WESTPORT NOTES.

Grey River Argus, 1 May 1923, Page 3

WESTPORT NOTES.

(By Telegraph—Special to “Argus”) Word has been, received that Mr T. P. Pain, son of Mr Thos. Pain, engineer, of Westport, has passed his final law examination. Tom has scored this success practically off his own bat, an achievement upon which he deserves to be congratulated. At present he is stationed at Hokitika as an officer of the Justice Department. The school room adjacent to the * Library is being now fitted up as a dental clinic. I learn that the nurse who is being appointed for the district will reside in Westport, and will travel into the country districts. The annual meeting of householders was hold to-night at the Brick School, where Canon Coursey was voted unanimously to the chair. The report and balance-sheet were most satisfactory and enoouraging, both financially and otherwise, the report being educationally the best ever presented in the history of the school. The R.S.A. Ball on Friday night should go off with great eclat, there being a strong committee of ladies formed to carry it through on lines the most popular and brilliant. Poppy Day sales this year realised twice as much as last year in Westport, the receipts totalling £7O. Mr Robert Patterson is engaged now in valuing the Empire Hotel, which is about to change hands. The outgoing hosts of the Empire Hotel, Mr and Mrs N. Culling, were presented by Mr C. E. Craig, on behalf of the staff of the hotel, with rt handsome set of fish knives and forks. (Our Own Correspondent.) A woman who has had a happy marxred life gives this schedule for the model husband:— 100 is the unit of perfection; good looks 0. jollying 5. money-making 15, domesticity 10, morality 8, attentiveness 12, sympathy 50. Mr R. D B. Eyre, Collector of Customs at New Plymouth, formerly filling a similar position at Westport, retires at his own request on April 16th, after being in the service for over forty yeais. . t The Fire Brigade were summoned to the scene of an outbreak in Peel Street on Sunday morning, when the residence of Mr J. Mouatt was in danger of being burnt to the ground. The fire was got under before very much damage was done. The rear portion of the house, particularly the kitchen, suffered a good scorching. The outbreak is believed to have been caused' by rats nesting in the chimney. The fire alarm had only made its appeal a few moments when the buzz of the motor reel Was to be heard speedily making its way along Palmerston Street. A good story was told of the Hon. Joan Dickson-Poynder when she was doing war work as a military chaffeure. One day it was her duty to drive rather a testy “tin hat” somewhere. He gave a curt order. “Yes, sir,” replied the young driver. "I am accustomed to be addressed as ‘Your Lordship/ ” said the great man. “'And I am accustomed to being called ‘Your Ladyship, ” brightly replied the girl. Silence for a few miles. Then ‘His Lordship’ pointed to a large building on a hill several miles away. “What the devil is that place?’’ he queried abruptly “How in the hell should I know?” snapped out the Hon. Joan, who evidently believed in the ancient saw “Tit for Tat” as applied to conversation. {Since our increasing hospital expenditure has been the “pet” theme of the aspirants who stood for local body honours during the past wook, the following figures, gathered from an authoritative source, should make interesting reading for those who have to “foot the bill.” The figures refer to the T 922 carryings on of the institution. — Milk supply £271/4/4 (vendor’s charge per quart); Old People’s Home £92/7/7; eggs for both institutions £246; poultry £42; butter £213/10/4; Old People’s Home £B3/7/9; fruit and vegetables, Hospital £72/12/4, Ohl People’s Homo £23/2/0. Groceries are not taken into consideration here. The eggs, of course, were produced in the run at the Old People’s Home, as also was most of the poultry used. On the face of it, it would appear that the idea of ex-CouncT77or Thomas (Denniston) to establish a hospital farm is one well worth full and thorough investigation. HOCKEY. A prominent figure in hockey circles gives me the following account of the happenings at the Westport Trotting Club’s Mill Street course last Thursday: — The opening of the 1923 hockey season took place at the Westport Trotting Club’s course on Thursday afternoon last. There were very lew spectators present, the 'distance of the playing ground from town no doubt militating against the public rolling up in largo numbers. The married and single men’s match wat abandoned, only 15 men putting in an appearance. The Town v. Country ladies’ match proved very interesting and fast a! times, and the scribe would like to see these two teams meet again. The result was: Country 3, Town 2. Goal getters for the Country were: Miss Mumm (1), and Miss Scott (2). Miss Champion, for Town scored two goals. Mr Hufton •wat- in charge of the whistle A second Town v. Country ladies maTch took place on No. 2 ground, the country players being three short. The game was'always full of .interest, and ended. Town 2, Country nil. Miss V. Champion and Miss Evelyn Bird wore

