HOKITIKA NOTES.

Grey River Argus, 21 February 1927, Page 8

HOKITIKA NOTES.

(Our Own Correspondent). Mr. A. Scott, of Kangarua, arrived in town on Friday evening un a visit to his mother, who is seriously ill ai the Westland Hospital. Mr. G. Heinz, manager of the local gas works, arrived home by Thursday’s express from a visit to the North Is land. Mr. Heinz attended the annual conference of Gas Managers held at Pal merston North. As tthe outcome of a collision some

months ago in Fitzherbcrt Street, where by Mrs Muir of the Three Mile received serious injuries it is understood that a civil action is set down for thc forthcoming sitting of thc Supreme Court when substantial damages will be SOUght. ; •>

Mrs W. Mason, of West port, is on a visit to Hokitika, and is staying with her brother, Mr. C. Friend, of Sewell Street. Mr. J. 1). McCleal’y, of the clerical staff of the Sea View Mental Hospital left by Saturday’s express on a visit to his parents in Christchurch.

Mr. Dick Musson, of Christchurch, whu has been on a visit to town during the preceding week, returned home by Saturday ’s express. A petition is being circulated amongst business people for the purpose of changing the statutory half-holiday from AVednesday to Saturday. It is understood that the proposal is being favourably received.

A great improvement in thc arrangements for the trucking of motor cars for the West Coast has recently been provided at Springfield by the construe tioii of an end-on loading bank, 'rheconstruction of this bank (and of a similar bank at Otira) will be welcomed by the many tourists who make the trip to the West Coast during thc summer months. With these new arrangementthc number of trucks required for thu transport of cars either at Springfield or at Otira will be backed up at one end of the bank enabling the motorist (after the ends and fronts of the trucks) have been lowered (tu drive his car from the loading bank to the farthest truck. Succeeding cars will fii-' up the trucks in that order. As a result of the provision of those loading banks Mr. Hawkes (Secretary Organiser of tiic Canterbury Automobile Association) anticipates that many motorists have been dotcH'ed in the past owing to the inconvenience of trucking cars will make the journey to the West Coast. In addition to thc much improved loading conveniences, thu accommodation at thc hotel aft Springfield is particularly good and the requirements of travellers arc well catered for. At a mctcing of the Athletic and Cycling Club on Friday the following new members were elected.—J. Turner. N. Field, D. Dowell, C. Pfahlert, L. Fowler. D. Williamson, T. Stickles, H. Steel, W. Gilpin. The following oncers

were appointed: Patron: lion. IT. L. Uicliel; President, Mr. D. J. Evans: Vice-President: Mr. N. Field. Auditor, Mr. E. Spencer; Treasurer, Mr. N. Field Secretary, Mr. G. A. Adamson; Assistant Secretary, Mr. k. Rochfort; Committee. Messrs D. Dowcil, IT. Steel, W. Steel, E. Toohcy, Williamson, Pierson. Eowler, Haddock Ferguson, Turner, Rochfort, Stickles, Pfahlerr, Field, Hail, Lynn and Gilpin. The balance sheet for the year showed the total receipts as £lO5/0/7 while the excuses amounted to £99/9/2 leaving a credit balance oi £5/11/5. The fee for members was fixed at 5/-. It was decided to hold sports on Friday 181 b. March. A draft progrannm is to be drawn up and submitted to the general commit lue at the next meeting. It was decided to call thc attention of thc Borough Council to the present state of the cycling track on Cass Square and request that the tar scaling of sanm be pushed forward. Though pilfering, damage to consignments and losses in transit are matters which fortunately the management of thc New Zealand Railways less !concern than in the past, constitutes very real problems for the goods ope rating and commercial officers of the

big railway systems of other countries. In the United States particularly, these problems are the subject of constant study and much has been done to effect a diminution in claims due to these causes. Compared with 1920 for instance the figures from “Railroad Data 7 which is issued periodically on behail of the United States railways, show that claims in 1925 were reduced by SS per cent., while theft losses show a reduction of 31.5 per cent against 1924 In 1925 thirteen million less-than-car-load cars were handled, each containing an average of 189 packages 61 freights. “Railway Data” observes: —

“The question may well be asked wheth er goods are not safer from thieving while in thc custody of the railroad than anywhere else in the world outside a bank vault.” This improved

safety is attributed to various causes among which arc the activities of the Protection Section of the United States Railway Association; elimination of de lays; increased police efficiency; better packing; flood lighting of yards, thorough analysis of reports of eases of-pil-fering; greater co-operation between the claim prevention and police depart ments; and propaganda, to induce co operation on the pan: of the railway staff and of firms consigning goods. f i’he “lost luggage ’ submitted to public fuc tion at rare intervals in Greyniouth 3as shown that either passengers arc less forgetful than they have been in the past, or that the travelling public are becoming more honest. Strange to say the same thing■ applies to other parts of New Zealand.