HOKITIKA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 26 March 1943, Page 2

HOKITIKA NOTES

(Our Own Correspondent.) HOKITIKA, March .25.

Dr. T. W.- Childs, formerly Superintendent of the Mental Hospital at Hokitika, and now of Auckland, is being transferred back to Hokitika. Corporal R. Coulson, Privates D. •Pfahlert and E. Wells and Aircraftsman K. Sherman left this morning on return to camp. Mrs- Miles and family to-day returned to Christchurch.

,Mr Thompson of Oxford, is on a visit to Hokitika.

Mr Bannister is at present relieving Mr H. C. Rowe as Postmaster at Hokitika. Mr Rowe, who has been on a visit to Christchurch, returned this afternoon. Aircraftsman J. Roberts, son of Mr and Mrs J. Roberts of Fitzherbert Street, is spending leave with his parents. The full complement for the railcar trip on Sunday, April 4 to Westport has been booked. At the annual meeting of the Wataroa Branch of the • Women’s Institute the following officers were elected: President, Mrs M. Douglas: Secretary, Mrs W. Gunn; Treasurer. Mrs W. Adamson; Vice-Presidents, M&sdames R. Gunn and J. Butler. The competition winner was Miss Gunn. Hostesses for the meeting were Mesdames R. Gunn and J. Butler. A country resident was charged before Messrs A. E. Benjamin and A. H. Lawn, J’s.P., with having been drunk and disorderly and having stolen a refuse basket belonging to the Hokitika Borough Council. Evidence was given by Constable Larmer and the Town Clerk, Mr H. G. F. Coles. The defendant stated he did not remember anything about the matter. He was fined 10s on the first charge and convicted and discharged on the second. The primary schools at Hokitika will remain closed until April 5. There have been so far a couple of positive cases of infantile paralysis locally. To-day a party of American Mannes visited Hokitika accompanied by the Mayor of Greymouth, Mr F. A. Kitchingham. The party inspected the Arahura dredge, and were the guests of the Hokitika Patriotic Committee at luncheon, when the Mayor of Hokitika. Mr A. R. Elcock, welcomed the visitors, those present including the County Chairman (Mr T. P. O’Neil), the Town Clerk (Mr H. G. F. Coles), the County Clerk, (Mr D. J. Evans), and the Secretary of the Hokitika Patriotic Committee (Mrs, Boyd): and Lieutenant C. P. Blumsky (representing the Army). The Mayor proposed the toast of the visitors and paid a tribute to the courage of the American Marines. Westland was proud to welcome the visitors as representatives of the Allies, and of those who were fighting to preserve democracy. The Mayor of Greymouth proposed the toast “Our Friends.” The singing of For They Are Jollv Good Fellows made an appeal to the Marines, for whom Lieutenant Evans replied, expressing their thanks for the wonderful time accorded to the Marines in Hokitika. Following the lunch, the party viewed the town. Later they left on return to Greymouth.

A partv of local V.A.D’s. will travel to Wellington for an inspection which Lady Newall on April 3 is to make of the Red Cross Voluntary Aid organisation at Government House.