HOKITIKA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 20 November 1940, Page 2

HOKITIKA NOTES

[Our Own Correspondent]

HOKITIKA, November 19. Westerly weather to-day followed rain last night, and the afternoon was rather wintry.

Gillespie’s Beach dredge return this week was 25 ozs. from 16,400 yards for 135 hours.

For the second time in about a week, a fire in the north wall of the harbour protection works was discovered yesterday near the oil dump the wall itself being ablaze until buckets of water were thrown on it. The previous fire wa’s discovered about 4 o’clock in the morning near the signal station, and had a good hold, but was soon got under control, though about 20 feet of the works was charred. The cause of these fires is unknown.

The R.S.A. headquarters, in reply to a protest from the local branch against any ex-servicemen being in the Territorial ballots, advised that the question of ex-servicemen under 45 years being called up in the ballot for Territorial training was carefully discussed by the Dominion Executive on October 22, which resolved: “That it was expected that there would be a number of single ex-servicemen in the ballot; that the men so drawn are not for service overseas, and it is understood that each case, of those accepted for service, is to be dealt with in a way to enable each one to give the country the full benefits of his knowledge and experience; also that it is believed that many of those drawn in the ballot would resent any action that might be taken to deprive them of making their best contribution to the national defence and there is always the right of appeal if the man concerned so desires.” At the R.S'.A. monthly meeting it was decided to give every support in forming the Home Guard. It was decided to hold a euchre tourney this month in aid of patriotic funds. Accounts amounting to £l4 13s Id were passed for payment. It was reported Hokitika branch was 40th. in membership at the end of September with 159 members, and had 206 members on October 31. It was decided to support efforts to have. a R.S.A. representative on the Board proposed in the Small Farms’ Amendment Bill. At Otira last evening, a unit of tne Home Guard was formed as follows:—Messrs W. A. Banks, E. T. Baxter, C. H. Benfell A. G. Bloom, E. T. Burling, H. M. Cox, E. W. Crumpton, H. F. S. Hammond, V. G. Holland, F. L. J. Smeaton, J. Steel, A. L. Stubbs, G. S. Whiting, R. C. Whiting, P. J. Whitiskie, L. C. Fox, James Gordon, J. D. Marquet, A. S. Osborne, G. A. Miller, T. R. McLay R, N. Jeffcott, B. F. Keating, John Kelly, R. P. M. Levorson, T. G. Dewis, A. J. Dowlnig and Chas. Emmerson (all of Otira), A. E. Griffin, F. E. banning (Kelly’s Creek), J’. Evans, H. A. McNabb, A. M. Jackson (Jacksons), F. W. Powell (Wainihinihi;, W. H. Neame (Kumara). Messrs J. A. Murdoch and D. J. Evans, of Hokitika addressed the meeting, which was'attended by forty men, and the following were (appointed to the Committee of Control:—Messrs G. Miller (Chairman), J'effcot, Stubbs (Railway Services), J. Evans (Public Works Department), J. D. Marquet, McLay and H. Benfell (R.S'.A.), A. S, Cunningham (Farmers), Osborne and Lewis (Public Service), Hammond (Education) and Hollander (secretary). Mr. Murdoch said Otira was a key position and needed to be well guarded in the event of hostilities. At the monthly meeting of the Borough Council there were present: His Worship the Mayor (Mr G. A. Perry), Crs. G. Heinz, C. CaHari, F. D. E. Freitas and J. Fox. Apologies for absence were received from Crs. W. H. Stopforth, A. R. Elcock, L. W Duff, D. P. Stuart and H. T. Parry.. Mr F. W. Chesterman, Borough Fore-

man wrote tendering his resignation, and asked to be released on December 31. Members eulogised the woi'K of Air diestcrmaii, and accepted his resignation with regret. A month's leave ot ai.icnce on full pay was granted, dating from the end uf Decemoer. Miss G. .Appleton wrote tendering tier resignation as shorthand writer and typiste, and asked to be released on December 31. The resignation was accepted, and applications for the position of shorthand typiste were considered, and the appointment cf Miss Vivian Heenan was made. The financial statement showed: Receipts £266 19s Id, expenditure H4bo 3-9 s 1'2(1. > amounting to £1219 15s 3d were passed for payment. Tne abattoirs report slated: Stock slaughtered ton the' month of October amounted to 19 cows, 46 heifers, t>4 bullocks, -± Jarnos, 15 pigs, 291 sheep, 3 calves; jcondemnecH: one sheep. Fees collected for period amounted to x 66 Ils 6d, as compared with £73 18s lor me same period last year. Th e matter of evicting a person squatting on a. reserve recently leased, was referred to the Borough solicitor to take action. Fees for the registration of dogs was fixed at 2s 6d tor cattle dogs, and 10s for other dogs. It was resolved to appoint a committee to take over the control of the Centennial Memorial Baths: the committee to consist of members of the Borough Council, one representative from each of the Surf Club, the Swimming Club (Mr M. Houston, Junr.i, Dislrict High School and St. Mary’s School. The Council’s representatives appointed wer e Crs. W. H. Stopforth and F. D. E. Freitas (to bo chairman); also Messrs C. H. Lawn and E. W. Heenan. Four members to be a quorum. Mr John. Walsh, sexton, cemetery, wrote asking that the electric light be installed in the sexton’s residence. —Deferred pending reporL Mr J. M. Butland, Brittan Street, advised he had cleaned the footpath along the frontage of his property in Brittan Street, and asked the Council to gravel the frontage to raise the path up to the level on either side.—Referred to Works Committee. Messrs Irvine and Stevenson (St. Georjp, Ltd.), Dunedin, asked the Council to re-consider the charge made for extra water supply on the grounds that lhe water is not used for more than 30 days out of the year, and further. that they have a bore on the premises which could be used with very little inconvenience.—Alternative meter to be installed at own expense. Westland Master Butchers’ Union of Employers, nominated Mr F. J. Andrews, butcher’ of Hokitika, for appointment to the Abattoir Committee in an advisory capacity. —Approved. The Secretary, Hokitika Public Library, reported that increases in cost of books and newspapers, and other factors, were making it impossible for the Committee to continue providing services as in the past; that the subscribers were suffering drastic reduction in the proportion of books available, and it was desired that the reduction in the services should be spread over both the subscription and free section of the Library, and tlie Library Committee desired to know, in regard to the Council’s subsidy, what amount must be spent on the provision of a free reading room, and what proportion of salaries and lighting it would be reasonable to include in that amount.—lt was decided to ask the Committee to make recommendations to the Council. Mrs Catherine Shaw applied for consent to subdivision of Section 1165, Block 51, Hampden Street, Hokitika. The Hand will be subdivided into two parts, one part containing 31 perches with a frontage of one chain, and the other part containing four perches, at the back of the section, will be sold to an adjoining owner.—Consent granted. Mr J. C. Chapman, Livingstone Street, asked that the drain across Livingstone Street from his frontage, which has been approved, be proceded, with.—Referred to Works Committee. Hokitika Swim-

ming Club forwarded copy of Club’s balance sheet for the seasons 19381939 and 1939-1940, and stating that the amount of outstanding accounts is £l4 7s Bd.—lt was decided that the Council pay accounts. Hokitika Patriotic Committee advised that a special effort was being made this month to build up funds for the local hoys, and that it would be appreciated if the letter was brought under the notice of the staff—Referred. to staff. The Secretary, N.Z. Federation of Local Bodies Employees asked ■whether the Council, was agreeable to a 10 per cent, increase on all rates under the South Island Local Bodies (Urban Section) Labourers Award. —No action taken.