HOKITIKA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 18 October 1939, Page 2

HOKITIKA NOTES

[Our Own Correspondent], HOKITIKA, October 17. Whitebait have been coming up more plentifully during the past few days. To-day, thirteen cases (500 lbs.) from Karangarua River were brought up by aeroplane and railed to Christchurch. The express waited a few minutes while lhe fish was conveyed from the aerodrome. A return of 21S ozs. 14 dwts. of gold was obtained by Rimu Flat dredge for the past week 34 ozs. 7 dwt. by Okarito dredge and 32 oz. 6 dwt. by Gillespie’s Beach dredge. At Arahura saleyards on Monday, 88 head of cattle wore offered. For Gibb Eros., Messrs W. Jeffries and Co. sold 35 head as follows: —Six bullocks at £lB 7" 6d, 3 at £l7 2s 6d, 2 at £l4 2s 6d, 8 2-year-old heifers nt £l3 17s fid, 2 at £l3 2s fid, 4 at £'l2 17s fid. 2 at £ll 17s 6d (average for 16 2-year-old heifers £l3), 1 heifer at £ll 17s 6d. For Gibb Bios., 38 fat owes at 345, 3 fat wethers 38s 6d Our next entry will be 35 head from Gibb Bros, and 20 head from Perry and Co. Messrs M. Houston and Co. sold 54 head as follows—For R. Wilson. One fat cow at £ll 2s fid; for Williams Bros. (Weheka), 3 bullocks at £2l 17s fid, 2 at £2O 2s 6d, 3 at £22 12s fid, 3 at £2O 7s fid, 3 at £l9 2s 6d 3 at £lB 17s 6d. 2 at £l9 12s fid, 3 at £l7 12s 6d. 4 at £lB 17s 6d, 2 at, £2O 7s fid. 2 at £l9 2s fid, 1 at £2l 7s 6d (average £l9 18s); four heifers at £l6 7s 6d, 1 at £lB 7s 6d, 3 at £l5, 3 at £l4 7s 6d, 4 at £l4 2s 6d, 3 at £l4 7s 6d, 2 at £l4 2s 6d, 2 at £l3 12s 6d (average £l4 17s 6d); for clients, 2 heifer springers at £3 7s 6d, 6 dairy heifers at £2 17s 6d, 3 calves at 30s, 1 springer at £5, 1 empty cow at £2 17s fid.

The Turner Cup garden and lawn beaut’fying competition is about to be held the judges allocating 75 points for outside and inside the fence. The following gardens and montages have been nominated by friends:—H Kortegast, Mrs Blank. J. L. Turner, Mr. J. Havill, Mr. Fredrlc, Mr. J N. Robinson, Mr. P. Lloyd, Mrs. W. Wilson, Mr. Breeze (Sewell Street), Mr. T. W. Duff, Mr. F. Carter (Park Street), Mr. Atkinson, Mr. Stewart (Hail Street), Mrs. A. Dowell, Mr. H. Stapleton, Mr. Fraser. Mr. A. Groufsky, Miss Knight, Mr. Steele (Hall Street) Mr. J’. Brown. Mr. Sherman. Mr. Holley, Mr. Hoffmann, Mr. E. Richards. Miss Archer (Bealey Street), Mr. Millen, Mr. Hay (Hall Street), Mrs. O’Donald, Mi. D. Thomas, Mr. Todd, Mr. J. Preston, Mr. Murray, Mr. Purcell, Mr. Leslie, Mr. L. Eager, Mr. Yarrall, Mr. T. Keown. Mr. Manzoni, Miss F. Stapleton Mr. Smith (Hall St.), Mr. J. Stapleton, Miss Keller, Mr. F. Stapleton, Mrs. D. Davidson, Dr. Corban. Mr. Parkhill, Mr. Gillespie, Mr. Eggling.

At the Borough Council meeting last evening, when dealing with letters from the Hokitika Beautifying Association, the Mayor remarked that this body was again approaching the Council in the usual theme, asking for the spending of other people’s money. Cr. Turner raised a protest claiming the members of the Beautifying Association were an asset to the town and were saving the Council a great deal of money by the work they were personally doing in keeping their frontages clean,- without expense to the Council, while others were spending a considerable amount in clearing and beautifying places that previously were an eyesore. He instanced the work done on the river front, where grass seed was shortly fo be sown at the expense of the association members themselves. Cr. Freitas stated that while appreciating the work of the Beautifying Association in the streel frontages, he strongly objected to their endeavour to show Councillors how they should carry on the business of the Council.

Relatives and friends gathered at

• the residence of Mr. and Mrs. S. J. iPreston (Rolleston Street, Hokitika), lon Saturday afternoon, on the silver /jubilee of their wedding. The funci tion was in the form of a surprise : party, and was arranged by friends to do honour to Mr. and Mrs. Preston who have been citizens of Hokitika over a very long period. A cake was cut by Mrs. Preston. The Rev. M. Feist, on behalf of those assembled, offered congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Preston on attaining the twenty-fifth anniversary of their wedding. Miss Potts presented Mrs. Preston with a bouquet from Mrs. i Preston’s sisters, and also a bouquet 'from the friends present. Mrs. G. A. Perry (Mayoress) presented Mr PresI ton with a buttonhole.

