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West Coast Times, 18 June 1912, Page 2

The Hokitika Gas Company is offerin'!; coko at specially low prices for one month only—terms cash. The dredging returns hist week include Worsop Coozs 12 dwts ,and Now Trafalgar 13ozs 1 dwt.

During the 88 years in whicli trains have been miming in Tasmania in no case have the State railways been responsible for the death of a passenger. Mr S. L. P. Free has been appointed to the Now Zealand Racing Conference to represent the West Coast County Clubs, vieo Mr 0. Hood-Williams, deceased.

The railway department has accepted the tender of the “ West Coast Times” for the printing required in connection with the Westland section of railways. The term of the contract is throe years.

Last Thursday’s night’s “Gazette” states that King George has approved of the retention of the title of " honorable ” by Sir J. G. Findlay, who has been more than three years a member of the Executive Council.

The following left for Christchurch by yesterday morning’s express:— Misses Weir, Garland, J. McCormick, Messrs G. 11. Hunter, S. A. Shaw, A. Mcharry, R. Kelham, J. Kerr, A. Warwick, H, L. Lambeth. ;

All persons having claims against the estate of the late Mr A. J. Debenham are requested to forward the same to Mr A. D. D. Crawford, solicitor, on or before the 29th, and all those owing accounts to the deceased are requested to make payment to Mr Crawford, on or before the date mentioned.

On arrival of the steamer Nairnshire at Wellington from Auckland yesterday morning, Detective Mason arrested Charles John Brooks, who had escaped from custody at Auckland on Friday morning. He was found hiding in the bunker by a fireman and the captain placed him under arrest. Before fho Court yesterday morning Brooks was remanded to Auckland.The social in honour of Mr Seddon, M.P., takes place at the Opera House, Revell Street, to-night at 8 o’clock. Throughout yesterday the ladies were busy with the decorations, and all will be in readiness for to-night. The proceedings will open with a concert, at which the following will assist; Misses Thompson, Hyaras, Day, Solomon, Preston, Daly and F. Evans; Mesdames Cadzow, A. D. Macfarlane* and Richardson, and Mr W. B. Cadzow. During the evening Mr Seddon will be presented with an illuminated address. After supper has been served a dance will be held, and. a special orchestra will supply the music for the occasion. The general arrangements seem so complete that the enjoyment of one and all attending should be ensured.

We are asked to state that the practice of the junior members of the Drum and Fife Band will bo held in the Town Hall to-night, at 7 o’clock, and the seniors will moot for practice at 7 o’clock on Thursday night. At the Palmerston North Magistrate’s Court yesterday, John Scales, Henry Couper and William Craw were proceeded against by tho Stock Inspector on a charge of exposing licc-infcct-cd sheep for sale. A fine of £1 with costs was inflicted in each case.

Thomas Docksey, with several aliases, was remanded at Timaru yesterday for a week, on charges of issuing valueless cheques in Timaru and obtaining diamond rings by false pretences in Auckland. The charges of issuing cheques at Christchurch and Port Chalmers will be taken at those places.

The State Coal Miners’ Union at Ennanga on Saturday collected £257 iu aid of the strikers at Waihi and Reefton. Tho Blackball Union is also collecting funds for tho same purpose, and this branch having a larger membership than the State Union, it is ex.pected the contribution will reach even more substantial proportions. Tho following passengers arrived by the Christchurch express on Saturday night;— Misses Taylor, Smith, K. Marshall, S. W. Marshall; Mcsdamcs J. W. Smith and family, Tainui junr., Crutch ; Messrs J. W. Smith, M. Fraser, L. H. Denniston, W. Woods, B. Dixon, W. Thomson, Stuck!, P. J. Connoil, R. J. Whittaker, His Honor Justice Denniston.

A reserve on South Spit road, about a mile and a quarter from Hokitika Post Office with an area of five acres, and upset annual rental £2 will bo leased by public auction at the land oflico, Hokitika, on July 31st, at 11 a.in. At the same time and place, a block of 39 acres, upset annual rental £1 10s, and weighted for improvements to the extent of £239 11s, adjacent to Aicken’s railway station, Otira line, will be offered to lease of 21 years. “ There would bo less .heard of the difficulty of procuring labour in this country,” said a farmer speaker at Waiau on Thursday, “if there wore more labour farmers and fewer motorcar farmers—more practical, everyday men. 1 have had no difficulty whatsoever in engaging what little labour I have had- to employ, and if the country was more closely settled so that the labourer could be also a small farmer, there would bo no talk of labour difficulties.”

In view of the clearing sale of drapery, which is to be held by Messrs McKay and Son, commencing on Thursday,'the firm’s premises will be closed all day to-morrow (Wednesday) to permit of the stock being re-marked. An announcement in connection with the sale will bo made in the course of a few days, and housewives and others are advised to be on the alert, and not to miss the exceptional opportunities that will occur at the sale, which promises to bo a record one from every point of view.

Sunday’s gale was tlie severest felt in Pahiatua or many years, and considerable damage was done. Several largo plate glass windows in the main street were blown in, and fences and trees blown down. At Mangaitonoka, the roof the Dubley Arms Hotel was lifted bodily from the building, and it was carried across the road, and came in contact with the telegraph wires about forty yards distant, breaking eight out ton wires. The portion of the roof carried away comprised twenty-two shoots of ten foot iron, and a large number of rafters.

Tho Dominion Meteorologist last evening telegraphed tho following weather summary and forecast:—“ Tho barometer rose everywhere during the night, with high southwesterly winds, and heavy showers; but another westerly low pressure area has been in evidence, and temporarily modified the weather conditions. Tho rivers are flooded in Westland. Present indications are for westerly winds, strong to a heavy gale; cold, cloudy and showery weather with rivers flooded on the West Coast. Tlie barometer will probably fall everywhere soon.”

A Christchurch Press Association ’ message reports that a large stone axe about ten indies long was found a few feet underneath the surface in Hagley Park at a place known as “Pilgrims’ Corner.” It is in the stylo followed by ancient Maoris, and is a good example of workmanship, the edgo being very thin. It is stated that the site of the discovery was a favourite mooting place of Maoris in the days before civilisation. When the discovery was made known last week a search was made in the vicinity for more relics but without any result. The specimen has been presented to the museum. Our Ross Correspondent writes:— The Leap Year Ball, which took place in the Totara Hall, Ross, on Friday evening, pioved a pronounced success. In spito of the inclemency of the weather upwards of 50 couples attondecd, and all thoroughly enjoyed themselves until the small hours of the morning. The ladies committee, with Miss Thiele as chairwoman, and the energetic secretaries, Misses Patrick am! McNicol, deserve every praise for bringing the ball to such a successful issue. The hall was most tastefully decorated with evergreens, flags etc and the beautiful effect produced thereby must have fully compensated the lad.es for their laborious task. At midnight an adjournment was made for supper when a bevy of the fair sex landed round a great assortment of edibles, to which full justice wa s done is rumoured that some of the ladies took advantage of it being l eap Teap and cimra! proposals were made durmg the evening. It is understood all ne pioposals were accepted, consequently several announcements are ev The ba to l mad 6 thG near futu ''e. aho ut tetd already talkil, K out ten dernig a return ball it early date. The music for the ball wn supplied by Mr. Sid Evans in h i uJS finished style, while Miss Patrick nkv ed several extras. Mr Tiifl, i ol.r e o o f th. a , 0 “ duties m a very creditable nrnnlter, M 8