WESTPORT NOTES.

Grey River Argus, 16 January 1928, Page 7

WESTPORT NOTES.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) WESTPORT, January 15. Conferences are very good things, as they enable an exchange of ideas to be made, and generally prove useful either to those taking part or to those on whose behalf they may be acting. At the Borough Council meeting on Wednesday night, no less than three conferences were mooted and application made for representatives of the muni cipality to attend. The first was • Libraries’ Conference, and no action was taken for the present. There is to be a conference of Gas Managers. This probably will bo the most important conference that the municipality should be represented at, as now that electricity is forging ahead, and in many ways superseding gas, it is absolutely necessary that our Gas Manager should be at a conference which is sure to have matters on its agenda which will bring up the very latest methods of popularising the use of gas. From information gained, the municipality will receive the benefit. It accordingly granted leave for the Gas Manager to attend if he wished. The same argument can be applied to + '" case of the Town Clerk, and alt’ we are provided with an exempt'.-/ one, by mixing and conferring with the Town and City Clerks from all over the Dominion, he will undoubtedly return with many ideas whereby the Council will benefit. The General Purposes Committee, which is the same as the whole Council, in its report, recommended that the Town Clerfc be given leave to attend the conference in March next, and that the Council pay his expenses, travelling and otherwise, in connection with same. There is nothing to find fault with there: he is pratically doing business for the municipality, but so is the Gas Manager, and it may not be unfair to ask why the distinction is made. Perhaps the Coun. will note the error, and at a futuis meeting remedy it.

A communication from the Fire Board to the Borough Council, com'■Jaining of inadequacy of pressure b the water supply, resulted in a little discussion and in the matter being referred back to the Board for further information. Although the Mayor repudiated a. statement that the matter was being shelved, it certainly looks much like it. Those who know, affirm that if a fire of large dimensions took place, and there is a continuity of a large supply of water needed, it will not be forthcoming. The result, can be imagined. An immediate example took place on Thursday afternoon at the fire in Fonblanque as when the second lead of hose was put on there was not sufficient pressure to play the water over the house. The Fire Board is certainly doing its duty in respect to seeing to it. that the necessary pressure be forthcoming, and that no further waste of time takes place. Interest as to the fate of the airmen, Monerciff and Hood, remains keen here. One report was to the effect that ■fieckage had been seen at the Steeple and that smoko had also been seen from 1 the same place. A launch was despatched immediately, but it returned without having seen anything that, could bo connected with the Ao.Te-Aroa. A woman (Mary Spragg), at T'auranga Bay. reported she thought that she saw the plane dart through the clouds and then fall. She investigated., but could not find anything. The Chief Postmaster has been in communication with the Postmistress at the Cape, and although she has heard rumours, there is nothing official. A report was received that what looked like the wreckage of a plane was to be seen up above Denniston. The informer, in company with a constable, walked eight miles, to find that the “wreckage” was only a heap of rock. The Postmaster inquired of every little township up as far as Oparar, near Karamea, but although pieces of wreckage have been found, there is nothing that could be identified with an aeroplane. A party of four tourists from Ashburton camped down at the beach, Mr and Mrs McGregor and Mr and Mrs Woods. On the loopline road coming here, they met another car travelling from Westport. There was not room in which to pull up, and the tourists in a three-seater car were forced over the bank. However, there were no casualties, and the car was soon put back on the road. An 11 days’ tour down the Coast, in their own car, has just been completed by Mr J. Bird and his family., who camped by the way. Punakailc was visited, and a day was also spent at Lake Kanieri. A feature of the journey was the trip through Ross to the Franz Josef Glacier. Like all visitors to the Glacier, they were amazed

at the beauty of the great frozen river. During the whole 11 days it never rained once, and the party arrived back in Westport last evening. Mr Colin Bradley, who has been on a visit to his parents, Mr and Mrs J. 0. Bradley, Peel Street, lias returned io Wanganui. Mr and Mrs Askew, of Biwaka and Mr and Mrs J. Boyse, of Wellington, who has been staying with Mr and Mrs Cyril Howard, left on return to their homes yesterday. I Mrs A. Thompson has left for Shan- ' non. .Mr Kemp, of Romilly Street, is visiting Christchurch. Mrs McKenzie, Master McKenzie and Mrs Luff have returned from Greymouth. Mrs W. S. Warin and Mrs Poole, of Granity, left by the Komata for the North Island. The engagement has been announced of Mr. W. J. Meyer, second son of Mr and Mrs. H. Meyer, of Boseneath, Wellington, and Miss Marion Nahr, youngest daughter of Mr. and Mis. 11. Nahr, Russell Street Westport.