HOKITIKA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 11 August 1937, Page 2

HOKITIKA NOTES

fOur Own Correspondent] HOKITIKA, August 10. The inquest into the death of Mr. James Martha, Jnr„ of Kumara, will be resumed at the Courthouse, Hokitika, on Friday next at 2 p.m. Mr. R. R. King, left yesterday morning for Otaki, to join the New Zealand team in training for the first test against the Springboks. Sir Herbert Layard Dowbiggin, of London, a former Inspector General of Police in Ceylon, is at present visiting Hokitika. Mrs. C. D. Hart, of Hampden Street, has received word of the death of her father, Mr. H. E. Burch, at Torquay,. Devon, England, on July 15, at the age of 77. A serious accident happened yesterday at Gillespie’s Beach, as the result of which Edward Hayes, 42 years of age, was injured. During blasting operations, a flying piece of rock struck him on the head, causing a depressed rupture of the skull. Hie injured man was attended by Dr. Cotter and was then brought, up from Weheka by lorry, arriving last night. An operation was soon after performed and this morning the condition of the patient was reported to be very good. West Coast rugby representative half-back, Mr. Malcolm Davidson, will be unable to play football any further this season, as the result of the injury he sustained in the West Coast-Buller match at Greymouth on Saturday, which was a fracture of the small bone of the left arm, above the wrist.

The death occurred at the Westland Hospital, yesterday, of Mrs. Ann Clark, widow of John Clark, of Brunner. Deceased, who was a native of Saddleworth, England, aged 84 years, was an old resident of Brun- 1 n.-r and Minerva. Her husband predeceased her about 28 years ago. A meeting of ladies was held yesterday afternoon, Mrs. Geo. Perry | presiding, when arrangements were, made for tne carrying out of the annual benelit ball for Westland Hospital. Committees were appointed to assure another success for this annual benefit. At a meeting of householders held at Mananui last night, it was resolved with one dissentent, to approve of the school being closed, and the pupils conveyed to Hokitika. Westland Rugby Sub-Union met last evening. West Coast Rugby Union advised 24 seats were available for Springbok match. It was resolved that seats be allocated to the members of the Union, three to the Referees’ Association, and one to each senior club. It was resolved to forward request from Arahura to endeavour to have a Maori curtainraiser, Coast v. Canterbury, before the Springbok match at Greymouth. It was resolved to ask the Borough Council to have the trees cut down on Cass Square to dry the ground. The sum of one guinea was voted towards the expenses of the basketball team to Auckland. Westland representatives of primary schools were granted permission play Greymouth primary on Cass Square on Saturday at 1.30 a.m., and Hokitika District High School to play Greymouth Technical on Cass Square at 1.30 p.m. It was decided that the Junior competition be finalised on Saturday with the game, Arahura v. Kokatahi, at Hokitika, at 1.30 p.m. (D. Breeze). At. Woodstock Women’s Institute ( monthly meeting, Mrs. Kelly presided over a full attendance. Two competitions took place, Mrs. J. Keenan and Mrs. D. Wells being the winners. I A competition in articles made from| a yard of material resulted: Mrs. H. Surgenor 1, Mrs. C. Bell 2, Miss P. Wells 3. The judges were Misses Williams and Pedder. Next competition is to be an article costing a shilling. The hostesses were Mesdames Griffiths and W. Wells. The Institute’s birthday was celebrated in Woodstock Hall, with a large attend-

ance. Before cutting the cake, Mrs. J. Kelly (president), called on Mrs. Lewis, who had been president for two years, to accept a seagrass stool, made by the members, as a mark of appreciation of her work for the Institute since it had been formed. Mrs. Lewis suitably responded. Mrs. Kelly also thanked Mr. Les Ogilvie for taking charge of the floor, Messrs Cook and Ackers for music, and all members who helped to make the dance a success. A Monte Carlo was won by Miss Norah Wells and partner, and a Lucky Spot by Miss Morris and partner. The monthly meeting of the executive of - the Hokitika-Westland R.S.A was held last evening. Present' Messrs W. E. Brown (president), F McGregor, G. A. King, P. R. Whitford, M. Miller, C. Hart, R. Paterson (secretary), Dr. Childs, W. Cropp, F Ashley, G. Gilchrist, and T. Stuart. An apology for absence was received from Mr T. Lynch. Dr. Childs reported on the soldier patients in the Westland Hospital. Messrs Brown and Hart were appointed visitors for the month. The members stood in silence in a vote of sympathy to the relatives of the late member, Mr Jac) Ross. Letters of sympathy are also to be forwarded to Messrs Laughton. Hart, and Taylor, in the loss of relatives. Four new members wore proposed and elected. The secretary reported that the membership now stands at 245. The balance sheet of the R.S.A. Ball was submitted and approved. The secretary was congratulated on the success of the function The Public Works Department forwarded a statement of accounts regarding the concreting and gravelling of the soldiers’ memorial plot in the Hokitika Cemetery. The suggested visit to the camps at Weheka was deferred in the hope of making arrangements to include a visit, to Bruce Bay. Accounts amounting to £l3 19s 2d were passed for payment. A discussion took place, on the proposed lib rary in connection with the Association. A committee comprising Messrs Brown, Miller, and Dr. Childs wa set up to control the supply of books, and, Mr J. Hardy was appointed librarian. The members are to be circularised regarding the conditions of membership and the books available for selection.

Hokitika Women’s Institute celebrated its seventh birthday with a large attendance, including visitors from Ross, Rimu-Woodstock, Arahura Valley and Kumara Institutes. Mrs Paterson (president) extended all a cordial welcome, and the members all joined in the Institute song, after which the programme commenced with a pianoforte duet, delightfully rendered by Mrs Jordan and Miss Daly. Then followed a scene from Madame Tussaud’s Waxworks, a very novel and amusing item. A song by Miss U. Groufsky was much enjoyed. The forming of an Institute burlesque was nother unusual item, and caused much merriment. Mrs H. Davidson delighted the audience with a humorous recitation. A telegram competition was held and the winner was Mrs Ashley. Mrs Harrison sang two numbers, one of which was a series of clever limericks about Institute members. Another popular item was a croon song rendered by Mrs Robinson. The serving of supper and cutting of the birthday cake by Mrs A. Peebles (Federation Secretary) followed by a short speech of thanks to the visitors by Mrs Paterson, brought a very successful evening to a close. Miss Daly officiated at the piano.