Burns Memorial Statue.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 May 1923, Page 1

Burns Memorial Statue.

Ila above li'imlsonie Memorial v likeness of the I’ecl. and will romt meuis of Robert. Burns in other par lian marble, and l lie figure was excel is 0 leet in height, and K to stand i also six feet in height. The foimda the site kindly granted I>\ the llokitil About Cl!) are all tlr.it i- require monument free of liability cut the dal BURNS MK.MORLAL ITXP COM .MTU! EL AIKETIXG. THURSDAY, -MAY lOlli. A meeting of the Committee win held at. the County Chant hers at 1 o’clock. Present Air (I. Davidson lii the Chair), .Messrs S. I’re.-ton. .T. King F. McGregor. A. B. Boyd, H. A Thompson, and D. ,T. Evans. Tiic. Secretary suhmitted a. statement

Tile acco’iius owing include cstimulvd expenses in cunucciion ■ with the unveiling eereniony. This leaves a balance of approximately TIM still required to unveil the M'onnuial free of debt. The strtomenf - as received with satisfaction. The. G;ia imi" n. Air Davidson, expressed piece .lire at Ihe excellent Memorial. which va- h dog elected. !!■■ had inspected tGo .Statue, and there was every lee-on to be proud cf ilm ornament the .Memorial would be to the town. ATr Davidson outlined the proposals for the unveiling ceremony.

winch is oi white marble, is a striking V 1 re most lave Drably with similar moiiitrtt of the world. The material is gici•uti.'d by a British sculptor. The figure on a pedestal of i fit K.ol.’t granite, itiuii atul pedestal are now in position on ka Borough Council in Cass Square, cd now to ensure the tinveiling of the lie above indicated. including an imitation to Janie Ciaigic K-q., ex-ALIL. who is a well known Burns enthusiast, to unveil Hu Memorial. It was also suggested that invitations should 1c Kent to the Calc is (lonian Societies at Croymnutb. Black. I ball, and AYe.-Tpcrl. ami to the Sects at u ! Rcelton. The suggestions 1.-y tin | Cliaii ■man were adopted, and it wa; i j resolved to hold the unveiling cere j many a,bout midday on .Monday, June t 1 4th., the. hour to he arranged with I the I’ughy-Suh-Uiiii.u. which will he I j holding a tournament on Cass Square j that day, "j li was decided to rck Alec-rs Currie j ami White to organise a choir fur the j pm pose of rendering Burns songs at j the unveiling. I I It was decided tia !; the Mayors of D’e f ■ asl and the C-p-d mi.n .S' a ietie.s . of the prineij a! ecu ires to represented. An imitaiain is to be extend- , Cd 1.1 the. AI Ull i e:; a] liail 1 : l-.f al-n the ! I‘ipe Band to take pari in the procession of Caledonians, which " ill move from the Town Hall :i t i I ~si) a.in. on !he da v in qro-i ii n. Tt was decided ! i hold a innveivar.ione at Si. ,\ndr; ws Hall on the •■■lternoon of the unveiling for the j;11 j psiso i f enlert: -iiiing d r viCiers. U j was it :oßvd Ini in : .-k jhr JMiil- ! way Di'Pa it ineut t i provide a suitable | j 1 iine-l chhi on- iis i from (lie north j and soul h, to iru ids the v •-i tto he j made to Hokitika ami ru; ni n lc me ilie ! same o\ ening. i -.. . \ an las a) lMllgeiileiits >• . 1-.. ]..,( j the hair's . t th • I" ~ ;■ ;mi c.. t ... ! i’retary la alien.l to. and ii v.as ioi.i-J j mated Hun a Lrp' gall ering cf tmae j i min e-.i a I ill I " i: oven ml wo M be I I assured. j

j tor no.:m i-; -, a- l lie mer i - <no of j Die must duogeinu - i didiculi m I ( aiitcrhurv, ami !■■• -on the direct ; route to (he vim . ■ltalcrc the firiiTge j was opened, many (ara- used to to held ; up at ilia for I, v. here a. horse and cart c.-cd to ior, ike pa>.angers across. Iv.ca when l j v weather clears the Railway Department will l.e faced ivnli a serious diiiiouily when it tomes to the work of repairing breaks on the V.'aijinrii-Pania.s uts Btaneh. Th.e l.’ne is II miles in length, and it goes over Ihmtnui and Vi'auiu Rivers, as well as over a imiuher of small streams. Reports iuditate that rails will have to be re laid over various stretches. .Scouring by Hood water still goes on, and tile Inundations of various bridges have been undermined. There is a .-lip near .-ha:gill, but the worst lull of earth has taken place between Ethel ton and Tomoic, where several hundred tons of earth have been carried away. The rails underneath this huge pile ol debris are verv likely to have been cither bent or broken. Repairs will, therefore, be a i matter of weeks. COMM I'XTCATfOX WITH ARTHUR'S PASS. CJIIHSTOiI ERCf!. May 10. “Railway connnuniealion with Arthur's Pass may be restored in a fortnight’s time.” stated Mr A. -]. McC redie. lJistnet Railway Engineer. “A. good deal depends upon the weather. II the rain .-tops it may be pes.-ildc t > dr. ' the work somewhat earlier, while if ii '■ continues, communication may not be t restored for a longer period.'’ “What do you think of the position , beyond the big break at Otarama V be j was asked. “It is wars:? than T expected.” Air ARCredit* replied. “At No S Tunnel it 1 is just po-sihlc for a man to squeeze 1 through the opening in the obstruction I which blocks the mouth of the tunnel.” < In reply to a further question. Air , McCreuie stated that be hoped to have | the wash-out between tunnels 9 and 10 repaired in a week's time. The break was quite as long r.s that at - Otarama (132 ft), but the git!i below i was only half as deep—somewhat over i 30ft. and ft deviation would not be ? necessary here. In regard to the de- ", vintion at Otarama. Air MrCredie stated that the new line would be taken 3-sft. inside the edge of the gulf formed by the big slide. This would mean ’ that the new lino would be about 70' I ft. from the old line, which hangs sus-

