WESTPORT NOTES.

Grey River Argus, 24 October 1927, Page 7

WESTPORT NOTES.

(Our Own Correspondent.) WESTPORT, October 22. The death, on Monday last at Wei lington, is reported of Airs Jestpe I’cnnett Thompson, relict of the late Hughic Thompson, who passed away in Westport many years ago. She leaves a grown-up family of two sone and two daughters. Their many friends in West port will extend their sympathy to them in their bereavement. Mr Harkness, Mayor, stated at tn?. Borough Council meeting on Wednes day night that his time was very ful ly occupied, and the first opportunity for holding a public meeting, to discuss a Carnival at Christmas would be on Thursday evening next. Anxiety was felt when the Argus did not arrive at the ordinary time on Friday. Inquiries elicited the information that the Reefton train had been late in arriving, the cars following suit. Relief came at about 5 pan., when the Argus was delivered. Mr John Furness, of the Ways and Works Department, Westport Section, N.Z.R., left for the week-end in Greymonth by special car on Friday nighc. The Town Clerk has announced that the nominations for the vacancy m the Borough Council are: Thomas Fairliall and Thomas Parfitt. The 1 election is to take place on Tuesday, November Ist. Now/ there appears little reason to go into personalities, but Air T. Parfitt is nominated by the Westport Branch of the Labour Party, his nomination paper signed by the President and Secretary. The question for the workers is: ‘‘What are you going to do about it?” At present you have no representative upon the Council. Do you think it advisable that you should have none? Don’t forget, however, it is Labour’s candidate" who is nominated, and if you allow* him to be defeated, it is not Tom Parfitt who is defeated, but Labout, and the defeat will bo broadcasted all over the Dominion, via.: Labour defeat in Westport, the constituency of the Leader of the p position. Think it out! The following rinks 4have been drawn for the bowling tournament to be held commencing at 5.45 a.m. sharp, on Monday, Labour Day: Stevens, Williamson, Col-Cook, Struthers (s); Skilton, ‘Wilton, Petherbridge. Rose (s); MaitPaml. E. Curtis, Kerr. Sunlay (s); 'Mullins, Sargisson, O’- 1 Gorman, W. ’Williams (s); W. Harrison, Nottle, Cox, Morgan (s); Elcock, Lee, Sara. IT. Harrison (s); Lyall, Goldie, Knight. Harkness (s); .1. WilT. Druery,~Davls, Hansby, J. Druery liamH, McKinley, Wheatley, Ahern (s); (s); A. Curtis, Ballard, Wilson, Blaxall (s). Mr C. Shirley, Postmaster at Den niston, has been transferred to the Post and Telegraph Department, Westport, and Mr Berrett has been transferred to Denniston. Sistor Quinn is relieving at Denniston Hospital during the absence of Matron Kane, who. in company with Mr and -Mrs F. Newman, is visiting the Glaciers. The following passengers arrived m Westport by the Komata from Wellington: M Birchli; Id, Inland and child, Miss Kirkwood, Messrs Grey, Frank, Anderson, Ireland, Rae ami Marris. . The death occurred at the Hospital ! of Johana Theresa, "wife of Mr John Dixon. Victoria Road, in her 60th year. The late Mrs Dixon was, bom nt Ross, but has resided in Westport practically all her lite. She loaves a husband, one son ami two daughters, and two sisters, Miss A. and Miss L. 0 ’Callaghan. The English Literature Class met in St John’s Hall, when Rev A. Miller delivered the closing lecture of the session on Australian and New Zealand poetry. Those dealt with Adam Lind,sav Gordon J(1833-1S7O), Henry Kendall (1941-ISS2), J. Brunton Stephens (1835-1902), A. B. Paterson (1864- ) and Henry Lawson (18(571922) of Australia, ami of New Zealand poets Alfred Domett (1811-1887). Thomas Bracken (1840-1898), and Rev Robert Francis (1861-1926). A number of extracts were read or recited by members of the class from the wjorks of these poets, and a very pleasant evening was spent. On the motion vf Mr Geo. Aitken, seconded by Mr IT. AV. Sherlock, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr Miller for his most interesting lecture, and to those who had assisted with readings and recitations.

