HOKITIKA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 28 October 1948, Page 2

HOKITIKA NOTES

(Our Own Correspondent). HOKITIKA, Oct. 27 Mrs L. J. Saivigny has been advised of the death of her mother, Mrs Margaret Helen Ewart, which occurred at Wellington on Tuesday. X-way Plant tor Hospital At a special meeting of the Westland Hospital Board held on Tuesday afternoon, a decision was made to purcnase a new X-Ray plant. The Siu geon-Superintendent, Dr G. E. Smart, submitted to tne Board the tenders received from various firms throughout New Zealand and his recommendation to purchase the Watson Victor plant made in Australia, provided a guarantee of service, plus a firm quote was adhered, was adopted. The Board resolved to purchase from the Greymouth Hospital Board the couch and under-tube to be used in conjunction with the new plant. Delivery of the plant is expected early in the New Year. Progress League Mr D. Frielander occupied the chaii at the meeting of the Hokitika Progress League held at the County Chambers on Tuesday evening. The Westland District League reported on matters dealt with at the last meeting. Mr Peart asked the League to take up the question of securing bus shelter stops in Hokitika, saying that residents required a shed near Livingstone Street.

The chairman asked if the Council would permit Road Services to build the shelter shed on a borough area, or who. would be responsible for building it. Mr Peart said he did not know whose responsibility it was. If both approved something might be done, and it would be appreciated by the women. The League resolved to ask the Road Services to provide the shelter shed, as they were running the service.

Mr E. Taylor asked the League to interest itself in having the scenic views recently on display in a Hokitika shop retained, or otherwise to make some arrangements to have the pictures displayed in other towns to advertise the scenic attractions of Westland. The chairman was asked to investigate the matter and report oaci. to tne League.

The Hokitika Borough Council invited the League to forward any suggestions that might help the Council in a plan for the develppment of the borough. Before dealing with the letter the chairman asked the secretary to read the letter sent to the Borough Council on February 17, 1947. In this letter the League offered advice to the Council for the development of the borough and asked the Council to give consideration to a full report on borough develooment and finance by a fully qualified consulting engineer and a local bod> executive. The League offered towards the cost of the report. The chairman said the Council hao not given much time to the League The matter of the development of th borough required careful thought and study. Mr Peart said the borough required the help of all. The people of Hokitika and the business people, in particular, must realise that something must be done, and he suggested that a public meeting be called, as not all the brains of the town were on the Council. They must have the advice and help of constructional engineers, bakers, butchers, business men and all sections of the community. The town needed many requirements. A museum for the whole Coast sijuateu at Hokitika would find support from people away from the Coast. A new Town Hall was also a necessity. Mr Preston said that various committees had been set up from tirm to time by the Council to conside. various matters. They did their best, but had no scope. A meeting between the Council and the League would do much good as the offer to various organisations to submit their views was a very wide one, and it would take much money to carry out the wishes oi all organisations. The decision ol the Council to hold the special meeting was a step in the right direction. The chairman said the basis of any scheme would be the ability to provide the moruy to carry out tn«_ work. Something should come ou> of the meeting. The chairman: “If this scheme does come about, it is to be hoped that the money will not be fritted away. The Council has no engineer to advise that the work is being carried out in a proper manned, and that money is spent wisely. Mr Maunder suggested that the League letter of February, 17, 1948, be again sent to the Borough Council tor consideration at the special meeting, but the offer to contribute the sum of £5O could not be repeated. After all who are they to tell the Council what they should do. It was a job for a consulting engineer. Mr J. B. Hood said the Council must plan for the future and to do this it would be best to engage an engineer to submit a plan to the Council, which could later be submitted to the people, who would haveto foot the bill. Mr Taylor suggested that each organisation should send delegates to a meeting. The chairman said the League could not direct. Mr Preston said that the Council had at the moment, one of the most eminent engineers in New Zealand reporting on its proposed water scheme, and he had found it most difficult to advise. The chairman said the decision had to be apparently a water scheme or a development scheme, and it was to be hoped that the drift would not continue. The Council would discuss the proposals and make the final decision. Mr Preston said he wanted to be quite frank. The matter was sound, but the Council could not undertake even a token payment towards the harbour protection wall. He would not agree to pay a sum of £4OO tor a report. Mr Peart, said he was of the opinion that the proposals should b submitted to a public meeting as the Council required to know what tne people wanted. .. Mr Maunder moved t ha L A , t ," e League forward a reply tO /seJ—un cil in terms of the letter of Febi ua.. 17, 1947, but omit the offer to con

tribute, this being seconded by Mr J. “• Hood and carried. ( Mr Preston said a revaluation ot the borough was overdue, and was highly important.