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Hokitika Guardian, 17 January 1931, Page 4

The Rev. F. J. Tvlee of Lyttelton will conduct Divine Services at the Presbyterian Church at both morning and evening services to-morrow. Mr M. Mouatt, who has been appointed Inspector of Machinery for tDe West Coast, in place of Mr Kdward Drown, who has been transferred to Wellington, has arrived in Creymouth, to take up his duties. The flooding during the week has caused further damage to the river protection workn at Little Wanganui, Hari Jlari, where ft large groyno Inns been badly scoured by a high flood. Repair works are being put in hand at once to hold the position The glories of the rata bloom are now being seen in all the YWstlaud j beauty spots, and the bright red flowers are an added attraction to the green fern splendour. All the hill tops are showing their heavy red tree tops, while a closer view is obtained alongside the load and lake si lores in the various beauty spots of the da tnet. The. heavy rains of the past week has kept the river in considerable flood at times, while there has been a very heavy sea running, a sure indication of the rough weather being experienced. There lias been a considerable amount of dri t wood washed up on the beach and this has been promptly gathered up and taken away in preparation for winter. The work of dismantling the steamer Cael in preparation of the change ov«t ITOIII steam boilers to motor engines :s inv in progress. The vowel is to undergo considerable structural alterations. ]n addition to the removal of the furnace, the engine and the smoke stack, and much of the bridge hamper is to come away, enabling more cargo space to be provided. The vessel is laying at the wharf, and the work is proceeding in the endeavour to have the vessel ready for the installation of the Dieasel engines when tney arrive from England early in April. The book of words for Westland Competitions opening on May 7th. next, is now in the hands of the printer, and should be on sale next week. The choice of the adjudicator for the music lias boon made public earlier. test elocutionary items are the selection of Mr Barton Ginger, and introduce a number of pieces entirely new t.o local competitors. Particulars of a new championship, for which a trophy will be kindly provided by Miss Adria Bush, will be given in the hook of words. The Westland County Council lias three small Government grants in hand for expenditure at the present, namely widening Upper Kokatnhi road; improving the road at Mahinapua lakeside; and rebuilding Alfred bridge at La Fontaine. These works are likely to he completed this month. A small amount is also to he expended in doing further metalling on Petersen flond within Mr Wall’s section. There is a difficulty about having further grants authorised in Westland County owing o the year’s quota being exhausted. There is a remarkable contrast in the weather conditions at present between the East and West Coast. In Christchurch on Thursday there was a nor’wester blowing and the public were getting as near to bathing togs as the circumstances would allow. On the West Coast the very opposite was the case. Here a fire was a very welcome addition to the comfort, a most unusual circumstance in the middle of January when generally the warmest summer weather is the experience. The present season is proving a most varied one. and yesterday there was another hailstorm though it was not of the severity of that of a week ago. The condition of the roads throughout Westland during the holiday season has been the subject of much commendation by visitors, who have also made special mention of the almost absence of dust, a feature that has added considerably to pleasure of motorists. Of course the latter has been caused in most instances by the showers that have fallen so often during j the nights, and days, so that when 1 fine the travelling has been of a most pleasant nature. H has also been remarked that though there has been a good deal of rain there has been an absence of mud, the roads drying mi almost as soon as the rain ceases and the roads have shown a decided improvement as a result of their settling I down caused, following rain. Beautiful Flair a social asset. Use Price’s Regenerator, etc. Lawn's Hairdresser.—Advt.

The Alunieipal Band insert a thanks notice in this issue. See Addisons tor drastic reductions in Ladies’ and Children's Alilliucry. in s pee tio tt inv i ted. —A dv t. The programme of the Westland Racing Cluh tor its autumn meeting to he held on the Hokitika racecourse on j'.a -acr V\ c.nir-day, lias been approved by the racing and trotting auLlioritics, and will lie circulated next wow. Mr I<\ \\". Furkent., Engineer-in-Cliiet and under secretary, Putnie ui.iiis 1/Ljjaii.iJicnt, Had a last triii through tile coast this woe it. tie wamet at Lyell on Tuesday forenoon, and went through to Karamea the same day. On Wednesday he travelled fiom Karamea to Koiterangi, and returned to Hokitika. ’1 lie next morning lie motored to (Kira to join the expixus for the East Coast, where lie had to make some special visits also. Some concern is being expressed about the erosion of the Hokitika river at Upper Koiterangi, shortly •below the Gorge. During the week Air F. W. Furkert, Engineer-in-Chief of the Public Works Department, inspected the position. Some time ngo at the request of the settlers, a protection ischeme to cost a little over £2.000 was designed, but not gone oil with. It is now considered that the cost will he nearly fifty per cent, higher to endeavour to control the stream in flood. A large area of the settlement might be endangered in case of an “old man” flood occurring. , There is a bright and entertaining programme produced at the Princess , neaire jus- now. Everybody’s Pictures are presenting well varied pictuns and there is always something to pkaee and interest. The star picture j st now is Moran and Alack (the Two Black Crows) in some of their 'idiocies which are central features in the play. Their quaint turns are mirth-proving, and there is excellent suport from the other members of the caste. Of the other features, there is a Havanna orchestra in a pleasant lv produced turn, aiql animated feaI Hire song “Aly Girl Sal,” which is a ,sheer delight. and a Christie farce which for once has a moral story woven with the fun of the piece. The whole programme is exceptional and most entertaining. Aliss E. H. Tripp, of Geraldine, nas forwarded to Air Evans, chairman ot the Library and Aluseuin Committee, several addresses presented to the late Archdeacon Harper when he left the district in 1875. Miss Tripp is a niece of the late Archdeacon. The addresses are engrossed on parchment and are signed by the Church officers of the respective parishes from vStafford to Boss. There is also a. joint address signed by all the Church officers, as well as are appreciative valedictory letter from the then Mayor of Hokitika, Air F. C. Tabart. Miss Tripp writes: “Al.v cousin, Air Arthur Harper, considers they will interest you as there is a collection of “old time” souvenirs in the Aluseuin. If thin is so, I am very glad to post them, as to the end of his life, Westland was very dear to the Archdeacon.” Mr Evans has acknowledged this gift which is a very interesting link with the past, and the various names on the addresses recall to memory many of the very active pioneers of the district upwards of 65 years ago. The collection will be presented to the Library Committee at the next monthly meeting. The goods train from Christchurch to Greymouth which was scheduled to arrive at 3.40 a.m., yesterday morning was held up at A ikons on account of the landslide, and did not arrive until yesterday afternoon, The train came up to a slip alongside the 47 mile peg >,n which the leading bogies and the leading tender came into contact with heavy boulders which had fallen across the road, and on to the line, and the engine came to a stop resting on n big piece of rock, slightly damaging the cow-catcher. The train was travelling at a slow rate and was in no other way damaged. Another consequence was that the early morning goods train from Otira to Greymouth was cancelled, but a special train left Greymouth at 6,30 a.m, for the purpose of taking off passengers and a small quantity of perishable goods, arriving back at 1.15 p.m. The derailed engine was soon placed on the line again and at 11.45 a.m., the line was restored for traffic. The road was also blocked at the point where the train was held up, but this was also restored last evening to allow traffic to pass through.