Mr and Mrs Allen loft Westport for Nelson on Saturday. Mr Black, of Bright Street, left for Nelson on Friday. Mrs and Miss Sergenor left for Greyniouth on Saturday. Mrs Hartley left for Christchurch by early car on Saturday morning. Mr and Mrs Penberth have arrived in Westport from Christchurch. Mrs E. Snowdon, of Nelson, who is spending a. holiday in Westport, is the guest of Mr ami Mrs S. Paui. Club Hotel. There was a good muster at the FrTeniTly Societies’ Hall, when the usual weekly card tournament was held. * The euchre prizes were won by Mrs Wood 1, Mrs Black 2; mon, Mr Hale 1, Mr Craddock 2. Mrs Thurlow won the forty-fives.

Mr MetsoTT, Director of the Westport Technical High School, looks well after the finances, and. nlthougH funds are not really at a low ebb, he has no idea of them becoming so. Tn his report he notifies that an appeal will be made this year, as was made last year, for help from local organisations. The Director mentioned tne Watersiders’ Union. General Labourers’ Union and the Retail Shop Assistants’ Union, each of which bad assisted to a slight extent. Naturally, these, being composed of workers. and workers’ children being well catered for. it is only right, if possible, to give some financial assistance. Tho Director also does not believe in waste. He has upon more than one occasion drawn the attention of the Board to a matter where a quantity of sheet lead had been sold to a plumber, and not been paid for. The amount was not specified, but the Director stated the roll was so weighty that it took a man all his time to lift one end of it, and there were also scraps taken away to male lead heads for nails. An estimate was stated to be about £l2 in value. A small 'Committee was set up to en dcavour to get a settlement, one member of the Board being of Dm opinion that this could be done with out undue publicity. Let us hope so. If it was plain Jack Smith or Jim Brown, publicity sufficient would be given through the Magistrate’s Court.

However, it is expected that the Board’s financeis will be increased be fore their next meeting. Notices ol motion for the consideration of Borough Councillors are <»'> the increase, lor next nu ctiag there are no less than three, one being bv “residents requiring approaches to their premises, for vehicular traffic, Cr. which provides ilmt pay 30/- fur same in advance.” That will provide a little ready money to go on with. (’r. Wilson comes to ughl with two. No 1 is to provide that “persons 'removing sod from the streets be charged 1/- per load.” Whether this cun legally go through is doubtful, without first rescinding a former resolution of the Council allowing sod to be removed where available, under instructions of the Ove ■ seer. Cr. Wilson’s second notice on motion is to the effect that if the Borough by-laws are not out of the hands of the Borough solicitor the end of November, notice be given to dispense with his services. As this is what is termed subjudice, it is not perhaps considered the proper thing to pass an opinion. However, the Council will have something to pi epare for. There is of course, a way out. It was adopted with Cr. Radford’s motion on Wednesday, no seconder being avail' able. Referring to these notices of motion once made, members give these notices so that colleagues may consider the mattir and come to the meeting prepared to deal with it in one wav or the oilier, a direct yes. or no. No amendment to them is provided for in the Standing Orders. This is reasonable enough. Quite a number of amendments m ght be moved and how is it possible for members to prepare for such a contingency. It is to be hoped that this course will be pursued in in future.

