HOKITIKA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 23 June 1944, Page 2

HOKITIKA NOTES

(Our Own Correspondent) HOKITIKA, June 22. There was a large attendance at the Soldiers’ Hall last evening for the benefit indoor race meeting to raise funds for the Red Cross. Mr. W. Dini had made very complete arrangements for the meeting, and the programme was run to time. The laige crowd spent a very enjoyable evening. The Red Cross Society will benefit to the extent of £BO or £9O. Mr. Tom Stuart, Vice-President of the Club, declared the meeting open, while Mr. W J Radford, President, expressed thanks to all for their attendance and their liberal patronage. All officials were present, and the whole programme was. well managed. Mr. Dini at the microphone kept the crowd on their toes, and he inflicted fines for all offences, a large amount being obtained in this way. The following are the results of the races: —Race 1: Whackie 1- Race 2: Hangover 1. Race 3: Exposed 1. Race 4: Our Fee 1. Race 5: Temulence 1. Race 6: We Jonny 1. Mr. M. B. James was the owner of Our Fee, the winner of the Red Cross Cud. Mr. E. Stoop was the winner of the lucky number, while the prize for the best name or a. horse entered, was Mr. R. Stevenson’s Downfall, by Elastic, out ot Pants. Mr. T. Stuart was awarded second prize for his horse, Silence, by Maiden, out of Breath, and Miss Billie Yarrall secured third prize foi' her horse Exposed, by Seat, out of Pants. The ladies of the Red Cross were present in full force and served the supper, from which a substantial sum was raised. Mr. Gillespie, President of the Red Cross Society thanked Mr. Dini and all who had assisted him for the wonderful effort and for the splendid sum raised for Red Cross work.

The Mayor (Mr. A. R. Elcock) presided at the meeting of the Hokitika Borough Council last evening. The meeting did not conclude until 11 p.m., as there was a long agenda paper and a deputation was received. Mr. J. Hewer waited on the Council requesting it to change the by-law in regard to the. tethering of cows, and to continue to permit the owners to graze cows in the streets, under strict control. Messrs J. Kidd, O’Brien and L. Liddicoat supported Mr. Hewer. The Council decided to adhere to its previous decision. The Hokitika Fire Board forwarded a copy of estimates for the year. There was no increase in the Council’s proportion of £282. The Westland Hospital Board forwarded notice of annual levy, the Council’s share being £2,566 19s 2d, a decrease of £lB on the previous -year. The Government notified its intention to retain the E.P.S. organisation on a peace-time basis after the war. The Council agreed to the request of Rev. Father Finerty to shift a street light on the conditions set out. The Council overdraft limit was set at £4,000. In regard to a request from Shannon Motors concerning a right-of-wav at the rear of their premises, the Council appointed a committee consisting of the Mayor and Councillors Roberts and Preston to report and bring down a ruling on the accecss. Mr. R. N. Ireland submitted a quotation for street cleaning and rubbish collection and mowing ot reserves. It was decided to construct a footpath on the south side of Park Street between Brittan and Sale Street. The Chairman of Reserves (Cr. Armstrong) accepted an invitation to attend the meetings of the Beautifying Society. Crs. Caliari, Pettigrew and Roberts were appointed a special committee to report with Cr. Havill, on the renewal of the pipe line from the Lake to the reservoir. The question of the new Town Hall was left to Crs. Armstrong, Preston and the Mayor. The Mayor’s honarium was fixed at £lOO ner annum. The Hokitika Fire Brigade requested the Council to give attention to fire plugs in Cass Square, and also to endeavour to expedite the building by-laws, and asked that new premises erected conform to the by-laws. It also notified that a Fire Brigade Demonstration would be held in Hokitika towards the end of the present year. It was decided to notify the Public Works Department that the Council desired a permanent drain to take all the flood waters from Jollie Street. At the meeting of the Hokitika Harbour Board on Tuesday afternoon, Mr. M. Houston occupied the chair. The following members were present: Messrs H. Harvey, J, Richards and G. Howe. Apologies were received from Messrs P. Renton and W. Stopforth. The Minister of Marine advised that the Board should charge storage charges on Government cargoes stor-

ed in the shed. It was not possible to assist the Board financially, unless the Board was hard put to meet its commitments' The Board decided to levy a charge of 6d per ton per day on all Government cargoes ' stored in the Harbour sheds, and to make the payments retrospective to April 1, 1944, shipping agents to render a return to the, Board of cargoes stored, and the periods of storage. The Reserve Banic forwarded a certificate for stock converted. The Harbour Boards’ Association wrote notifying that the fee for the port of Hokitika would be £2 2s. It was decided to offer £1 Is as the subscription for the present year. The Signalman reported that the channel over the bar was straight running to sea in a westerly direction, carrying from ten to twelve feet of water. Mr. Howe reported on some complaints received in regard to the dump along Gibson Quay. The Chairman said that he had inspected the dump, and was more than pleased with the care and attention given to the work by the Borough Council. The work was going to mean an added safeguard to the river bank. He would suggest that the Council guard against any offensive matter being dumped. The Board requested Mr. Richards to take up the matter with the Council, and to ask for some backing boards to be fitted to the whaling to hold the rubbish until it consolidated. The Treasurer stated that receipts had amounted to £44, and payments to £44 Gs 3d. The credit balance at the bank was £lO6. Mr. O. J. Hutchison presided at a meeting of the Hokitika branch of the Returned Services’ Association. Messrs Mitchell and Walters reported on visits to hospital patients. The offer of the Caledonian Society to conduct an Ingleside for the R.S.A.. to raise funds to repair the walls of the building was accepted with thanks. It was decided to ask that the railway platform be roped off when soldiers are returning, and that a ’member or the executive meet the soldiers at Greymout'h.