WESTPORT NOTES

Grey River Argus, 7 December 1940, Page 9

WESTPORT NOTES

[Our Own Correspondent! High Tides —Port of Westport: Friday, 6—2.57 a.m., 3.18 p.m. Saturday, 7—3.56 a.m., 4.19 p.m. Sunday, 8 —5.5 a.m., 5.34 p.m. Monday, 9—6.20 a.m., 6.41 p.m. Tuesday, 10—7.15 a.m., 7.34 p.m. WESTPORT, December 6. Shipping: 'The Poolta is in port loading coal for Wellington and is expected to be despatched to-morrow. The Totara is due from Tokomaru Bay to-day to load coal for Gisborne. Are Wingatui is due from Wellington to-night to load coal for return to Wellington. The Kaitoa is expected from Nelson to load coal on Monday for Picton. The Kakapo is due from Lyttelton on Monday with general cargo, and loads coal for Auckland. ' - Personal: Mr E. Brown, well-known in Buller Rugby and rowing circles, has been selected to proceed to England for training, in the Fleet Air Arm. Mrs Gray, who has been on a visit to her parents Mr and Mrs McKinlay, left to-day on return to Greymouth. ■ Mrs Mathewson leaves to-day on a holiday visit to Auckland. Mr E. Fair 'returned last evening from a visit to the North Island. Mr Keith Ward, son of Mr and Mrs J. Ward, Fairdown, has had his initial solo flight as a pilot officer at a Canterbury aerodrome.

Westport Fire Board: A meeting of Westport -Fire Board was held on Wednesday, December 4, 1940. The following members were present: Mr J. Scanlon (chair), Messrs Nahr, Box and Grant. Superintendent Daily was also present. The minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed and outward correspondence approved. The superintendent reported that four fire alarms had occurred since the last Board meeting, one of them being a false alarm. He stated that all fire-fighting gear was in good order, and that he had not received the hose ordered some time ago. The Board decided to leave the question of procuring new uniforms and other requirements to the secretary and superintendent. The brigade secretary reported on the attendance at fires and practices, and that service honours had been presented to the following members: L. Jones, 11 years’ service and 3 years’ bar; J. Kilkenny, 3 years’ certificate, and Secretary McDonagh gold bar for 31 years’ service. The Nelson Education Board wrote stating that the school grounds would not be available for practices because of danger to the pupils. A letter was received from the Chief Inspector of Fire Brigades, stating that firemen should not be called up for Territorial service, and that exemption should be applied for by the superintendent. The Department of External Affairs forwarded the approval of the Minister to the Board’s estimates for 1940-41. The balance sheet of the Board for the year - ended March 31, 1940, was received from the Auditor-General, certified as correct. Accounts totalling £26 5s 8d were approved and passed for payment. The Board members reciprocated the season’s greetings from the members of the brigade, and decided to make the usual grant of £5 to the re-union on New Year’s Eve. The Board also authorised the purchase of a new hand-pump for the brigade. Home Guard: A public meeting for the purposes of furthering the Home Guard movement was held in the County Chambers last evening, the Mayor, Mr J. M. Robertson, presiding, and there being an attendance of some 70 or 80 of those interested. The Mayor addressed the meeting, stressing the need for formation of a strong Home Guard. The future was very uncertain, and any day danger of an invasion might loom on the horizon. Major Kingscote also addressed the meeting, and further explained what was required, on lines of his address published yesterday. He expected to see a large number of enrolments, and was disappointed to find that the total was only some 30 members. He thanked Captain Parkes for the very able assistance he had given the movement, and was encouraged by the large attendance to believe that the Home Guard would now become a very strong body in Westport. Flight Lieutenant Hamilton, in charge of the area was also present. Captain Parkes thanked Major Kingscote for his remarks, and also stressed the need for a much better defence than wa s yet provided. Some 40 members of the Harbour Board intimated their intention of enrolling, and it was statled that a similar number could be expected from (he Public Works. Mr Bascand suggested that the Harbour Board men be formed into a special harbour defence section, as nearly all of them were, experienced seamen. It was suggested that platoons also be formed at Tiroroa and Inangahua Junction. In reply to questions, it was stated that members of the E.P.S. could enrol in the Home Guard if they wished. After a number of questions were asked and answered, enrolments were taken, the Mayor, Mr J. M. Robertson, and Cr. Thomas, who are both Justices of the Peace, and Major Kingscote signing ten enrolments.

