WESTPORT NOTES.

Grey River Argus, 19 January 1922, Page 8

WESTPORT NOTES.

(Our Own Correspondent.) “An honest, sensible and well-bred man cannot offend me, and no other can.” I forget who wrote the foregoing, but it is a truth, well worth quoting. The Westport Garrison Band is practising assiduously for the forthcoming contest. The bandsmen leave Westport on February 10 th, and the test takes place on the 13th. The great majority of people are accustomed to look askance at the number ”13,” and one scribe says the only time it’s any good is when it is applied to the baker’s dozen. ExPresident Wilson, however, swears by it, and points to scores of lucky events in his life falling on the 13th. Wo wish the band good luck, despite the terrible number. The officials of the Buller Agricultural and Pastoral Association are hoping that the Hon Mr. Parr, Minister of Education, will be a special guest at their forthcoming show. The Minister is expected to arrive in Westport some time in February, in connection with the official opening of the new technical high school. The A. and P. Association is undecided whether to engage the Band or an orchestra to supply the customary indispensable music for their meeting at the Mill Street course on Show Day. For an open-air performance the band is decidedly prcferrable, if only for the reason that the strains of an orchestra fail to make themselves heard above the din, bustle and noise of a concourse of people. The members of the Buller Agricultural and Pastoral Show met in Secretary Radford’s office on Tuesday evening and discussed matters in connection with the forthcoming show. The various committees paid a visit to the grounds, at the Mill Street course, and have mapped out plans for Show Day. Mr. Simkin, Karamca, is donating a young pedigree Jersey bull as a trophy, to be presented to the winner of the most points in the Jersey class. The bull is to be auctioned on the morning of “People’s Day.” The trophy is valued at 10 guineas. Any bid in excess of that amount is to go to the Association’s funds. The donor values the bull at 20 guineas.

A deputation from the A. and P. Association will interview the Borough and the County Councils on the matter of a donation to the former’s funds, - The Buller County Council and the Hospital Board hold their first sitting for the New Year early next week. Your correspondent was unavoidably absent from the last meeting of the Westport Borough Council, but I note that the Inspector of Nuisances has paid an official visit round town in tho interests of a rat-catching crusade and for other sanitation purposes. I also note that he only condemned to death one building—the gaol-house, at the rear of tho Court building, in Wakefield Street. Then it comes about that the only public offender constituting a menace to health is the Dominion Government, tho very people who are sending messages pellmell through the press of the country, advising the inhabitants and local authorities to get busy in the direction of rat-catching and sanitation in the interests of public health? The Massey Government does some funny things. We often find them failing to practise what they preach. Anyhow, speaking about the condemned deten-tion-house reminds ono that there was money on the last Estimates for the rebuilding of new gaol quarters at Westport. Not sufficient, though, one thinks, to meet local requirements. Crime may be increasing or perhaps it’s the fault of tho population. The estimate, at any rate, was not commensurate with the demand Now 'that the present building is to be levelled to the ground, however, Mr. Massey might consider the matter of sufficient importance to’ provide enough to build proper strong-room quarters for his employees in these parts. A neighbour informs me that she overheard* two unknown persons say that they were going to “duck” the Westport Correspondent to' the “Argus.” This, in mid-summer time, soundsjfcr cry cool and refreshing. If tho two . “unknown warriors” had said they were going to “blow her up,” your correspondent would be doubly sure that someone has the “wind up” to well-nigh hurricane velocity!

WESTPORTONIAN’S NOTES.

