BLACKBALL NOTES

Grey River Argus, 10 December 1938, Page 15

BLACKBALL NOTES

[Our Own Correspondent] . Yet another of our old and well known residents, in the person of Mrs. M. Kerr, has crossed the great di-1 vide. Mrs. Kerr passed peacefully away, at her residence, Hart Street, 1 early on Monday . She was confined to bed for some weeks ’ere. the end came. The late Mrs. Kerr was born in the town of Wishaw, Lanarkshire, Scotland, in the year 1860, where she resided till her marriage in 1880. That same year she and her husband sailed for Australia in the. sailing ship, “Hannah Landles.” They landed at Port Mac Kay, North Queensland, at which place Mr. Kerr secured work at road making, while Mrs. Kerr did the cooking for the whole road party. It is notable to remark that the late Mrs. Kerr was the only white woman there at that time. The couple left Queensland and tried their luck in Victoria and New South Wales. Many years, were spent there, six of their eight children being born in Australia. They returned to Scotland, spending some years in the old land, their two youngest children being born there: The wanderlust was in their blood and again they W the Motherland for the Colonies, this time their destination being New Zealand. Mr. Kerr and one son arrived in Dunedin, where they worked for some months before coming to Blackball, where they arrived 31 years ago. Shortly afterwards the rest of the family came out and joined them here. Mrs. Kerr lost her husband almost 28 years ago, he dying suddenly from heart failure. She continued to live on here and reared her family in Blackball. The late Mrs. Kerr was a very popular member of our . community. Of a kindly and obliging disposition, she had reached the ripe age at .78 years. Her passing will be keenly felt by her very wide circle of friends and the sympathy of all Will go out to her sorrowing family in their sad bereavement. Mr. W. S. Balderstone, Jnr., Stafford Street, met with a rather nasty injury to his right eye while working in the Blackball Creek Mine, and will be off work for some time. Mr. W. Ritchie, of the staff of Sunnyside Mental Hospital, is at present on a visit to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. H. S. Ritchie, Clifford Street. Miss Joan Kirk, Christchurch Training College, is spending the vacation holidays with her mother, Mrs. B. Kirk, Brodie Street. An attempt is being made to get a “Gun Club” going in the village. There are quite a number of enthusiastic shooters here and there ought to be no real trouble in getting the Club going. . The Blackball Mine is' stopped for the present at least. Apparently it has been found to be unsafe for further extraction of coal. The stoppage will mean the. throwing out of • employment of quite a large number of workmen. No doubt some of those so disposed may find work in neighbouring collieries until such times as the company finally decide what xs going to be done. Blackball Mine appears to be unfortunate in that something nearly always happens to mar the holiday season. Let us trust that matters turn out to be better than they look at the moment, and that some way out of the present difficulty may be found. M». and Mrs. Marsden, of Morrmsville who have been visiting their relatives, Mr. and Mrs. E. Logie, Main Road, have left on their return. Nurse Day, of the staff of Westland Hospital, who has been visiting hex - parents, Mr. and Mrs, O. Day, tion buildings, has returned to her duties. Mr. F. Toal, of Christchurch, who has been visiting his sister and brother in law, Mr. and Mrs. F. Fischer, “Argo" Dredge, left on his return last Wednesday. . Mrs. S. Peggie, called in at BlacKball on her way’through from Westport. She was the guest of Mrs. Kirk, Brodie Street, and left for Hokitika on Thursday. . The Hon. P. C. Webb, M.P., Minister of Mines, as previously reported in the “Argus,” paid an all day visit to Blackball last Tuesday, receiving many deputations, and also treating with many private matters. He had a great reception, both at the public meeting addressed by him in the Miners’ Hall during the evening and also j»t the reception and dance given in I his honour, in the hall at night. Everybody enjoyed themselves. The Ministerial party left for Greymouth in the early hours of the morning.