WESTPORT NOTES

Grey River Argus, 27 April 1939, Page 11

WESTPORT NOTES

[Our Own Correspondent] High Tides, Port of Westport: Thursday, 27 —3.41 a.m.; 4.23 p.m. Friday, 28 —5.0 a.m.; 5.45 p.m. Saturday, 29 —6.25 a.m.; 7.0 p.m. Sunday, 30—7.28 a.m.; 7.55 p.m. WESTPORT, April 26. Shipping: The Kakapo is loading coal for Wellington and Napier, and is expected to be despatched to-morrow morning. The Totara is due from Wellington to-morrow, to load for Tokomaru Bay. Th? Wingatui is due from Wellington to-morrow to load coal for return to Wellington. The Kiwitea is expected from Wellington on Saturday to load coal for Lyttelton, Timaru, Oamaru and Dunedin. The Rata is expected on Saturday to load coal for Wanganui. The Kaimai is due from Auckland about the week-end to load for return to the same port.

Personal: Captain R. Pearson has rejoined the Totara after annual leave. Mr P. F. Thorpy of Greymouth, is visiting Westport on business. Mr and Mrs J. McNeight, have returned to Inangahua Junction after spending a holiday at Westport. Traffic Inspector J. W. Roworth has received notice of transfer to Christchurch. He leaves on Friday week with his wife and family to take up his new position. Mr and Mrs Colin Parkes and family. accompanied by Mrs Rowley, Mr P. Ladley, of Wakefield, were recent visitors to Westport. Mr W. Borlase was elected president of the Westport R.S.A. at tne annual meeting last evening. The funeral of the late Mr William Boyd, of Denniston, took place from the residence on Saturday to Orowaiti Cemetery, and the large dimensions of the cortege was fitting testimony to the esteem in which deceased was held. The miners’ organisations and Bowling Club were well represented and there were many floral tributes. Mr Wilkinson, senr., conducted an impressive service at the residence and also officiated at the graveside. The pall-bearers were Messrs M. Hewitson, R. Anderson, J. Allen and J. Black.

Returned Soldiers’ Association:

The annual meeting of the Westport Returned Soldiers’ Association was held in the Club Rooms last evening. There were over sixty members present, many sub-associations being represented. In the absence of the president, Mr A. Anderson, the chair was occupied by the vice-president, Mr W. Borlase, who extended a welcome to all. Only the sudden illness of the president, he stated, had prevented his attendance. The report of the president and minutes of the previous meeting and balance-sheet were read and approved. The election of officers resulted as follows: —President, Mr W. Borlase, Vice-President, Mr E. Potter; Treasurer, Mr D. J. Cunningham; Auditor, Mr F. Clark; Committee, Messrs M. Mann, W. Dent, J. Gardiner, A. Bradley, B. xiagedorn, T. Hullah, H. Stephen; Secretary, Mr W. Mann.

The following general business was dealt with:—A recommendation from the outgoing committee that the request from the headquarters of the Returned Soldiers’ Association in Wellington, that a levy of 2s be struck on each member of the Association for the entertainment of Australian troops enough to show the appreciation of when visiting New Zealand next year for the Anzac ceremony was introduced by Mr Todd. The recommendation was seconded by Mr Tracey, who spoke appreciatively of the splendid work done in Australia for the entertainment of New Zealand troops. The subscription he stated, was little New Zealand soldiers. Mr H. Stephen seconded the motion, which was carried. Votes of thanks to the retiring president and committee were carried. It was decided that the incoming committee get in touch with the state of the names on the Memorial Gates. It was decided that letters of sympathy be sent to the retiring president, Mr Anderson, to Mr G. Jones, one of the oldest honorary members of the club, and Mrs Colvin, a member of the ladies’ Liverpool Committee, who are suffering ill health. It was also decided that letters of thanks be sent to the various girls who helped in the selling of poppies on Poppy Day. Both Mr G. G. M. Mitchell, and the Rev. G. H. Schurr who gave addresses at the Anzac Day service, the Ministers’ Association who co-operated with the Returned Soldiers’ Association, and the various bodies who made up the procession, were thanked for their co-operation, with special thanks to the speakers for their inspiring addresses. The meeting closed with a hearty vote of thanks to the chair.

