WEEKLY STEAMER SERVICE

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22343, 5 March 1938, Page 5

WEEKLY STEAMER SERVICE

RUMOUR DENIED WELLINGTON TO WESTPORT The addition of the new steamer Kakapo to the Union Steam Ship Company's fleet of vessels visiting Westport regularly gave rise to a feeling among business people that the company was considering the running of a regular weekly service between Wellington and Westport, by which passengers and freight would be carried. However, when interviewed by "The Press," Mr W. A. Smith, manager for the company at Westport, stated that he had received no notification whatever from head office that a service would be -'.arted soon. He considered it unlikely that the Kakapo would carry passengers, as her accommodation was limited almost to the officers and crew. Some years ago the old Komata, since sold to Japan for scrap iron, carried goods and passengers from Wellington to Westport and return, maintaining a fairly regular and wellpatronised service. Later, during the days of the depression, this service was discontinued, and was never restarted. At present, the Wingatui runs almost solely between the two ports, carrying mostly coal. No passenger boat has run from Westport for some years, and much of the freight formerly shipped is taken overland from Chrislchurch to Inangahua Junction by railway, and then on to Westport by motor transport. CONVERSION OF CAR IMPRISONMENT FOR THREE MONTHS Patrick Joseph Hawkins, aged 40, of Westport, unemployed, appeared before Messrs F. Morgan and T. Shaw, Justices of the Peace, at Westport yesterday morning on three charges, that he was found in a state of intoxication in Palmerston street on March 3; that, not being the holder of a driver's licence, he drove a motor-car at St. Helens, on the Granity-Seddonville highway, on February 25; and that on February 25 he unlawfully converted to his own use. but not so as to be guilty of theft, a car valued at £IOO, the property of Ernest Frederick Bush, of Granity. On the first two charges Hawkins, who pleaded guilty, was convicted and discharged, but on the third was convicted and sentenced to three months' imprisonment. ELECTRIC POWER FROM LAKE COLERIDGE GOOD PROGRESS MADE WITH WORK Good progress is reported with the contract work included in the scheme to take electric power from Lake Coleridge to the West Coast. The erection of poles from Arahura to Marsden road is stated to be practically completed. The wires will be added by the Public Works Department. i It is expected that the work of erecting poles and a line from Marsden road to Kaiata will be finished in side two weeks. Two of four Diesel engines are in operation at the Dobson sub-station, running in conjunction with the hydro plant at Kaimata, the combination supplying the load for the Grey district. Work is proceeding with the changing of the power line, between Kaiata and Dobson. from 33,000 volts to 66,000 volts, the job being carried out by the Public Works Department. This will form part of the line from Lake Coleridge. OFFICERS FOR MINERS' UNION The election of officers of the Ngaka-wau-Stockton Miners' Union resulted as follows:—President. Mr J. Lavery; secretary, Mr W. Battershall; vicepresident. Mr Ireland; treasurer, Mr W. Berry (re-elected); committee. Messrs A. Bradley, J. Edwards. J. Poynter; workmen's inspectors, Messrs T. Jones and I. L. Tyler. PLACEMENT OFFICE AT GREYMOUTH — f"- —■ PERMANENT WORK FOUND FOR NINE MEN Nine men were found permanent work this week by the State Placement Service at Greymouth. Of these, seven were placed in private work and two in State or subsidised employment. Additionally, two men were found temporary and one man casual private work making a total of 12 men for whom work was found.