WESTPORT NOTES.

Grey River Argus, 24 January 1927, Page 7

WESTPORT NOTES.

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WESTPORT, Jan, 22. Airs E. Kearns, of Derby Stret, has left on a visit to her daughter and son-in-law at Otari, where Mr C. Douthet is in the N.Z. Railways Traffic Office. 1 am sorry to have to report that Mr Con. Sullivan, of Mill Street, is in a rather serious state of health, causing his friends grave anxiety. Mrs Prout and two children left for Wanganui by the “Komata” on a visit to Mrs Prout’s sister. Mrs Evans senior, and her daughter, of Griftiity, left by the “Komata” on the first stage of a trip to the Old Country. Air R. Patterson has returned from a business visit to Christchurch. Hon. W. 11. Mclntyre (Chairman), and Mr G. Powell (Secretary) of the Buller Hospital Board, visited Denqiston for the purpose ot conferring with the Denniston Hospital Committee regarding by-laws governing the Denniston Hospital. Senior-Sergeant McCarthy is at present relieving Senior Sergeant Seandrett. Airs AL-Kinlay is visiting her daughter, Airs Chamberlain, of Reefton. Miss MePadden who has been on a visit to her sister. Airs O’Conner, Nelson, returned to Westport on Monday evening. Airs R. Mullan is taking a short holiday at Sumnierlea. She left Westport on Monday. The passengers who arrived by the Komata from Wellington were: Messrs O’Dea. Low, Cockfield, Butterworth, Thompson, Avery, Doneliffe, White, Mitchell, McKenna, Master Bowery, and two children, Morgan and child, White, Bowery, Doneliffe, and Misses Watson and Hislop. Air J. 11. Powell (County Chairman) returned from Hokitika, on Tuhrsday, after attending the AVesiland County Council’s Jubilee Celebrations, also the lion. W. IL Mclntyre. Air J. McKendrv has been appointed to represent the Westport Fire Brigade at the Conference to be iield r. i Gisborffie and will receive his gold medal for 25 years’ service. Airs T. Shaw has returned f-i.ir a short visit to Christchurch. 'One matter omitted .from the report of the proceedings of the Conciliation Court, between the Westland Shop Assistants and the Chemists, is the agreement for two weeks’ annual holidays, on full pay. So far, none of the employers cited have conceded so much. Mr .1. 11. Harkness left, for Nelson on Saturday to attend the meeting ot' the Nelson Education Board on AlonThe Westport Fire Brigade’s Athletic Association Sports on Thursday night were brought, off on A’ietoria Square. The fields suffered through so many of the cracks being absent in camp. However good racing resulted. In the boys’ cycle race (3 laps) Ferguson was Ist. Marr 2, and Neill 3. In the 135 yards flat race Crooks won in a canter, with O’Dea 2nd, and Connolly 3rd. The cycle race (5 laps) resulted. Lindop (scratch) 1, Caldwell 2, Alulqueen 3. In the 880 yards flat race, O’Dea was first, and Comerford second. These i/ere the only competitors who went the distance. The cycle raee ! (10 laps) resulted in the scratch man again winning, viz: Lindop 1, J. Caldwell 2 .Caldwell tried hard, but after a good race was beaten by ten yards. Miilqueen and Ferguson also started, but. did not go the distance. The final race was for boys, and B. Deere was first, A. Alellerron 2nd, ami Jim Deere . 3rd. The “Pot,” otherwise the “Canopus,” arrived upon her first trip for the year, on Thursday. She has been undergoing her annual overhaul at Port Chalmers. The “ Verbania,” to be bunkered by the Westport Stockton Coal Company, arrived in the roadstead on Thursday j morning, and Captain Tulloch soon had her nicely tied up at the wharf. She is a clean looking ship. Her length is + 15 feet. Her bunkers will take 1250 tons of coal. Certain possessors of wireless instruments in AVestport have been commenting very favourably upon the publication by the “Argus” of radio programmes. They declare it. is quite on a par with the big cities, ami it also enables them to hear what they deem to be interesting without wasting time in getting the whole programme put through. I have culled the following from the “N.Z. Worker” with apologies for having done so: —“Class consciousness is being created, not by agitators like myself, but by the difference between the classses. —Wealth, superabundance, and extravagance on the one hand — starvation and misery on the other. Robert Smillie. ” Not wishing fur a moment that the above note should reflect upon the following, I leave readers to use their own “think box”. “The New Year was heralded aboard the 11.M.5. Renown by scenes of splendour. The wives, daughters and , friends of the officers dined in the ward room and then danced, with coloured lights, on the quarter deck; which was screened off with red and white striped awnings. The youngest middy at midnight, struck 16 bells, eight for the old year ami eight for the new, and then the company joined hands and sang “Auld Lang Syne.” The Renown carries a crew of 1100 men. It was discovered by the officer who had the arranging of the cinema shows that British firms were charging for their films, while the Yanks were giving them free. H.M.A.S. Australia’s silver plate was placed on the Renown; included in this is the magnificent centre piece replica of (.apt. Cook’s ship the “Endeavour”. All the Band instruments have been specially silvered. The six. mouths stores for the tour include: 14,000 pints of rum; 114,000 lbs of flour; 20,480 tins of milk; 40,000 lbs of sugar; 8,300 lbs of tea; 9 000 tins of metal polish; and 28,000 sheets of emery cloth.” Although the report does not say so, it may be presumed that the last two articles are for the use of the sailors only. The Linwood (Qhristehureh) bowlers who lately visited AVestport intending to play during the forenoon and hop it, were so enamoured with the Westport bowling green (which one member sug gested was fit to play billiards on). ' that they stayed the day. Mr Struthers, on behalf of the Club, gave them

