WESTPORT NOTES.

Grey River Argus, 17 June 1922, Page 7

WESTPORT NOTES.

(Our Own Correspondent). Mr Borringcr, Government Inspector of Explosives, has just completed an official visit to this district. In company with Inspector Moloney a visit ■was made to the power magazines and to the kerosene, and benzine storage houses. As far as regulations go only one of the latter found to be strictly withiu the letter of the law and the : proprietor of it is Mayor Menzies. Inspector Moloney will henceforth see to it that sTorers of the foregoing goods comply with regulations laid down for the safety of the public. A very important municipal work is in the course of construction in -Mill Street. A very long 2ft Gin concrete drain is being laid down commencing at the top of Derby Street, and running the length of Mill Street to within a short distance of the West port. Trotting Club’s racecourse. This will drain neighbouring country side of storm and swamp waters, which will fiind their way into Easton’s Creek and ultimately lose themselves in the Orowaiti River. The work of laying down this drain is being carried out by the Borough surfacemen under the direction of Engineer Higgins. It is the biggest ami most important piece of engineering that lias been undertaken since Mr Douglas Dobson left Westport. If Mr Higgins carries the project to a successful conclusion, he will earn the thanks of the City Council and the gratitude of the ratepayers. The “Popular Girl’’ competition is, for the moment, all the rage; but there is shortly to be introduced a novel com- ! petition in which candidates will be put up for the most “unpopular man,”] ; ml also the most, “unpopular woman.” | Constables Nesbit and Adams are to be > nominated among the male competitors and their mainstay of support will be drawn from the Licensed Victuallers • and the habitual law breakers. Mr D. Moloney will be another nominee ami I he will be well supported by the owners of stray cattle and other perpetrators of public nuisances. There will also be a newspaper representative among the candidates, and in this probably the “Argus” correspondent will be thw chosen one. Staunch support will assuredly be forthcoming from both the . local dailies and also members of local bodies, particularly the

County Council. The list will be an open one for some time to come, ami before nominations close, added names will be mentioned with their respective sources of support in this column. The novely of it all is that the man who gets to tlie head of the poll will lie pushed there by tlie bitteresT of his enemies. Funny isn’t it? HOCKEY. . TOWN v. COUNTRY. The 1-(lies’ United A. Hockey team motored to the country on Thursday afternoon to engage in a game with tlie Mokihinui girls. The weather conditions were ideal ami the game a fast, clean open one. ’fhe teams on the whole were pretty well matched, and the .honours on either side just about even. Only one score was registered and that fell to the lot of the Uniteds. .Mrs O. Nahr carried the ball well up the held, ami centering the oval, left it to the captain, (Miss E. Srhadick), to pot a go - 1, which she did to the great excitement of the black and reds and their supporters on the side line. The game throughout was so well contested by the opj.osing teams, that it would be difiicult to mention any one for individual brilliancy on the field. The victory looked like anybody's almost up till the time the whistle blew. All the I nited played good solid hockey, .'■s also did the Mokihinui girls. The latter prehaps showed a little superiority in their long shots, while the former if they had any advantage, it lay in combination. The goalkeeper for either side put uj) excellent performances, giving a fine exhibition of the part to be pl.-yed when an opposing shot came dangerously in the direction of the scoring ground. Miss J. McKay guarded the United posts, and Mrs Franklin (Ngakawau), kept watch for the country girls. Mr N. Loriace refereed the game, and Messrs W. N: hr and W. Corby were the touchline judges. After the match was over, the visiting team were treated to a most enjoyable afternoon tea, served well and liberally by the good natured country folk. When all had eaten of the good things provided, .Miss E. Sch.-d (captain) thanked the Mokihinui girls for their hospitality and kindness, and in her reply, Miss Bennett (captain) eulogised the United tefin for the clean sportsmanlike way iu which they played the game. Three cheers from each of the teams concluded a very enjoyrble afternoon’s outing and sport. The town team left Mokihinui on the return journey at quarter to six, and arrived home two hours later.