WEST COAST NEWS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18939, 9 December 1929, Page 6

WEST COAST NEWS.

UNSEASONABLE WEATHER. (Special to the “Star.”) GREYMOUTH, December 8. The weather on the West Coast continues to be most unseasonable. Waterspouts and whirlwinds have caused considerable damage, while heavy rain, hail, thunder, lightning, and gales have made conditions miserable during the past month. Hailstones the size of >eas fell yesterday and many gardens have been practically ruined. About three inches of rain has already fallen this month, and the total for November was over fourteen inches. News received yesterday stated that the Otira Gorge was again blocked by slips, the clearing of which is expected to occupy three days. INJURED IN COLLISION. A motor accident occurred this afternoon at the junction of Turumaha and Herbert Streets between a car driven by Frederick Fletcher, of Paroa, and a motor-cycle ridden by Victor Griffiths, of Cobden. Griffiths escaped with bruises, but a young man on the pillion named Evenden received head injuries, and was admitted to the hospital. The cycle was wrecked. CHARGE OF THEFT. Before Mr W. Meldrum, S.M., at Westport, John Edward Bernard Patrick Travers, charged with the theft of an office chair valued at £2 10s, the property of Hagedorn and Sons, was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence within twelve months if called upon. A prohibition order was taken out against him. CRUSHED BY ROLLING LOG. J. Molloy, while engaged as a tractor driver at Te Kinga, received injuries through being crushed by a rolling log. He was removed to the Greymouth Hospital, and is now making a good recovery. CITY CRICKETERS’ TOUR. Advice has been received at Reefton that a Christchurch cricket club propose sending a team to the West Coast during the coming holidays, playing matches at Westport, Greymouth and Reefton. The match at Reefton will take place on January PERSONAL. Mrs Kim \\ illiams left yesterday for Christchurch. Mr W. M’Dougall left yesterday for Christchurch. Miss Iv. ihomas was a passenger to Christchurch by yesterday’s express. Mr Gordon J. Williams, who has been appointed by the Mines Department to make a geological survey of the Reefton coal fields, has commenced his duties.

HOKITIKA. HEAVY WINDS AND RAIN. (Special to the “Star.”) HOKITIKA, December 7. The weather for the past twenty-four hours has been very boisterous, high winds and heavy rainstorms being experienced at intervals throughout the night. Squalls were experienced in the forenoon to-day, but the weather cleared again in the afternoon. Although the streams are swollen, no floods of any consequence have been reported. BRIDGES TO BE ERECTED. The Public Works Department is putting the erection of five small bridges on the Main South Road in hand in the New Year. Bridges will be erected over Butlers, Rogers, Mapourika, Donovan and Paganini Creeks. SHORTHAND-TYPISTS’ EXAMINATION. The following pupils of the Hokitika District High School passed the Government examination for shorthandtypists held last month, the names being given in order of merit:—Helen Ridland, Ruth Bell, Elsie Robinson, Dolly M’Whirter, Chas. Landler. RACECOURSE IN ORDER. The Hokitika Racecourse is reported to be in excellent order for the racing on Boxing Day. A fair contingent of horses is expected from Canterbury for the meeting, which is the opening race meeting for the West Coast circuit The Rev F. T. Read, secretary of the South Island Methodist Orphanage, is visiting Hokitika and district.