WEST COAST NOTES

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19460, 6 November 1928, Page 8

WEST COAST NOTES

PERSONAL.

(special to the peess.) GKEYMOUTH, November 5. Mrs A. Torrance left this morning on a holiday visit to Dunedin. Miss Viola Kettle will leave to-mor-row for Christchurch.

The death of Mr Thomas Campbell, youngest son of the late Mr Felix Campbell, of Greymouth, took place at his residence, Lower Hutt, yesterday morning, after a short illness. He was 47 years old, and leaves a widow and three young children. Advice of the death of Mrs Helen O'Kane was received to-day from Otahuhu. She spent the greater part of her life in Greymouth, where her husband died some years ago. An old resident of Kumara, named Geo. Goad, was found dead in his bed yesterday at Teramakau settlement, where he was employed as a farm hand. He was 55 years of age, and a native of Hok'itika.

The death of Mrs Ann Nisson, aged 92, took place on Saturday evening at the Westland Hospital. She was a very old resident, having arrived during the gold rush days, when she and her husband were proprietors of the Half-Way Houso at Harihari. Later they settled in the Okuru district. Deceased, who was a native of Dublin, is suryived by one son and two daughters.

Westport Coast Road,

Sixteen men are employed widening and installing the track from* Brighton to Mabel's Bay, on the Greymouth-West-port Coast road, and an outer wall of concrete is being constructed. The arrival of timber for the bridges is now being awaited.

Alleged Theft,

Denis Costello, a former employee of the Grey County Council, who was on bail in connexion with alleged shortages in his cash, appeared at the Police Court to-day charged with theft on various dates between May sth, 1927, and August 20th, 1928, of sums totalling £7Ol Ob Cd, while he was employed as assistant clerk by the Council. .Detective Mucher conducted the prosecution and Mr Joyce appeared for accused.

Evidence was given by various witnesses to the effect that they had paid accounts due to the Grey County Council by cheque, but had not received receipts. It was found by the Government auditor (Mr W. E. McCullough) that these cheques had been paid into the county bank account instead of cash, which had apparently been misappropriated. Lodgments had been made by Costello monthly instead of at least weekly, as he had been instructed to do.

Michael Keating gave evidence that Costello was practically paymaster, and was in charge of the public office, he himself being located in tho clerk's private office, and going into tho public office only when occasion required. Costello pleaded not guilty and was committed to the next sittings of the Supreme Court at Greymouth. Bail in his own recognisance of £2OO and two sureties of £IOO was forthcoming, and accused was released accordingly.

Ladles' Golf Club. The Greymoutli Ladies' Golf Club L.G.U. senior match on Saturday resulted in a win for Mrs Thorpy with a score of 77, Miss Berry with 79 being run-ner-up. In ' the junior championship Miss Tennent beat Miss Kilgour C up and 4. The Omoto Cup was won by Mra Cunningham, who defeated Mrs Thomas 3up and 2." The junior medal match was won by Miss Tennent with a score of 48. Coal Shipments. The exports of coal from Westport last week were:—Stockton Co. 3293 tons, Westport Coal Co. 8424 tons.