Thero was a lot of money expended upon beautifying the esplanade, making it quite a nice walk. Lately some person or persons unknown Have been chopping down some of tho palms and young trees. It would be well if some of the residents in the locality gave the police a little information regarding the offenders, so that a stop might be put to their depredations. The Garrison Band are right out for winning the Test and March at the Wellington competitions next month, practising assiduously night after night The tow-nsfolk, judging by the number listening outside tho band-room on practice night, are becoming interested. I have been asked to state that they will be welcome to a seat in the band-room, should they so wish, where they could listen to the music in comfort. On Saturday night the band played some fine selections at Paul’s Hotel, the new balcony being placed

at their disposal, and by the largo gathering of the general public it was evident that their efforts were appreciated. Mr. George Radford, shunter, N. Z. Railways, has received notice of transfer to Lyttelton. We wish him every success. It is the intention of the railwaymen to hold a monster picnic at an early date, at Capo Foulwind. So that the greatest number can avail themselves of the outing, Sunday is proposed for the day out. It was thought that opposition might be met with from the Ministers’ Association, but there is scarcely any need. It is said that John Wesley, when convinced of the apathy of tho people in attending church, resolved that if the people would not go to the church, then he would take the church to the people. Why not our local ministers seize tho opportunity, and they and f their congregation go out to the Cape and deliver their message? Some years ago, tho Rev. Fee, a no-license advocate, attended a Labour Day Sports gathering at the Cape arid did great work. He got the people who would not have gone to a hall to listen to him. After all, it is not Churchianity that is wanted, is it? There is quite a lot of propaganda going on through the columns' of the day-lie press, for and against Prohibition. One of the latest awful examples is from New York. As soon as a country goes dry, there is a greater quantity of alcohol consumed. This, of course, is logic. So in U.S.A., during the Xmas and New Year’s festivities, there have been a number of fatalities through the drinking of wood alcohol, presumably alcohol distilled from wood. Of course, this may or may not be true, but fhe danger of the information as regards Noo Zee is this: Bill has been putting the tax on pretty stiff to' alcoholites, and is thefff not a prospect of some of our geniuses getting to work, say on Bryan and Bowater’s sawdust heap, and distilling sufficient to carry them over the bad times? I believe the police should keep an eye on that sawdust heap! “Your Own Correspondent” reported a motor-ear collision on the Buller Road, between one of Newman Bros.’ ears and the County Engineer’s ear. A'' passenger ’ ’ in Monday’s ‘ ‘ Argus ’ ’ gives his version of tho matter. Without expressing any opinion of the two versions, thero is one outstanding fact, that a collision did take place, and it is possible, considering the traffic on the Buller Road, and the sharp turns and narrow places, that more might take place, with a worse result even than a car being “ smashed to mincemeat!” In an effort to minimise the risk, might I be allowed to make a suggestion? The whole of the dangerous part of the Buller Road, from the Punt, say, to the Junction, is covered by telegraph or telephone. Would it not be possible to “arrange sy that those in control of tho telegraph office, say, at Twelve-milc, Berlin’s, and the Junction, notifying each other when vehicular traffic and tho matter of such, has entered their section? A notice could be placed outside such telegraph offices, calling the attention of motorists and others that they could get the information as to whether the section ahead of them was clear, or not, upon enquiry within. This is the way it would work: The cars cross the Buller on the punt. The man in charge of the punt has the telephone, I believe. He would warn the car drivers, and they would bo in a position to calculate where and when they would be likely tomeet tho approaching vehicle, and use extra caution thereabouts. Tho man at the punt would ring up Twelvemilo and inform them that so many cars had left at such-and-such a time. Should cars take the loop-line road, it would only take a couple of minutes, upon the vehicle striking the Buller Road, for the driver to l communicate with the man at the punt and receive the necessary information from him, at the same time informing him of his own movements. There may bo improvements possible in the scheme outlined; but some more precautions are necessary than exist. The blowing of the motor horns at curves, even if it does take place, is seldom heard by cars approaching each other. Of course, by night, travelling is far safer, on account of the powerful headlights, their reflection giving warning at a great distance. What ’ control the County Council may have over the Buller Hoad, I know not; but J is possible I think they should assume some, and endeavour to regulate the traffic, so that tho dangers might be reduced to a minimum. The County Engineer might help them in their deliberations, as he is, or should be, after his late experience, an interested party.