HOKITIKA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 18 September 1948, Page 2

HOKITIKA NOTES

[Our own Correspondent] New Bridge Over Kokatahi River

HOKITIKA, Sept 17 Mr J. B. Kent, M.P., has advised Westland County Council that it was hoped to call tenders for the new bridge within one month. The council’s contribution will be £4C't)o in five annual payments. Application wfil be made to the Treasury to secure consent for the council to raise fire loan. The county engineer has been, instructed to arrange . for gravelling the road formed by Lake Mahinapua Acquatic Club. Donations were made to the Royal Humane Society and the H.D.H.S. projector fund. The council offered its support to the Suburban Drainage League of Auckland to secure the setting up o-f a commission to deal with sewerage disnosal. Mr T. Nolan notified the satisfactory completion of river protection work at Wataroa. Full support is t 0 be accorded the Westland District Progress League in its efforts to obtain the appointment of a resident West Coast Magistrate. Mr Jas. Minehan wrote to the council in regard to work at Poerua river and the council decided to ask him to make a claim on the Westland Catchment Board.

Mr J. C. Clarke, engineer, was appointed to attend the conference of the Institute of Engineers to be held in Auckland, during February next. The chairman, Mr M. Wallace, was deputed to interview Westland Power Ltd., over their increased charges for the lighting scheme proposed for Kanieri. The increase wa& from £6 10s to £B. /

In order tn dispense with the lire control system operating, the County Clerk will be responsible for inserting the necessary warning notices in the local papers after prolonged dry spells of weather, and also to notify the lifting of the controls. WHITEBAIT CATCHES IMPROVED Supplies of whitebait showed a considerable improvement on yesterday, when some good runs took place, and many fishermen secured improved catches. Some of the trench fishermen higher up the river secured catches of up to 32 pints or more. Unfortunately to-day the sea conditions were rough and this probably would counteract further runs. A consignment of whitebait arrived from the southern rivers for transport to the Christchurcn market. With a continuance of good weather and sea conditions, the runs should become more regular. HOKITIKA SAVINGS BANK The Hokitika Savings Bank experienced a successful year for the period ended March 31, 1948. The bank is one of the five private banks operating in New Zealand. It was established in 1866 and throughout its long and prosperous existence has served the district well. Mr M. H. Houston the present manager, In his boyhood days, served as a cadet in the bank, when the business was conducted by the late Air William Duncan. The bank has 2610 depositors, and the profit for the year was£33B4 14s Bd, after allowing £839 for income tax and £33 for depreciation. The bank is only permitted to make donations to organisations ol a charitable nature, and, throughout the long period of years has madesome noteworthy donations, ialyly to the Westland Hosp tai, which included a new X-xay plant, and other necessary equipment.

Its importance as a bank is known all over the world and the bank was represented at. a world conference held in France many years ago, tne late Mr William Wilson being the delegate. In the early days of the bank the late Mr William Duncan was the manager, and it is a timehonoured story of a local resident who went to the manager for an advance, that, in reply to the important question as to what security could be offered for the loan, replied that all he had to offer was the word of an honest man. The late Mr Duncan, being a careful manager quickly replied, “Bring him along!”