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Hokitika Guardian, 30 September 1929, Page 4

The fishing season for Westland opens to-morrow. The Library Committee meets at 7 o’clock this evening', instead of tomorrow evening. The representative of J. R. Proctor (Ei. Cholerton) of Christchurch, may. he consulted at Keller’s Hotel to-morrow from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Wednesday from 9 a.m. till 2 p.m. ■Novelties in all spring goods have been opened up and are, now on view at -Miss F. Thompson’s, Revell St. The display is quite an attractive one, and should prove of interest to patrons. The annual Sale- of Work at St. Andrew’s Hall takes place on Wednesday afternoon opening at 2 o’clock. There will be many stalls well filled, while afternoon tea will also be available. A display of spring flowers will form a feature of the sale, which will he open afternoon and evening.

A contract has been let for construction of the Ahaura River Bridge on the Big Grey to Teramnkan section of the Main Highway. The successful tendered was Mr T. Dillon, of Kotuku, and the price £13,318. The bridge will consist of twelve 60 feet spans on pile piers, the type being three-span built-up girders with rolled steel joist transoms and iron-bark stringers.

Some time ago we had occasion to refer to the despoiling of some of the graves in the cemetery of flowers placed on the resting places of loved ones. It is with regret that we are informed that the warning has not had the effect desired and that some persons have again been removing flowers. It is probable that some of the offenders may be called upon to explain their action, and if a salutary lesson is given by the Magistrate, this reprehensible practice may be slopped.

Harihari Football Club celebrate a victory ball at Harihari on Wednesday night. The music is to be supplied by the Black Hand Orchestra so patrons are assured of the latest and best.

A special feature at St. Andrew’s sale of work on Wednesday will he a display of daffodil blooms from Sir Heaton Rhodes’ famous gardens at 1 “ Utaliuna.”

The Committee of the Competitions Society meets to-morrow afternoon to settle accounts in connection with the late festival. The Social for the presentation of prizes etc. ta es place on Thursday night at the Soldiers’ Hall.

Rev. Mr Cocks, of Kumara, who hns been a,"pointed to the charge of the Anglican Church at Mount Som'/rs, loft to-day to take up his new duties. He was accompanied by Airs Cocks.

The Electric Light Ball at the Public Hall, Kokatalii on Wednesday night should attract a large attendnee, especially as the funds are being devoted ,o iiie lighting of the hall on which the electric light will be turned on at D. 30 p.m.

The death is recorded at Auckland of Mr Thomas Fahey, aged 75 years, a pioneer of the .cinema business in New Zealand, and a resident of the West Coast in his youth. He was on .the diggings at Ross and Kumara, before, engaging in the electrical industry. He was a member of the West Coasters’ Association at Auckland, and is survived by a grown-up family.

The renewal of the Borough water supply race from Lake Kanieri, substituting Hume pipes for the wooden pipes, is being proceeded with steadily. The members of the Council are to inspect the operations which are being carried out under Foreman Ghesterrnan. The work takes time, as the cementing of the points may be done satisfactorily only in fine weather. The work also requires to be done with special care to see that the joints are perfectly tight. On that account the work will take some time, but with the fine season approaching it is hoped better progress will he made, especially as the staff is more familiar with the details of the work;

The Hokitika river as viewed from the railway traffic bridge is a labyrinth of whitebait catchers’ trenches. They extend from the end of the centre island nearest the sea, and extend up the river, mainly on both sides of the centre channel as far as the eye can reach. The work of erection of the trenches has been a considerable one, in one instance over one hundred and fifty sacks having been filled with gravel, with a workmanship stone wall

to keep them in place. Unfortunately, so far the catch has not been large enough to recoup the work of trenchmaking and other necessary expenditure. , 7.; 77.‘:r:; : ;r;

The ambergris season is-now. in; full swing at Stewart Island, and during the heavy westerlies parties have been camping at all the main western Leaches, states the ‘‘Southland News” correspondent As is usual at this time of the year when the schools of sperm whales are passing these regions, a large quantity of the soft or low grade ambergris is coming ashore. If the westerlies continue for another week, however, the finergrade stuff will start to reach these shores. When the debris drifting ashore has small white barnacles attached, then is the time to. be on the search for the costly grey ambergris.'.

The preparation, of the Hokitika Bowling Club’s green was put in hand last week and already a -practical improvement can be seen. During the winter the green has been cut regularly, and some top-dressing was put on in places, and some grass seed sown. The green is now well covered in every part, and as soon as the surplus grass has been taken off, sufficiently to ab low the new grass to come away, and it has received the necessary rolling to level down the surface the green will be in excellent order for play. It is probable that the green will be available for a roll up on Saturday next, to enable members to get the feel of their bowls, in preparation for the opening of the season, which has been tentatively fixed for , Wednesday of next week, Oct. 9th. During the winter some of the members have done a lot of cleaning up of the garden, and this will have a beneficial result as the season wears on.

