HOKITIKA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 18 December 1940, Page 2

HOKITIKA NOTES

[Our Own Correspondent 1 HOKITIKA, December 17. Home Guard meetings win ne held on Monday evening at Wataroa at 6.45 and Hanhari and 8 p.m., Briga-dier-General M,e.drum giving addresses. I , Mr E. Partridge, M.A., formerly Rector of the Hokitika D.H. School, and lately Senior Southland Schools Inspector, has been appointed principal of Dunedin Training College. Gillespie’s Beach dredge return this week is 26ozs. 15dwts. of gold. Rev. Henry Arthur Childs, of Hokitika, has been appointed an honorary Child Welfare Officer. Mr W. X. K. Andrews has peen appointed caretaker of the swimming baths at a salary of £2 per week. In view of the services being rendered for seven days a week on restricted hours, and the tax reducing the wage to 36s net, a proposal will be put to the executive to increase the wag e to £2 ss. At the R.S.A. meeting last evening, Mr Whitford reported on visits to ex-servicemen in hospitals in Hokitika, there being only four at present. There was no canteen fund allocation for the district, as there are no ex-servicemen unemployed . here. It was reported the branch was 37th on the membership ladder with 206. 1 It was decided to make the usual visit to the soldier patients in the hospitals on Christmas Day and to i issue Christmas cheer. The Pres>, dent congratulated Mr Eastgate on, being appointed Group Commander of the Home Guard. The Borough Council met last evening; present: 'The Mayor (Mr G. A. Perry), Councillors' C. R. Elcock, T. W. Duff, C. Caliari, D. P. Stuart J. Fox. F. D. E. Freitas, G. Heinz. An aoplogy for absence was received from Cr. W. H. Stopforth. Mr D. Stevenson was appointed to make the annual inspection of public buildings. Mr John Walsh, Sexton, tendered his resignation on account of ill-health. He was granted one month’s leave on full pay from January 1. It was decided that the Council guarantee the cost of the erection of a caretaker’s cottage at the Baths, and suggest the work be proceeded with, immediately. The Bath Committee reported more season tickets had been already sold than for all of iast season. It was decided that greater attention be given to Cass Square by the whole outsides staff to put it in good condition for the holiday period; also that the Business Men’s Patriotic Committee be granted sole right to run sideshows on Cass Square. The whole Council was I appointed the controlling committee for emergency precautions. Owing to complaints it was decided to instruct the outside staff not to use coarse unscreened gravel Receipts were £479 15s 2d, expenditure £1,219 15s 3d. Accounts passed for payment amounted to £1,252 10s. Abattoirs report: Stock slaughtered for month of November was 19 cows, 34 heifers, 48 bullocks, 281 sheep, 9 lambs, 10 pigs, one calf; condemned nil. Fees amounting to £6l Os 6d were collected for the month against £65 14s for the same period last year. The N.Z. Refrigerating Coy. advised it delivered 80 sheep and two lambs last month. The Army Office, Greymouth. asked that the Council hand over German machine-guns which it received about 20 years ago, as it is desired to use these for training purposes. Corisent was given to transfer of lease 2303 in Reserve 533 to J'. J. Mclntosh, .as requested by A. R. Elcock, agent for W. H. Steel. The Public Works Dept, advised the proclamation of Reserve 445 as a street. Permission for F. Williamson and Co. to erect a suspension verandah at Renton and Cod’s premises, Hamilton St. whs granted. A grant of £lO was made to dependents and vic-

tims in the Kaye and Party coal mine accident. It was decided to grant, as opportunity offers, gravel for the road at the lower end of Sewell St. as desired by the Beautifying Association. Advice was received that the Highways Board will remain responsible for maintenance of the bitumen surface and shoulders ot the main highway in Hokitika, while maintenance of ' improvement of any portion of the .area, including .footpaths, etc., will be the responsibility of the Council without subsidy, it was decided to tar-seal when opportunity offers, the footpath in Tudor Std fronting Mrs M. Fitzgerald’s property. George Wright was granted twelve months’ license for wax works and side shows on private ground at a fee of £5 ss. It was decided to grant an application by J. S. Langford to lease the Sale Street lire bell site, part of a reserve, provided the bell and fire station remain, with right or access and of making alterations jand repairs.