WESTPORT NOTES

Grey River Argus, 29 November 1920, Page 5

WESTPORT NOTES

(Our Own Correspondent.) WESTPORT, November 27. Mr Woodcock left by overland car on Priday morning for Christchurch en ;. route to Timaru, to attend as focal de--1 legate to the Watcrsidcrs ' Conference. ( Mr H. E. Holland is to give a lecture shortly on Russian aftaiis. The collection Avill go to tho funds of the O'Connor Memorial Home. * It is reported that some interesting licensing cases are set down for hearing at Granity during the coming Avcck. There was no appearance of cither party at the Magistrate's Court on Wednesday in the case Nahr v. Paul, for the possession of the Grand Hot.?.!; !Mr W. Aitkcn, who /returned to Westport with his father owing to the latter 's illness, left by Komata on tci turn journey to Wellington. Mrs Harley who has been on a visit to rolat-A 7 cs in Westport returned to Feilding on Friday. "" Mrs Reg McMaster- w r as a passenger by steamer Eomata for Wellington. A number of alterations and improvements, are being effected at the Club Hotel and its adjoining building since the coming into occupancy of the nCAV proprietor, Mr Sam Paul. The inconA'cnicncc that is experienced by passengers who attempt, in Avet weather, to reach the steamship Eomata at the Merchandise wharf is to . employ a colloquism, «and say tho least of it — "Absolutely the stoncy limit." There is no motor approach that brings the passenger closer to the si earnerthan Packington Street. Hero thi: traveller is obliged to alight, take Avhat luggage he or she can carry, and pick his or her steps across a rocky Avatcr-loggcd set o,f railway lines, Avherc "shunting" is in progress. After crossing OA-er safely — and they are lucky who negotiate it safely— the next obstacle in the hurdle race is to a climb up a A'crticlc iron rail ladder to I the Avharf: then a further scramble over lines and round cranes to meant an ascending, or climb doAvn a descending gangway to the boat. The rest is Avell known to all Avho have travelled by this up-to-date little ferry steamer Why the steamer docs not move slowly to. the upper Avharf after coal loading, and g'u _ passengers an opportunity to board her in civilized fashion. It is difficult to understand Must avc look to tho "Progress League" for help? fc The U.S.S. Coy or Railway Department may make a change Avhcn some passenger, whoose life is considered n | A'aluable one is lost! i MAINTENANCE. In the Magistrate's Court last week, in tho case where Elizabeth Hopgood sued Harold Harms for maintenance of child, Magistrate Maunscll said similar action had to be taken by complainant on a pre\ r ious occasion. He thought a man like Harms should be put in gaol Avith hard labour nnd his wages paid to his wife. Mr Molony Avho appeared for Plaintiff said ifwould be a good idea:* it' would bring the man to his sense of responsibility. He Avas a most refractory follow. The Magistrate's order Avas three months hard labour, Avarrant to b« suspended as long as maintenance feC Avas paid and arrears at, 5s per week. ASSAULT. One of the most pathetic and pitabio sights within the knowledge of your correspondent w.is presented in Court last Tuesday, when a father laying a complaint against a neighbour for assault to his child, found it necessary of his OAvn account to bring three of his little children* two girls and a boy of the respective ages of 13, 11, and -">, into the witness box to give evidence. As each little mite came forward, Magistrate Maunscll had to explain in :•. -fatherly fashion what w T as meant by taking an oath, and picture for it the tearfulness and solemnity of the occasion when onje was to tell the "truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth." Having gone througn this necessary preliminary' proeeaure, each 3ittle child - in turn began to ramble off and prattle about all .sorts oi happenings quite irrelevant to the case in question. It Avas impossible under the circumstances of their being so young to keep them to the question. .The stories, of course, had their humorous as well as their solemn side, and smiles went frequently all round the count. The" father of tho child alleged to have been assaulted said the trouble arose out of a duck pond at the back of tho section. He too Avas inclined to tell of happenings quite irrelevant to the charge and had to be asked to confine his remarks to the question put- by defendant's counsel. Ho complaincdi that the neighbour '.s children had passed remarks over the fence about the "dirty linen on the line." Magistrate Maunscll- suggested leaving, the "dirty linen" out of the case (smiles). It came out in the defence that a ten-foot fence had been erected between the parties to the 'ase to prevent contact with each other. Complainant claimed that it was erc."t- < ed for his protection- and defendant alleged it Avas put up at her request. HoAvevcr the balrricr was ineffectual the children of complainant, climbed' up and were just as troublesome as ever The story of the complainant Avas that defendant rushed out of the I bushes from the side of the road one J