HOKITIKA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 25 November 1944, Page 7

HOKITIKA NOTES

[Our Own Correspondent]. HOKITIKA, Nov. 24. A hundred feet of the town water supply pipe line from Lake Kanieri was washed out near McKay’s bridge, curtailing the amount of water available, and necessitating recourse to the pumping plant. There was hardly any pressure to-day in the pipes, and not enough water at the Mental Hospital for the laundry to operate. The Borough workmen hope to have the gap reoaired by this evening. Recently'shipping firm representatives visited Jackson Bay and Okuru to survey harbour and transport facilities for timber transportation. At Jackson Bay wharf there is 14 feet of water at low tide, so that a vessel like the Port Waikato could there load 800,000 feet on a draught of 13 feet. Some years ago there was a race to secure timber country in the Okuru and Jackson Bay territory, one firm chartering a small local vessel, the “Waikaiti” for a. trip to secure options. A. R. Wallis Ltd. hold valuable timber areas in the Okuru district and this, firm will probably be one of the first to commence milling in the far south. By March next a road capable of carrying motor traffic will be completed 'from Okuru to Jackson Bay, although it will take some time to bring it up to the standard required by the' Public Works Department. Only one and a-quarter miles of road remain to be completed for this link-up between the Arawata and Waiatoto Rivers. A bridge over the latter has been completed, except for handrails, ’ requiring only a few weeks to erect. A suspension bridge over the Arawata is expected to be open for traffic about Christmas. A number of creeks have been bridged with structures capable of carrying the traffic. The completed roadway will i open up far South Westland, which hitherto has had to depend on the “Gael” for transport, and the bulk of the goods had to be landed .at Okuru, a bar harbour only suitable for ships of very light draught, and workable only in good weather. With a road to Jackson Bay ships can obtain cargoes and also land them for settlers 'and millers, as lorries can drive on to the wharf, to which diesel locomotives could draw timber trucks. White pine is abundant in the locality, and there also are coal and mineral deposits, while the, district raises some of the Dominion’s best beef cattle, which have, however, to be driven long distances, whether to Wataroa or over to Otago. The road will enable cattle to be shipped at Jackson Bay. The fishery industry is also capable of expansion, Jackson Bay being a prolific ground, which Messrs Nolan .and Sons have a modern cannery in the district, which they plan to extend so that crayfish and other kinds as well as whitebait can be exported. The cattle runs of Eggling Bros., Harris ißros., Nolan Bros, and Cron Bros, are able to produce a lot of beef for ' various markets. Milling will soon commence in the district and there may be a Government sawmill, as well as co-opera-tive milling.