pended jicl'osw ( the. gulf, To coinstruct the deviation it would be necessary to make a editing ten feet deep through the side of tlie hills. Questioned as to the possibility of road communication with Arthur’s Pass, Air McCmlie stated that in Ids opinion it was absolutely impossible. The quickest way of getting to tile* West Coast from Christchurch Was by way of Wellington and G’reymouth. The s.s, Orepuki left Wellington atG p.m. yesterday for Greymouth with 48 bags and 45 hampers of mails. Alails should reach Greymouth late on Friday evening.

ROBINSON’S BODY FOUND. BLENHEIM, May 10. The body of the late AY. E. E. Robinson, who was drowned in the flood near Grovetown on Monday night, was recovered about 3 o’clock this afternoon in about five feet of water. Robinson had thrown off his coat, and find evidently struck out from the capsized dray in the direction of Mr F. Jones’ house, as tlte body was found about 15 yards on that side of the dray. So far the body of Jack Gledhili, who accompanied Robinson lias not been located. STATE ASSISTANCE. WELLINGTON. May 10. The Prime Minister states that the Cabinet has decided to assist settlers during the recent floods and who may require! a certain amount of cash in order to carry on their farms. The details have not yet been worked out, hut the intention is to follow the procedure adopted in the case of the hushfires some years ago at Raetilii and Ohaknne, where monetary advances were made to settlers at a comparatively low rate of interest. In the present case of sufferers through flood damage, the .rate of interest will fie 5' per cent. Applications for assistance will be received by the Superintendent of the State Advances Department. WAIAU EAAHLY’S PLIGHT. BLENHEIM, May 10.

A southerly buster treated Havelock and suburbs to 005 points of rain. The result was the heaviest flood since Oct. 2-ttli., 1900. Old residents declare it was the highest flood in their memory. Considerable damage occurred to fences on the low-lying flats adjoining the river, hut there was not much loss of stock. There have been many slips along the hillsides. ■ This morning it was still impossible to get anywhere within reasonable distance of Dillon’s Point, the whole of the area being inundated and presenting a sorry sight. The water here is receding very slowly and it is believed that it will be several days before the area is clear. There is plcny of evidence that Islington suffered severely, most of the houses being invaded to a depth of two feet, while in some cases the water was even deeper. In the Grovetown district the waters have receded a good deal, but a large area, extending front Air F. Jones’ house to the river is si'll inundated. It was in this area that the body of Air Robinson was found. A Lower AVairmi, Air Saunders and family had a most trying experience. Tn their house, which is near the bank of the YVairnu River, the water rose to an immense height, and they had to take refuge on the roof, being compelled finally to cut the roof open with an axe. Tlie house is a fairly old one, and the great pressure of the water made it literally rock. But for the lac (.that a big mieroerapn, hedge broke the current to n certain extent, Alt’ Saunders declared the place would have been carried out to sea. The family j was resettl'd yesterday, after being j without food for some time. Airs Saunders and a four months old baby Imi tlie strain of the experience greatly. I

BI.ENHELAUS LOSSES. BLENHEIM. Afay 10. The flood waters have now receded from Blenheim and from the greater portion of the inundated plains. The town is getting back to normal and settlers in the farm areas are beginning to reckon up their losses. The AI ayor’s relief fund is growing j steadily. Alany .substantial subscriptions are coining in. | Lower AYnirau it; a scene of deso'iaI i ion. and distress. At its height the AVairmi river g meed out a great gap in its hanks in the vicinity of Whitlo’s Bend. The wn!•■’•. trariii';; m-ros-. the country in a stream hall a mile wide inundated practically the whole of lower Wairau. Hie Hood was one of the worst in the history of the district. Farms am! homesteads which have hitherto I ecu immune from the floods are deepiv invaded. There has been a trcmeml ms los.. of stock. Aianv carcases of sheep are hung lip in the barbed wire f oc, -. It is still impossible to give any cstimate of what the loss will mean to tlie farms of some of the smaller - lileis-. which have been to all intents an j purposes swept hare. Stacks have been overturned or ruined, and fences are down in all directions.

