WESTPORT NOTES

Grey River Argus, 14 February 1940, Page 11

WESTPORT NOTES

[Our Own Correspondent]. High Tides for February: Wednesday, 14—1.24 a.m.; 1.37 p.m. Thursday 15—1.57 a.m.; 2.16 p.m. Friday, 16—2.39 a.m.; 3.04 p.m. Saturday, 17—3.35 a.m.; 4.08 p,m. . Shipping: - ■ WESTPORT, February 13. The Rata is expected from Wanganui on Thursday to load coal for New Plymouth and Wanganui. The Titoki is expected from Nelson on Thursday to load coal for Tarakohe. The Karepo, coal-laden for Auckland. is expected to be despatched tonight. The Wingatui is loading coal for Wellington and is expected to . sail to-morrow, returning early next week to again load for Wellington. The Waipahi is expected from Wellington about Friday to load coal for Napier. The Poolta is loading coal for Bluff. Dunedin, Port Chalmers and Lyttelton, and is expected to be despatched to-morrow. The Totara is expected from Napier on Saturday to load for Tokomaru Bay. A U.S.S.- Co. steamer is scheduled to load for Auckland and Portland early next week. Personal: Miss B. O’Connor and Mr. D. Strachan, were passengers by plane to-day for Wellington. Mr. E. Hopkins, of Russell Street, who has been visiting Wellington, returned during the week-end. Mr. F. Calnon, who has been visiting Wellington, returned to Westport on Saturday. Mr. and Mrs. S. Lamont, of ,the. P. and T. Department, have returned from a visit to the Centennial Exhibition. Mr. R. McKay, of Christchurch, is visiting his sister, Mrs. J. Woodward, of Westport. Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Flower, of Christchurch, are visiting their daughter, Mrs. R. McDonagh, Romillv Street. Mr. J. C. Brown, has returned from the North Island, where he was | a member of the commission that enquired info the Glen Afton disaster. . Nurse N. Watson, of Buller Hospital staff, and Miss M. Anderson, Derby Street, left yesterday on a visit to Wellington. The funeral of the late Kathleen Murphy took place yesterday afternoon. Services were held at St. Canice’s Church and at the graveside by the Rev. Father Herlihy. A large number of friends of the family were in the cortege, including mourners from Cape Foulwind and Charleston. Many wreaths were placed on the grave, amongst them several sent by friends of deceased in South Westland. The pall, bearers were E. Fox, J. Martin, .D. O’Driscoll and E. Walsh. Mr. T. Nevins, who leaves _ for camp on Wednesday in the Railway Construction Company, was met by members of the Kawatiri Rowing Club vesterday afternoon, when Mr. J. H.” Enright (President) presented him with a token of their esteem. He spoke of the great services ren.dered to the Club by Mr. Nevins as a coach and he wished him a sate return from the war. Other speakers, including Messrs W. Craddock (Club Captain). B. Fraser . (Secretary) J. Woodward, R. Blair, J. S. Connelly (former member), and Stewart, endorsed the President s I remarks. Mr. Nevins suitably reI plied. . ... , I Mr.'J. Caldwell, captain of the Old Boys’ Senior Rugby team, and an allround sport, was the guest of the Old Boys’ Football Club at a gathering in the Club Hotel last ing Mr. Percy Smith, President of ° the Club, presided, and in the course of his eulogistic remarks, mentioned Mr. Caldwell belonged to a great sporting family, and himself was one of the best of sports. Besides being a many-time Rugby representative nehad represented the South Island nt hockey. He was an, admirable leader, one whom those associated with always delighted to follow. All ioined in wishing him well in the latest step he had taken in enlisting in the services of his country and hoped he would return hale and hearty, and join with them, in many of their later social gatherings. The remarks were heartily endorsed by Mr. G. Mason, a former captain of the Old Boys, also by others present. Mr. Smith handed Mr. Caldwell a watch, which, he hoped, would prove useful company on his journeys. “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow” was heartily sung, and Mr. Caldwell suitably replied, thanking them for their kind remarks and best wishes, and expressed the hope that when the war ended, he would have many happy gatherings with them again. “Auld Lang Syne concluded a very enthusiastic function. Railway Company: The following is the list of men comprising the draft leaving Westport on Wednesday, February 14th., for mobilisation camp, Burnham, where they will serve with the New Zealand Railway Survey Construction and Maintenance Company: Nevins T. H. F.; Halley, D. J. B.; Macky,’ J. H.; Cheyne, N. J.; Cameron, J. E.; Caldwell, J.; Jolly, J. E.; Mears, H. R. B.; Neilsen, H. V.; Purvis, J.’, Render, G.; Scarlett, E. D.; Wells, J. Enlistments on Saturday were:— Ford, George William; Gillespie, Charles Robertson Lumsden.

