HOKITIKA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 16 December 1942, Page 2

HOKITIKA NOTES

[Our 'Own Correspondent.l HOKITIKA, Dec. 15.

A Lieutenant of the American Navy was a recent visitor to Westland to view the Glaciers. He saw service in the naval battle in the Solomons, and was on a destroyer which sailed between lines of enemy ships, to which the vessel did serious damage until lit was, torpedoed amidships, in the engine room, killing 28 members of the engine room staff. The vessel sank in twenty minutes. The whole of the crew with the exception of the 28 killed in the engine room were rescued, although the rescue occupied five hours. While the battle was raging, the naval air units were fighting overhead. At the last meeting of the County Council, Mr D. W. Nolan asked for consideration to be given to the planking of the bridge across Hindley Creek At present it is not usable for horses. The Council received advice from the Public Works Department that the cost would be in the vicinity of £5O, and if the Council would meet ■it, the work would be put in hand. The request was put before Hon. R. Semple, and when advised of the number of lives lost bv settlers and others crossing the stream he promptly ordered the work to be nut in hand at once. „ „ , Mr K. O. May, Mayor of Hoss, tendered a welcome to the 'Netherlands Delegation at Ross on Monday afternoon when the visitors were entertained at luncheon. Replying to the welcome, Dr. van der Plas said Westland had been a revelation to the Delegation, its scenic attractions were unrivalled, but its real treasure was an the hearts of its people. New Zealanders could never understand what it meant to them after what they had been through in the last two years, to be received here with such friendliness Dr. van der Plas visited the school children and delighted them with his singing of Javanese folk songs. He maintained his reputation as the most unconventional visitor Westland had known for years. The party made a stav at the Maori Pah, where Private Tuhuru Tainui had made preparations for a reception which delighted the visitors, who showed a keen interest in the Maoris. Prior to his departure from Hokitika, Dr. van der Plas made a donation of £5 to the County Chairman (Mr T. P .O’Neil) towards the Westland Patriotic Fiyid. He had noted that the booklet on the discovery Ot New Zealand bv Abel Tasman was being sold throughout the district, the profits from the sales going to the Patriotic Fund. Mr O’Neil expressed the thanks of the people for the donation. _