HOKITIKA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 20 June 1947, Page 2

HOKITIKA NOTES

tout Own Correspondent) The town, like others, is now short somewhat of electricity. The Mayor. Mr A. R. Elcock, has issued a warning that owing to a temporary break-down of the local electricity supply for the town, and the necessity to draw supply from the Government lines, it may be necessary to seriously curtail the supply. This position will continue for several days. Consumers are asked to conserve electricity as far as possible, until the crisis is over. In particular water heaters, radiators and such forms of heating should be used as little as possible. Kanieri Electric Ltd. supplies Hokitika and the Rimu dredge with power, the stations being situated at the Forks and McKay’s Creek. Some two weeks ago fluming carrying the water to the powerhouse at McKay’s Creek gave out, and several lengths crashed. This put one station out of action. The company put repairs in hand at once, but the job is a big one. In the meantime the supply to Hokitika is being maintained with the station at the Forks, plus the Diesel stand-by plant at Hokitika. At the beginning of the year the company’s power’ lines were connected into the State hydro mains at. Westland Hospital, and the State will assist, to carry the load at Hokitika until repairs are effected. When the generating stations at Hokitika are in full operation surplus power is put into the State hydro mains and thus helps out the situation over the South Island.

An attempt to burn down the Town Hall on the morning after the King’s Birthday was reported at the Hokitika Borough Council meeting. Fortunately, the assistant-town clerk arrived in time to remove straw, petrol and paper that had been sei alight with the evident object of demolishing what is one the oldest buildings in the town, the design for which was the work -of the pioneer’ Greymouth architect, Mr William Arnott. Someone evidently is in a hurry to see a new town hall 1 .

Heavy seas this week have come right over the beach and the south training wall into the Hokitika River and against the aerodrome bank.

The mountains are now heavily snow-coated, and there is also snow on the foothills.

The weather is very cold and outside conditions are unpleasant for workers. When the power went off on Thursday morning, just before breakfast hour, it was awkward for workers getting ready to go to the sawmills.

W. Amberger, West Coast Rugby representative, suffered an injury in the Buller-Coast game at Hokitika, and an X-ray of the injury disclosed a small bone to be broken in the right hand. It will prevent his playing for about four weeks. The heavy rain of the past few days gave the grounds at Cass Square a good soaking, and it will take some drying out before games can be played on Saturday. The Gael is due on Friday from Wellington with general cargo. When Marshal Montgomery visits Hokitika aerodrome on July 24, he will be given a combined civic and Returned Services’ Association reception.

A grant of £25 was made by the Borough Council to help defray the cost of books for the junior library. There is a membership of between 300 and 400, ranging in age from six years to sixteen. The hospitals at Hokitika are very interested in obtaining a better water supply. The present water has a high content of carbon dioxide. A scheme is being mooted to convey water from Lake Kanieri to the hospitals and the borough through one pipeline.

Messrs W. J. Richards and P. Lloyd, on behalf of adjoining landholders to the right-away between Hamilton St. and Weld St., waited on the Borough Council to discuss the surveying of the right-away to clarify titles. It was decided to proceed with the survey, each adjoining section-holder to pay £3 towards the cost of same.