WESTPORT NOTES

Grey River Argus, 30 March 1926, Page 7

WESTPORT NOTES

(Our Own Correspondent.) WESTPORT, March 29. . The Westport Coal Company’s sections in Cobden Street, adjoining the •Laboratory, have put on a much inii proved appearance since Charlie Bradley took the fencing iu hand. A good strong serviceable fence, with cyclone wire, should be lit to keep strays out. It is the Company’s intention to make a plantation or nursery for the purpose of raising: trees for their afforestation scheme on the hills. Incidentally, Cobden Street will look all the better for the innovation. It is stated that the raiway pay is to be altered, and, instead of the same week as the miners, they will be paid upon what is known as the “back” week. After the races —“Hair cut. Sir?’’ the barber said, and donned his snow white coat. The punter sadly shook Jinhead, and murmured ‘‘No, njy throat!’’ Mr W. Petherbridge, of the traffic division of the railways, is leaving by the Koma-ta, cn route for Auckland, where he will be likely to become a general favourite with the travelling public, as he has been in Westport. As his transfer means promotion, we wish him good luck. It'is stated that Mr Berry, late of the Kynnersley Hotel, Lower Mokibinui, is to be the future licensee of the Empire Hotel, Westport, Mr M. Sherlock (late of Waimangaroa) having taken over the Kynnersley Hotel. Since the telephone has been installed in my house, I have been rung up by enquirers upon very many different occasions. So that I may at least appear to know something, I endeavour to band out a satisfactory answer. 1 will just mention one or two, as they might be of information to many. One said: “Would you kindly advise me how to prevent a lamp smoking in my room?” This was simple. I replied:

“Put up a notice on the wall, ‘No Smoking Allowed,’ and after that, if the lamp still persists in smoking in the room, nut it out!” Another questioner, evidently thinking I knew much as the doctor, asked me ‘‘if 1 thought raw oysters were healthy?” 1 answered back that as I had not heard any oyster complain, I could not 'tel]. Just the other day a lady rang mo up and asked if shingling the hair causeu insanity? I told her: “It does.” J know of several young fellows who have gone mad after shingled girls. Another stated he had bad breath and asked my advice what to do. I advised: “Stop breathing.” Still another query, “My wife troubles me with her cold feet. What ought she to take for them,?” My advice was to ‘‘make her take another ued.” If this goes on. I shall have to make a speciality of this kind of thing for the Saturday supplement. The first charter to dig coal in Great Britain was granted to Newcastle-on-Tyne in 1239 by Henry the Third. H was then denominated sea coal, on account of its being shipped to places at a distance. The total area of coalbearing country is estimated at 12,0U0 square miles, while in- the United States of America the coal bearing area is estimated at 192,000 square miles, exclusive of vast areas in the region oi [ the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Coast. As there have been quite a number of people finding fault with the coudi'tion of Victoria, Square, how would it do for these- and others to turn over in their minds some way of assisting make the Square a- beauty spot, in addition to being a sports ground. Now is the time when those with gardens 'will be preparing to get their spring bulbs, such as nacissus, daffodils, etc.,] ready, and in very many cases they will have some to spare. If these were -given in at the Town Hall, the caretaker would have .some materia] probably to get a goodly showing for the spring. When the Hower plots in the Square were in charge of individual ladies of the town, there were really line shows of these early flowering 'bulbs, but for some reason or another there are not. many now. Then, io help •to keep the ball rolling, what about the sports bodies running some. shows •r tournaments to assist in putting the fence in order?

' An Old Boys’ Guild, of St. Canice’s Parish, has been started with a membership of 64, with Mr Jay. Wall us President, Mr W. Craddofk as VicePresident, Mr Martin Delaney Secretary, and Mr R. McKenzie Treasurer. The object, is the holding of social evenings, and generally to keep the old boys of St. Canieo’s together. The smoke concert, held by the M ostport Athletic and Cycling Association on Saturday night at the Triendly Societies’ Hall, was an unqualified success. Andy Phillips presided, and presented the silver cup (his own gift) to Mr C. Kearns, and also the medal for cycling events to Mr Lindop. Another’ medal, due to Martin Forman, was not ready, but. will be presented later The following contributed to .the harmony: Mr Lindop (at the pj£ no), Messrs Ton Mallet, II hl Uy, U.Archer, Bronk Archer, J. M hite and J. Pinns. Mr I‘. Wood gave an address.