PILOT APPOINTED AT PATEA

Taranaki Daily News, 3 December 1930, Page 10

PILOT APPOINTED AT PATEA

REPAIRS MADE TO THE DREDGE.

WEATHER AFFECTS PORT TRADE

Of the 17 vessels that crossed the bar of the Pat,ea River during November, 15 did 60 between the 2nd and the 19th of the month. Air. A. H. Alercer, the pilot, in Jiis report to yesterday's meeting of the Pat-ea Harbour Board need this point to show that it was not the poor state of the bar, but the unsettled weather over the latter part of the month which accounted for the poor shipping returns. There were present at the meeting Messrs. A. T. Christensen (chairman), A. H. Hodge, A.'N. Williams, J. R. Corrigan, A. Pearce and W. H. WatkinsThere were 27 candidates for the •position of pilot rendered vacant by the recent death of Captain Tinney. After approximately an hour in committee this number was reduced to three and the final choice was Captain W. E. Barnes, at present master of the m.v. Koau. The- dredgemaster, Air. A. H. Alprcer, reported that •on November 23 the dredge had been placed on the slip. It had been impossible to do this before owing to the necessity of dredging certain °berths which had shoaled. From the 6th to the 13th of the month 13'20 cubic yards of silt had been shifted. Since being placed upon the slip the dredge had been scraped and examined by the surveyor. It Ivad been found that the replacement of one small plate was required on the starboard side owing to corrosion; 23 rivets were required on the port side and several on (the other side. The main engines and boiler were in good repair. Plates on the bilges were becoming thin and would continue to grow worse each year until it would be-imperative to have them re.plated, to sa.ve internal corrosion. At present the latter was almost negligible. The dredgemaster stated that he had made arrangements to have this work done as speedily as possible in order to take the dredge out on the present spring tides. The surveyor had been accompanied on his inspection by Mr. Na-ismith, who acted as arbitrator. When the work mentioned had been •done the dredge would be up to regulation standard. In his pilot’s report Mr. Mercer stated. the channel on the bar was fairly srood but the westerly gales had kept it to the east, the best water being within 100 ft. of the eastern wall. Seventeen vessels had crossed the, bar during th 7l -month, nine being departures and cjgbt arrivals. He had been unable to obtain soundings, of the bar but by careful observation estimated that there was lift. Gin. at high water spring tide and 9ft; at high water neap tides. I.he work set out by the committee in connection with the pilot station had no, I been commenced until November 28 and owincr to the heavy nature of the work had been slow* The flagsta {rear was in good order, minor • repairs having been made.

HARBOURMASTER FOR PATEA.

CAPT.- W.?E. BARNES APPOINTED. Captain.- W. E. Barnes, who was yes-, terday appointed/.,pilot to • the Harbour Board, '-is a married man, 47. veare of ag£, and is ati present; master of th© Richardson Comphny’s motor vessel Koau and a holder of v the New Zealand home- tradb master’s certificate. Captain Barnes has seen 25 years coastal service in .New Zealand waters, during 22 of which he has been in command of different vessels. He has worked regularly the bad harbours of Henekino, Whangape, Hokianga and Karamea. For three years he was master of the Richardso'n steamship Parera, which visited, the harbours of Greymouth and Westport. Captain Barnes also possesses considerable experience, in surfing work, havin<r been master of the surfing schooners Awanui and Crete at different times. On four occasions he has visited the Patea i harbour as the master of a coastal vessel. 1 ■

RED CROSS COMPETITIONS.

HAWERA TEAM’S SUCCESS. The points gained by the winning team (Wellington) and the runner-up (Hawera) in the Collins Cup first aid competition were, Wellington being mentioned first: —Chart marking 82, 90; dressing 88, 78; questions 95, 95; bandaging 90, 95; bed making 99, 88; sponging and uniforms 72, 70; 70, 75;- total marks, 97, 9u. TE KIRI DISTRICT NEWS. Another of the Te Kiri hall social committee’s dances was held on Wednesday. In spite of the wretched weather a fair attendance marked the gathering, and an exceptionally jolly time was spent. Novelty dances were won by Miss R. Corbett and Mr. R. Smith, and Miss Mildenhall and partner. Extras were played by Miss R. Corbett, Messrs. H. Brooker and Mr. J. Hooker, and the Kelly Orchestra. Henderson’s Star Band was iu attendance. Supper was served bv the committee, comprising Messrs. W. Coxhead, J. Crawford, P. Coxhead, D. Pitt, J. Rudling, L. Bcere, Crawford and H. Stockman. Mr. W. Coxhead was Master of Ceremonies. This was the last of the series before Christmas. The Church of England ladies held their annual Christmas tree function on Friday evening. It was well attended and greatly enjoyed. MANAIA TALKIES. “GOLD DIGGERS OF BROADWAY.” Owing to the tremendous popularity of “The Gold Diggers of Broadway,” arI rangements have been made to extend I the season for one night, the final screenling taking place to-night. Patrons are I adviged to see it, as it will be many I months before if returns to 'laranaki. Coming on Saturday and Monday next is “Splinters.” America undoubtedly has for many years now been leading the world in motion picture production. England has always been generally corisidI ered to be lagging behind in film produc- | tion. Talkies, however, have totally altered the complexion of things, and to-day England finds that she possesses the I greatest “talkie voices,” the best authors, and, consequently, the very best material for the production of the newly I —and universally—accepted form of entertainment —the talking film. British I Dominions Films have realised EngI land’s new position in the film world, I for they have made what is one of the greatest, if not the greate.st, and most unusually entertaining films that has I ever been made. This all-talking film is “Splinters,” adapted from the famous I war-time concert of that name.