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Hokitika Guardian, 7 March 1929, Page 4

All accounts against the Fire Brigade Demonstration Committee should be rendered by Saturday next. “Summer-time” will end on Sunday evening March 17th., when the clocks will require to be put back one halfhour. The monthly meeting of the Westland Acclimatisation Society takes place tiiis (Thursday) evening at 7.30 o’clock. The Koiterangi Picnic Dance will be held at the Koiterangi Public Hall to-night (Thursday) at 8.30 o’clock. Good supiicr and music. Admission : Gents 2s Gd, ladies Is.—Advt. -Mr R. T. Bush of Greymouth notifies he will enrol students and give the first lesson in elocution and voice culture at the Soldiers Hall on Saturday afternoon next. Mr Bush has acted as judge of the Hokitika Competitions for the last two years and should prove a wry capable instructor. That Easter is approaching rapidly is evidenced by the fact that nominations for the Hokitika race meeting in Easter week, close in a fortnight’s time. There is a likelihood of, a good string of horses being present on the Coast for the Easter circuit this year, including fresh purchases by local owners and some special purchases for the Coast by outside owners. On March 20 the citizens of Invercargill will tender a banquet to their Member of Parliament, the Right ITon. Sir Joseph Ward, Prime Minister. So extensive will he the function that Hie caterer will probably find it necessary to go to Wellington for supplies, he having exhausted the resources of Invercargill, Dunedin and Christchurch. Two thousand guests are to be catered for and 530 yards of tablecloth, together with nearly 180 dozen plates, glasses, knives and forks for each course are required. The Drill Hah at Invercargill, which is considered the only building in the town big enough to house the large number of Si) .Joseph’s admirers, will be the scone of the banquet. A meeting of the Hokitika library Committee was held at 7.30 o’clock on Tuesday evening. Present: Messrs J). J. Evans (Chairman), T. W. Duff, J. Niven and Dr Teichelmann. Apologies for absence were made for Messrs Coulson and Maloney. Accounts to the amount of £ll 9s 9d were passed for payment. Mr W. Foley forwarded a. German bayonet, a war trophy, for the museum room.—Received with thanks. The resignation of Mr J. W. Morris as a member of the Committee was received and accepted with regret., Copies of the National Geographic Magazine were accepted with thanks. Dr Teichelmann was appointed to the vacancy on the Book Purchase Committee. Offers made in respect of the purchase of books were referred to the Purchase Committee for their attention. It was reported the boisterous weather that day had made some impression on the building, though the leaks were not as serious as previously. It was decided to ask the Borough Overseer to investigate ! me position. ‘

The Little Wanganui river, in common with other streams south, was in high flood on Tuesday afternoon nnc! night. Yesterday a message was received that the river overflowed the protection which is being put in to save Tutor-Wanganui Settlement. Apparently the protection held, but was not high enough, and a large quantity of water overflowed the Flat. Damage was done to a culvert on Petersen Hoad, but the worst effect was the tilting of La Fontaine creek bridge on La Fontaine road. The bridge was struck by a large tree and thrown some four feet out of alignment, traffic being interrupted. Repairs for light traffic were put in hand at once, but to secure the bridge for heavier traffic it will be necessary to drive a new pier of piles in the centre. As the bridge serves an important settlement centre its complete restoration is a matter of some urgency.

Mr and Mrs McNeill, of Ruatapu, insert an appreciation notice in this issue. J ..1,---Mesdames Gaylor and Mulligan insert an appreciation notice in this issue. Mr 11. A. Boddington, of Koiterangi, offers for sale the primest of Koiterangi hams and bacons at prices as published in another column. Mr W. Miller, representing the Auckland Institute for the Blind, was in Hokitika to-day making the annual appeal for funds for the institution. Owing to the unfavourable weather conditions ’prevailing yesterday, W. •Jeffries and Co. were obliged to P-ne their Harihari Sale. The fixture will now take place on Wednesday next, 13th. March. Full particulars appear in this issue. The flood on Tuesday night was abnormal in South Westland, and the main south road was badly scoured in places. The Waitangi river overflowed at the approach to the bridge, and the' highway was scoured badly, but traffic was able to get through yesterday, and repairs arc now in hand.

Only prompt action on the part off Or and Airs Meade, of Runanga, averted n drowning tragedy on Sunday last. A lad named Bevan hers- got into difficulties at Barrytown. Dr and Airs Meade promptly rushed fully clothed into tlie water and brought the completely-exhausted lad out of danger.

Grevmouth’s electric power supply failed for a short time at noon yesterday consumers being cut off for about twenty minutes. Another short break occurred at 12.30. The fault in the line between the power house and the town was soon located, and the supply restored.

An accident occurred on Tuesday at Harley’s Furniture Factory, wlien an employee named Charles Crumpton had the top joint of his right thumb taken off, through allowing his hand to come into contact with a circular saw while dressing timber. He had his hand attended to at the Grey-i t Hospital.

Okarito harbour has become blocked vain, and the heavy rain this week caused the waters in the lagoon to rise abnormally, overflowing the road. An appeal was made to the County authorities for assistance to cut a channel, and yesterday Air E. A. Wells, County Chairman, authorised a vote of £5 to Signalman Friend to have the work carried out. •

Although there was a Very heavy re in fall on Tuesday night in this locality, nearly three inches being recorded for the full 24 hours, the flood damilJ£ ><»e renorted. appears to be of a minor \ character. The Kokatahi road was in part under water, and Slip Hill on Kanieri Lake road remained true to name. The damage by the floodfb-in the south was more pronounced than in the northern end.

A meeting was held at the County Chambers on Tuesday night when matters in connection with the Naval visit, to Hokitika were finalised. A very complete programme was arranged, including a suggested cabaret dance. However, advice was received from M 'r s' J. McLean yesterday that owing tcCthe state of the weather the tour of the AVest Coast iby the warships had keen abandoned, and the Dunedin was then at Pioton, and proposed going via the East Coast to the rendezvous at Stewart Island.

There was continuous heavy rain on Tuesday night, and at 7 o’clock on Wednesday morning advice was received by the Stationmaster of a washout on the Otira line, preventing trains passing. It was therefore decided to cancel the Hokitika excursion train to Arthur’s Pass for the' day, and to hold the excursion a week later, next Wednesday, March Kith. Later news stated it was raining very heavily at Otira and Arthur’s Pass and that all the creeks and rivers^--..« were badly flooded, so that file iwmsion to cancel was a happy one. The local school bells rang out for scholars to attend as usual. Tn the town there was steady rain in the morning but it cleared somewhat in the afternoon. The Hokitika river was in flood on Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning, but the flood soon rah out. In the north the flood appears to have been much more severe. At Greymouth the river was in high flood. Close on seven inches of rain fell there during the past five days, whilst over five and a half inches fell at Arthur’s Pass in 24 hours up to 9 a.m. yesterday. At Westport two, and a third inches fell during the same hours. \ V