WESTPORT BOY’S BRAVERY RECOGNISED'

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 March 1946, Page 3

WESTPORT BOY’S BRAVERY RECOGNISED'

The drowning accident in the Buller river on February 9 was recalled yesterday afternoon, when members of the Marine Department’s staff met at Westport to express appreciation of the prompt action of Master A. J. Devascovi in going to the assistance of the two dredge hands whose dingy had capsized. One of the men, Harold Pearson, was drowned before the youth could reach him. The secretary-engineer, Mr. A. C. Bascand, who presided, commended the boy’s initiative and expressed thanks on behalf of Mr. Pearson’s relatives. The other occupant of the boat, Mr. C. Robertson, added his personal thanks. Captain J. Carlson, master of the dredge Maui, on which the two men were employed, presented Master Devascovi with an inscribed wristlet watch in appreciation of his action. CUSTOMS RETURNS. Customs revenue at Westport for February, with figures for February, 1945, in parenthesis, were:—customs, £421/13/7 (£lB4/7/7); beer duty, £643/2/8 (£498/19/7); sales tax, £325/9/11 (354/12/8); war expenses account, £1476/5/9 (£1384/10/-; total, £2866/11/11 (£2422/9/10). WESTPORT WEATHER. The total rainfall for the month of February was 4.92 inches, recorded .on nine days. For the first two months of this year 13.03 inches of rain have fallen on 27 days. Hours of sunshine recorded in February totalled 203.1 there being only one sunless day, February 16. This compared favourably with 156.7 hours and three suhless days in February, 1944, and 146.9 hours and four sunless days in 1945. BLACKBERRIES PLENTIFUL.

Parties of Westport residents have augmented their incomes during the last two weeks by picking blackberries, which are again plentiful in the district. Residents report having made up to £3 each a day by picking the fruit, which is in great demand for jam-making. In spite of all efforts to eradicate the weed, it continues to thrive and annually provides additional revenue to enterprising pickers. RATE PAYMENTS.

The rates collected by the Westport Borough Council up to Thursday evening amounted to £19,341, which is 93 per cent, of the collectable rates, compared with 92.50 per cent, up to discount closing day last year.