the goal getters. Mr Sara and Miss •Schadick acted as referees. I After the match the country visitors were entertained at afternoon tea provided by the local Association. Miss , Carr, in welcoming flic visitors, stated how delighted the Association were at having such a good representation of country hockey players, comprising Ngakawau, Mokihinui, and Millerton. Miss Mumm (captain of the country team) in reply, thanked the Association for the hospitality shown them, and , hoped everyone present would do her best to keep hockey alive in the Buller district. (Cheers). Cheers were then given for Town and Country respectively, also the referees, our country cousins leaving Tater for home. The country ladies, indeed, deserve great praise for their sportsmanship in placing two teams in the field at so short a notice. The men’s fancy dross match against ladies did not eventuate. Rumour hath it that no pick handles coulu be procured. WEDDING BELLS. DUNN—RANSOM. An exceptionally pretty wedding was celebrated on the 26th inst., in St. Canicc’s, by the Rev. Father Bowe, when Miss Katherine Dunn, fourth daughter of Mrs Margaret Dunn, of Westport, was united in the holy bonds of matrimony to Mr Hubert Ransom, of Wellington. The bride, who was given away by her brother, Mr M. Dunn, was charmingly attired in a white crepc-de-chinc gown *with veil and orange blossoms, and she carried a magnificent shower bouquet of pink and white roses, interwoven with asparagus fern. The chief bridesmaid, Miss Margaret Dunn, wore a very dainty gown of rose pink crepe-de-chinc with a cluster girdle of pink and green posies. The second bridesmaid, Miss Ransom, sister of the bridegroom, wore a white figured organdi muslin frock, with peacock blue girdle Both wore net veils, and each carried very pretty shower bouquets to blond with their frocks. Little Miss Cunliffc, niece of the bride, accompanied the party, wearing a very dainty frilled frock of white net, over lemon edged with salmon pink, and Heads, dross consisting of a pretty little pearl trimmed dutch hat. Mr Ransom’s orother acted as best man. Miss B. Doyle presided at the organ, and played the “Wedding March,” as the happy couple left the church. Mrs Ransom, mother of the bridegroom, attended the church, wearing a niggerbrown costume, with toque to match, and Mrs Dunn mother of the bride, ■was in navy silk, with putty coloured hat. After the ceremony at tlie church, a sumptuous breakfast was held at the bride’s mother’s residence in Russell Street. Later the happy couple left amid the good wishes of many friends, for their future home, in the North Island. ST. JOHN’S WINTER EVENING. The first of a series of winter evenings took place in St. John’s schoolroom in Lyndhurst Street on Friday night. The. building was packed, ami the largo crowd was well satisfied with The faro provided. The programme was organised, I understand, by Mrs E. McDonagh and Nirs Todd, both or whom were ably assisted by Mrs Wilde. Contributors to the programme, most of -which was encored, included Messrs Duncan Struthers, Robertson, Hatton, Oldham and McDonagh; Masters Bertie Todd and Douthett. TTcsdames Wilde, Douthett and B. 'Mconagh; Misses Elley, Thora and Una Todd, Loch, Knight (Rcefton), n<w ertson, Douthett, and McDonagh. Accompaniments were played by Mesdames Riley, McDonagh and Wilde. Among the performers some very tiny tots—children of the Todd’s and Douthett’s —whose performances were very creditable indeed. The audience •expressed their appreciation by repeatedly insisting on encore numbers. Arter the musical programme, coffee and sandwiches were handed round, and vegetable produce was disposed of to all who cared to purchase.