Hansby’s now hairdressing saloon, is opening out to-day. Mr. Hansl.v in an interview quite perplexed the writer with the details of different operations carried out by t?i? modern hairdresser. Mr. ITansbv brings wilh him the very latest. Ho is very busy lifting his saloon up. He Ims the painter sign writers, plumbers, electricians and gas fitters all going at top. He nas so busy that he had no time to write out an advertisement, so J am just filling in until he has lime. He is in promises which were former!v occupied by A.A.R.D.. (Gibbs) Motors. Tn his report to the Technical School Board, the' Director stated that tho roll as at October 20 was 137, comprising 79 boys and •‘’>B girls, compared with 125 at the same time last year. The report continued: “One girl has boon admitted. Work is going on steadily in preparation for the Public Examinations next month. Fifteen of the day school pupils .are sitting for Matriculation, of whom seven are third year pupils. On Thursday. October Gth the annual matches against past students were played: after good contests the Past students w'on the Basketball bv 16 points to 12. the football by 17 tn 12, and tho hockey by’ 2 goals to On the same evening a social was held in the school at which members of the competing teams and other past students were present. On Saturday September 24th the Hokitika District High School football team defeated our team by 8 to nil, after a very good game on a heavy ground. The Greyniouth Tech-I niral High School won the Newman * Shield by 9 to 6 after extra, time was I played. We had also to hand over the Foote Shield to the Old Boys tho winners of the local third grade competition. Tho Cross Country race of about 2 miles was run on tin* Racecourse on W ednesdav, October 19th. 50 boys competed. W. Woodcock was the winner of the Championship and R. Craddock of the Handicap event. We hoj>e to commence shortly on the summer games cricket, tennis and rounders. There have been a few additional enrolments for the third term of the evening school but the attendance in most classes is still unsatisfactory. I have had toj discontinue the Mathematics class. T would recommend that tho classes close down for the year on Friday, November 18th. The sum of £5/16/- is still outstanding in fees; in a. few cases the students concerned attended on only one or two occasions. W f ith a few ex eoptions the evening classes have not been a success, and some change will have to be made in our policy next year. Work on the grounds has been carried out energetically for the past month. Mr. J. Hateley completed his contract for delivery of 200 loads of top dressing. This has all been broken up and spread. 1 engaged one man for 13 days to help the caretaker in his work, and the boys also assisted. Anol her 50 loads of spoil from the streets has also 'been obtained at 5/- per load to fill in some of the worst places. For the construction of two asphalt tennis courts three tenders were revived, and your sub-committee accepted the lowest, that of Mr. G. Snow. Mr. Snow’ commenced the job on October 12th and is making good progress. We are indebted to Mr. IT. IT. Young, Consulting Engineer for taking the levels and making out specifications for this work. The tennis courts occupy about two thirds of the quadrangle area, ami 1 should like the Board to consider the advisability of asphalting the rest also. Tho motors for the workshops have been installed, Mr. Milne and his engineering boys did good work in putting up the necessary platforms and fixtures, and the Borough Electrical staff simply had to put in the wiring. A new steel drawing belt has also been obtained. The door nobs have been attended to; a more serious matter is

the defective window fastenings. These are of cast iron, nn<l many are so badly rusted lhat several windows cannot be opened. Non-rust able fixtures are required throughout. In readiness for the using of the tennis courts some of the windows will have to be protected by wire netting, and I would recommend this being done at once. Ajiew hose is required by the caretaker for the Hushing of the corridors, etc., the one now in use is practically worn out. I paid a visit to the Millerton centre on October sth and arranged for some minor repairs to the equipment. I have also written to the Nilson Education. Board re improved lighting, and the putting in of a drain. The Millerton room is now used two days each week; at the Education Department’s leanest we sent the Granity children there, and the Department is now asking us to pay l?,d. per day for each pupil to assist in their car fare. We receive 2d per day per pupil in capitation. The k .Education ( Board has applied for the use of a room for the Public Examinations in November. We are making preparations for tin' issue of the School Magazine again this year. T would rec-, ommend that a short prospectus dp issued with the magazine, and that about 150 extra copies of the pros-' pectus be printed in addition. No applications have been received for the position of senior Mistress. I took advantage of reduced prices (owing tn the bankruptsy of a Christchurch firm) to procure supplies of chemicals and glass ware f r Hie science laboratories, and T have ordered cleaning material ('.“.mounting to (»5/from the Fuller Brush C 0.,). Results of the Teachers’ “D” Certificate, examination ,jFst Io hand show that - of the eight pupiTp ;p. e pr</ented $-ix have gained successes.

Buying a hose whicn lasts but a seainn is false economy. North British Garden Hosp is made from durable erark-free rubber. Gnod for manv renrs. Ask for “North British.”— 2