HOKITIKA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 26 September 1941, Page 2

HOKITIKA NOTES

(Our Own Correspondent) HOKITIKA, September 25. Chaplain Captain J. A. McKay formerly of St. Mary’s Church, Hokitika, and well-known in local aviation circles, who is now attached tc the New Zealand Forces in the Middle East, is spending a , short leave in Hokitika. He will returr overland to-morrow morning. Saturday’s football innovation at Cass Square, will be a display of the Rugby League code by Westland Greymouth and Runanga players The curtain-raiser at 1.30 p.m. will be a match between the Runanga and Marist (Greymouth), fourth grade teams, reputed both to be extremely fast. There will follow at 2.30 o’clock, a representative match between Westland players and the Grey district junior representative team. As the game is making progress among local exponents, this match should be an excellent one. Following appeals by their employers, two local territorials will nof proceed to Burnham Camp: Captain P. H. Blank and Corporal B. E, Andrews. The position of two others has not been decided. Private; J. S. Diedrichs and R. R. Thorn. A motor collision occurred at the intersection of Sale and Stafford Streets, last evening. A car driver by Mr McLaughlin, in which somt passengers were travelline into Hokitika, and one driven bv Mr F. Johnstone of Hokitika, was travelling down Sale Street, with three ladies aboard. Both cars turned over, Mi McLaughlin’s being extensively dam- | aged, while the other suffered onlj : minor damage. All of the occupants escaped injury. Following heavv rain last evening the Hokitika River was in flood this morning. The flood scoured the bar and the port will be workable againWhitebait fishing was interrupted. Many of the whitebait trenches were levelled, and fishermen will be busy for a few days in rebuilding their groins. Whitebait fishermen report that the river is teeming with trout, one who has fished here for forty years, Stating he had never before seen trout in such numbers. Many maintain that the large number of trout indicates that the whitebait season will be a bumper one, whitebait being- considered a staple food of trout. The concluding knock-out basketball competition results are:—Koiterangi A 7. beat Old Girls 2: School A 10, beat School B 2: Convent Secondary A 3, beat St. Mary’s 2; Convent Secondary B, a bye. Second round:— Convent Secondary A 7. beat Convent Secondary B 1; School A 9. beat Koiterangi A 2. Final:—School A 3, beat Convent Secondary A 1. In the annual competition for the McCormack Cup, Koiterangi were the winners with Old Girls runners-up. Mr Preston occupied the chair at a meeting of the Beautifying Society. Messrs Green and Guthrie, delegates to the Business Men’s Association, submitted a report on proposals to keep the Square clean and tidy, stating it had been agreed to approach householders for donations, £1 eacn, for keeping, roadways in good order. It was agreed to support the Business Men’s Association effort to have a contractor engaged to kee D the Square in order. It was resolved to protest to the Borough Council against a proposal to narrow the road leading to the beach from Weld Street. It was decided to write thanking Mr Rowe for his offer to keep the riverside plot in order, and to Mr McGregor for gift of a tyre for trees.

Mr A. R. Elcock (Deputy-Mayor) presided at the Patriotic Committee’s meeting Jabt evening, also present being Mesdames G. Perry, T. Stuart, Messrs P R. Whitford, W. Stopforth, J. Bain. E. W. Heenan and G. W. Thompson. It was decided to support a remit 'from Ross Committee that Patriotic funds be raised by taxation, instead of by voluntary means. Messrs M. H. Houston, W. H. Stopforth and E. W. Heenan were asked to report on running Sunday pictures to raise funds and empowered to take action if the "scheme was successful. The Women’s War Auxiliary undertook to arrange socials to entertain wives, parents and relatives of soldiers. The Waste Materials Committee forwarded a cheque for £llO for scrap metals forwarded to headquarters. The amount represented about two per cent, of the total for the Dominion. The chairman said the response to the knitting was very gratfivina throughout the district, and 79 cases containing 646 par-

I cels had been sent overseas during the year. An appeal is to be made for two-ounce tobacco tins (round type) for sending soap overseas, tins to be left at the County Chambers. The amount collected during the year amounted to £536, and £252 5s lid was expended on parcels. Arrangements were concluded for the Rugby League matches at Hokitika on Saturday, the gate receipts of which, after deducting travelling expenses and advertising, will be handed to the Patriotic Fund. Official farewells to soldiers: The chairman said these were a cause of concern to the Committee, but it was hard to know what to do. Messrs Whitford and Bain said the R.S.A. discussed the matter, but failed to come to a decision. It was resolved that the chairman with Messrs W. H. Stopforth and J. S. Bain discuss the matter with the Mayor, it being the opinion that it was a matter for the Civic authorities rather than the committee. Mrs Stuart was empowered to arrange for some extra ladies to serve on the committee. It was resolved to make a donation of £5 to each returning soldier. Mr G. W. Thompson (Secretary), tendered his resignation, stating it would not be very long before men of his class were being called up, and he would have quite a lot of his own business to settle up. He felt he would have to give up the position. The chairman paid a hign trbiute to Mr Thompson, who had been secretary, and committee all in one.. No one would know the great amount of' work he had done. The committee placed on record its appreciation oi his work. Mr Heenan said he would like the committee also to express ap- | preciation of Mrs Thompson, who had I helped her husband. The chairman; asked Mr Thompson to convey to his good ladv their best thanks.