HOKITIKA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 29 September 1949, Page 2

HOKITIKA NOTES

[Our Own CorresDondent]. At the final meeting of the Westland Rugby Sub Union, the following teams were declared winners of competitions: SENIOR: Main and OneRound competitions, Exelsiors. JUNIORS: Main competitions, Ross. One-Round Competition, Pirates. A sum of £2/2- was voted to St. John Ambulance Brigade. The Association stated 75 players were treated for injuries during- the season.

The chairman stated the organisation served the Rugby Union well, and their, services were appreciated by all. The statement of receipts and expenditure was received and the chairman said the Union had a succesful season. Next year it was hoped to send a Westland side on tour, and to conserve its funds towards this end.

It was decided that the referees and the Captains, Club Captains and Secretaries of Clubs be invited to attend an evening, and discuss the next season.

It. was decided to assist in raising funds, by nominating a queen. A Committee of five was approved.

Each club is to be asked to nominate a princess. The committee meet on Saturday evening and the Queen selected to carry the Rugby banner will be announced. The chairman was empowered to make arrangements for draining the new ground at the racecourse, and to have it in order for next season. School football was discussed and i'. was decided tfiat questions be again raised at the Annual Meeting in 1950.

During his visit to Hokitika, Brigadier C. G. Weir, C.8.E.., D. 5.0., met Captain Reeves and Lieutenants Eastgate and Thomas. He stated that the response to the appeal for officers had been very good, the men being obtained on a purely voluntary basis. The appeal for non-com-missioned officers had also been satisfactory,with former members of the 2nd N.Z.E.F. and men in the 19-26 year-old group. The appeal for NC'O’s would conclude at the end of the month and training would begin at Burnham in May. Asked whether local training would be confined to the infantry arm or whether trainees would have instruction in other specialised fields, Brigadier Weir replied that D Company is a unit of an infantry battalion and as the arm of the service to which a soldier is posted depends primarily on the place of his residence, local soldiers will be trained as infantry. “The most higmy skilled men who enter the battlefield today are the infantry soldiers; it is a great privilege to belong to the corps of infantry”, said Brigadier Weir. “We have never been so well off in peace-time for training equipment. The- infantry corps will be supplied with weapons of the most recent design; the same equipment recommended for use by the Regular* Army. Each unit will be provided with mechanical transport. D Company will be issued with the most up-to-date equipment and mechanical transport. Although a man in the infantry must be able to march and march well, he normally rides to battle.” This was his first visit to Hokitika and time would not permit a visit to the glaciers. Of Hokitika itself he had seen very little but was quite impressed *ith the layout. The journey by roaa to the West Coast over Arthur’s Pass or Lewis Pass equalled any drive he had ever seen. Hokitika Borough Council

At a special meeting of the Hokitika Borough Council he'd on Wednesday afternoon .special resolutions were carried applying to the Board of Health for authority to lay the special concrete main from Lake Kaniere to the reservoir at Hokitika, the construction of a new* reservoir at Hokitika and relining the existing reservoir. The total cost is set at £52,000. A special rate will be security for the loan. The resolutions were:—“That the Hokitika Borough Council apply to the Board of -Health for a requisition, under Section 22 of the Health Act, 1920, to provide an adequate supply of water to the borough as outlined in the Consulting Engineer's report, dated the 28th July, 1949, namely:— (1) The laying of a 9-inch reinforced concrete pipe line from Lake Kaniere to the existing reservoir. (2) The construction of a new reservoir and the relining of the existing reservoir. (3) The cost to be coveredby a loan of £52,000 term thirty years, interest 31 per cent, per annum, repayable wuth interest by halfyearly instalments of £1363 5s Id. '(4) Security for the repayment of the said loan and interest thereon shall be a special rate of eight and seven-sixteenths of a penny in the £ on the unimproved rateable value of the whole of the Borough (£85,078)”

The Borough Council received delivery this week of a modern set of gang mowers from England. The Ransome mower is the very latest type to be imported, and will be used to keep the lawns and playing areas of Cass Square in order. The mowers have to be towed by the Council tractor, and can be adjusted to any cut while in motion. It is intended to top-dress the playing areas of Cass Square and once this work is completed and the surfaces regularly cut the areas should be the equal of any on the West Coast. Conditions in Hokitika were most unpleasant on Wednesday morning, during the night the wind blew at gale force from the south-west, the temperatures being very cold, Hail showers fell throughout the night, and there were very heavy showers of rain, the snow is down to the lowest level of the year, at times it was almost snowing in Hokitika, the barometer reading 29-36.

An earthquake shock was also felt at 5.12 a.m.. The sea at Hokitika still remains in a rough condition. The conditions have practically cut off supplies of whitebait, catches recorded being very small indeed. The mountain ranges are covered with a heavy mantle of snow, and presented a grand sight.

CASS SQUARE IMPROVEMENT Mr H. V. Algar presided at the annual meeting of the Cass Square Improvement Committee, at the pavilion, also present being Messrs H. Thompson, E. W. Heenan, S. Havill and G. Stapleton. The balance sheet was adopted, the credit balance being £B9 Is lid. The secretary, Mr J. Preston, said there was a further credit and the actual balance was nearer £l2O. The chairman said he did not propose to act as chairman for a further term. Mr Havill said it appeared useless to elect officers. ,Mr Al ff ar was the only representative, except

Mr Stapleton, who was not a member of the Borough Council. Cricket and soft ball players would require the square for the summer, and the committee would need to know what improvements they desired. The meeting had been advertised, and it was disappointing to find practically no interest. The chairman said the committee had a fair amount of money in hand, but if there were no interest, the committee would have to hand it to the Borough Council, and forgo its management of the square. The secretary said the meeting had been well advertised. “What can we do?” asked Mr Algar, “if those who require the playing areas are not sufficiently interested to send their representatives”. It was decided to adjourn the meeting for -two weeks, and again advertise, and that if no better response resulted th e funds be handed to the Borough.