HOKITIKA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 20 January 1940, Page 2

HOKITIKA NOTES

fOur Own Correspondent].

HOKITIKA, January 19

Hon. R. Semple (Minister for Public Works), and party of six, including the P.W.D. Engineer-in-Chiyf, Mr. J. Woods, travelled by Air Travel (N.Z.) Ltd’s, southern air service to-day in continuation of his tour of inspection in South Westland. The party left Weheka and flew to Jackson Bay and Waiho. On the Nel-son-bound plane this morning, the passengers included Miss C. Jones (Hokitika to Nelson); Messrs A. Caldwell and G. Aitken, and Miss E. Bird (Westport to Wellington). The following will represent. Hokitika Bowling Club here to-morrow against Runanga, in a game for the Reynolds Badges: —Sherman, Stuart, Hoffman, Breeze, McCormick, Roberts, Watson, King, Henham, Anderson, Conning, McLean, C. Schroder. J. Schroder Lakin, Spiers, Mills, Redder, Fraser, Stevenson. The Karangarua suspension river bridge now in course of erection on the South road, is well on the way, and will be a fine structure. The road is being carried on from both ends of the structure, which will prove an object of interest as of the finest of its sort ’ in the Southern Hemisphere. The bridge, when completed, will carry 2,000 tons of steal, while the concrete flooring will add 450 tons to its loading. This bridge, a link in the new main road south of Weheka, has been delayed somewhat waiting on essential steel girders. These are now coming to hand and a quantity of material was delivered at the site yesterday. But for the deltfy the bridge would have been open for traffic at Easter. It will probably be open in May. On Tuesday afternoon, in bright sunny weather, a picnic was held on the Hokitika beach for Mental Hospital patients and staff. About 250 were present. Games, races, a-nd swimming were the main features of the day. Sack, three-legged and egg and spoon races provided much amusement for the onlookers. The following were the results of events for members of the staff —100 yards for nurses: J'. Forster 1, M. Maycock 2. 100 yards for attendants: O. F. J. Fowler 1, R. J. Adams 2. 100 yards for other staffs: G. Raine 1, E. Armstrong 2. Three-legged mixed: G. Spence and partner 1, S. Diedrich and partner 2. Men’s sack race: R. J. Adams 1, G. Spence 2. The Saltwater dredge, operating in the Lagoon on the south side of the Little Wanganui river, South Westland, is ready to begin operations It ’s in. charge of Mr. Mygind, who designed the machine for working the bottom of the lagoon, and treating beach leads. The bridge over Paringa river now in progress of erection will be 1,400 feet in length. It will be a pile bridge, concrete piles 40 ft. in length being driven and concrete abutments being made to carry the superstructure in 80 feet spans. At present the second line of piles is being driven. The Hokitika representative cricket team to play Greymouth to-mor-row, at Greymouth, is as follows:— Peake, Baird, Johnston. Keenan, Howat, Towers, Growcott, Dowell, Henderson, Parker, Pierson, Cooper, Spence. Hon. R. Semple and party, who are spending the week-end in South Westland at the Fox Glacier Hostel, Weheka, have had a very interesting week in the southern district. Today the Minister travelled by plane from Weheka to Jackson Bay and Okuru, returning this evening. Yesterday the Ministerial party examined the Karangarua river suspension bridge site, and further on the new road revealed 'several ffine bridges. At Bruce Bay the Flower Pot landing was inspected, and proposals under consideration - for • the extension of accommodation for shipping was explained by his engineers

to the Minister. At the Public Works camps an excellent luncheon was provided, and then a journey was made to the Paringa, where a 1,400 feet bridge is starting, the piledriving being in hand. Furthei south bush clearing by a bull-dozer was seen, and a new road in course of formation. Lake Paringa was visited, and the party then returned to the Fox Glacier Hostel. Earlier in the tour, Kakapotahi river protection work, done by a bull-dozer, was examined, and erosion at Evans’ Creek was noted. At Harihari, the settlers discussed with Mr. Sempfe the flood damage at the Little Wanganui River, which has changed its course into La Fontaine Creek, a large part of Petersen road being under water, denying access to settlers and sawmillers down the valley. Mi". Semple stated nothing would be done by him until someone in authority was put in charge, and that the cost pf upkeep was arranged to be met. At the Little Wanganui bridge on the main road, the position was again inspected and an outline of suggested proposals was made, which are to be' put in material form later. At Weheka. opportunity was taken by the Member for Westland, with the County representatives, to bring before Hon. R. Semple some of the matters discussed on the trip. The County Council, seven members be , ing present, agreed to take over t.ie maintenance of the protection work at Harihari when repairs are made. The Minister is to consult, his colleagues as to the subsidy to be granted for the work of restoration, the Council is to levy the necessary rate to pay for its quota; and the existing loan of the River Board, is to ce paid off, about £l4O forthwith, and the balance as soon as possible. The subsidy suggested for the protection restoration by Mr. O’Brien was £4 to £l, as at Arahura. The Council agreed to prepare plans and specifications and arrange for dedication of Cron’s Road. A vote will be placed on the estimates this year tor £l,lOO, the Council and the ratepayers each to contribute £2OO, additional. An adjustment proposal regarding the County contribution for Ferguson Road is to be looked into. The Minister' was thanked for the consideration given, and the attention paid to the various .matteis brought under his notice during the day.