HOKITIKA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 27 February 1945, Page 2

HOKITIKA NOTES

HOKITIKA, February 26. At a meeting of the Borough Council advice was received from the Manpower, Officer that the Controller of Manpotver cons'dered that the Council should pay £3 10s per week towards each man it employed under No. 13 scheme. The Council decided against this. It was decided to charge £3 for single plots at the cemetery (increase 10s), and £5 for double plots. It was resolved to remove the Cass Square gates and to place beach gravel on the paths. An 'offer by Mr O’Brien for used water pipes was accepted. The County Council advised that it. would increase its subsidy for the cemetery to £l5O per annum as from Septem-' her 30 last. Dr Nixon has commenced practice in South Westland. At the recent sitting of the Arrnied Forces Appeal Board here the i following sine die adjournments were made with the appeals of farmers: Victor A. Berry, James William Thompson, Robert M. Vincent, William Amos Diedrich, W. Thompson, Adam Lindsay C’ron, Daniel J. Agnew, William N. Harris, A. C. Monk, Francis R. Wall, Cecil D. Rodden, Michael J. Mcßride, Patrick D. Wrobleski, W. A. Scott, Robert Edward Gibb, Carl Amberger Richard K. Chesternian, Robert E. Hansbury, L. T. Tainui, Colin Thiele, T. P. Duggan. In the following farmers’ appeals decision was reserved: S. F. Nolan, Michael Joseph Sullivan John Joseph Curtain, Francis P. Houlihan, Paul Sheehan, P. R. McCormack, Michael C. Keenan, William F. Condon, Richard A. Condon, George Nisson, H. M. Ayres, P. R>. Olson, J. Mehrtens. Appeals of P. A. Carmody and Ronald A. Ferguson were dismissed. That of N. H. Ayres was withdrawn, and that of F. W. Wyatt adjourned till May 31. At a further sitting of the Appeal Board the following appeals for farmers were adjourned sine die: J'. E. .TeJlie, T. D. Bradley, L. J. Michel, J. S. De Filipi, W. D. J. Monk, C. A. Jamieson, R. W. Weibletz, A. J. Graham, F. S. Godfrey, M. G. S. Cropper, T. Olsen, J. F. Minehan, C. E. Cron, M. Walsh, C. O. Hansen, C. J. Wilson, Fred C. Hamilton, B. H. Cowan, T. Ford, J. McMillan, J'as. C. Gilligan. The cases of J. E. Foster and K. and E. Nolan .were adjourned one month, and that of P. I. Lyes, obligation to serve was postponed two months, and T. N. Diedrichs and H. J. Buchanan, one month. In the following cases decision was reserved: J. R. Giles, J. R. Gunn, and R. C. Adamson. The Gael sailed at 10 o’clock on Sunday morning for Okuru and Jackson Bay. She is expected to return on Wednesday with a' quantity of canned whitebait from Nolan Brothers’ factory. She sails for northern ports on Thursday, and then will proceed to Port Nelson for an overhaul.

Putting over £10,500 through the totalisator, with a large influx of Greymouth patrons, Westland Racing Club is expected to show a good margin on its meeting on Saturday last. At a meeting of the Harbour Board there were present Messrs M. H. Houston (chair) P. Renton, H. C. Harvey, W. H. Stopforth, G. Howe, J. Richards and the secretary (Mr E. W. Heenan). The chairman reporting on the wharf damage recounted the visit of Hon. J. O'Brien and the inspection made in company with Messrs Langbein (inspecting engineer to the Public Works), E. F. Evans (District Engineer) and Miller (Resident Engineer). Following the inspection the position was discussed with the Mayor and members of the Harbour Board, and stated. "It was decided that the best method to adopt to cope with the danger would be to dumo stone along the full length of the break and to drive a row of piles to hold the stone in position. It was mentioned that it would be a difficult matter to procure the necessary hardwood piles in sufficient length. ' This I am pleased to say has been overcome, and 20 piles have arrived. On the return of the Minister to Wellington the engineers’ report of the damage and estimated cost of protection was placed before Cabinet, and Mr O’Brien telephoned Mr Elcock that Cabinet expected the Borough Council and the Harbour Board to find the sum of £5OO towards the cost of the work. A conference was convened and the proposal was discussed with the Mayor, Town Clerk, secretary of the Board and myself. It was decided to recommend both bodies to find the amount required, the Council to find £374 and the Board £126, the amount to be paid during the coming financ’al year. It war, agreed that the Public Works Department should take over full control of the work, the salvage to become the property of the Public Works Department, and the Department to be responsible for carrying out of the protection work. Mr Langbein pointed out that the reconstruction of the wharf would not be considered, but that every effort would be made to make secure the remaining wharf required for shipping purposes. The Government was only concerned with the protection of the town, but every effort tvould be made to protect and secure the remaining wharf. The engineer and his staff have made every endeavour to get on with the job. * The wharf has been secured with strong wire hawsers. Two new railway tracks will be completed at an early date. Portions of the damaged wharf have been removed, and the whole place cleared ready for protection work. The weather has been atrocious, but the engineer qnd his staff have carried on work unceasingly to safeguard the town, and to save as much as possible of the remaining structure. On February 20 a further, crack developed on the section of roadway from _ the harbour shed to Revell Street indicating that erosion was serious all along this section. The engineer took immediate steps to deal with this danger. This section of the wharf is narrow, and some protection will be necessary. Pile driving equipment has arrived and will be assembled. I would ask the Board to approve of the Board’s payment of £126 as their share of the cost. I desire on behalf of the Board 1o express thanks to the Hon. J. O’Brien for his untiring efforts to help the Board and the town in its hour of danger, and for the promptitude shown in tackling the problem, and in inducing the Hon. R. Semple to authorise immediate help. The manner in which the Minister faced up to the task is deeply appreciated by the .Board and the people of Hokitika. I would also like to express thanks to the Mayor of Hokitika (Mr A. R. Elcock) for his ready help and for the assistance of the Borough staff to cope with the danger when it first occurred, their help and assistance being appreciated. In closing the report I desire on behalf of the Board to place on record the help and advice given to the Board by Mr Miller, resident engineer of the Public Works Department, prior to. the Department taking over the work. He was a courteous and obliging man, eager to help the Board out of its difficulties. Since the Department took over control he has proved a splendid engineer, extremely capable in handling this difficult job, courteous and obliging to the Board at all times. Mi’ Richards moved the report be approved, and the Board meet its share of the cost, amounting to £126.. This was seconded by Mr Harvey and carried. The

chairman moved that the Board write to Hon. J. O’Brien and the Hon. R'Semple, expressing appreciation of help and consideration extended to the Board during the recent disaster. This was seconded by Mr Howe and carried. The chairman said he desired also to place on record the Board’s appreciation of the help and guidance given to the Board by Mr Miller, resident engineer of Public Works. All members of the Board paid a tribute to the engineer for the manner in which he had tackled the job, and for the guidance given the Board prior to the Department taking over the work. Hokitika .Borough Council wrote in regard to street lighting, the Council undertaking the lighting of the closed set up a committee comprising the portions of the streets. The Board chairman, Mr Howe and Ihe .secretary to confer with the Public Works engineer from time to time in regard to harbour matters. The Board rose at 6 p.m.