WESTPORT NOTES

Grey River Argus, 12 June 1935, Page 7

WESTPORT NOTES

lOur Own Correspondent.) Plunket Society Finances: WESTPORT, June 11. At the annual meeting of the Westport branch of the Plunket Society, the Mayor (Mr J. Kilkenny) who presided, made :t stirring appeal for financial aid for the Institution, -and referred in glowing terms to the wonoortul work the branch was accomplishing in the promotion of health among children. The Mayor said he felt it a privilege to preside over the 2Lnd annua! meeting of the Society and wished to congratulate the members on the high standard of efficiency which had been attained during that period. A public debt of gratitude nas due to the ladies ’ committee for their wonderful efforts on behalf of the child life of the district, and he (the Mayor) would like to extend a special word of praise to the Secretary (Mrs M. Neil) for her self-sacrificing efforts on behalf of the branch. Nurse Beatson had done great work which entailed considerable travelling. Dur ing’the last year she had made close on J .400 visit?, to homes and the radius of her activities extended as far as Lyell. Referring to the financial resources of the branch, the Mayor stated that they suffered considerably as a result of the depression and he felt that there was something wrong in West port, when the burden of finding the necessary money should he thrown on the shoulders of a few ladies. .£159 per annum had to be found and the main source of revenue for some time past was provided by social functions promoted by the committee. He did not think the public was sharing their portion of the responsibility and something would have to be done in a big way to assist the branched finances. He (the Mayor) was of the opinion the Borough and County Councils should be asked to increase their annutr grants. The rest rooms were used extensively by country visitors and the County Council should increase its annual allowance. He, the Mayor, did not believe in Paddy’s Markets and small social functions as a means of pioviding revenue for such an important work ami some other form of appeal which would eliminate some of the work thrown on the ladies’ committee should be formulated. A public meeting uou'd bo convened and the whole position could be discussed with a- view to assisting the branch in its we k.

The annual report of the President and Secretary was adopted. Passages referring to the finances of the branch stated that the annual subscriptions amounting to £34 6s, show a decrease on last year’s amount. We again urge those mothers who are receiving the services of the Nurse, to become subscribers. The annual appeal held in March, amounted to £lB 17s 2d. As the funds of the Society are very low at the present time, it will be necessary for the Committee to organise functions, to enable the work to be carried on. It is to be hoped that all those interested in the work of the Society will assist the Committee in any way possib'e. When it is realised that it is necessary for this branch, to raise over three pound.*? per week, irrespective of Government and local bodies’ br&nt .it can readily be, seen that unless support is given to the Committee, it will be very difficult to carry on during the coming year. The Nurses' report stated that the numbers of visits to homes were:—Old cases 1.189; new cases IS!); total 1,378. Number of visits paid Io rooms: Adults 1,952; babies 1,607; pre-school children 357: total 3.916. The election of officers resulted as fellows:—President, Mrs Harkness; Vice-Presidents, Alesdames Hansen, Mclntyre, Barnett, Kilkenny, Moore; Secretary, Mrs M. A. Neill; Treasurer, Mr M. A. Neill; Hon. Auditor. Mr P. Struthers; Hon. Solicitor, Mr H. Lovell; Advisory Board, Messrs G. Campbell and J. Fairburn were added to the remaining members of last year’s Committee. The men’s committee went into ways and means of raising finance to report to a later meeting. A dainty supper served by the ladies’ committee was much appreciated by* all present. Womens’ Institute:

Mrs Walker presided over a large attendance at the monthly meeting of the Hector Branch of the Womens’ Institute. Five new members were enro'led. bringing the membership up to 41. Mrs. Tyler, Vice-President, was appointed to attend the Conference as delegate at Auckland in July. The Roll Call was, “Why I am Late for the. Institute,” this causing a lot of fun, the excuses being many and varied. A sales table was well patronised, everything finding a ready buyer. Winners of the competitions were:— Spoon Race, Mrs. Johnstone; Flower Competition, Mrs Austin; Guessing Mrs Craw.

Young Ladies’ Branch Formed: Under the auspices of the Hector branch of the Womens’ Institute, a girls’ department was formed and Miss, Franklin presided over the initial meeting. It was decided to admit girls from the age of twelve years to twenty. The roll call, “Where I would like to spend Christmas,” brought forth many novel ways of spending it. Needlework competition, best made buttonhole: Misses Straker, Franklin and Neilson. Tearing a paper pig: Miss M. Niven. Hostesses Misses Cox, T. Gear, M. Niven and A. Luff.

Waimangaroa Institute: Mrs Lunn was in the chair at the monthly meeting of the Waimanagroa branch of the Womens’ Institute. It was decided to send a delegate to the Dominion Conference to be held at Auckland in July. The President gave an interesting demonstration on wicker work, suitable for seats, chairs and stools. A vote of condolence was moved for Mrs Queripel in the loss of her father, all members standing. The competition for next month is a child’s knitted cardigan or pullover. The hos-

1 esses for the evening were Mesdames Bradley and Duncan. Band Concert: The Granity Band held a very successful concert in the Lyric Theatre at which the president, Mr L. J. Carmine presented the trophies won at the recent solo and quartette competitions. In doing so, he paid a tribute to the improvement Air Coe had brought about in the band. The concert programme was as follows:—Quintette, “Butterfly Caprice,” by Bandsmen .1. Shaw, E. Smith, V. Goodall, R. Roskvist and M. Smith; song, “Mona,” by Mr A. Hansen; cornet solo, “Reverie No. 2,” Master AL Smith; song, “Toselli’s Serenata, ” Aliss D. Franklin; piano duet, “Japanese Fan Dance,” Misses Belle Longstaffe and Anne Roskvist; trombone solo, “Alpine Echoes,” Mr E. Smith; song, “The Carnival,” Mr B. Gear; cornet solo, “li Bacio,” Air J. Shaw; quartette, “Veterans Song,” Bandsmen J. Shaw, P. Rodgers, V. Goodall and R. Roskvist. Golf:

The third round of the two life competition being played under the auspices of the Westport Ladies’ Golf Club is to be completed by June 20th. The. draw is as follows:—

Two lives:—Airs Slee v. Mrs Nahr; Miss Powell v. Mrs Davies; Airs Mullan v. Miss E. Slee; Mrs Wilson v. Aliss Ryan. One life:—Airs Bird v. Miss Harkness; Airs J. Slee v. Aliss Henley; Aliss Treloar v. Mrs Skilton; Aliss A. Payne v. Aliss Cox; Airs. Bryan v. Airs. Batt; Miss Bailie, a bye. The Medal Match will be played tomorrow Shipping : The Canopus and Rata arrived in port to-day. There were no shipping movements yesterday.