HOKITIKA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 13 September 1946, Page 2

HOKITIKA NOTES

[Our Own Correspondent]. HOKITIKA, Sept. 12. The monthly meeting of the Westland County Council was held on Tuesday, the chairman (Mr. luark Wallace) presiding. It was decided to support a request by the Westland Progress League to have an area adjacent to the Hokitika Gorge declared a scenic reserve. The amended agreement for the Tramway road along the tram line from Kanieri tqwnship to Hokitika, was duly agreed to by the Council. It was resolved to forward letters to the Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. P. Fraser), Hon. J. O’Brien and Hon. A. H. Nordmeyer, for the assistance granted in respect to the hospital levy. On the motion of Mr. James Donovan the Council decided to ask the Government when the 10 year plan for Westland would be announced. N.Z.R. Road Services advised that it would not be practicable to run a bus service to Arthurstown as requested. The following rates were struck: General Rate 1.75 d in the £ (capital value); Hospital Rate 1.4 d in the £ (capital value); Catchment Board Rate Id in the £ (capital value). - Considerable local interest is being evinced in the McLean Shield Rugby football match to be played at Hokitika on Saturday. Kokatahi, the winners of the Westland senior competition, will play Celtic, winners of the northern competition at Greymouth. Kokatahi have put up a splendid record this season, and Amberger who has been off the scene for the past three matches will take the field with his team in the match against Celtic. Celtic.has a fast set of backs, and it will be interesting to see how’ they fare with the rugged Kokatahi forwards led by Ritchie and Weiblitz. Kokatahi are quite confident that they can add the McLean Shield to their trophy list. Kiwis will play St. Mary’s in what will virtually be a final in the one round competition, and this match is exciting keen interest. There is still considerable argument over the Kiwi-Kokatahi match and it is more than possible that these two teams may yet play the conqueror. Fishermen operating on the south side of the Hokitika River on Wednesday secured increased supplies of whitebait. One fisherman secured 351bs, and another 251bs. Both were operating scoopnets. Fishermen along the north training wall all secured three and four pints, while fishermen In the trenches secured 1 etter catches. The river was dirty on Thursday from dredging operations, this making fishing more difficult. Thein was a large attendance of servicemen at the R.S.A. reunion at Koiterangi on Wednesday evening. Mr. W. M. Fraser, President of the Hokitika branch presided. Also present were Messrs A. R. Elcock (Mayor of Hokitika) and H. Dimmick (Chairman of the District Committee). Group Captain Des Scott, R.N.Z.A.F. and Private J. C’Rouke were the guests of the evening. Group Captain Scott gave an interesting talk on his experiences overseas. He described his visit to Belsen, a few days after Germany’s capitulation, and briefly referred to the horrors of this infamous concentration camp. He stressed the importance of returned servicemen sticking together and. to their association, and by so doing contended they would preserve the comradeship engendered by service overseas. He stressed the importance of New Zealand standing solidly behind the Mother country, and for everyone to do their best to help pro,vide food for Britain. Incidentally the evening coincided with the birthday of Group Captain Scott, and an appropriate toast was proposed by Private J. O’Rouke. All present sang “Happy Birthday.” Speakers during the evening stressed the importance of the returned men keeping together and maintaining the strength of the association. The following toast list was honoured: “The King,” ■ “The N.Z.R.5.A.,” “Fallen Comrades,” “The Entertainers,” and “Des Scott’s Birthday.” Items were given by Percy Crough, A. O. Callaghan, H. H. Brown, F. Barltrop, E. Cook, Roy Stevenson and N. Clay. Messrs H. Dimmick, chairman, and J. P. Ritchie executive officers of the District Committee were congratulated on organising a highly successful function.