WESTPORT NOTES.

Grey River Argus, 12 April 1928, Page 7

WESTPORT NOTES.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) WESTPORT, April 11. Tt is anticipated that the Public Works employees on the Westport-In-angahua Railway Works will all be encamped next week on the job. This should mean more constant work. It is understood that a private firm has ordered the delivery of a digester, and has received a promise of all the offal from the Abattoir. If this is so, it is rather an unbusiness-like way of dealing with a public matter. As stated in a previous note in this column, particulars have been placed before a former Borough Council as to the working of all by-products by the Whangarei Council, where the killings are less than they are in Westport, and the industry has been worked at a profit to the Council. It is stated that a proviso is made that the firm establishing the digester at the Westport Abattoir must undertake prompt removal of all by-products, but if the Council carried on the work itself, it would have the trouble of enforcing such an undertaking. It seems out of place to let a prospective municipal industry slip through their fingers, as this proposal seems to indicate.

Westport would willingly have assisted Greymouth in an attempt to scour out her bar on Monday. Anyhow, it is to be hoped that the Stewart process does the trick. Although the rain in Westport was incessant, Charleston was quite dry on Monday, and the sports went off well there. The Komata and Canopus sail for Wellington and Auckland respectively when the fresh in the river moderates. The Titoki sails for Greymouth to-day, weather permitting. The Kartigi, for Miramar, Kalmanawa for Auckland and New Plymouth, and the Waipabi for Pago Pago and Suva sail this week. There were yesterday in port seven ships, viz, the Komata. Canopus, Titoki, Ikala, Waipabi, Kartigi, and Kaimanawa. •Mr and Mrs T. Mitchell, acconi-, panied by Miss May Mitchell, are away on a holiday trip to Auckland and Napier. Mr and Mrs Zohrab, who wore married on Monday, left by service car tor Cbrist c h u rc b y ester da y. Mr Buddle, from Rotorua, is on a visit to his daughter and son-in-law, Mr and Mrs Young, of the Public Works Department. Nir Annibal, of the railway, has left on transfer to Methven, in company with Mrs Annibal. Mr and Mrs Foster, who have l>een ( on a visit to Mr Foster, Westport, have returned to Wellington. Mr and Mrs Lawless and Mr McAvoy (Westport) and Mr Tweedy (Denniston) arc visiting Christchurch. Mr Hutchins, who has boon visiting his people, has returned to Wellington. Messrs Duncan and Hill, Public Works Department, have left for Stafford.

.Mr Tregurtha to-day left for Wellington, via Nelson. The wedding took place at St .John’s Church of Miss Ngairo Webster Kerr, onlv daughter of Mr and Mrs W. Marshall Kerr, Queen Street, to Mr Constantine Eric Zohrab, elder son of Mr and Mrs C. E. 11. Zohrab, Wellington. Rev J. A. Jermyn officiated. r l he bride wore a Victorian frock of ivory satin the trimming being a handsome jiearl girdle, tailing almost to the hem of tin* skirt. Her veil of tulle folded across the forehead, and, held at the sides with posies of orange blossoms, f 11 over the court train of ivory satin and georfgette. The bridesmaids were Misses Francis Dunn and May Head, who wore sleeveless frocks of sunglow French crepe de chine, made with tight bodices; the skirts were opened back and front, showing the underslip of gold tissue, and each was finished with a large bow of gold tissue falling from the waist line to the uneven hem. Both wore gold shoes and stockings. Their hats, the same material as their frocks, were each finished with a large gold rose and velvet ribbon to match. A long gilded directoire cane, beribboned and betiowered, was carried by each bridesmaid. Mr Eric Clark, of Ashburton, acted as best man, and Mr Howard Kerr as groomsman. The church was decorated with Easter lilies and white Michaelmas daisies. The wedding breakfast was held at the Orange Hall, which was festively de corated in shades of flame. During the holidays nine members of the Westport Tramping Club made a. tine trip over the week-end. visiting Mamia Springs, thence up the Maruia Valley, over the Maruia Saddle to Murchison and then on to Lake Rotoroa and Lake Rotoiti. They were: Mrs Hunton, Misses E. Findlay, J. O’Sullivan, N Doyle and E. Mumm, Messrs C. AMontgomerie, S. T. Scott, A. Struthers and (’. E. Owen. The party chartered one of Bett’s cars, driven by Mr R. Betts, and on Friday at noon reached Maruia Springs, where it was noted that a start had been made with the forming of the road from Springs Junction, but it is far from completion yet. Cars can be taken right up to the springs in fine weather. The spring water proved very hot. The party left at T. 30 p.m., and the river had to be forded a little past Springs Junction, and though this road is being regraded in places, it is in fair order. It is beautiful country, and the bush is interspersed with a good deal of tussock land. The road over the saddle is very tricky, but in good order, and some wonderful views of the surrounding country were obtaied from Lower Matakitaki. Murchison was reached about seven o’clock, and after tea the party went on to Lake Rotaroa, a distance of about 2 miles. The hike, which is drained by the Gowan Rixei, is surrounded by heavily hushed country, with Mount Misery (5252. feet) reanng its head from the top of the lake. The cloud effects on these mountains in the early morning arc simply delightful. Saturday was spent on the lake. Threatening weather spoiled the trip over to Lake Rotoiti, a distance of about 10 or 12 miles over the track, but about 20 miles by road. The car conveyed the party on the return journey. ‘ Lake Rotoiti. although smaller than Rotoroa, is more beautiful, and is i favourite rscort for Nelson ami Blenheim people. There is a good road all the way via Tophouse, but anothei. or 11 miles of formation is required before the new road will be opened for traffic to Kawatiri. Two bridges are still untouched. The old road used on the return journey to Lake Rotoroa, and proved very dangerous. The party made several short tramps round about Luke Rotoroa, and then returned to Westport.

Tuesday were general in the area beMurchison, Lyell. Inangahua Junetion Buller Gorge and Karamea. The cars were delayed nine hours on the return journey from the Kumara races, reaching here at 6.15 a.m. yesterday, instea “ of 915 p.m. the night previous. Al 'hipping here was delayed, the river rising fast. At Berlins, on the Buller Gorg" road, six cars with 30 people were held up overnight. The telegraph tine came down on the Karamea road. In the Buller Gorge the rain blinded the drivers, who had had it wet all tlm wav from Ahaura. On the other side of’ Inangahua Junction there was one small washout, but. at Whiteeliffs (a dangerous place) there were big Slips, and one also at Blackwater, which partly blocked the road, including as it. did trees, ferns ana stones, while there were several big boulders on the road between Ohika and the Cascade At. the Ten Mile, where a bridge approach was destroyed, one of Gibbs s cars fell into the breach, requiring to be towed out by cars sent from Westuort The motor drivers then put some planks over the breach.' A mile distant the road had been washed away, and a stream of water flowed across i . At McFadden’s Hill and the Loop Line Road erosion also occurred. The Buller Gorge road was to-day repaired sufficiently to be passable The gravel was scoured off the road from here to Karamea for nearly the whole length th" water nearf Granity being three feet deep in places. Kilkenny’s bus was delayed several hours. There were washouts near Waimangaroa and Ngakawau, and also at. Gouldings. Two slips occurred on the Millerton track, one of which will take about two days lo clear. There is a. large slip on the other side of the Mokihinui bridge fully six feet high. It came down on the main road from a height of about 800 feet. There is another washout a bit further on, and a big one at Mitchell’s, near the Tobin bridge. A big slip occurred on the Conn’s Creek line. Both the Railway Department and the Westport Coal Company have had men working ou it, and they hope to have it clearid ready for work to-day.