The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 1926. ROAD IMPROVEMENT.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 March 1926, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 1926. ROAD IMPROVEMENT.

Willi.K tlm local lx idles oil' the Coast are being pressed for more money from the Highways Board, it must not be overlooked that the Board is ready on its part to do a. great deal for any district which is prepared to help itself. The County Councils of Boiler. Tnangahua, Grey and Westland have recently received demands for increased maintenance contributions. 'Fids is not on the face of it an unreasonable request. '1 he main highway is ,largely in the keeping of the Highways Board which has undertaken a considerable liability in the effort to maintain it, practically from Karamea to W'ailio. The longest length of main highway is in the Westland County, and naturally the largest claim is in respect to this district. It will he for the local County Council to find ways and means of meeting the position without unduly pressing on the ratepayers and at the same time neglecting the district roads. It is as well in the circumstances that the local body is to revise its system of road maintenance for the reason that with the larger outgoing for main highways maintenance there will not lie as much available for district roads. It will be a case therefore of making less money go further. As regards general road improvement, in addition to its increased contribution for road maintenance the Comity Council has agreed to find half the cost of smalt bridges on the main south road crossing Granite, Cameron’s and Cowhide Creeks. As a. result of the offer the works are to he clone at once. This is a forward move, for it means fho road between Hokitika, and Harihari will then he clear of any crossing obstruction. That is a most important advance in road improvement in .South Westland. The nexl proposal of the local bodies, or rather, on thoi behalf, is to contribute one-quarter of the cost of the four chief bridges requirod between Harihari and Waiho. namely. Deep Crock, McCullough’.-! Crwk, McDonald's Creek and Potter’s Creek. It will he an immense boon to motor traffic' to have the four bridges referred to. and for that reason it is to he hoped the local bodies will uUimah'-'Jy agree to remit the borrowing proposal to the ratepayers for early decision. If the local quota can he secured, we should hope the request to the Highways Board to find the remaining .seventy five per cent, of the cost, will not lie in vain. If the bridging of the livers can he assured on such a basis within i 1 next- two years, it will he good business for the community. Once tin? limans of transit south is beyond reproach and removed front dangerous stream crossings, the traffic to that locality will increase rapidly. . The suggested visit of the Prime Minister to the Waiho is a happy thought, and if by then the local bodies havft made up their minds, and the proposition is put to Mr Coates, we hoik*' - '

the protect can he brought to pass. In that event AVestbind will profit greatly for with the means for communication l>eing (steadily improved the district must grow in popularity, and with an increasing volume of traffic to and front the district all classes of the community will benefit by the trade which will he created. Because of that result, the importance of road improvement cannot bo over estimated.

Turner and .Co’s price list, showing further reductions for fruit, appears in, another column.

Messrs W. Jeffries and Co advertise for private sale fifty breeding ewes, particulars of winch appear in tho advertisement.

Mr Cl. McAlpinc, of Mawheraiti Sawmill, had the had luck on Monday to have the index finger of the right hand taken off while engaged at the mill.

Xur.se Spring of the I’lunket Society will pay her fortnightly visit to Hokitika to-morrow—visiting as usual in tho morning. In the afternoon she mav he consulted at tike Soldiers Hall from 3to 1.3!). Messages may he left at Mrs George Perry’s. Hall St., or at Mrs Perkins'. The Vicarage.

The. death took place- at Charleston suddcnlv on Monday o; Mis Ogg, wife of Mr' Alex Ogg. Hoceasod was one of the early arrivals by the Adamant, and with her husband resided most of their lives in Charleston. She had been iii ill-heath for the pasttwo years.

Croat 0110-price campaign. 4s lid sale- Is lid three days only commencing on Saturday, March 30th. The great clean-up’ after a busy sale: values extraordinary. Ibis groat 4s lid sale will eclipse any 4s lid sale of the past for bargains. Come for vour share of the great oiloiings. AlcGrner’s, Hokitika and Greymouth.' Advt.

