WESTPORT NOTES

Grey River Argus, 18 July 1922, Page 8

WESTPORT NOTES

(Our Own Correspondent). Excellent business was done at the produce stall on Saturday for the Railway candidate in the O’Connor Lome ‘‘Popular Girl” competition. I'he recent few days’ heavy rain put. the Buller in flood and a pile of driftwood along the North Beach. Carters were busy towards the week end gathering loads for sale in the town. The United A Ladies’ hockey team meet the Westport A's in a round for tho cup next Thursday. This should be one of the best contests of the season. When they last met the tussle was a “ding-dong” go and spectators talked about it for a wook after. Business premises are now in demand in Westport. There are two new firms negotiating to launch into activities. They will probably have to go into tho side streets, for the main thoroughfare seems full. I understand both are t» bo in the nature of wholesale businesses. If so, we shall soon find a drop in household commodities. With the word “cut” ringing in tho air, is seems that either Mr Massey is frauding us in regard to the cost of living, or else retailers are profiteering. Two well-known farmers in this district have just returned from a tour down South. They assure me that Westport is far ahead of ,Groymoulh in every respect. Naturally iHey wore interested in agricultural pursuits, and taking stock of the land here, there and everywhere, their conclusion is:—‘Bui lor will do us! ” In fact one man said: —“I wouldn’t give 10 acres of my farm land for 30 of any 1 saw down South.” The farmer in question, doubtless has a magnificent selection in the Buller, but I venture to say he is not the only one blessed with a strikingly rich and productive plot. Tho railway line loading to thr eas torn breakwater Is being strength by tho insertion of new sleepers. Apparently some stono from tho Cape quarries is to be deposited at the up head. There are signs of fresh activities in other directions in the totality mentioned. With big Admiralty colliers coming here, and shipping gen erally on tho increase, the powers that be must bestir themselves no mattei how reluctant they may be to mov in things that concern the harbour. One sees Westport “will” go ahead The place is forging ahead by the \ of tho people, and not at tfio behest of tho Government. We might lie as dead as Julius Caesar if we were aMr Massey would have us. Half-a-dozen samples of milk wore taken from the local vendors last week and sent to tho Christchurch I.a boratory for analysis. Inspector Gooding will bo notified of the rcsi«:f in the course of a week or two. Any one selling diluted milk, will go “kite high.” With the recent drought, there should be no livelihood of th existence of an excessive amount ol water. So the Westport Post Office is to be reinstated as a “G.P.0.” for the Buller district. Where post and telegraph matters are concerned, Westport will now no longer be subservient to Greymouth. This is due largely to the efforts of the Buller Progress League, whose representations have borne welcome fruit to the long suffering public. Tho raising of the status of the local office, at the request of the League, gives us a direct demonstration of what the “self-appointed” body is capable of. The League’s activities were devided once by a man who has climbed to the top of the tree, but now we find it is the League’s turn to look down and laugh! • Instead of the cry being “1 am the only one that counts,” i? is; “We are the only body with any influence!” Now that the Progress League has been thus recognised as a mouthpiece of the people of this district, it is up to the public to heave to .and help it all it knows how. Tho fact of the League’s being a “selfappointed” body, and not one of those “ordinary” constitutional things, makes it, in certain respects all the vaster in its importance. Necessity is sometimes quoted as the mother of invention, and in this respect the need here for a real “live” body is responsible for the League’s springing into creation. In a word, the Buller Progress League has justified its existence.’ The Union Steam Ship Company lias been approached to berth the steamer Koinata to the top wharf for the convenience of passengers and the waiting public, but the struggling combine cannot afford to comply with the request. Well than how about shifting the waiting room to the crane end of the water front? Let’s knock at the door of the Buller Progress League and see if anything can bo done.