A python twenty-eight feet long escaped from its cage at the Belle Vue Zoological Gardens, Manchester, and was at liberty for about five hours. An official of the gardens stated that toe python was the largest in captivity. If weighed 3cwt, and was over fifty years old. It had been asleep for several week, ns it was sloughing its skin W uen the keeper went into the reptile’s cage he thought that it was still sleeping. Suddenly, however, the python struck out at him. Fortunately the man was short, and as he ducked the snake’s head passed over him. But the i ython got thr> ugh the open door and made its way to a gallery at the back of its cage. There it coiled up. and apparently went to sleep again. The officials eventually got it back bv tempting it with food, for it was hungry after its long sleep. Its recapture was watched' by large numbers of visitors.

Don’t pay big prices for eggs—pre : serve a supply with Sharland’s “Moa” Brand Egg Preservative while they are cheap. Keeps them fresh for months. —Advt.

Weekly Social at St. [Mary’s Club t Rooms to-morrow (Tuesday) evening at 8 o'clock. Supper provided.—Advt. -

An important meeting ;to discuss, school centralisation- in the Kokatahi district will be held on Saturday next at 8 p.m. at the hall at Lower Kokatahi. Householders and otherß inter? ested are’asked to attend. . • ■

While proceeding along-the .Dunollie. . . ... railway cutting last Saturday night, Mr Robert Soott, of Runanga,\ employed as an engine driver at the James ~ Mine, Rnpahoe, was overtaken by the late train running to, town, and -.was thrown to the ground.. The wheelSjof tne train passed over the right leg of ] the unfortunate man, practically, .sever- ' ing it; and on his removal to.the hoe- ! . pital it was amputated; .! - 7k- / : , The death occurred at the Grey ,J River Hospital on Saturday afternoon of a well-known and;respected ,citizen, j. - Captain Percy Franc \Cluuis-Rpss, .of -, .-.m/':' Cowper Street. Born in ; London.,,in,. ,;v 1874, for the past twenty-eight -years.:,. : he had been in the service of the Union Steamship Company 'and for the ; !>; past twelve years he held the position of Wharfinger to the-Union Company. . v 77;.V' Deceased leaves a widow and one son, - . . Jack. . . _ •= • . 7, A'-' * • # ) Informed that a light had been served in a cottage in Queen Char-. ’ lotte Sound, which cottage had been • closed for the'winter, Constable Dud- . ley, of Pictoh,' wfent up , th6'> Sound in t ->. ■.*«:« a launch, and in the cottage discover*; . > ecT'a young man lying in‘ bedi% ; He.-;-./ ;• had liquid refreshment' cloße* at'hand, v and with earphones on his head :he -wafti >, , enjoying the broadcast' fr6m. 2 Y.A., The man, Bruce Edwin, aged.-d^uwhoifcfck has been wanted foT’three'irioiiths<on..auti •• . series of ch arges contermrig thefts from.-; a 1: .v; various cottages in the .awvj» arrestee!, and He has been reminded.’■> The death occurred yseterday afternoon at his residence, -Shakespeare, Street, of a respected resident of Greym'outh, in the person of Mr Fergus • Bafrowman, clerk to' the Greymouth/ ’ " Harbour Board, and Secretary of tjhe Grevmouth Fire Board. ’"'A- native of • ; Keefton, the deceased was 52 years of •/• • ».■_ age,' and was the second son of : the late ••• - A, Fergus and Mary Barrowman.'’ Some v two months ago he was obliged to relinquish work, and his health'" sincp the'n had gradually declined, until his death yesterday occcurred. He is survived by a, widow, and three brothers, •<' 'tnomas (Frankly h Junction),' William. (Christchurch), and Ilphert' ; (Grey- , / moiith), and by one sister, Airs Brown, '• of Wanganui.” ■ ' ’ 7' f ‘7

In connection ..with the alleged sandbagging of a woman at Foxtbn on Thursday last, White- £ house, of the Palmerston North,police; gave a somewhat less colorful inter- d pretation of the affair. Seiiior-Detec- -- tive Quirke: and Detective RusSell ;l}ad ( v been down to Foxton and investigated ; the ease.. Tne ’it ;’• had been found that the : womati' / 'waß ; >'- ;: not hi. good. health.; 1 Pridi’. to the ‘fil- " leged nttack she' had : 'carried 9 her bhby--*‘-> and an apache case from the Hotel 1 - to her -room at the flaxmill, a' distance of about a mile. As ’soon as ehexairived at the office she had put down her baby and Had gone to the door outside to get some chips. “She said that she saw a grey, sleeve come round , the front of the doorway/’ said ’ thb senior-sergeant, / ‘‘but it would .he. a>, physical, impossibility, judging' by.;the'' •'7-irij'-rk on her head, for her to get hit- , without her seeing her assailant’s full body. Both the detective and the manager of the mill were quite convinced that she had a seizure of some kind and fell forward and struck her nea-d against the doorpost.” '7. • ••' ’ 7' i

Now opening, new furnishings; in carpets, rugs. linoleum, runners, hearth mgs, and floortex squares, allsizes.—Schroder and Co.—Advt.