HOKITIKA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 3 December 1943, Page 2

HOKITIKA NOTES

[Our Own Correspondent]

HOKITIKA, December 2.

The Hokitika unit of the Air Training Corps assembled at the Centennial Baths last evening and, under the direction of the officer commanding, Lieut. Harper, a series of interesting contests were held. Mr. Harper acted as handicapper and close finishes bore testimony to his judgment. Mr. A. D. Spencer Physical Instructor, Department of Internal Affairs, was also present. The results of the main events were:—

25 yards, Ist heat: W. Jones 1, K. Bassett 2, K. Kidd 3. 2nd heat: R. Duncan 1, D. Ryan 2, D. Nutting 3. Final: Kidd 1, Duncan 2, Jones 3. A touch only separated the cadets. A relay contest was won by Kidd’s team as follows: K. Kidd, R. Duncan, R. Barltrop, D. Ryan, W. Jones, and W. Stephens. In the Unit Championship, Eastgate beat Kidd in a close finish.

Major C. Biggs will arrive in Hokitika this week and will take over his duties of Conservator of Forests on Saturday succeeding Mr. J. Perham, who will shortly leave on transfer to another district.

Mr. J. Hyndman of Wellington is at present in Hokitika, and is staying with Mr. J. Breeze, Tancred Street. Mr. T. Stuart is at present an inmate of Westland Hospital. At the Magistrate’s Court before Mr. G. G. Chisholm, S.M., for riding unlighted cycles. John O. Hahn and D. H. Breeze were each fined 10s with 10s costs, as was Geo. Agnew for, cycling on a footpath. For using an unlicensed wireless Gerard Selby was fined 10s with 10s costs and Ils witness expenses. For allowing cattle to wander Margaret M. Minehan was fined 10s with 15s costs. The Westland Licensing Committee met yesterday, there being present Messrs G. G. Chisholm, S.M. (chairman). A. H. Lawn and F. McGregor. The following licenses were reviewed: Clydesdale Hotel Ross, Robert W. Parker; Commercial Hotel Ross, Thomas A. Cumming; Empire Hotel Ross, Angus R. Cunninghame. The following transfers were granted: Lake lanthe Hotel, William A. Robertson to William B. Connor; Royal Hotel, Greymouth, Annie Ford to Herbert Leonard Cox; Cobden Hotel, William L. Morrissey to Mary Morrissey. At a meeting of the Westland Racing Club. Mr. J. O’Donnell, of Greymouth, wrote accepting the position of handicapper to the club. Mr. F. McGregor wrote expressing appreciation of a letter of sympathy in his illness. ' The N.Z. Racing Conference advised sanction for the deletion of apprentice races from the programme. Greymouth Metropolitan Club forwarded passes. It was decided to grant the use of the racecourse to the Automobile Association for a camping ground, Messrs M. B. James and E. T: 1 Stoop to be a Management Committee. At the Warden’s Court before. Mr. G. G. Chisholm, Warden, Nancy Helen Thompson’s application for a special sea beach claim was objected to bv the Public Works Department. Mr. M. B. James explained a plan sun-o-ested for the working of the claim by the applicant. The Warden granted the application, the conditions being that the claim be worked on a 10-chain frontage and in accordance with the proposals set out by the anplicant. Alexander William Ferguson’s application for a special sea beach claim was recommended. William A. Robertson’s surrender of a special sea beach claim was accepted. John Lewis Sweeney’s applications for ordinary prospecting licenses over two areas in South Westland were granted. Dry weathei’ is evoking complaints from country areas. One farmer stated his paddocks for the first time in 30 vears were without water, and the drought was the longest he could remember. He said that in Koiterangi and Kokatahi farmers were carting water, and in country districts nearer Hokitika residents were faced with a water shortage, water having to »e carted to replenish tanks. Rivers and creeks are exceedingly low. Fortunately rain fell last evening and continued on this morning, and it will do good, especially to gardens. Tie committee in charge of the

Swimming baths hopes for greater interest in them from its allocation of particular evenings to clubs and organisations, such as the Cobbers’ Club, the' Youth Movement, Air Training Corps, Boy Scouts and Cubs, as well as hospital nurses and attendants.