WESTPORT NOTES

Grey River Argus, 14 March 1939, Page 11

WESTPORT NOTES

I Our Own Correspondent] High Tides for March: Tuesday, 14th —4.54 a.m.; 5.54 p.m. Wednesday, 15th —6.25 a.m.; 7.9 p.m. Thursday,' 16th—7.30 a.m.; 8.3 p.m. Friday, 17th—8.17 a.m.; 8.44 p.m. Shipping: WESTPORT, March 13. The Poolta is in port loading coal for Dunedin, Oamaru, Lyttelton and Timaru, and is expected to be despatched for Dunedin this evening. The Totara is expected from Wellington about Friday to load coal for Gisborne. The Wingatui is due from Wellington on Thursday to load coal for return to Wellington. The Karepo is expected from Wellington on Friday to load coal for Auckland and Portland. The Kakapo is expected from Wellington about the week-end to load coal for New Plymouth. Wellington and Miramar. The Kaimai is in port loading coal for Auckland and it is expected to despacth her this evening. The tramp steamer Parrcoombe is due from Port Chalmers to-morrow to load bunker coal.

Personal: Mrs J. Cargill returned on Saturday from a holiday visit to the North Island. Mrs A. Dey and daughter returned on Saturday from a visit to Christchurch. Mr and Mrs J. Daily, junr., who have been on a holiday tour in the North Island, have returned to Westport. Mr J. W. Shanks left on Saturday for New Plymouth to attend the annual Druids’ conference.

Mr W. Phibbs, who has been attending the Fire Brigade Conference at Wanganui, returned to West port on Saturday.

Mr and Mrs T. Mallet returned on Saturday from a holiday visit to the j North Island. Mr and Mrs L. Paul, Wakefield St., left to-day on a motoring tour of the Canterbury district. Mr J. Butler, of Christchurch, who has been visiting Westport, left on return to-day. Mrs Wilson, of the Zetland Hotei, Christchurch, accompanied by Mrs White and Miss Topsy White, are visiting Westport. It is understood that Captain Knox, acting-harbour master at Westport, has accepted a position with the Wanganui Harbour Board, and is to leave shortly to take up the appointment. Mr L. Gough, representing Gough, Gough and Hamer, is visiting Westport in connection with the landclearing demonstration, which is expected to take place at the end of this month. . A recent Gazette notice grades Westport as headquarters of B. Rifle Company with Captain B. J. Mathewson as officer-in-command, and Lieutenant S. L. Wood second-in-command. No. 5 Platoon, Second Lieutenant D. J. Fountaine and No. 6 Platoon, Second Lieutenant Rowe, Motueka. The death took place in the Buller Hospital on Saturday of James Ab-, bott, a single man, at the age of 641 years. He resided for many years n ‘ the Karamea district. The funeral of the late Mrs Bessie Berdinper took place yesterday afternoon at the Orowaiti Cemetery. After the service at St. Canice’s Church, conducted by Rev. Father Summers, the lengthy cortege continued to the cemetery, where the graveside service was also conducted by -Father Summers. Pall-bearers were Messrs W. and E. Fleming, W. Shearer and W. Battershaw. There were many beautiful floral tributes. • The death occurred suddenly, at Westport this morning, of Mi’ Frank Sydney Wood, of the footwear firm of Lawson and Co., A native of Christchurch, aged 56 years deceased was a former resident of Greymouth, where he was manager for Skelton, Frostick and Co. He left' Greymouth in 1915, to take over the, business of Lawson and Co., which he had conducted until the time of .his death. He was a Past District Grand Master of the Masonic Lodge, a member of the Buller Progress League and an ex-Borough Councillor. He is survived by his wife (formerly Miss Jessie Lindop, of Greymouth), three sons, Sydney, Frank and Lou, and one daughter, Miss Phyllis Wood, all of Westport.

Body Found: The body of a seaman, Herbert Scollay, who disappeared from the s.s. Kaimai on February 28, was found washed up on the rocks at Cape Foulwind yesterday morning by Mr H. Sutherland, who was on a fishing expedition. The body was identified by a seaman of the Kaimai, which was in port,, the identification being made possible only by the clothes on the body. The body was in a decomposed state. Yesterday, when the body was recovered, it was brought to Westport and placed in the public morgue. Sergeant Russell and Constable Taylor, of the Westport Police Station, conducted the arrangements. Scollay who only joined the s.s. Kaimai at Auckland on February 23, is a native of Port Chalmers, where his relatives reside. The inquest will be held at 3 p.m. to-day.

Westport Jockey Club: Nominations for the Westport Jockey Club’s annual meeting close on Tuesday evening.