Plunket Society: The monthly meeting of the Westrort branch of the Plunket Society was held on Friday, February . 9. Present: Miss Harkness (chair), Mesdames Kelly, Robertson, Downard, Hansen Enright, and Hagedorn. Apologies were received from Mesdames Stevenson and Halley. The minutes of the previous meeting were taken as read and confirmed. Nurse’s report was read and adopted. The balance sheet for the Plunket Ball, which showed a profit t of £49 Ils 4d, was adopted. The commitlee desire to sincerely thank the gentlemen who so generously prepared the hall, the doorkeepers, M’s.C., and Mr. A. Benjamin. The secretary reported that a cheque for £l5 from the Mayor’s Relief Committee had been donated to the Society.—Resolved that letter of thanks be forwarded. Inward correspondence was received and dealt with: From Head Office, enclosing minutes of conference held in November. —Received. From Mrs. A. Shrimpton, resigning from committee on account of having left Westport - and wishing the Society every success.—Resignation accepted with regret, the Secretary’ being instructed to forward a letter of thanks to Mrs. Shrimpton for her

work on the. committee. Mention was made in reference to the resignation of members on account of their departure from the district and the consequent shortage in the committee. The Society would therefore be very grateful to receive the names of any ladies willing to join the committee, as it must be realised that to carry on this important work a larger committee is necessary. Accounts amounting to £4 12s lid were passed for payment. Nurse’s report was as follows: Number of visits to office: Adults 231, babies 218, pre-school children 39; total 488. Number of visits to homes: Old cases 26, new cases 31; total 57.

Centennial Sports’ Committee: A meeting of the Holland Memorial Sports Committee was held yesterday in the Labour Rooms, when further arrangements in connection with the Centennial sports meeting to be held at Patterson Park on Easter Monday were made. Mr. H. Stephen was in the chair, and those present were: Messrs C. H. Thomas, J. Adams, P. Adank, J. Erskine, M. Hunter, H. Chandler, Senr., H. Chandler, Jun., H. Swan, J. White, and the joint secretaries, W. H. Wocdcock, and A. T. Ridsdale. Apologies for non-attendance were received from Messrs L. O’Neill and H. Absolam. The Director of Broadcasting advised that Station IYA would feature announcements in connection with the sports prior to Easier Monday. Gibbs’ Motors advised that a special, bus would leave Greymouth on the morning of the sports when excursion rates would operate. Mr. Charteris, Secretary of the Greymouth Pipe Band, wrote stating 16 or 20-pipers would visit Westport in connection with sports. It was decided to write the Municipal Band asking for its customary cooperation. Mr. A. T. Ridsdale was authorised to: procure medals, etc , for the dancing competitions. Accounts in connection with the postponed meeting were passed for payment. The programme committee decided to meet on Wednesday evening at the Labour Rooms. Reference was made to the valuable assistance rendered by Mr. L. O’Neill, and it was decided to arrange for the presentation of a suitable gift as a token of the committee’s appreciation of the services he gave in promotion of sports’ meetings. Road Blocked: Another large slip blocked the Coast road at Costello’s Hill at about 7 o’clock last evening, and the road will be closed until further notice. An attempt was made to clear the debris with the aid of a bulldozer, but owing to earth and stones falling from above, the work was considered dangerous, and had to be discontinued. Passengers had to be carried across the slip and a special car was arranged to bring them on to town. Bus drivers and roadmen rendered excellent service under appalling conditions, and it is doubtful if the road will be open for a few days.

