HOKITIKA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 19 February 1943, Page 2

HOKITIKA NOTES

(Our Own Correspondent). HOKITIKA, Feb. 18. Quartermaster Sergeant R. Stevenson has returned to Hokitika on leave from camp. Mr. and Mrs. P. Power, of Nelson, are visiting Mr. and Mrs. Gillman, Sewell Street. Mr. D. P. Wilson, of Dunedin, is visif'ng Hokitika for the race meeting on Saturday. A staunch supporter of West Coast clubs ne has a warm spot for the local club, and has two horses engaged on Saturday. He formerly raced Black Duke on the Coast. . , Adverse weather m recent weeks has caused an increase in sickness, quite a number being absent from work with colds and influenza, rapid changes in temperature no doubt being the cause. The mountains bave a very heavV coating of snow and the evenings are'quite cold. During the past few days the conditions have been akin to winter. Following floods in tne past tew days the beach from the south tin down to Mananui is piled high with driftwood, totalling probably hundreds of thousands o f cords, and when the weather clears residents will be busy gathering in this harvest of winter fuel. . The Little Wanganui River in us latest flood rose above the stone protective walls. and had it not then subsided the valley/, would have been seriously inundated. The County Chairman, Mr. T. P. O’Neil vis.ted the district on Wednesday and made an inspection. The trouble is viewed in a serious light by the people of the locality. No doubt action will be taken immediately to prevent the 1 river getting through, the wall, lhe punt on the river continues to handle a large volume of transport. Slight delays are being encountered owing to the flooding, but once the river becomes workable the traffic will soon become normal. The Mavor, Mr. A. R. Elcock. piesided at the ordinary meeting of the Council, which decided to change tnemeeting night from Monday to Tuesday to permit the Municipal Band to have the hall for practices. The Council will meet on the third Tuesday in the month. The request of Mr. Lawrence for the clearing of frontege growth wds referred to the foreman. Mr. R. A. Detlaff wrote protesting against the closing of the roadway leading from Park Street to the Hokitika Beach. The protest was received, and consideration deferred until the position could be looked into. The Medical Officer of Health (notified that a sa'mole of water taken from the Hokitika resevoir was satisfactory. Kanieri Electric Ltd., advised that shades were being Removed, and lighting restored throughout the streets. The company would meet half the cost. The Council refused a request of the State Advances Corporation to take over the 12-inch concrete pipe drain whi,?h traverses Jollie Street from Stafford Street to the outfall and to declare it a public drain, also to take over the responsibility of maintenance. A request was also made for the Council to maintain the septic tanks on the properties. The Corporation complained of growth on the streets and footpaths, and th’s matter was referred to the foreman for early attention. The Gas Company advised acceptance of tfie Council’s offer to purchase 4000 gallons of tar annually. It was decided to make application for an extension of the No 13 scheme for men at present employed. Gazette No. 5 notified the closing of portion of Weld Street leading to the Hokitika beach. It was decided to ask the Beautifying Society for a' plan of the proposed beautifying of portion of a street between Stafford and Weld Streets. Mr. James Shannon, proprietor of Gold Band Taxis notified the Council that he had been refused a license to run between Hokit’ka and the racecourse on race dav(, while the Railway Road Services had been granted a license. The letter was referred to the Mayor and Town Clerk for further attention. Abattoir fees received for January amounted to £B9 3s 2d It was resolved to take steps in the Magistrate’s Court to have buildings on Section 201 and that adjoining removed forthwith. The Town Clerk reported licensing costs as follows: Greymouth Borough £26 6s 6d; Hokitika” Borough £l7 10s; Kumara Borough £6 17s; Ross Borough £1 16s; Greymouth County £1 16s; Westland County £l2'lBs sd.