HOKITIKA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 23 February 1949, Page 2

HOKITIKA NOTES

(Our Own Correspondent). HOKITIKA, Feb. 22. A patient was taken to Dunedin Hospital from the Westland Hospital to-day by an Otago Aero Club plane which arrived here at 10.30 a.m. and left twenty minutes later. Mr H. Staines left here to-day for Christchurch where he is to manage a bakery business. Mr D. B. Holdgate has been appointed assistant therapist at the speech clinic for Greyrnouth and Hokitika. , The grandstand at the local racecourse on Monday evening was the scene of a “clean-up” of tote tickets on the second and third horses to finish in the last race, which were placed first and second as the result of an inquiry. Backers for a win on these latter, who were unaware of the inquiry, left when the dividend on the first horse, Battle Spear (who finally was placed third) was hoisted, many discarding their tickets on the course. It was only later that they learned that the placings had been altered, and many of them then bethought themselves of the tickets they had thrown away. One went back to find three £5 tickets on Newspaper (placed first) where he had dropped them. Other backers phoned from Greymouth and Kumara for friends to go to the course and look for their tickets. Another man who took a taxi to the course at 7.30 p.m., found a host, perhaps 200 children gathering tickets, some having handfuls. This morning at daylight others visited the course, but found children were ahead of them. The caretaker has had his work done for him in the way of a clean-up. As a result of their experience it is understood that some punters will make representations to the Club that on similar occasions a siren be sounded, and the commentator will be asked to warn people to hold their tickets.

The m.v. Hauiti arrived at 6 a.m. to-day from Wellington and Greymouth with 40 tons of cargo. She will load posts for Wanganui. Owned by the South Westland Shipping Coy. (of whom Mr P. E. L. Renton is chairman and Mr J. F. McDougall secretary), the Hauiti is a trim ship of 65 tons nett register, and carries 150 tons of cargo. Shq is expected to carry 5000 posts or 50,000 superficial feet of timber. The crew’s quarters are forward in a raised forcastle. The vessel has one hold, with a hatchway 22ft in length, which should be adequate in handling timber and motor trucks. There is a Lister Diesel winch. Her single screw is driven by a Blackstone Lister Diesel engine of 250 b.h.p. at a cruising speed of 11 knots. From Greymouth to Hokitika. 191 miles, the vessel did the journey in an houi' and twenty minutes. She handled the bar here very well. The crew and the officers have separate wash rooms, showers and convenience blocks. The chief engineer, second engineer, mate and cook have separate cabins aft. The galley is aft on the poop deck. An adequate hot water supply system is fitted. Captain M. M. McArthur, formerly nort. controller at Lyttelton, who is in command, is one of the best known coastal masters in the Dominion. He is confident that the vessel will give excellent service in the trade.