{ At the Borough Council meeting last evening, Mr. A. H. Lawn waited on the Council with regard to the | Swimming Baths, suggesting the | formation of a committee of a memI her of the Council, representatives I from each of the local schools, and .the citizens. He outlined a plan for | the management of the baths. The Mayor, Mr. Perry, thanked Mr, Lawn for his suggestions, and for his assistance in the past. He moved that a committee be set up consisting of Cr-’. , Elcock, Turner and Freitas, to go into the suggestions, and make the necessary arrangements, together with Mi-. Lawn as adviser. An inspection of the baths is to be made, and a constitution for their conduct is to he drawn up. This was agreed , to. i The Borough Council’s ordinary ' meeting was held last evening. Present: The Mayor (Mr G. A. Perry), i Crs. J. Fox. F. D. E. Freitas, W. H Stopforth, J. L. Turner C. Caliari, i D. P. Stuart, and A. R. Elcock. ; Apologies for absence were received I from Crs. G. Heinz and H. T. Parry. I The abattoirs report was as follows. I Stock slaughtered for September: 17 j cows, 28 heifers, 69 bullocks, 279 , sheep, 16 pigs, 1 calf. Condemned: i Nil. Fees collected for the month I amounted to £65 18s, as compared | with £62 8s 6d for the same month ‘last year. The N.Z. Refrigerating I Co., Ltd., advised that the following i quantities of meat were delivered in j Hokitika during September, 118 sheep and two pigs. Receipts were report'ed as £5,081 19s lOd, and expenditure '£Bsl 19s lid. Accounts amounting :to £1,505 16s 9d were passed for pay- ' ment. The Sanitary Insptjplor reported 51 inspections for August, (with four requisitions served, and 49 ; inspections for September with six requisitions served. Regarding collections of refuse from fruit shops, it , was decided a charge be made on ('shopkeepers concerned. The Fire i Brigade wrote that it had made an inspection of the water service and I fire plug indicators were required in 1 upper Park Street and upper Weld I Street, and in another part of Weld 'Street. Many indicators required I repainting. During reticulation of (the Borough, some of the plugs were I taken out and others removed for a [distance, and the Fire Brigade’s plan j of the plugs did not agree with the ; present location of some of the plugs, i It was suggested that Mr. Cutbush. ■ who knew where the plugs were, be ■ detailed to check the plugs, so that the Fire Brigade map could be amended. —It was decided that this matter should receive attention. The Beautifying Association wrote that it intended to supply plants for plots around the Pioneer Memorial, and suggesting that the two seats be painted a cherry red. It was pointed out that spoil "Irom a dra’n on the west side of Sewell Street, between the Jubilee Tennis Club and the Manse corner, had been left in mounds, and suggested that these be straightened out to allow the surface water escape, and to provide I a better surface for the grass cutter. |- —It was agreed that the seats be painted, and that th? question of the ■ spoil be referred to the Works foreman. The Association submitted a I list of residents who were prepared j to level and maintain the frontages of their properties, if the Council

would supply soil and sand, suggesting that a horse lorry be engaged for about one month to provide the material.—This suggestion was agreed to, but no action was taken with regard to a request for appointment of a caretaker of reserves. The Automolx’e Association, Westland, wrote asking whether the Council was prepared to make any contribution to the cost of lhe proposed turnouts on the Hokitika railway and traffic bridge, and, if so, what contribution would the Council be prepared to make.—lt was agreed that no action be taken. The third instalment of £45 4s Bd,/iue to the Westland Centennial Fund, was passed for payment. Mr. A. R. Elcock, solicitor, wrote for consent of the Council a plan of portion of Weld Street, between Revell Street and the sea beach, which it was proposed to diminish in width to 42.53 links under lhe Municipal Corporations’ Act, 1933.—Consent was granted. Mr. H. L. Jones wrote stating that he had purchased Section 1674/75, at the top of Sale Street adjoining the gravel pit, and asked for a dozen loads of pit gravel to form the road to lhe section, so that he coul_d get the timber and material on the section. —The request was granted. Permits to instal septic tanks, subject to Health Department Regulations, were granted to Messrs T. Stopforth, Weld Street, and W. H. Stopforth, Bealey Street, and Miss Eva Berendt, Davie Street. An application from two residents of Hoffman Street for drainage, was received. It was decided to reply that the Hoffman Street drain was available, but drainage from the properties into this must be carried out at their own expense. A request from Mr. J. H. Wilson that fresh gravel should be put on the footptah in Gibson’s Quay, was referred to the Works Committee. An application from Miss E. Knight, asking for attention to the footpath in front of her residence in Sale Street, was granted. A complaint from Mr. A. Stevenson, Hampden Street, regarding the open drain in Brittan Street between Hampden and Park Streets,' was referred to the Works Committee. The Borough Council last evening received from the Minister of Internal Affairs three copies of the Emergency Procaution scheme for the control, in any locality, of all essential services which had been suspended by a natural disaster or .by enemy action. The Automobile Association wrote that it was

prepared to co-operate in providing transport should any occasion of emergency arise. The County Council wrote that it had drawn up an Emergency Precautions Scheme, covering Westland, which had been approved by the Minister of Internal Affairs. The cooperation of the Borough Council was assured tl/j matter could be put before the people and preparations made for any emergency. The County Council would then invite the co-operation of various homes referred to in the proposals, such as the Women’s Institute, ned Cross, Hospital authority and medical practitioners.—lt was decided that emergency precautions should be discussed at a conference with the County Council,