Head Shield:

The final rink match of Westport Bowling Club to decide the Club’s representative in the inter-Club matches in the Buller Centre for the George Head Shield, was played on Sunday and resulted as follows: —E. Skilton (s.), J. Metson A. Taylor, B. Hay-McKenzie 21, C. Mitchell (s.), R. Cox, J. Daily, J. Watson 20.

Buller Basketball Assn.: Mr J. S. Connelly presided at tne annual meeting of the Buller Basketball Association. The annual re port was favourably commented on, especially the success of the Buller teams on the West Coast tour, election of officers resulted as follows: Patron, Hon. P. C. Webb, M.P., president, Mrs M. Pickering; vicepresidents, Messrs J. Connel y, • Lorimer, Misses G. Strachan and E. Butterworth; hon. secretary and treasurer, Miss P. Hanstock; committee Mr F. Ritchie,- Misses Wood (Granity), I. Hagedorn), M. Curtis, and J. Robertson; hon. auditor, Mr W. E. L. Gay; selectors, Mr Lorimer, Mrs Pickering and Miss Strachan; postponement committee, Messrs Lorimer and Connelly. It was decided that the selectors pick players immediately to train with a view to selection for the teamj;o compete at the Centennial tournament at Wellington during Eastpr week. . All players selected will be asked to assemble for a practice on Saturday afternoon next, also to meet the committee on the matter of raising funds towards the, trip. Mr Connelly explained negotiations for the acquisition of a new playing ground. He said that following an application to the Mines Department for a grant, under miningamenities, he had met Mr Parsonage, Inspector of Mines, and after discussing the proposal with that official of making a new court on the ,corner of Victoria Square, there seemed every hope of getting the required money for plant mix as used on the town footpaths. He said that the Westport Borough Council had granted the use of a piece of land near the old pond for a playing area. Messrs Connelly, Lorimer and Miss Hanstock were appointed a committee to finalise arrangements for the new court. Miss J. Paul, who declined renomination for the secretaryship, was accorded a vote of appreciation of her services to the association. The committee was instructed to take more stern measures to ensure all town teams travelling in turn to the country.

The annual report stated: “The outstanding events of the season were the visit of two representative teams to Hokitika and Greymouth, and the first annual ball. Buller A team played splendidly to win the Kawatiri Cup from West Coast at Greymouth, and also to beat Hokitika the following day. The B team also proved its mettle by playing a draw with West Coast B and beating Hokitika B. The A team became West Coast champions. Some levy may be necessary if the proposal to send a team to the Centennial tournament at Wellington at Easter is confirmed. A feature of the club competitions was the great record of the Kawatiri A team, which was unbeaten in all matches played. This team won the Dunn Cup (Buller championship), Ritchie-Lockhart Cup (Denniston tournament), Lorimer Cup (final Yankee tournament). It also drew with Technical Old Girls in the opening tournament of the season. Six members of the Kawatiri team gained places in the Buller A team, and another captained the Buller. B team. The Granity High School team also went through al! B grade competitions undefeated, and one of the players, Miss F, Murray, gained the unique distinction for a B grade player of being selected in the Buller A team. The game made consider--5

able progress at Denniston, thanks to such enthusiasts as Mrs J. Lockhart and Misses E. Overton, G. Strachan and others. The Denniston. Old Girls team did well to win the Association Cup for runner-up in the A grade championship. An effort should also be made to play an exhibition or representative trial match at either Granity or Hector in the near future. The lack of a first-class court was felt last season, but negotiations, on which a fuller report will be made later, are being made for the acquisition of a more permanent playing area. The shortage of referees made the work of the existing officials, Messrs J. Lorimer, J. Connelly, F. Ritchie and Miss Strachan, most arduous. It is to be hoped that the services of former players may be offering. I’ wish to thank the hardworking committee, referees, ladies and social committee (especially Mr and Mrs E. Kaye). Mr J. Watson, who helped greatly to develop the sport in this district, as an official of the Association, selector and referee, resigned from the presidency during the season, and Mrs J. Lockhart, a vice-president, left the district.”