OKURU NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 May 1926, Page 4

OKURU NEWS.

(From A Correspondent.) OKURU, Alay 8. Mi- Lizzard and party have had some good catches, fisliing at. Okuru during the week; Owing to floods the fortnightly mails arrived two days late. Mr A. Graham (Waiho) intends to make the Haast Pass trip this winter. The Paringa House has been closed to tourists and discloses a- new difficulty to parties travelling north from Haas't, as the stage often undertaken by local resident on fresh horses has been found too long and strenuous to the usual class of tourists with little or no riding' experience. Tiho Paringa. has been decided upon as the most suitable stago from Haast travelling northwards and from Karangarua traveling southwards and a move is being made to have the necessary accommodation elected.

Nothing lias yet been done to repair the Paringa River approach. This small matter requires immediate attention; also the Cook’s and Karnngnriia Rivers sadly need more attention by flagging. It is to be regretetd that j nothing has yet been done to repair i the portion of the main south road , which has been washed away by the j Maori River, a little south of the Maori bridge. This portion lias been' washed away for nearly two years and • travellers have to clamber over a rough! and boggy track which is somewhat j dangerous to horse traffic and certain-j Iv a disgrace to the person supervising repair work on this road. A number j of trees having been lying across the j Haast Reach section of the road for a number of months and would only occupy a few hours to clear away. Mi- Dollimore, officer in charge of. the Greymouth Tourist Office, is at present in Okuru and leaves to-morrow I for Otago via Haast Pass. A party of | travellers were held up at Copper; Crook yesterday owing to floods. An attempt was made to proceed, but they weue compelled to return minus one horse which was washed down a swollen narro creek and ashed in under a large tree root and drowned. The rider received a ducking lmt was nevertheless unhurt, hut lost his spectacles and ruined his camera. The mailman and mails also narrowly missed disaster in the same creek. It. was only during the last fortnight this creek has become so dangerous duo to a large amount of water from an adjoining crack finding its way into it, a little above the road crossing and very little, would he required to turn its course. A party of White Star officials and others leave Makaroa the end of -this month to inspect the proposed route for the new proposed motor road. Another party are being organised for a later date. The official party, inspecting the Jackson’s Ihiv Development Scheme site are due to arrive at the Ray on or about the 24th of Aug. by the Government boat. -Mr Win. O’Leary lias returned from Dunedin and the Otago gold dredging centres. Some fair work has' been undertaken on the Haast Pass track which lias been long overdue. Several prominent sign-posts which have long been needed have been erected at necessary intervals. The Pass section of the track still requires early attention. Here the surface has been scored out into deep water courses' for several claims and if water tables were made and attended to this damage would never have been. MAY Id. .Mr and .Mrs Rex Dunning have returned to Makaroa, having attended the Supreme Court sittings at Dunedin in connection witli the Makaroa stabbing affray on which they gave evidence. Mr Dollimore, officer in charge of the Greymouth Tourist Office, arrived at Pembroke, via Lake Hawea on Friday after an eventful trip, crossing over the Pass in a heavy snowstorm and encountering many fallen trees ami scrub weighed down with snow lay across tho track for several miles.

AVEHEKA NOTES. (From A Correspondent.) AIAY 0. -Mr E. Foster is engaged carting building material and wire to the newly acquired section at AYehekn. AD P. Powers is engaged in bushfelling on his new block. These are the class of settlers needed here. It is understood the fixture for the AVnilio sports is fixed for this month. This sports, meeting has for some years' past been the means of gathering settlors, sportsmen and others, from long distances. And keenness amongst thp competitors is always apparent.

Messrs Cain and Harvey are in the Copeland Valley ken shooting. AD Williams (AVdiekn), it is understood, is shortly erecting a complete wireless outfit.

The cartage of pipes and other materials which has been the cause of the delay in the erection of the Fox Glacier Accommodation House is shortly to he commenced with the cooler weather.

Mr Dollimore, officer in charge of the Greymouth Tourist Office, passed through yesterday en route to Lake AA’anakn. Otago, via Haast Pass. Mr Dollimore is making a report on the route for his Department who evidently realise its fast growing popularity amongst tourists -and its important position in linking up the West Coast scenic resorts with Otago. Afr A. Graham intends to make the trip later.

AD Parr. Bruce Bay school teacher has left on holidays.