Bowling: A friendly visit will be made to the R.S.A. green on Sunday by rinks from the Westport Club. The games are times to start at 2 p.m. The following rinks will represent R.S.A.: Tottenham, Thurlow, Curtis, Earl (s); Potter, D. Campbell, ' Trainor, Rodgers (s); Parry, Boydell, Fleming, A. Burt (s); J'. M. Robertson, McGreevy, Cunningham, Moore (s); Gough, E. Roberts, A. X Green, McGregor (s); W. Burt, Dawber, J. Watson, McCulloch (s); Farrant, Jorgenson. Morley, Newman (s); Woodward, Bierne, Borlase, Morgan (s).

County Affairs: At the Buller County Council meeting there were present:—Councillors D. J. Archer (chairman), J. Jordan, J. Ward, W. R. Simpson, E. Roberts, J. Dowgray, J'. Powell and the County Engineer-Clerk, Mr. C. F. Schadick, who reported:—Very good progress has been made with this year’s sealing programme. The total length sealed for the month was 5 miles 55 chains, and the extra widths through Granity and the footpaths have received the priming coat. The remaining sections to be done this year are the Fair down deviation (30 chains) and the application of plant mix through Granity. There will be only three short sections totalling 5i

miles that will not be sealed .after this season. Several bad corners on the Waimangaroa-Burnett’s Face highway have been widened. The survey of Stockton Mine road and the plans and estimates for the work have been completed, and road to the new bath house at Denniston. The necessary authority has been received and the work has been put in hand. The repairs to the Oparara Bridge should be completed before the holidays. The legalisation of McNabb’s and Gillbank’s roads has been completed. Proposals are being prepared for 1 a re-inforced concrete culvert to replace Gibson’s Creek bridge on the Cape Road. The road to Cowan’s, Birchfield, .has been repaired and graded. Hector streets have been graded and repairing and draining are being carried out. Draining is being carried out on the Cape Road. For the coming County ridding and Hospital Board elections in | May 1941, .the rolls for eacli riding ■ are to be prepared before January 22. lln connection with the erosion at the (Waimangaroa River, near Mr. F. Colilins’s property, Cr. Dowgray arranged[the matter with the Hon. P. C. Webb 'and the resident engineer, P.W.D., is [proceeding with the work immediately. The Treasury forwarded authorities as follows: —P.W.D. road 'loan account, £660; M.H. Westport,'Mokihlnui bridge sealing, £2,700; Waimangaroa-Burnett’s Face sealing, £120; State Forest Service, fifths and tenths, £66 16s 3d; grant for Millerton Tennis Club £5B; Goldfields revenue, September, £lO5 9s Id; Public W.D. culvert at 17m.60, £225; hire of grader £29 12s 8d; flood damage, Karaniea, £239; Wangapeka road £259 14s 8d; Karamea Post Office £24 17s lOd; main highways, GranityStockton, £140; main highway, Wai-mangaroa-Burnett’s Face, £235; main highway, Westpoift-Kaifamea., £660; main highway, Four Mlle-Fox’s River, £200; main highway, Moki-hinui-Seddonville, £36; Granity Creek bridge approaches, £4l. Mr. Roberts mentioned an obstruction in Giles Creek and a motion that the removal of this be attended to was passed. Cr. Powell asserted Scheme 13 men in Buller were wasting their time on works which were of no immediate value to the community. Karamea Farmers’ Union wrote re access for settlers on south side of the Latite Wanganui River.—lt was decided to include a new road in the estimates. Frank Griffiths asked that the approach to his property be filled in.—Granted. Buller A.A. asked for the erection of signs near Stockton library.—Granted. Harold W. McEwan, asked for rebuilding or repairing bridge over the creek to his property.— Granted. Seddonville School Committee asked for a man to be left on the school grounds, this being agreed to. James Mitchell wrote re excessive use of gelignite when firing shots in the quarry above his house.—lt was decided to supply sheets of iron as suggested. P. L. Tregurtha asked for road access to his section at Carter’s beach. —Referred to chairman and engineer. West-port-Stockton Coal Co., Ltd. advis- 1 ed it had donated £5O towards cost of the Ngakawau bowling green. Hon. P. C. Webb wrote re a letter from Mr. W. Duncan asking for assistance to open a road to new timber area in the Karamea district.— Referred to Engineer.