WEST COAST NOTES

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18670, 20 April 1926, Page 10

WEST COAST NOTES

MINISTERIAL TOUR. (srECUL TO "THE tress.") GBEYMOUTH, April IP. The Hon. Minister for Lands is due at Grcymouth to-morrow, and will visit the Westland District on Wednesday, escorted by Mr T. E. Y. Scddon, M.P. The Ministerial party is expected to visit Arahura and Kokatahi during Wednesday, and arrive at Hokitika for the evening, when deputations will be taken at the County Chambers. Mr McLeod will leave for Lyttelton tho next morning. It is understood the Minister purposes a return trip to Westland later, to tour the Southern district. Poppy Day. On Saturday red poppies were sold in large numbers in Westport and district, on behalf of the disabled and unemployed soldiers' fund. Motor Leaves Road. On Friday night, a. car driven by Mill. Ollivcr, of Grcymouth, went over a bank on the main road from Eoss to .Hokitika. The occupants had a miracu'"lous escape from serious injury, as the vehicle fell about ten feet, but remained upright. Mr OUiver ivas somewhat shaken, but beyond a few bruises neither he nor tho other occupant of the car received injury.. The vehicle was extensively damaged. Notice of Dismissal. Several railway platelayers in the Bullcr district have received notice that their services are to be dispensed , with. Acclimatisation Society. At the annual meeting of tbo Buller Acclimatisation Society, the following officers were elected: President, Mr A. F. "Wells; vice-president, Mr W. J. Hart; j secretary, Mr J. Eadford; auditor, Mr W. Hobbs; councillors: Messrs Wells, Hart, Sunley, Morgan, Fox, Powick, Ea'smusson, Gardner, Todd, Detourcttcs, Pain, and Skiltou. The matter of acclimatising oysters was discussed, and it was decided to obtain information in regard thereto. Teachers' Institute. Tho annual meeting of the Buller branch of the N.Z.E.I. appointed tho following officers for tho ensuing year: President, Mr F. S. Hayes; vice-presi-dents: Messrs Wcrry and Beilby; lion, secretary, Miss Hill; hon. treasurer, Miss Findlay; hon. auditor, Mr P. A. Struthers; management committee: Misses Hopkirk, D. Moore, M. Fletcher, and Mr Sheddan. \ Westport Golf Club.

On Saturday afternoon, the Westport Golf Club officially Opened its season on tho new links, on the Westport Jockey Club's racecourse, North Beach. Provision is made on the links for 12 greens, with possibilities for extension. Although the. fairway is a bit rough, necessitating, much teeing up, the greens are remarkably good, and give an idea of the improvements that in course of time can be effected on tho fine park.

Dr. Foote, in the absence of the president (Mr A. A. Wilson), officially declared the season open. During* the .afternoon several contests were held, and the ladies' committee dispensed afternoon tea.

The competitions resulted as follows: —Putting, A. A. Wilson; approaching, Sargisson; foursome, H. P. La wry and Mrs Pair, and Lovell and Mrs Foote.

Personal. Mrs Houston, widow of tho lato Mr John Bain Houston, of Hokitika, died at the Westland Hospital on Saturday night, after a long illness. The late Mrs Houston was a native of Adelaide and 76 years of age. She has been a resident of Woodstock and Hokitika over a long period of years. She leaves a family of one daughter (Mrs W. McGowan, of Sydenham), and two sons (Mr Wm. J. Houston, of Three Mile, resident of Woodstock and Hokitika The funeral took > place this morning privately, the Bev. Father Healy conducting tho at St. Mary's Church and ,at the graveside. Mr H. E. Holland, M.P., returned .to Westport on Saturday. Mr and Mrs C. S. Beilby take up their residence at Denniston this week. Mf Allan J. Fairmaid, the newly-ap-pointed borough engineer, will take up his duties here on May 12th. Mr Hurst Seager will lecture at Greymouth on June 2nd on the subject of "Battlefield Memorials."

Mrs T. Murphy, of Cape Foulwnd, loft on Saturday for Wellington on a holiday visit to her sister-in-law, Mrs Aekins, of Kelburnc.

Mr. Martin Bowe, of Granity, left on Saturday for Hunterville, where ho will reside.

Mr J. McKay, who has resided at Granity for the past fifteen years, loft on Saturday for Petone, where he will reside. Mrs McKay and. family will leave later for Petone. Mr F. S. Hayes has been elected delegate from, the Buller branch to the forthcoming meeting of the N.Z.E.1., to be held at Wellington next month. Mr C. B. Watson, stationmaster at Boss, who has been undergoing medical treatment at the Queen Alexandra Hospital at Hanmer, has returned to Boss. Mrs W. Gilmour,, Palmerston North, who is the guest of Mrs M. Hannan, left thin afternoon to visit her parents at Totara Flat.

