HOKITIKA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 27 September 1949, Page 2

HOKITIKA NOTES

[Gar Own Correspondent].

SEAS WASH OUT ROAD TO HARBOUR MOUTH

HOKITIKA, Sept 26.

The building up of a sand bank, from the south side across the Hokitika river entrance, and past the north training wall has driven the river along the beach. With a heavy south-west wind, the seas of the past few days, combined with spring tides have washed right into the road to the tip. head. Waves crashed high over the bank and carried drift wood and rubbish up to the back doois of some homes along the signal station road. At the benzine depot, seas washed over the bank and into the river behind the training wall. From a point about 100 yards past the benzine depot, the road has beep completely washed away. The power lines to the tip head are now at high tide mark. The river outlet is parallel with the beach and deep water is very close inshore. From the south tip to Mahinapua district the sand bank can be seen and there remains quantities of sand yet to ccme north. The rains made little difference to the river mouth. The harbourmaster reports , that conditions have not improved. Shipping will not be able to work the port. With a return to good weather the sand tank will continue to build up. and the outlet from the port will become more difficult. The tides ol the past week have been very high. As the bank grows, the water within the harbour will become locked to some extent.

The Ministry of Works has secured some timber, and a start will be made to tie the north wall back. This work is urgent, as seas washing over the bank into the river will cause damage to this weakened portion of the wall.

At the end of Gibson’s Quay road on the beach, seas cut away 72ft of the bank in one tide, and waves went over the bank on to the adjoining areas low lying parts being flooded but residences are well out of the way. The stop bank recently completed, diverted the sea water from the road way. This was usually the cause of much flooding previously. In the final of the one-rcund junior competition, played at Woodstock on Sunday, Pirates defeated Ross by 12 points to 3. A Gardyne kicked four penalty goals for Pirates. Ross scored one unconverted try. It was considered a “Geflin’-' win.

Canterbury Education Board is investigating the possibility of installing fluorescent lighting throughout the Hokitika ,District High School. For this purpose, a senior inspector, during the course of his inspection of the schools in the Westland district, was granted an extension of time in order to report on and investigate the project.

Brigadier C. E. Weir, C.8.E., D. 5.0., arrived in Hokitika yesterday on official business. He is to meet Captain Reeves, Company Commander of D Company, N.M.W.C. Regiment. at Hokitika to discuss territorial training. Brigadier Weir today goes to Westport. The printing of the electoral roll for th'e Westland district is nearing completion and will be available within a few days. The roll, which is being printed by the “Guardian,” contains 285 pages and a total of 14,150 names, an increase of 1375 on the roll printed in September, 1946. The staff of the Registrar of Electors are now preparing the supplementary roll. A meeting of the Hokitika Sports Counc’l was attended by representatives of the Workingmen’s Club, Table Tennis Assn., Indoo r Basketball Assn,. Boy Scouts, Boys’ Brigade, Baseball, Basketball, Hockey, Cricket and Football Club representatives, Gun Club, Hokitika D.H. School and Borough Council. The borough engineer is working on drainage and development scheme which should be available for discussion at the next, meeting. Mr Watson, at one time town planning engineer to Durban, submitted an impression of what the proposed grounds could look like. It was decided to request Mr Watson to prepare a further impression. Mr T. McKenzie submitted a plan of a building providing for all indoor sports, including amenities, showers, grandstand, etc. All present favoured a motion that a queen carnival, to raise funds, be immediately organised. Four queens were proposed, namely, hockey, football ,cricket and basketball. The Businessmen’s Association intimated that the profits from the fireworks display at the New Year would be available to the Sports Council. The Boxing Day Sports Committee are to be approached, with a view to a share in its proceeds.