Spring Creek has more or loss' been chared n! wiilor since l yesterday. Only tlio low-lying .irons fire nCi'eeted now. Hie area immediately around the Ferry Hotel presoiils perhaps the must desoate iinil dreary scene in Marlborough. Fence* on both sides of the road have been washed out. and all the remaining fences are sagging under the weight

of festooned needs. At the hack of the railway line .Mrs F. Redwood's property has suffered severely. Her house has been entirely surrounded by water since Monday until this morning.

The river bank on the Tamnarina side of Ferry Fridge has been broken through in .several places over a distance of about a quarter of n. mile, a

the outlook in the event of a further rise is had. Where the river flooded across the paddocks at one place, punctually the whole of the soil and grass has been removed leaving ft broad track like an old river bed. The railway line in the vicinity oi Spring Creek is very badly damaged, the ballasting having been washed out here and there over a considerable distance leaving the rails and sleepers hanging in the air. Culverts on the line are also badly damaged. Road communication between Blenheim and Picton was effected this morning and many cars made the journey to-day.

At Taumnriua the flood invaded the hotel to a depth of a foot and most of the other buildings in the locality suffered severely. The railway line here lias been temporarily repaired by means of sleepers and old railway iron.

CTEARING THE STIRS 3. DEPARTMENTA L DOINGS. ■ GHEY.MOCTH. May 11. "When the minor slips are cleared we hope to be able to transfer passengers across the larger ones,” said a responsible railway officer yesterday. The Department, lie said, had that morning sent through a locomotive i'rcm Grcymouth. The locomotive had been taken through the tunnel by two of the smaller locos from Otirn, and one of the. battery engines, just lately brought across, for the through service on the completion of the tunnel. Tins was the first- business trip made by the battery engine. There are a number of slips on the Arthur’s Pass line to be cleared and a full gang of men, from Otira, under the command of Mr TI. S. Kent, District Engineer, went through the tunnel to help in the clearing of the line. P.e did not expect that any work would have been done yesterday, as it would be late in the afternoon by the time the men arrived on the scene of the trouble. The railway service, he

I considered Would not be a through one tor some time, though onee'the smaller obstructions wore out of the road, passengers would, in all "probability, I e transferred from the Christchurch train into one from Arthur’s Pass. “They might have to walk a little distance.’’ said the officer, “but they should not mind that. Of course, travellers will not bo able to get a number of hampers through, and only limited luggage will be allowed."

REPAIR. WORK AT OTA BA At A, CHRISTCHURCH, .May 10. The repair work has’ started on the Alidhuid fine at the Otarama slip, and so that work may be carried out with all despatch-, arrangement*; have boon made to sqnd a relief train from Greymouth through the Arthur’s Pass tunnel. Operations ran then he put in hand at both ends of the series of slips. A PARTY GETS THROUGH. CHRISTCHURCH, Alay 10. A party, including J. E. lienrys, tlie handieapper, had a memorable journey from the AA’cst Coast yesterday. They left Greymouth on Tuesday morning and soon ran into snow at Alilliken’s, which stuck up the oars. It took nearly an hour to cover four chains of ground. The deepest snow on this part of the road was 3 feet, and it had to be shifted away by the passengers by means of their hands, as no implements were available. Darkness now came on, and when the cars were able to proceed the drivers had great difficulty in sticking to the road. Next morning (Wednesday) the two cars were abandoned at Porter’s Pass, owing to the snow making it impossible to proceed, and the party were picked up by a big Cadillac car sent out from Christchurch. The passengers relate that Air Hcnrys walked miles through the snow with one of the litfle girls oil his back.

CAR. AND COACH. Air 8. Ydo yesterday morning sent a coach with seven horses through to Porter's Pass. Last night Air Clements, who also went through, arrived back in Otira and reported there was an average depth of three feet cf snow for four miles on the Pass. He Jioil arranged to take passengers through to Clnistcluireli by car and coach. Alails from hero will he taken this morning and will arrive in Cltrislelmrcli to-night. To-day also hags of Christchurch mails will he brought through and 30 passengers will he taken over from tlm Coast. Clements

have arranged to run a service every day, including Sunday.

of tlic fund ns follows: £ a. d Amount uiri'iidv :.r! nun’II'd til'd ... :jc8 S Net pro ocd< from V ij\vor Slum inducted by \ . 11. lloyd ... 10 .") 0 .r. .1. M. IlltOsh ... 10 0 n Yetliolm ! 1 it Amused interest ot sen i i i |j;s linnlc 7 {} •* £.‘* 1“ 1 ! 'i r,o>'i sirroiinis juiid ... m 1) ii Credit i Isinrr* in i»;*nk Z7 1 1 !l A ('counts < i ’.*/ i 11 ir 2Vu 0 0