HOKITIKA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 8 July 1943, Page 2

HOKITIKA NOTES

(Our Own Correspondent) HOKITIKA, July 7

The Mayor, Mr. A. R. Elcock at a meeting of the local Liberty Loan Committee purchased a £lO and a £1 bend, each autographed by General Freyiberg, the intention being to present. them to the Patriotic Committee to be sold. Two members intimated that the local quota, £70,700 had been exceeded.. Heavv sea on the bar has prevented the motorship Gael getting away from Okuru, where she was stranded on the bar last Saturday morning. Captain Reeves, Master of the vessel, adv’sed that the sea was too rough to attempt to work the bar outwards. The tides from Monday to Tuesday recoded one foot. It maV. be necessarv to load ballast on the forward deck of the vessel in order to lighten the draught at the stern, so that she may be able to clear the bar. It is possible by this means to lighten 'the draught of the ship when empty by eighteen inches, thus assuring a safe cross’ng. The death occurred at her home in Hampden Street, Hokitika last, evening of Mrs. Margaret Halliday, ; fter a long illness. The late Mrs. Halliday was a member of the well known O’Connor family, verv old and esteemed residents of Hokitika, and was 73 years of age. For many years she was in charge of the maternitv home, which she conducted with outstanding success, and prior to he” retirement from the home sue was honoured by the .people and especially the mothers of the district. S'hp leaves one daughter, Miss Muriel Halliday, of Hokitika, and there are three sons, Aubrey (Wellington), Rav'mond (Westport) and Cyril (Nrnier,). A sister, Mrs. Pearson, resides at Auckland. The funeral will take place on Friday afternoon. At the annual meeting of the Fire Brigade the following officers were re-elected: Superintendent L. L. Ross; Deputy Superintendent, C. B. Pres-! ton; Secretary, Fireman C. Lakin. The balance sheet shows a credit of I £26 10s. Secretary G. Lakin was congratulated on the sound state ot the finances. The Superintendent expressed regret that two members were in hospital. Fireman W. Thompson and H. McMullan. Three auxiliary firemen had been transferred to the Brigade bringing the strength, to 26 During the year 25 practices had been held and the Superintendent said he would announce the selection of live foreman at the next meeting. The foremen reported the gear and equipment in good order. The auxiliaries under Deputy C. B. Preston held 33 practices. There were i four fires for the year, and the loss was under £66. A number of institutions and citizens had forwarded i donations. Service Honours were; presented to the fololwing members bv the Secretary of the Fire Board (Mr. E. W. Heenan): Gold bars, Secretary G. Lakin and Foreman J. J. Williams: Silver bars: Deputy, Superintendent C. B. Preston; Fireman F. Groufskv, F. Ballinger, H. Thompson, M. Davidson and L. S. Ross.