WESTPORT NOTES.

Grey River Argus, 29 April 1929, Page 7

WESTPORT NOTES.

(From Our Correspondent.) WESTPORT April 27. Mr G. Seandrett addressed the elec tors on municipal matters on Friday night at the Town Hall. Mr Frank O’ Gorman, who was elected Chairman stated that it was the first occasion on which an election had been held foj some years. He congratulated Mr Seandrett upon his activities in that respect, and appealed for a fair hearing. Mr Seandrett. who was received with applause, said he was out for any movement which was likely to benefit the town. He gave Mr Harkness, ’the present Mayor, all credit for similar motives. He (.he speaker) contributed to borough finances about £23G a year, and doubted whether his opponent contributed anything like that. When he arrived in Westport, he came to the conclusion that there was room for much improvement. He blamed former Councils for this. It had been suggested that he should have stood as a Councillor, .but he contended that if he was to do any good he must take the course he was taking. Two years ago Greymouth was in a similar situation to that Westport was< in now. Practically nothing has been done to induce tourists to visit Westport. The methods of repairing roads were out of date. Westport’s greatest need was “tar, and still more tar.” By-laws had been under revision for the last three years. Stratford was a town of similar dimension, and their by-laws would be applicable to Westport. Noxious weeds could be kept clear. The Council should first clean them up, and then make ratepayers keep them dear. Accumulations of rubbish were a con stant danger to fire. A removal plan should be inaugurated, first in Palmerston Street, and then extended. Sport was not being treated fairly; an area convenient to Westport should be secured for practice purposes for all .ports. When the Victoria Park was lit up. electrically, sports could be carried out there. The dressing shed should be properly equipped for changing. Beautifying r°uld be extended, the Esplanade being first made presentable. Proper street signs should be erected, so that strangers could find their way about. The front of the Town Hall could be made more presenable, and seats erected for old people to rest their weary limbs. Public conveniences for women wef e needed; and also assistance to the Plunket Society to secure a central rest room. Where employees were required, he would sec to it that ratepayers should receive preference. Trading concerns were woefully mismanaged. Speaking in regard to the gas supply, he urged that cooking appliances should be boosted bv means of a show room. The financial position of the borough should be known t 0 the public, and there should be more publicity i' -egard to what takes place. There was too mueh Committee work. He was opposed to borrowing. In conclusion, he thanked the audience for their attentive hearing, and said that, if elected, he would see that justice was meted out to everyone. (Applause.) In reply to Mr D. Driscoll, who wished to know the financial position of the borough Mr Seandrett state”. that he had had difficulty in getting information. He understood the overdraft was £4OOO. In replv to another question, Mr Seandrett said that in regard to different codes of footballers playing on the Square, he would favour no one. Mr F. Wood moved a vote of thanks to Mr Seandrett for bis address. Mr F. Roche seconded, and fhe motion was carried by acclamation. A vote of thanks to the Chairman brought the meeting to a close. What appears to be an attempt at incendiarism took place at Mr Frank McLean’s premises in Upper Pe6: Street, about 2.30 a.m. on Friday. Mr McLean, who is night-watchman on the railway, was on duty at the time, and received word from one of his sons that hia house had been on fire. It appears that the fire was discovered in the bathroom, the wall separating that room from the washhouse being alight. No fir e had been lit in the washhouse for several days. The partition and portion of the roof waA damaged, to a minor extent. The fire was extinguished without the aid of the Fire Brigade, the alarm bell not being rung. The damage is fully covered by insurance. Mr McLean is confident that the place was deliberately set on fire. Comment was made recently regarding the proposed visit of about 800 Canterbury farmers to the West Coast, and their itinerary excluding the Buller Gorge and Westport. That is somewhat galling, but now w-e have the Minister of Railways (jHon Mr Tavqrner) and the General Manager (Mr Sterling), accompanied by the Directs rof State Forestry, all of whom ignore Westport, and take a trip in preference to the Fox Glacier. Mr H. E. Holland, M.P., returned to Westport on Thursday afternoon, from Wellington.

The Labou r Party could not secure the Friendly Societies’ Hall for the May Day dance and card party, but th e hall has been booked for April 30th. Mrs Curtis will supply the music, and everything augurs well for a successful night’s entertainment. At a meeting held in the Town Hall, for the purpose of discussing the for mation of a Horticultural Society, there were present: Mesdames Skilton. Hartill. Bird, Finlay, Misses Marris. Theobald and Messrs de Tourtettes, Bird, Ilufton, Skilton, Hopkins, Head and Henley. Mr de Tourettes, who was voted t 0 the chair, outlined the objects of the meeting. It was formally resolved, on the motion of Messrs Henley and Skilton, tliat a Speiety ue formed to be called the Westport Horticultural and Beautifying Society. The election of officers resulted as follows: President, Mr F. de Tourettes (proposed by M r Bird, seconded by Mr Reid); Vice-Presidents, Mesdames Findlay and Bird (proposed by Mr Skilton, seconded by Mr Henley). It was decided that the Committee consist of nine members, and the following were elected: Messrs Bird, Skilton, Reid, Head, Hopkins, Misses Marris, Harkness, Me-

Intyre and Theobald. It was agreed that the position of Secretary and Treasurer be held over until next meeting. On the motion of Mrs Bird, it was decided to hold not more than four shows per annum, and that the subscription be 5s per annum. It was left to the General Committee to draft rules, same to be submitted to general meeting. The Society agreed to hold a bulb show early in September. The marriage was solemnised in Auckland recently of Miss Dorothy Bennett, second daughter of the late Mr aid Mrs T. Bennett of Westport, and M r Edward Charles Greer, third ion of Mrs and th e late Mr S. Greer of Grey Lynn. The bride, who was given away by her brother-in-law.. Mr F. Duffy, wore a frock of ivory chiffon velvet, with a tight-fitting bodice and full skirt, showing the uneven hem* line, with a long velvet panel from one shoulder Hned with shell jdnk. Miss Mae Bennett, who attended her sister as bridesmaid, wore a frock of delphinium blue georgette with a bouaffant frilled skirt. The bridegroom was attended by Mr J. Petrie as best man.

The engagement is announced of Miss Nellie Howman, youngest daughter of Mrs N. Howman of Christchurch, to Mr James E. Carr, youngest son of Major T. Carr, West port. Mr and Mrs O’Rourke and family of Ariki arrived on Thursday evening on a visit to Mrs O’Rourke’s parents, Mr and Mrs G. S. Hayes of Russell Street. Nurse Sloan of Auckland, who has been spending a few w*eeks with her daughter, Mrs Hutchins of Ariki, ar-. rived in Westport on Thursday. The tramp steamer Flowergate, which arrived from Lyttelton yesterday, was built in 1911. Her dimensions ar 3: Length 400 feet, beam 53 feet, depth of hold 28 feet, tonnage, nett 3226, gross 5156, and engines 474 i.h.p. The following nominations have been received for the Buller County elections:—Karamea Riding: Mr Malcolm McLean; Mokihinui: M r John Noble Niven; Ngakawau: Mr James Griffiths; Millerton: Mr William Mclntyre; WaiMr Richard J. Hawes; Wareatea: Mr Edward Jenkins, Mr John Snodgrass; Wareatea South: Mr David J. D. Archer, Mr William F. Herring,- Lyell: M r Victor M. E. Della Vedova, Mr John Menzies; Charleston: Mr John H. Powell. The nominations for the County representa'ives on the Hospital Board are as follows; —Messrs Griffiths, R. L Hawes, R. McGhie, W. H. Mclntyre, M. McLean. J. N. Niven, J. H. Powell. Five members are required, so an election will be necessary.