Convention of Westports

Press, 23 February 1988, Page 2

Convention of Westports

Westport reporter

More than 30 delegates from Westports in Ireland and the United States will gather in its New Zealand namesake this week-end for a convention. Previous conventions have been held in Ireland and in New York.

Many former Westport residents are returning to take part in the festivities, which will coincide with the Westport Jockey Club’s meeting.

Registrations will begin at 1 p.m. on Friday at the Westport Borough Council chambers, and an informal gathering will be held at the Buller Working Men’s Club in the evening when films of past conventions and of the host town will be screened. The Buller Promotion Association will stage a parade on Saturday morning, and lunch will be provided for the visitors and guests in the hospitality tent at the racecourse. An official delegates’ meeting will be held in the Buller High School

staff room at 3 p.m. and an official convention photograph will be taken. The Westport Borough Council and the Buller County Council will hold an officials’ cocktail hour in the early evening before the convention ball is held at the Community Centre Hall.

On Sunday, a church service will be provided by the Westport Ministers’ Association at St John’s Anglican Church in Queen Street. A buffet luncheon will be held at the Westport Motor Hotel and in the afternoon visitors and guests will be offered tours round the district. A farewell function will be held at the St James Theatre in the evening. Twenty visitors will come from Westport in New York state, and there will be representatives from towns of the same name in Connecticut, Maine, Florida, Massachusetts and Nova Scotia. Three will come from Ireland.