Hospital Improvement: Open wards will soon be a thing of the past, according to information gathered at the monthly meeting of the Buller Hospital Board, on Monday evening. It was stated that in future all beds would be curtained off, so as to form cubicles. The secretary stated that the architect, Mr A. McDonald proposed to have the beds separated by glass walls, which conformed with the latest ideas in hospital planning in England. Both the Medical Superintendent (Dr. P. L. Foote), and the Matron (Miss E. B. Paterson), supported this idea, but according to the idea of the Board, the idea was not so good, and the cost would be prohibitive. “Should glass have already been ordered,” said the Hon. W. McIntyre, “such an order should be cancelled at once. At a previous meeting of the Board, the matter had been left in the hands of the Medical Superintendent, the Matron and the Architect to finalise. The Chairman stated that while in Wellington recently, he had met the Secretary of the Palmerston North Hospital Board and had discussed the purchase of machinery for the proposed new laundry. The secretary of that board, Mr Phillips, had stated that recently that board had found it necessary to obtain new machinery, because of increased work, and their other gear, in excellent order, was on their hands. He suggested that the Buller Board consider purchasing the machinery from the board, and it would be ample for the requirements of this hospital, even allowing great advances in years to come. He wrote giving an estimate for the price, and enclosing full particulars concerning the material. After considerable discussion, it was recommended by Mr J. Dowgray, and seconded by the chairman, that, subject

to the approval of the Department of Health, the board purchase the material, firstly asking the Department to send a representative to Palmerston North to furnish a report on the gear. This was carried, it, was estimated that should the board purchase the machinery, a considerable saving in expenditure would be involved.

Hospital Finance: "Hospital business -as gone very well,” said the Hon. W. H. Mclntyre, chairman of the Buller Hospital Boaru at its monthly meeting on Mondayevening, when the secretary, Mr G. M. Powell, submitted a statement of receipts and payments for the year ended March 31, 1939. The payments for the year were £3OOO approximately in excess was mainly attributed to the Buller Hospital. Salaries and wages showed a rise of £778, domestic £316, establishment £598, and surgery and dispensary 7 £l6B. Other matters also showed increases. An excess expenditure of £9B was shown by the Kawatin Maternity Hospital, but this was accounted for by the fact that there were 170 admissions, against 141 for the previous year. Apart from levies and subsidies, the receipts for fees, etc., estimated at £6 978, were actually £8,909, this being the record year in tne history of the board, in regard to fees collected from both Buller and Kawatiri Hospitals. Members of the board present expressed gratification at the position of the board, and congratulated the secretary for his work. The report, read at the meeting, was as follows:—"Herewith I beg to present a statement of receipts and payments for the year ended March 31, 1939. The estimated payments for the year were £24,893, whilst the actual was £27,877, an excess of nearly £3,000. The increased cost is mainly due to Buller Hospital, the actual payments in connection with wh.ch amounted to £14,324 against an estimated cost or £12,240, the accounts principally showing excess expenditure being surgery and dispensary £l6B, ctomestic £376, establishment £598, salaries and wages £778, grounds £46, ambulance £54. Kawatiri Maternity Hospital shows an excess of £9B, whilst the Old People’s Home is practically in agreement with the estimates. Medical Associations cost £l3O, above the estimate, whilst payments to other boards amounted to £719, against £5OO allowed for this item, and interest payments amounted to £333, against £l5O allowed for this purpose. Apart from levy and subsidy, the receipts for fees, etc., were estimated at £6,978, whilst the actual receipts .were £8,909, this being the board’s record year in regard to the collection of fees lor both Buller and Kawatiri Hospitals. With regard to Kawatiri Maternity Hospital, the fact that this year there were 170 admissions as against 141 for the previous year would fully account for the small 'additional expenditure incurred in that institution during the year. As the matter of the increased expenditure at Buller Hospital' has already been considered by the Board, further reference here to this matter is unnecessary.”

Bowling Club: The Westport Bowling Club have had a very successful season and will close down for the year after playing the customary North v. South match next week-end. The various club competitions were won as follows:— Blackwood Cup. L. Jones, A. Greener. J. Mullins, E. Skilton (s.); runnersup: J. Stowell, J. Jones, J. Daily, C. Mitchell (s.) Chmapionship Pairs: D. Francis, H. Levy (s.); runners-up: G. Campbell, C. Sara (s.) Championship Singles: C. Mitchell. Intermediate Singles: T. McKenzie. Novice Singles: G. Taylor. Morley Pairs: G. Hartigan and C. Mitchell (s.); runn-ers-up: H. Gibbard and W. Brown (s.)

Toe H. Group: At the annual meeting of the Westport Returned Soldiers’ Association, last evening, it was shown that there was a possibility of the formation of a Toe. H. Group in Westport. A visitor to the meeting, Mr E. Jones, a general member of the Toe. H Movement in New Zealand, addressed the gathering on the Toe. H. Movement, its origin and its ideals. He was given a very hearty reception, and at the conclusion of his address, was met with acclamation.