Mr G. T. Moss, who has been visiting Greymouth, will return to-morrow to Christchurch.'

Mr and Mrs N. E. A., Cox (Christchurch) are visiting Greymouth. They will journey to the Franz Josef Glacier before returning to Canterbury.

Sporting. The fact.of quite a number of West Coast horses being engaged at Timaru next week makes it appear rather doubtful whether many horses from the Coast will make the trip to Nelson for the special Meeting next Saturday week. Railway Employee Injured. Aank Forrest, a member of the railways goods shed staff, suffered injuries this afternoon through being squeezed between the landing floor of the goods shed and a railway truck during shunting operations. He was removed to his home and received medical attention. His injuries are not regarded as serious.

Motor Mishap.

A motoring mishap occurred on the Grey-Ree'ffon road a few miles south of Eeefton this afternoon, when a large -touring car, owned by Mr P. Hambleton, of Greymouth, went over a bank and fell some feet. The car was occupied by Mr Hambleton and family, who were making the final stages of a tour from Dunedin, via Nelson, Karamea, and Eeefton. Beyond a severe shaking, minor bruises, and shock, the occupants escaped injury. The car, which was practically new, was extensively damaged.

Magistrate's Court. At a sitting of the Greymouth Magistrate's Court to-day, Mr W. Meldrum, S.M., presided. Wlliam Alfred' Cyril Rose was charged with drunkenness and breaches of his prohibition and probation orders. Defendant was fined 5s on the. charge of drunkenness. The Magistrate adjourned the charge of breach of his prohibition order until Monday next, with a

■ I II I I' mmmmmmmmm^mm view to noting defendant's behaviour in the. meantime. . William Glen, a, youth slightly over 16 years of age, pleaded guilty to two charges of theft of cigarotteß, valued at £2, the property of J. S. Nimino, of Taylorvillc. Police evidence was to the effect that the stolen goods had been recovered, with the exception of some to the value of lis sd, which were still ' missing. Accused was convicted and ; ordered to come up for sentence when ■■ called upon within twelve months, on .- condition that the father pays the value of tho missing cigarettes. James Henry Pitman, an immigrant who arrived in Now Zealand last month, was charged with being in possession of a double-barrelled gun not registered under the Arms Act. Sergeant Smyth said that defendant had been very honest about the matter, and had brought the gun to the police station when he . discovered it had to be registered. Defendant was convicted and ordered to pay costs, 7s, and allowed to retain his gun. Guiseppe Piaregonda and Leslie Dixon, employees at the Boa Mine, were charged under Section 20 of the Goal Mines Act with boing in possession of smoking materials in parts,,of .the mine where safety lamps are used; Mr J. W. Hannan appeared for the informant. Alphonsus O'Donnell, tho mino manager, said that Piaregonda had an empty pipe in his pocket, but had neither tobacco nor matches. He apparently acted in ignorance. Dixon was an experienced miner. Cigarettes were found in his pocket, but there was no suspicion . of smoking. Mr Hannan said that a penalty was not pressed for, the cases being brought as a warning. Tho Magistrate said that if there had been any evidence at all that they were surreptitiously smoking, thus endangering others, it would have" been a very ' serious thing indeed. Under the circumstances there appeared to be no suspicion whatever of intention to smoke. Each defendant was fined ss, with Court costs expenses ss, and« solicitor's fee £1 Is. David Saunders, James Auton, and Thomas O'Connor were each fined ss, with costs 7s, for riding cycles without lights along Preston road after sunset. For being found on the premises of the Union Hotel, Wallsend, on Good Friday, six first offenders were ordered to • pay costs 7s, and one second offender was fined £l, with costs 7s. A first caught after hours in the Empire Hotel, Waiuta, was convicted and ordered to pay costs, 7s. League Football. In a junior game, played at Brunncr yesterday, Nelson Creek defeated Br'un- i nor by 11 points to 10. A Third Grade match between Brun- | ner and Athletic resulted in a victory for Brunner b'y 21 points to 0. New Convent. The official oponing of the new convent at Grcymouth will take place on Sunday, May 16th. The ceremony will be performed at 6 p.m. by his Lordship Bishop Brodio. A representative attendance of Catholic clergy will be present from various parts of the Dominion.