Aucklanders wore at the end of bed week joyfully expecting a lively political conflict to commence at once in Kdon electorate. Sir James Parr, it was thought, would resign immediately' on returning to Wellington during the week-end. and that the usual procedure for declaring the vn " oancy and issuing the writ would follow Jwitli despatch. Officialdom at head(|iiarters appears to see no treniendous reason for hurry. Inquirers an? reminded that Sir James Parr is n<>t going to take his new office until August, and heed not leave New Zealand until late in April, Thus the date of the bye-election may well bo delayed, an incidentally enable Air Holland, leader of Iho Labour Party, who is now in Australia, to get hack and take a hand, in the hope of bringing off a victory which would place him in Hie position id official lender of the Opposition.

At a sitting of tho Arbitration Court held at Oroymont.h yesterday, Justice Frnuer presiding, tho first business dealt with was the appMoaion hv the Westland Metal Workers’ and Engineers’ Industrial l nion, to have the existing award applied to the businesses of K. Airey, Oroymouth, K. McGregor and Blank and B remit, Hokitika, wheelwrights. Air G. F. Thurston appeared lor the applicants, and Mr W. C. Prime appeared for the employers. The employers in tho coachhuilding trade objected to being added to the metal workers’ award since an award was already in existence for wheelwrights and the coachhuilding trade, where rates ot pay were the same. The time occupied in actual smith’s work was not nmr?, usually, than a quarter of the working time, and no valid reason could he found for bringing tho "West Coast eoachhu'ilders Hinder iuiotiher award when the conditions of each award were practically the same, and tho application for another award giving no apparent advantage to any party to the award was superfluous. After considering the matter, his Honor suggested that the dispute he adjourned till nexl sitting of the Court in Greymouth, to enable both sides to go into the matter of evidence as to the exact position regarding the wheelwright trade.

A W-.'llingUin concspniidciil says (lie returning officer by his casting vote declared Mr Lyons (Reform) elected member for I.ytfolton. \ magisterial investigation < oiilirmoil tin- et c lion of Air Lyons. Tho decision of the two Judges roturiifd the scat to Air APComhs (Labour), wlio had occupied it- in tho last Parliament. lint in tho meanwhile- Air Lyons had drawn an instalment of pay its ALP. for Lyttelton. Questions have I teen raised as to whether this money is (a) rccoverabl from Air 'Lyons and payable to Air Al’Comhs. (IQ payable to Air Lyons and also to Air AlrCombs. or (<■) payable* only to Air Lyons (who already has it)!-* According to inquiries made to-day the correet course is tho third one. It is held that, between the declaration of the poll and its reversal bv two .)edges Air Lyons was entitled to it. Air Al’Combs was not and is not. He is only entitled'to lie paid as from the time when he became AT.I', for Lyttelton. According to another authority during tho time mentioned Air Lyons was ALP. for Lyttelton, de jure do facto. No question of paying Air APCVmib.s “hack pay” can arise. Tho most de facto element, in the situation seems to he that the mon?v is already in Air Lyons’s pocket-, and the pocket- and the incident, are both closed.

Marked down to clear smart Gaberdine Costumes beattiifiilly braided and in fashionable colourings. Call anil inspect at Addisons.—Advt.

Hokitika District High School navy serge uniform drosses, sizes 27 to 39 inches, prices 22s fid to fils fid at AfcKay's tho Leading Drapers.—Advt.

Our first shipment of autumn millinery is now showing. Smart models and ready-to-wear novelty hats in the latest styles all at exceedingly low prices to effect a- speedy sale for cash. Inspection invited.—Schroder and Co. —Advt.

Sore throats promptly relieved by taking a few drops of “ Nazol ” on sugar. Quickly banishes summer colds. Is fid for GO closes.—Advt.

Punts and How-boats can fitted by novice with “ Wisconsin ” Alotors which ensure speed of 7 miles an hour and 30 miles to the gallon of benzine. R. P. M. Manning and Co.. 5 Bedford Row, Christchurch.—-Advt.