HOKITIKA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 18 March 1942, Page 2

HOKITIKA NOTES

(Our Own Correspondent) HOKITIKA, March 17. Mr W. A. Smith, County Commissioner for the West Coast Scout District. has received advice that the Governor-General, Dominion Chief Scout, has approved of the award to Scoutmaster Seymour King, of Hokitika of the Association’s Certificate of Merit. For the past ten years Mr King has been Scoutmaster at Hokitika and has maintained his troop with little outside assistance, at a period when most other troops on the Coast had disbanded. Mr King is to be congratulated on being selected for this award. Mr F. J. Perham, Conservator of Forests, visited G>?eymouth at thfe week-end to attend the special conference with the object of facilitating the turn-round of shipping on the West Coast.

Borough workmen have removed a huge fir tree from the grounds near the entrance to the l Hokitika Cemetery. It was over 105 feet in height, and wa's a menace to monuments in the cemetery. The Borough Council has given instructions for removal of all' Ibrees from the main entrance and also any others that constitutite h danger to graves. St. Patrick’s Day in Hokitika wa's favoured with beautiful sunshine. ,At. St. Mary’s School the annual sports were held and a large number were present.

No shipping movements were possible at Hokitika from Saturday until this morning, due to the heavy sea'. The Gael which left on Friday was forced to return to Greymouth for shelter.

Last week Hokitika residents deposted £428 16s land for the eighteenth week in succession exceeded the quota of £212 for National Savings.

Two offenders were brought before the Court on a charge of drunkenness and were fined 5s each.

The judging for the Turner Cup, under the direction of the Hokitika Beautifying Society, wias completed last week, and the judges have made the following awards for the summer season: Mr Gillman, Sewell St., 1; Mr Neilson, S'ewell St., 2; Mr Fredric, Sewell St. 3; Mr Yarrall, Stafford St., 4; Miss Archer and Mr A. Groufsky, equal 5; Mrs E. Breeze, Sewell St., 7; Mr P. Lloyd, Sewell St., and Mr Stewart, Sewell St., equal 8; Mr H. Stapleton, Sale St., 9. The presentation of the cup will be made at a special meeting of the association on Monday next. The ceremony will be open to the public, and will take place in the County Chambers. This year’s winner, Mr Gillman, has affected great improvements to his frontage and inside garden, and the award was well earned.

A shop day in. Hokitika conducted by the All Saints’ Guild, realised £5l Is. Competition winners were:— Hamper, Dr Simpson; mystery parcel, Mrs Hunter; smock, K. Belcher; embroidered bag, Mrs Tinnetti; trinket box, Mrs Cole; fruit cake, Miss M. Adamson; iced cake, Mrs Belcher; frock, Mr Ford; goods, Mrs R. Davis, and Mrs H. Hall. The Home Guard new receive payment for training, those who put in Saturday and Sunday parades receiving 7s per day. To obtain payment at least six hours’ drill must be undertaken on the Saturday and Sunday, these parades with the weekly night parade making a total of 14 hours. The Guard at the week-end accomplished a good deal of training. A large number were employed on making barb wire entanglements, while others worked at the aerodrome. Arahura Women’s Institute meeting was presided over by Mrs Cunningham. Mrs Finch read the aspirations. The motto was “Love, Laugh and be Happy—Pass it On!’’ and the roll call “My Secret Ambition’’ was well responded to. Competition winners were: Mop, Mrs Muir 1, Mrs Martin 2; bloom, Mrs Finch 1, Mrs Muir 2. The president entertained the members with a reading on the early pioneers, while Mrs Duncan exhibited crochet work which, was greatly admired. At the monthly meeting of the Borough Council there were present:— The Mayor (Mr G. A. Perry), Crs E. W. Heenan, W. H. Stopforth, A. R. Elcock, T. W. Duff, C. Caliari | and S. G. Havill. Apologies were received from Crs G. Heinz (on holidays), D. P. Stuart (in hospital) and J. Fox (absent in Christchurch). The treasurer’s statement showed receipts £1228 16s 4d, expediture £l4OB 2s 2d. Accounts amounting to £7lO Os Id were passed for payment. It

Was agietu iiuu > cvxiipij wun request of the Public Trustee for remission of half rates on a' town property, and claimed under section 69 of the Rating Act, 1925, in respect of part section 799-8000. Mr J. Cutbush of the Council staff was granted permission to supervise the laying down of new water mains in Ross, at the request of Ross Borough Council. Mr Cutbush has had the experience of laying down mains in Hokitika and the council was pleased to be able to lend his services. Messrs G. A. Adamson and E. W. Heenan, joint secretaries, applied for the use of Cass Square on Saturday, March 28, for the purpose of holding a monster gala day.—Granted. Mr L. Jackson was granted extraordinary water supply. In reply to a request as to ownerhip of section in Revell St., Mr F. McGregor waited on the Council and the Mayor gave the instruction that the Council deemed Mr McGregor as the legal owner. Greymouth E.P.S. Committee requested delegates to be present at a conference in Greymouth. The Mayor said hn fnlknrl tho nMittpr nvpr with

Mr Chapman and it was agreed that the sending of delegates to the meeting would not solve the difficulties. The Town Clerk was instructed to go further into the matter, but at tho present it mas deemed not to warrant sending delegates, and if such action were necessary the Mayor was empowered to arrange for representation. The Council passed the Library allocation of £265 for the year. Mr D. Stevenson, building overseer, reported on the Regent Theatre. Princess Theatre and the Soldiers’ Hall, and the licenses were issued. It was resolved to obtain a report from the building overseer on the condition of the old Freemasons’ building in Revell Street, and the Mayor was authorised to take immediate action. Westland County Council notified receipT of the council’s advice of its unwillingness to pay towards upkeep of Hokitika aerodrome The Fire Brigade was granted permission to dig slit trenches at each fire station. The overdraft limit was fixed at £3500. Abattoir report for the month disclosed fees as £97. 17s 3d. Stock slaughtered at the abattoirs during February amounted to 32 cows, 31 heifers, 53 bullocks, 241 sheep, 181 lambs, 20 pigs and one half. Condemned: One cow. Mr F. Groufsky, jun., Park Street, applied for five loads of beach sand in front of his residence for the purpose of completing his roadside lawn. —Approved. Mrs L. Selby, Park St. asked for permission to instal a septic tank on sections 1396-7.