LATE LOCALS.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 June 1920, Page 3

LATE LOCALS.

Messrs McKay and Son are now mak- ! ing a fine display of raincoats of all descriptions.

' Tho football matches for to-morrow are Kiwis v. Ross at Hokitika at 3 p.m.; Diggers v. Kokatahi at Kokatahi; Excelsiors v. Kumar a at Kumara.

Messrs M. Houston and Co will sell by auction on the premises Wataroa, on Friday next at noon, the valuable farm property of Mr T. J. Hallnhan. Full particulars of this splendid offering appear in this issue.

I The first whitebait catch of this season was recorded at the Orawaiti on Tuesday, says the Westport “Star,” Mr Alf. Penny hauling in about one pint. Mr Penny brought in a small sample to let our staff see that they were all-nlive-oh! and hot preserved ones from last season’s supplies. The Maoris say that early whitebait signify an early spring.

Major Simeon who has been appointed District Organiser of St. John’s ambulance will visit Hokitika to-niorrmv in connection wth the proposal to assist the local branch to increase their membership. Major Simeon has had five years experience in home hospitals during the war and his experiences gained on active service should be taken advantage pf by all who have this worthy object at heart. A meeting therefore has been convened to take place at the hospital rooms to-morrow (Saturday) evening at 7.30 o’clock and ail interested are cordially invited to attend.

An amusing incident concerning General Birdwood and a “digger” was told at the returned soldiers’ smoke concert to the General by Colonel R-. Young, 0.C., the Canterbury Military District. Colonel Young said that one day on 'Gallipoli he was standing with the General iii a gully when a sparsely clad, tirell-ldoking “digger” came toi 1 - ing up the bill with a pail of water in each hand. General Birdwood stepped aside to give the man room, and as he passed asked him how things were going. The man took no notice, but went on up the hill, hut suddenly he turned round and said, “Well, I think we’ve got the : ’s -beat anyhow.” “A cold shiver ran down my back to think what would happen,” concluded Colonel Young, “hut General Birdwodd merely remarked, “Well, Young, that man’s got the true spirit.” He recognised that beneath the rough exterior of the ‘digger’ beat a heart as good as gold.”

During his tour in America and England in the interests of his department, Mr AV. C. HonderOsn, (Dunedin City Electrcal Engineer), got in touch in both countries with firms specialising in the purification of water for public baths, and obtained schemes or tenders which are now jn the hands of the General Committee. Mt Henderson had the. opportunity in Britain of Kccles, a suburb of Manchester, an Installation carried out on practically The same lines as those proposed for Dunedin. “At the time of my visit,” he says, “tho water was so clear that the coloured tiles m the bottom were quite plain- From the caretaker, I learned that previous to tlie installation of the filter the water ,which is naturally discoloured, had to be renewed twice a week. ' It was about the middle of February when I was there, and the bath had not been emptied sineo the previous April- Of course, there is a certain amount of loss from cleansing the filters ,etc., and this has to be made up, but the water had not been totally renewed for nearly 10 months. The filteiing plant was compact and appeared to be = very simple in operation.”