WESTPORT NOTES.

Grey River Argus, 28 August 1928, Page 7

WESTPORT NOTES.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) WESTPORT, August 27. General satisfaction is expressed al the- good showing of the Buller Rugby reps in the match for thc Scddon Shield, the result of which was in doubt till the last few- minutes. Mr F. Turley. Secretary of the West Coast Sawmill Workers’ Union, is paying a visit of a few days to this distinct on official duties.

3 Visitors to Nelson for Saturday’s, Z Scdclon Shield match included Mr and Z Mrs A. E. Carter, Mr and Mrs F. Hayes Z (Murchison), Messrs J. C. Bradley, Tip- ; lady, Jeffrey (selectors), Mr and Mrs ■ Tom Newman, and Messrs S. Black J. ■ Sloe.. A. and R. Stevens. ; If you wish to put a touch of rosy : sunset into your life, visit the Watcr- : side Workers’ Ball on Friday the 31st • at the Theatre Royal. ■ At the Hawcra Competitions, Nancy , Radford, Westport, a pupil of Miss Mavis Burgoyne, won the first prize in the Highland Fling, out of 16 competitors. Mr L. C. Manning, representative of Wilson, Canham and Coy. is here from Christchurch on a visit to the local branch.

Mrs J. Smith and Miss Thorn Smith, of Peel Street, leave by the next trip of the Komata for Wellington, to join Mrs Smith’s husband, who is residing in- that city. Miss Bonifacio, of the staff of the National Bank of New Zealand, Wellington l.ns gone for an extended holiday to Sydney and Melbourne. The mean high water in the river for July was 24 feet 11 inches, and on the bar only 19 feet 3 inches. These facts bring home very forcibly the state of the bar at present. When the deputation was in Wellington, the Prime Minister expn . ‘(><l surprise at the state of the W'-C’Lirt Harbour but these figures. Hipeijcd by tip' Marine Department, are conclusive proof that all that was said by the deputation was correct. Surely these figures should impress ripon the Government that rhe position is distinctly serious, ami will louse them to action. Rain was experi ('need i.n 17 days in Westport in July, and a *•»;?! of 6..3.3 inches fell. A new industry for Westport has made a .-tart, under the designation of the Caller Fertiliser Company, it , is situate close to Bryan and Bowater’s Sawmill mar the Buller Ihidge. The' fc rt Hiser is crush'd limestone.- The machinery ir. installed, and crushing is taking place. 'There are two crushing or grinding machines, one of which breaks th ( . limestone up into pieces o*‘ about an inch in diameter., and the second machine reduces the stone to fine powder. The machines are electrically <1 riven, taking then- power from the municipality’s Electricity Department. After crushing, an elevator is employed and the fertiliser is bagged and placed upon the market at the low; price of 30s per ton, bags roturnablc. Burnt lime is generally retailed at £2 16s.

Professor Easterfield, of the Cawthron Institute, states the lime is 98 per cent, calcium, and as a fertiliser is ideal. There is a drying room connected with the building, where the powdered lime is prepared for-“dust-ing” coal mines, when necessary to prevent explosions. Mr Joe Walsh is in charge of the works, and Mr John Robertson is business manager. These who know’ Capo Foulwind ami th,- limestone quarries, may a'lsp know the wondcrful growth that has taken place in the gardens, which were cultivated immediately on top cf the limestone. Potatoes have been grown there year after year, no finer tubers being produced within the Dominion, ano grown in the same soil, without jriv fertiliser other than the (lisin legated part icuh-s of limestone working through the soil. Taking into account the cheapness and goodness! of t’.ie commodity, it is apparent tlmt rapid sales must take place as farmers and gardeners in the district must realise its value. To those responsible for the undertaking, we congratulate them upon their enterprise, and trust it may grow' to large dimensions. The attention of residents of Millerton and Stockton is called to the announcement at the head of these notes regarding Mr R. Semple’s meetings. On Tuesday night, Mr Semple addresses thp. Millerton residents, and exhibits pictures illustrative of his theme, “The Ghastly Horrors of Modern Warfare,” and on Wednesday night the address is being repeated to a Stockton audience. Although some may have heard of this lecture, they cannot realise its importance without being present to see and hear and understand. An ail who have any knowledge of the speaker know, upon this subject, he attacks it with gloves off. Th c hour for each meeting is 7.30 p.m. Shipping loadings for this week- are expected to be: Union S.S. Coy’s Ka ponga, Komata, Kaiapoi, Opihi, Kaimanaw’.a, Putiki. The Athol, Willesden and Saltersgato arc to take in bunker coal, and the C.C. Coy’s Canopus is due. besides one or two °f the mosquito fleet. Notwithstanding this formidable array of colliers, the wbarfies expect matters to be arranged so that everyone

who wishes will be- enabled to attend on Friday night next at their annual ball, at the Theatre Royal. Th os who cannot atten'd will provide substitutes. The adjourned meeting of the Labour Day Sports Committee was held in the Labour Room on Sunday morn'ng. Representatives from the Watersides’ Union, General Labourers’ Union, Shop Assistants’ Union, Engine Drivers’, Firemen and Cleaners’ Association, and Westport Branch of tlie>Labour Party were present. An election of officers took place,, and resulted as follows: — Chairman, Mr T. Parfitt; Vice-Presi-dent. Mr Rus Pearson; Secretary, Mr Fowler; Treasurer. Mr A. Duncan; Trustees: Messrs D. Maloney, T. Flanaghan and A. Dunean. The minutes of the previous meeting, dated December, 1927, were read and confirmed. It was decided. to approach all Miners’ Unions and the N.Z. Workers’ Union, requesting them to join in and select repre sentatives to. attend the next meeting, which was /fixed for September 15th, three weeks hence., when all details could be discussed. The meeting then closed.