Transport Association: A meeting of the Buller branch of the New Zealand Road Transport Association was held in Westport on Saturday. The chairman, Mr J. Menzies, presided over Messrs C. Howard, L. Mockett, F. Scarlett, T. Rodgers. P. Colvin, J. Querpel, J. Adams, W. E. Craddock, A. Smallholme, E. J. Humphries and the secretary, Mr H. P. Rasmussen. Before commencement of business, the opportunity was taken to welcome Mr Pasmussen and to record thanks to the retiring secretary, Mr W. A. Craddock. A letter' from Mr A. Gourley, of Market Cross, Karamea, was received to the effect that he, as a truck owner, and working for the Public Works Department, at Karamea, was seemingly not entitled to overtime rates on the Saturday and the Sundav. if he was required to work that time. Mr Scully stated that the present agreement was worked on the 44-hour week. He moved that a resolution be sent to the New Zealand Transport Association to the effect that where a truck is- required to be worked over the stipulated 44 hours, the owner’ of the truck should be entitled to time and a-half, for all such time worked. This resolution was seconded by Mr C. Howard and carried. A summary of the resolution made at the Transport Conference, circulars of which had been sent to all members, was read by the secretary. It was resolved that a

letter be sent to the secretary of the New Zealand Road Transport Association, and the New Zealand Town Carriers’ Association. A communication from the New Zealand Road Transport Alliance stated that the Builer branch was behind in their subscriptions. ■ The secretary was authorised to forward £3O on account immediately. The secretary was further instructed to forward a list ' >f I subscribers in the branch and mark I out those in arrears. He was also instructed to ascertain from the sec- ' retary of the head office, the method of contribution, and the amounts levied on each operator, whether owning one truck or more. The amount of the local fee was discussed and it was decided that a fee of £1 (local) be imposed on all operators owning up to three trucks, and £2 over three trucks. The question of the issuing of temporary licenses to operators whilst they were still licensed, but idle, operators in the district, was another point raised for discussion. It was stated that it - was practically nine months since the Transport Authority sat at West port. Opinion on this question was expressed freely, and i;. was stated that some restriction should be placed on the temporary license. The giving of available work to an operator who was already licensed, was stated to be the correct procedure, rather than granting a temporary license. Whilst licensed trucks were out of work there was no rea-l son why the licenses should be oper-L ated. A questionnaire from the Trans-1 ( port Authority re the justification of ( the issue of temporary licenses in the ■ district was read. Mr M. B. Scully spoke of the recent action taken by j the Association with regard to the,. Railway Department, carriers. No re-1 ply had yet been received from the ( New Zealand Association and a reply l , was requested. 1 f Rugby League: 1

Mr J. A. Redwood, president of the New Zealand Rugby League, attended a meeting of Buller district club mem- 1 bers and officials at Westport last’ evening. Representatives of all clubs in the district, Westport, Karamea,' Millerton Rangers and Denniston Pir-I ates, attended the meeting. Mi’ H. McKeowan, who presided, welcomed Mr Redwood, stating that it was an unusual pleasure to see the head of such a big organisation visiting the smaller centres. In the course of his speech Mr Redwood expressed pleasure at I the development of the game in the, Buller district, but gave some sound advice to club committees re turning' out of teams. Mr Redwood referred! to many matters of vital interest to those administering the code, and the' game in general. At the conclusion of the addresse, a general discussion took 1 place. After Mr W. Ryan had stress-' ed the importance of securing a ground at Westport, Mr Redwood promised' that an application for assistance from [ the parent body would be favourably considered. Mr Pearson (Denniston) said the Cawthron Institute had a plan for turfing the Denniston Domain but a move by the Domain Board was I wanted. After Messrs McKenzie and Hanstock had made an appeal to all League followers to co-operate and put the game on a solid basis in the district, the chairman urged the clubs' to hold their annual meetings so that; the Centre meeting could be arrang-, ed as soon as possible. The meeting concluded with a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Redwood for his address. Ten nisi

In the Ces Walker Cup fixture, played on the St. John’s courts yesterday afternoon, a Granity team defeated St. John’s Club representatives by 9 sets to 7 and 100 games to 86. Results were as follows, St. John’s players being mentioned first: Men’s singles —F. McHerron 9, D. Prain 5; F. Hill 9, F. Leonard 4; E. Tonks 5, W. Jeffries 9; H. Todd 3, H. Kerr 9. Ladies’ singles—Miss J. Powell 6, Miss R. Rockvist 2; Mrs Todd 3, Miss A. Masterton 6; Miss McKay 1, Mrs Potter 6; Miss H. Hodgson 5, Miss A. Moore 6. Men’s doubles—McHerron and Hill 9, Leonard and Prain 3; Tonks and Todd 1, Jeffries and Kerr 9. Ladies’ doubles—Mrs Todd and Miss Powell 6, Misses Roskvist and Masterton 5; Misses Hodgson and McKay 1, Mrs Potter and Miss Moore 6. Combined doubles—McHerron and Miss Powell 9, Prain and Miss Roskvist 9; Hill and Mrs Todd 5, Leonard and Miss Masterton 3; Tonks and Miss McKay 5, Jeffries and Mrs Potter 9; Todd and Miss Hodgson 9, Kerr and Miss Moore 5.