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Hokitika Guardian, 17 January 1928, Page 2

The engagement is announced of 'Ruth Hazel, daughter of Mr and Mrs Richard Wild, of Hokitika, to Percy Thomas, son of Mr Allred A. Fromm, of Hamilton. Waikato.

Fven railwayman seldom reali-c the value of the freight they carry, says he “New Zealand Bail" ays Magazine.” A train, load of butler (say 100 tons) is worth £iO,ODO. and a train load of meat over £20.009.

At Deiinistoii on qhursday, Mr M. Meldruiu, S.M., had a hatch of men before him charged with playing tuoup. Information against one was dismissed, and the remainder were each convicted and lined l()s with costs.

At the Beet ton Magistrate’s Court on Saturday, before Mr W. Mcldrum, S.M. a man named Lawn was charged

with being in possession ot an unregistered firearm. Delcndnnl pleaded guilty, and was lined os and costs 10s. The firearm was ordered to he confiscated.

Goods, including coal, limber, produce and general merchandise, railed through the (Mira Tunnel lor the week ended Saturday, Jan. i 1 tli. was 8192 tons, an increase of 2183 tons compared with the corresponding period last year, when (i JO9 toils were handled.

At a sitting of the Juvenile Court at Gicyihoiltli on .Saturday, a li-yoar-old girl, who was remanded earlier in the week on a charge ol being idle and disorderly, was committed to the Borstal Institute for two years. Mr W. Moldrtini, S.M.. dealt witH the

To-night, commencing at 7.30 o’clock sharp, the first swimming carnival ol the present season takes place in the local swimming baths. There are large

entries for the various events and athe weather is eminently suitable lor an outdoor function there should be

large attendance

A six-roomed house belonging to Miss M’Connell. in ISonthaii! St. Westport, has been practically destroyed by fire. The building was erected about forty years ago. Miss M’Connell valued the house at £3OO and the furniture at £l5O. She had an insurance policy of £125 oil the house, bill nothing on the furniture.

The Westland County Council lias recently hud Detour road at Wataroa put in improved order, and necessary attention is now being given to Okarito road. Both roads are used considerably by motor traffic, and the attention will be. appreciated greatly by the uses of the roads in question. '1 lie matter of widening Detour road in places, will need to he taken up shortly.

Lake Kanieri was a very popular rendezvous on Sunday, over sixty motor vehicles being at the lakeside during the day. The roads opened to ,Sunny Bight and Hans Bay were well patronised and picnic parties were dotted everywhere. Steps will require to he taken to prevent bathing at the launch landing that locality being too near to the intake ot the town water supply.

The New Zealand railway freight rates show some surprising low lreight cost figures, says the “New Zealand Railways Magazine.” The basis upon which comparisons are usually made ■ii railway circles is that ol the tonmile. This means when applied to freight, the average charge fur conveying one ton of freight a distance ol one mile. Applying tiiis figure to the c-lnsse.-- ot' goods carried oil the yC.Z-Tt. we find that oil the average a ton of each of the following is carried a distance of one mile for less than twopence. The items are: Emit, fodder, agricultural lime, New Zealand coal, road metal, lime and coke. New Zealand timber firewood, and fertilisers.

An exciting chase took place in Auckland City on Wednesday afternoon, when a clerk in the Bank of New Zealand pursued a man whom lie suspected, and caught him in the offices of the South British Insurance Company. The man entered the Bank to negotiate a cheque, and in view of certain circumstances the clerk who attended him made enquiries, and later communicated with the police. Apparently becoming alarmed at the delay, the man ran from the Bank premises, his hurried departure being observed by the clerk, who iushod after him, and chased him across Queen street into Vulcan lane and through High street into Shortland street. *The fugitive endeavoured to escape by dodging among several taxicabs, but was captured and detained until the arrival of a detective a few minutes later.

A mooting of No. 12 Highways Council will be bold at Greymouth on Thursday evening;. •Messrs IV. Jeffries and to. notify an auction sale of furniture and effects on Wednesday. 25th January, at 2 p.m. on the premises of Mr K. Woodbmv Sale Street. The offering comprises the whole of the new and up-to-date furnishings of a first-class home.

Flower fanciers are reminded that schedules and entry forms for St. Mary’s Summer Flower Show to he held in the Soldiers’ Hall. Hokitika, on Saturday. February -Ith. are now available at Turner’s Fruit Mart.

At the Magistrate's Court. Greymouth, yesterday Erasmus Arthur Jones was charged that at Greymouth on December 14th, he indecently assaulted two males. Evidence was given hv two boys, each sixteen years of age. as to the circumstances of the case. The accused, who conducted his own defence, was stated by Constable Surgenor. of Westport, to have been arrested there on December 19th. Accused pleaded not guilty, and was committed for trial. Hail was fixed at 2100 self, with two sureties of C" each.

In the Juvenile Court at Greymouth yesterday three hoys, all ol the age ol sixteen years, were charged with having on December 21st, committed at the Blaketown beach an indecent assault on a girl of the age of Jiltcen years. At the conclusion ol the evidence the three accused, who pleaded not guilty, and reserved their defence, were committed for trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court, they being released from custody on their parents undertaking responsibility lor their custody meantime, to which < nurse the police raised no objection.

Convinced that hoys in his neighbourhood were bent on giving annoyance by throwing stones on the roof of his outbuildings, a local resident decided to set watch, and if he failed to lay hands on them, at any rate to give them the fright of their lives (says the Ashburton “Guardian”). So he stationed himself beneath a high walnut tree that grew beside and overhung the building. He had not long to wait, for, like the famous man of history who was struck on tin* head hv a falling apple, lie made a great discovery. An immature walnut came crack on his unprotected pate, and the mystery of the “stones” on the rool was explained.

The Despatch Foundry, of Greymouth, has undertaken the erection ol a new gas holder for the Hokitika Gas Company. ’The material lor tin* holder which will have thrice the capacity ol the gas holder in use, has been imported from England, where it was manufactured to a design prepared by Mr Kennedy of the Greymouth Gas Works. The workmen undertook their task yesterday. several mechanics being brought from the Greymouth Foundry. A special plant is being installed for the rivetting. which will he worked electrically, and a special electric line ha been run for the purpose. The work will occupy some time. The total cost to the local Gas Company will run into several thousand pounds. See AddisoVis windows for lulls af greatly reduced prices.—Advt. The Waitomo Caves. with their myriad of glow worms, are one ol the sights of a lifetime, according to Mr ,1. A. Mosher, who recently paid his first visl to them. He was astonished to see from the visitors’ hook how feu .South Islanders seemed to have visited them—fully 90 per cent were North Islanders and oversea tourists. “While at Waitomo." Mr Flesher told a representative of the Christchurch “Press." recently. “I met an American visitor who told me that his itinerary had been made out in Auckland, and I lie only points of interest in the Mouth Island that wove, mentioned were Christchurch and Mount Cook. I told him of the attractions of Otago and ol the West Coast. This man was a mountaineer, hut had been told nothing about, the Frau/. Josef Glacier and other attractions. This is not the first instance of the lack of information concerning the Month Island _glveil b.V flic Tourist Department in tne north. It seems an illustration of the destr.,l,lc,.ess of the officers in charge ot tourist bureaux being shifted around more frequently. Addisons have just opened up a se-

lection of embroidered voiles in very dainty colourings.—Advt. Sweeping reductions m fl°ral voile dress lengths, all smart goods throe vnrds in length at 4s lid, 5s lid, 6s lid, 7s lid the dress piece. Schroder and Co. —Advt.