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Hokitika Guardian, 10 September 1928, Page 2

Tire Westland County Council holds its monthly meeting at 2 o’clock tomorrow afternoon. The monthly meeting of the Westland Acclimatisation Society takes place to-night at 7.30 o’clock at tho County Chambers. The Railway Department notify a special train nu excursion fares on Wednesday for tho All-Black v. Coast and Buller combined match at Greymouth. The evening train to Ross will also be delayed. An accident happened at the railway station on Saturday shortly before one o’clock whereby Mr John Cameron, tile wel.l-1 mown carrier, bad his left leg broken above the ankle, as the result of a kick by his horse that was in a lorry. The injured man was removed to Westland Hospital for treatment.

Mr J). Stevenson is making a start with the works on the racecourse tomorrow. Tho first job wijl he tho removal of the outside stand to the site formerly occupied by the main stand destroyed by fire lately. 'Hie buildings will be ready for the summer meeting of tho Club which opens on the Hokitiiia racecourse on Boxing Day.

The death of a sterling settler took place on Saturday afternoon, Mr John Mercer Dimmick, of Koitorangi, passing away after a lengthy illness. Tho deceased was born at Nelson in 1859, and was therefore 69 years of age. His parents were among the early settlers in Nelson district. Mr Dimmick settled at Koitorangi about forty years ago, and took a prominent part in district affairs. He was formerly a Director of Kokatahi Dairy Factory, and wns President of the A. and P. Association for several terms, and for many years had charge of tho post office at Koitorangi. Deceased leaves a widow (a member of tho Cropp family), three daughters (Mrs Shilton and Mrs Carey, both of Westport, and Mrs Mark Wallace of Kokatahi), and two sons (Arthur and Herbert of Koitorangi). Mrs Eden of Nelson, is a sister. The funeral took place this morning, and was attended by a large number of friends. Rev. Nelson Wright conducted the service at the graveside

Oilskin and canvas coats, leggings, linttei'flvs. roadmen’s capes and souwester hats for men, youths and boys Men’s coats 37s Gd, youths 30s, hoys 22s .Gd at McKay's Advt. The wonderful worm worriers— Wade’s Worm Figs. A suro and certain specific for removing worms. Price Is lid.—-Advt. “Laddnfre” Hose high panne) strengthened art silk ladies hose, good looking, fine wearing line in sixteen new shades, regular prices 4s lid, McKay’s Special Price 2s 6d pair,—Advt,

Mr Seddon M.P., who paid a short visit to Greymouth over tho week-end on personal business, returned to Wellington to-day.

The goods traffic railed from the West Const through the Otira Tunnel last week was 10,515 tons, compared with 11,396 tons for the previous year’s corresponding period.

Tile annual ball of the Riinu Football Club takes placo in the Town Hall, Itiniii, to-night (Monday), September 10th. Admission : Gents 3s, ladies Is (id. Supper provided.—Advt.

Mrs Heinz will conduct tile usual fortnightly gas cooking demonstration at tiio Soldiers’ Hall to-morrow afternoon, commencing at 2.30 o’clock. The menu will include orange cake, meat patties, cocoanut iingcus, American pudding, waffles and scones.

The “Dominion” states.—While conversing with friends on tho wharf on Wednesday night, Freitas, tho West Coast member of the Now Zealand team, did not notice that the gangway bad been drawn up, ami missed tho steamer. Ho went down to Dunedin with Mackenzie on Thursday night.

The death took place at Reef ton on Friday night of Mr. William Cairncs. He was a- native of Hobart and arrived at Reefton 29 years ago from Victoria. He worked at a majority of the mines in the district, and was a first-class miner. Lately he suffered from phthisis. Ho was aged 65, and is survived by a widow, four sons and three daughters, Mesdnmes Hannah (Totara Flat) Miss Edith Cairns (Reefton), and Kate (Wanganui).

Mr E. P. Lee, the chairman of the special Committee to which Mr T. K. Sidey’s Summer Time Empowering Bill has been referred, on Friday asked for and obtained from tho House of Representatives an extension of time in which to report till Tuesday next. Through nothing has come from the Committee, the general opinion of members outside it is that, owing to tho many difficuilties in the way of establishing locality summer time, the Bill will have to be abandoned.

The weather yesterday was of the roughest. All Saturday night the southerly gale blow with great force, with heavy rain and occasional hail showers. Yesterday the gale showed no abatement, blowing with extreme force all day and the conditions were very unpleasant and bitterly cold. There was a heavy fall oi snow on the hills, the snow being almost down to the flats at Kokatahi. Heavy snow fell at Reefton, the heaviest for fifteen years, and, there was also a heavy fall at Otira and Arthur’s Pass. The gale dropped at Hokitika shortly after sundown and there was a sharp frost this morning, the day breaking fine and clear.

It is understood that Mr W. Meldrum, S.M. to whom the matter of holding an enquiry regarding the racecourse fire wns referred (Mr FA'ans, the District Coroner, being an official of tho Racing Club) has decided in the absence of any evidence tending to show the cause of the outbreak to advise the Hokitika- Fire Board, which asked for an enquiry, that lie does not consider such an enquiry would lie of any value. The cost would be incurred for no purpose. The Police have made investigations in various directions, and taken a number of statements from those interviewed, but the investigations have not revealed any clue as to the cause of the fire which continues to ho veiled in mystery. No fresh facts, 'beyond those previously published, ■came to light, and the cause of the outbreak remains a matter of speculation.

Tho sudden death took place on Saturday of Mr William Davis, father of Mr Oliver J. Davis, manager of the Brinndale Colliery, and formerly District Inspector of coal mines. The late Mr Davis, who was 81 years of age, ciime down the street nt Reefton in his usual health on Saturday afternoon, hut on returning to the residence of his son, Mr 0. J. Davis, ho collapsed in tho street, and expired immediately from heart failure, with which he had been for some time affected. Deceased wns a native of Wales. He leaves two sons, Messrs 0. J. Davis and Wm. Henry Davis of tlic “ Waipawa Post” newspaper, Te Awamutu, and three daughters, Mesdnmes L. East (Cohdon), Iveown (Runangn), and Monk (Kelburn, Wellington). He was predeceased by six years by his wife.

Tlioro was' a narrow escape from a serious fire at Mr A. Cowie’s Post Office Hotel last night. About 8.30 o’clock there was an odour of smoke and of fire, which could not ho located at first. Persistent examination eventually revealed smoke issuing in the ceiling of the bar. Help was called, including that of Superintendent Mclntosh of the Eire Brigade and the seat of the fire was reached. It appears a fire had been burning throughout the day in tho upstairs sitting room. This wns left safe apparently about 7 o’clock though some smoke was noticed which it was thought was caused by the wind storm outside. The inference is that some portion of the tiro had worked through the concrete foundation of the upstairs fireplace to the , ceiling below, and had begun to feed on the woodwork. Portion of the scantlings were badly charred, and the fire was evidently making steady progress when discovered. It took some time to get to the seat of the outbreak and to make sure all danger was averted. The position, however, was closely examined from time to time, and a watchman placed on duty throughout the night. The damage actually done was not serious, but bad the fire in its early stages not been so promptly discovered, the consequences later in the night would lmvo been far more serious. Under the circumstances it was a lucky escape. The cost of repairs will be covered by insurance. There ,ean be little doubt as to the cause of the fire which was due to some defect in connection with tho fireplace upstairs. The fireplace was woll built, and apparently well secured, and has been in use for several years. Just Imw tho lire made its way to the ceiling below could not bo determined, but there appears no doubt that that happened ns the origin of the outbreak.