HOKITIKA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 21 January 1943, Page 2

HOKITIKA NOTES

(Our Own Correspondent). HOKITIKA, Jan. 20. Mr Stephens, newly-appointed Rector of the Hokitika High School, arrived on Tuesday evening, and will take up h's new duties when the school opens in February. Mr A. Ingram, who has been visiting his mother, has returned to Christchurch. At the Warden’s Court the following applications were successful: — Charles Smith and Mark Koetie, application for renewal of water race license for 21 years; L. and C. Mackley, J. J. Mclntosh, H. Herring, ordnary prospecting licenses; Acclimatisation Society, renewal of water race license; N.Z. Prospecting and Mining Ltd., protection over special dredging claim; Stuart and Chapman, tram renewal; K. W. Bannister, special beach claim; P. McCormack, surrender of prospecting Icense; P. S. B. Thompson and J. T. Cooper, beach claims; E. A. Fensom, surrender of sites and tailrace; F. Neame, surrender of water race. The Warden deckled to recommend the application of Geo Sutherland for a gold dealer’s license. the Warden (Mr G. G. Chisholm) to-day gave his reserved decision in the suit F. G. Perham (Conservator of Forests) v. South Westland Rimu Timber Company, for forfe ture of license No. 457, the case having been heard on November 4, 1942. the license, granted by the Warden in 1911, wa« not applied until 1936, the area, 200 t) acres, situated near Okarito, being granted under mining privileges. Defendant had not at all I times kept the m 11 in use cutting i timber, and during the past six I months the mil! had been unoccupied and unused- These facts had been admitted. The defendant 'company claimed protection. The Warden said the question was whether there were any special circumstances to be considered. Since the area was granted only 30 acres of timber had been In six years live acres had ben milled and 53,000 feet of timber cut. Difficulty of transport was apparent. Two ways were open - -road haulage to Ross railway, or a sea route via the port of Okarito, The area comprised red pine, and on this timber no subsidy was payable. The company had in view the possb’litv of slipping out of Okarito. The company, in charge of the harbour had spent £16.000. Three certificates of protection were given (luring the progress of the harbour works. No doubt the license was liable to forfeiture. To secure protection application would have to be made in the proper manner. The Warden said he would not be prepared to grant protection on the evidence heard. If the defendant, company could establish that ships were not available owing to war conditions, it would satisfy him. No ex- I pert evidence was called in regard \ to Okarito harbour by either partv. The recent experience of plaintiff J was a reply from one shipping com- i pany to the effect that the harbour 1 was - too dangerous. Under the circumstances, the Warden intimated, he would inflict a fine in lieu of forfeiture. The defendant company had spent a considerable sum of money. The Conservator had been sympathetic in granting protection. He imposed a fine of £lO with costs, amounting to £5 ss, plus witnesses’ expenses.

At the Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday before Mr G. G. Chisholm, S.M., Alexander Shand was charged with breaking a lamp glass at the Mental Hospital grounds, and was fined 10s with costs 10s. For casting offensive matter in a public place. William George Cain was fined 10s with costs 12s. Lawrence Joseph Kirwan was charged with doing plumbing work in the borough without 1 being licensed, and without a permit. The defendant is a registered plumber, but had failed to obtain a license and permit. Defendant received.no payment for the work. He was ordered to pay. costs an each charge, amounting fjr 21s 6d. At a social evening cn Tuesday, the Mayor, Mr A. R. Elcock, who is also chairman of the Fire Board, presented service honours to members of the brigade. Superintendent L. L. Ross presided and there was a good attendance of members and Auxiliary members. Mr Heenan (Board secretary) was also present. Honours were presented as follows: Foreman C. E. Ross, gold bar (35 years’ service); Supt. L. L. Ross, silver bar (2 years); Deputy Supt. C. 13. Preston, silver bar (2 years);

Foreman W. Thompson (23 years); Fireman J. Mclntosh (20 years); Fireman Roy Roberts (16 years); Fireman M. Davidson (11 year's); Fireman Butland (15 years), each a silver bar. Foreman Ross said that his record of 35 years faded in comparison with that of Fireman G. Lakin, who joined the brigade m 1884. Various toasts were honoured..

i The Hospital Board at a special ! meeting, appointed Dr. R. F. Aitken I to succeed Dr. B L. Wilson as Medii cal Superintendent of the Hospital. The question of going ahead with the building of the Matron’s cottage was discussed, and in view of shortage of materials, it was resolved to defer the building in the meantime. Mr E. W. Heenan, the Chairman, when the business of the special meeting had been dispensed with, said he was faced with a duty that was not too pleasant, that of saying goodbye to i Dr. Wilson. The Doctor would sever i his connection with th e Hospital on Saturday, and would probably leave tor Christchurch on Monday. All regretted the circumstances that necessitated his decision to leave on account of ill health. Those associated with Dr. Wilson during his 12 years in Hokitika, especially the Board members, would realise what a great loss the Board would suffer. Their relations had always been most cordial. When Dr. Wilson outlined proposals for the extension of the hospital and provision of a children’s ward, ajid proposals meant an outlay of £30,000 .some members stood aghast I but to-day thev knew Dr. Wilson had been right. The alterations would | have had to so ahead later to meet the needs of the district. The Board in accepting Dr. Wilson’s proposals, earrie'd out the work at a cost of £30,000, whereas to-day the? cost would have been in the vicinity of £60,000. The hospital reflected the time and attention given by Dr. Wilson, who could have given it up at any time for greater gain, but all his life had been wrapped up in the hospital. and the welfare of the patients. He was faced with a hard decision to leave the district for which he had planned and worked. He expressed their deepest thanks for unselfish service given by Dr. Wilson, and also asked him to convey to Mrs Wilson and their daughter their good wishes, trusting all would enjoy much better health in their new district, and jalso to assure Mrs Wilson of their appreciation of help and assistance she had given Dr. Wilson in his many tasks. During visits of Cabinet Ministers and others to the hospital, Mrs Wilson had always been present, and her thoughtfulness was appreciated by the Board. Mr Duff, ex-Chairman. said as one actively connected with much of. the planning of the new blocks with n, ‘ Wilson and the Matron, Miss Anderson, he regretted the departure of Dr. Wilson. Night and day he was on the job, ana ' the time he had given the hospital and the district, was deeply appreciated by' all. They trusted Dr. Wilson would enjoy much better health in Canterbury. The County Chairman, Mr T. P. O’Neil and Mr W. A. Jamieson also conveyed good wishes to Dr. Wilson and expressed regret at his departure from the district. He had been an exemplary citizen and enjoyed the complete confidence of every resident. Messrs J. A. Murdoch, G. H. Chapman, G Heinz and A. R. Elcock also expressed l regret at the departure of Dr. Wilson, trusting he would regain his former good health in Canterbury. The matter of arranging a suitable farewell to Dr. Wilson was left to the Chairman to arrange.