HOKITIKA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 21 June 1944, Page 2

HOKITIKA NOTES

four Own Correspondent]. HOKITIKA, June 20.

Mr. McGilvary, of Dunedin, wno has been appointed engineer to we Westland Hospital Board, will in Hokitika on Friday afterncon and will take over his duties on Saturday. Th e death occurred at Hokitika on Sunday of Mr. Alexander Gold, a former well-known resident of tne Humphreys district. He was born in the district and was for many years engaged in farming. He was 68 year* of age. He leaves two sisters,. Mrs Hewlett (Humphreys) and Miss JGold (Napier). The funeral took place at the Hokitika Cemetery yesterday afternoon. Although Hokitika was able to boast of its splendid weather during the past few weeks, when the rest ol New Zealand was having a wretched lime, the record was short-lived. For the past week, Hoiktika enjoyed only 10 hours of sunshine, while 3.23 inches of rain fell. This week has also set .in bad, the conditions from Sunday morning until this morning being very wretched. There was cold rain, with frequent hail showers, and a cold south-wester wind blew most of the time. For those engaged in outside work, the conditions must be very trying. t At the weekly meeting of St. Marv s Debating Club, the subject “That Party Politics Should be Abolished,” was debated. The affirmative was taken by E. Allan, F. Groufsky and G. Creagh, while the negative speakers were Rev. Father Keane, Messrs C. Henderson & S. Davern. The decision 6f the judge was a draw, each being allotted equal points. Next Sunday evening, St. Columba Club (Greymouth), will be entertained by the local club, and two debates are scheduled to take place.

The indoor race meeting to be held in t’he Soldiers’ Hall to-morrow night to raise funds for 'the Red Cross, has attracted wide attention. The programme has been organised by Mr. Dini, of Air Travel Ltd. The races will be novel events, and the people have so far offered magnificent support, upwards of 400 books having been sold. This support ensures a substantial donation to the Red Cross funds. The best cards handed in for the No 2 Medal Match, held on Saturday at the Ma'hinapua Golf Links were:— Harper 92/17—75; Coxhill 95/19—76; Gillespie 88/6—82.

National Savings deposits at Hokitika for the past week amounted to £272 2s. The surplus was £lO2 2s. A public reception was tendered returning soldiers at the Hokitika Railway Station on Saturday evening. Fifteen soldiers arrived, and there was a large crowd on the station to give them a warm welcome. The Mayor (Mr. A. R. Elcock) and the President of the Returned Services’ Association (Mr. J. Hutchison) welcomed the men. At Rimu and Woodstock, also, the residents welcomed their boys. Large bonfires were lighted on the summit of the Rimu Hill and plso on the flat at Woodstock. In the evening the men were tendered a public welcome in the Woodstock Hall, where Mr. O. Wildbore welcomed them back. The homes of the soldiers were gaily decorated with flags and fernery.