farmers was held '• at the Town Hall in order to con- ’ sider the proposal for the amalgamaL tion of Westland Dairy Factories, and the taking over of the Hokitika Dairy Factory, belonging to the Westland Co-op. Store and Dairy Co-op. Com- < pany. There were about one hun- : 1 dred dairy farmers in attendance, . from Arahura, Waitaha, Kokatahi, I Ross and Koiterangi. There was al

lengthy discussion. On a vote being taken on the question of purchasing for £15,000 the property of tee Westland Cool Store and Dairy Co., fiftythree were in favour and forty-four against, while some of those present did not vote.