a hearty welcome, Mr Allen (Secretary of the Linwood Club) replying. He expressed appreciation of their reception. The party were delighted with the , trip, and the ladies were especially enthusiastic about the beautiful scenery in the Buller Gorge. The beautiful weather they had experienced enhanced the pleasure. He extended a hearty invitation to Westport Club to visit Linwood. In both rink matches in the forenoon the visitors were beaten, but in the pairs in the afternoon they proved victorious. The showing of the movie Diamond Jubilee picture was well received by a large audience. The picture was well taken and well reproduced, and says much for the enterprise of Mr H. and Miss Morgan. Mr Johnny Robertson, the champion cornetist, is here, on a visit to his people. Johnny has made good during his travels and no doubt brought the name, of Westport to the knowledge of people who have never heard anything about us previously. No doubt he will go forth to further triumphs, and we wish him every success. It is stated that Johnny is to play at the performance being held at Millerton to raise funds to finance the project of bringing the Canadian Soccer team to Westport. Miss Head has left for the North Island via Nelson.

Miss G. Cameron, of Leaver Settlement has joined the nursing staff at the Buller District Hospital.

Some of our citizens have formed themselves into a working bee and are cutting the long grass on the streets, and the cow owners have undertaken the carting.

Some Westralian tou rises struck Westport, coming through from Nelson, although strongly recommended by some of the “Sleepy Hollow” residents to avoid us. However, the party disregarded the warning, and were well repaid by the enjoyment they experienced in the journey through the Gorge. The head of the party (a botanist of repute in W.A.) was delighted with his visit to the Domain, and expressed surprise to the caretaker of the Victoria Square, after the information given in Nelson, to find such a well kept Oval, as he was pleased to term it. Mr Toni Brown, of the Harbour staff, has been relieving Mr J. Reedy as watchman on the “Eileeri Ward” dredge, while the latter has been on holiday. Mr Reedy has now resumed work.

There appear to be some sneak thieves operating just now. Mr Johnston, of Palmerston Street, had his garden raided, cabbages being pulled up by the roots, lettuce also pulled up, and some left on the roadway outside, while his strawberry bed was picked over and trampled upon. An old lady at the upper end of the town had her garden raided a few nights ago. “Shandy Gaff” Jimmy has taken over the training of Mr Mick Ford’s trotter, and expects great results,

Our local horse owners are keeping their horses in quiet training, early morning seeing them parading the roads and streets.

The General Labourers’ Union held their usual monthly meeting at the Labour Party’s room, Mr R. Weekes presiding. The attendance was about the usual faithful few. Mr Jope was appointed representative to the Buller Progress League. The Secretary was instructed to collect subscriptions for Mr F. Cooke. The matter of the General Labourers’ Conference was favourably discussed and further communication with Mr Roberts decided upon. The petition re P.A.T.A. and the cost of living was discussed, and every member affixed his autograph. The members expressed pleasure that the efforts of Mr Holland, M.P., on behalf of 'some of the flood victims had beeil successful. The President wished the members a prosperous New Year and the meeting terminated.

This may be of interest to some readers who know something about shearing: Seven men in hours shore 2473 sheep at a place called Wondong, Yeoval, N.S.W. Chris Fitzsimmons, of Mudgee, topped the score with 332, Tom Dillon of N.Z. came next with 316, and Herb Healey of Wattle Flat was third with 315.