BLACKBALL NOTES

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 August 1928, Page 12

BLACKBALL NOTES

_gg>. (Our Own Correspondent.) The Blackball Rugby League Club’s annual ball was held in the Miners Hall last Friday evening. About 20C persons were in attendance at this function. The hall was beautifully ami tastefully decorated for the occasion in which tho Club colours, red anti black played a prominent part. The supper arrangements, under the personal supervision of Mrs H. Ritchie, and her capable band of lady assistants were carried out quite successfully, being all that could be desired. Decorations, supper and general arrangements were all in keeping with the spirit of carnival abroad. Miss Watson’s Orchestra supplied a lively programme of music, Messrs IT. Long and J; Neilson officiating in the capacity of M.C. It is understood that the Ball was not the financial success as anticipated, there being a lack of support forthcoming on this occasion from outside country patrons. The recent displays given by the Blackball junior schoolboys Soccer team against the Canterbury “A” and Otago “B” representatives on Monday and Wednesday at Blackball aroused a deal of enthusiasm amongst the local Soccer fraternity, the superior weight and pace of the visiting teams being far too much for the

local juveniles to cope with. A fair crowd of spectators witnessed both encounters, and the funds of the Boy’s Club were greatly augmented. The scores for the games were:— Canterbury “A” 5, Blackball 2: Otago “B” 3, Blackball 0. A visit from the West Coast “B” representatives is scheduled for Saturday at 3 o’clock, when a good crowd of local supporters is expected to view the game. Mrs D. McKinnon and family left Blackball on Tuesday to take up permanent, residence at Palmerston North. Mr John McNicol (Blackball), who has been an inmate of the Grey Hospital for several months, underwent, a. further operation on Tuesday, for a serious knee injury. He is reported to be progresssing favourably. Mr White, a. director of the Blackball Coal Coy., arrived by the express on Thursday. A deputation from the local Miners’ Union will in all probability confer with the management of the local coal company to-day (Friday) on various matters connected with the recent, situation created by a number of employees receiving notices of dismissal. A mass meeting of the local branch of the Minors’ Union will take place on Sunday. when recent developments will be fully discussed. It is understood that Mr C. Thompson. a. deputy on the Blackball Coal Co.’s staff, will shortly be leaving this locality for Natal, South Africa. The demise of Mr C. Simpson, of Blackball, on Thursday morning, is deeply regretted by a, large circle of local friends. The deceased gentle-

man was a native of Scotland, am for many months was confined to tin Grey River Hospital with a serious in urual complaint. He leaves a widow one son. and one daughter. The fune ral will take place on Saturday a Blackball. The Otago B representatives, ac companied by Messrs Wallace and An demon (managers of the team) visit <d Blackball on Wednesday mornini to try out their forces against the lo cal schoolboys’ soccer-team. Aftei the conclusion of the game, the reps were quite pleased to avail themselves of a warm bath at the bathhouse oi the Blackball mine. Afterwards, al the boys adjourned to the Dominion Hotel, -where the proprietress, Mrs H. J. Campbell, had prepared an excellent repast. The sincere thanks o: the local schoolboys’ club are extend cd to Messrs Ashurst, Cochrane and Gourlay for .their generosity in placing their cars at the disposal of the local club, as regards the transport of the Otago boys from Greymouth: also Lo Mrs H. J. Campbell for the loan of towels, etc. Prior to the visiting team departing for Greymoutl Mr W. Stirling (Headmaster of the Blackball School) congratulated the managers and boys on their great display of football, and also thanked the managers for bringing their team to Blackball. Mr Stirling pointed out the advantages to be derived from the periodical visitations of these boys’ teams to various parts of the Dominion, both from an educational, as well as from other points of view. Mr Wallace (Mornington School) briefly responded on behalf of Ihe visiting team. and congratulated the local boys’ team upon their excellent display of football against, their heavier and speedied opponents. He remarked that, on that day’s display, the local schoolboys, in his candid opinion, were the equal of any junior schoolboys’ organisation in the South Island. He also congratulated the local coach for the able manner in which he had brought the boys along to their present, standard of play in so short a time. Prior to their departure for Greymouth, the Otago boys gave three rousing cheers for the i sporting fraternity of Blackball. Mrs Jas. Neilson and Miss IT. Neilson (Blackball) left by Thursday’s express for Christchurch.

Mr and Mrs N. Clarke (Stafford Street), accompanied by their daughter. Mrs D. Kinnon, left for Lyttelton by Tuesday’s express. The special train chartered to convey local Rugby League partisans to Christchurch to view the third test match, is being well patronised from this locality. It is stated that about 100 persons will be making the journey on Saturday morning. Mr J. A. C. Bayne, Chief Inspector of Mines, visited Blackball on Wednesday. The climatic conditions of this locality for the past few days have more or less been confined to heavy showers, with glimpses of “Old Sol” at intervals. The local mine for the past fortnight

has worked consistently, although Wednesday was declared an idle day throughout the mining camps in sympathy with the members of the Denniston Miners’ Union.