WESTPORT NOTES

Grey River Argus, 19 June 1941, Page 7

WESTPORT NOTES

I Our Own Correspondent]. WESTPORT, June 18. High Tides-for June: Thursday, 19 —6.26 a.m.; 7.4 p.m. Friday, 20—7.21 a.m.; 7.48 p.m. Saturday 21—8.6 a.m.; 8.30 p.m. Sunday, 22—8.44 a.m.; 9.4 p.m. Shipping: The Kairmro is in port loading coal for Auckland, and is expected to be despatched to-morrow. The Totara is expected from New Plymouth to-night to load coal tor Tokomaru Bay. The Gabriella is due from Gisborne to-morrow to load coal for Napier. . The Holmlea has been delayed and is due to-mor-row to load coal for Tarakohe. The Wingatui returns early next week to load coal for Wellington. ’Personal: Miss Shirley Williams, left for Christchurch yesterday on a holiday visit. Mrs. McKeown. Queen Street, received the sad news of the death of her son-in-law, Mr. Fred Smith, of Kopuawhara. He was well known in Tiroroa. His wife. Dorothy, was an inmate of Wairoa Hospital the same time as her husband. Sympathy is extended to the bereaved relatives. . Ratepayers' Association: Mr. I. Mathewson presided at a well attended meeting of the Westport Ratepayers’ Association last Inward correspondence was dealt with as follows: From the Hospital Board re the Association’s resolution concerning the nationalisation of the hospitals. It was pointed out in tne letter that the Board was endeavouring to reduce the burden on county and borough ratepayers. lhe letter continued that the Ratepayers Association should pass such a resoution, which showed that they were labouring under a delusion as the Board was not so much concerned with the interpretation of “nationalisation” as with spreading the burden of hospital costs over all and not just a few. Mr. M. B. Scully wrote to the Association offering his cooperation at all times, in whatever way possible. Mr. Mathewson said that he And Mr. W. Spence had attended last month’s Borough Council meeting and that there was nothing to report as the Council’s business had been fully reported in the local newspapers. In connection with the dog nuisance, a motion that the Council be asked to frame suitable measures to deal with this when drawing up its by-laws, and that in the meantime a round up of strays be made, was passed. It was decided to ask the Borough Council to keep safety zones clearly marked and to enforce the traffic regulations. Mr. Wealleans thought that traffic control was too big a job for the Borough Traffic Inspector as he was i not employed 24 hours a day. Mr. Eairbairn thought that the borough and county .inspectors should be sufficient. In his opinion, the Borough Inspector should live in the town. He did not think that the inspector had too many other duties. In disagreeing with Mr. Fairbairn, Mr. Wealleans gave an idea of the numerous jobs which the Borough Inspector had to do besides controlling traffic. It wa's decided to recommend to the Borough Council that the flooding of water channels in the borough receive immediate attention. A motion that no new business be discussed after 10 p.m., was passed It was aso decided to begin meetings at 7.30 p.m., this time to be subject to revision in the summer. Ai motion that notices of motion rescinding previous motions be handed in seven days prior to monthly meetings, was passed. It was decided to notify the Borough Council that the Association’s representatives at the Council meetings were open, to question on matters affecting the Association. It was decided to make a drive for new members. With regard to new members. Mr. W. Brown said that he had conducted a canva'ss for a number of these and found that many were apathetic towards joining because they were of the opinion that the' Association was political. Others would not join because they did not know the aims and objects of the Association. He thought that the Association’s policy should be advertised. Mr. Wealleans deplored the action taken by the Borough Council or some members of this: body, in voting on the 40-hour week measure suggested by the Lakes County Council. This wa's a matter, said Mr. Wealleans, which was outside the Council’s province. It was pointed out that cattle being driven to the abattoir, past the new South School, were likely to be a danger to school children. It was therefore decided to recommend to the Borough Council that an approach be put through from Derby Street to Domett Street by way of a deviation.

High Power Costs: Mr. C. M. Robertson, in criticising the high electricity charges in Westport at last night's meeting of the Ratepayers’ Association, said that it was ridiculous to try and encourage the use of power when charges were so high. Mr. Robertson produced a number of figures which showed that bulk power was id a unit dearer than lighting power. Mr. Robertson also criticised the fluctuations in the strength of the current which had occurred since the power supply had been connected with Denniston. He claimed that there was nobody sufficiently expert at Denniston to control this fault. Mr. Robertson said that he had been told that a new booster was to be installed at the Gasworks to boost the power from Denniston. Boosters were in operation in other centres, but he could not see the reason for one in Westport when previously it had not been necessary when linked with Fairdown to use a booster, and now that the town was linked with what was supposed to be a much better supply, there wa's talk of installing a "booster. The Chairman, Mr. Mathewson, agreed that there was need for a drastic revision of electrical charges, but in his opinion it was better to wait for the new Council to act. He pointed out that the Council had had only one meeting, and because of this there was no opportunity to assess its potentialities. Mr. J. M. Fairbairn said that in the past he had continuously tried to ascertain the price paid' bv the Borough for electricity, as well as advocating a thorough investigation of other electrical matters. His efforts had always been checked, and now that there was a new Council he had been blocked again. He had been put out of the Electrical Committee. A motion that Messrs Robertson and S. Wealleans interview the Council with a view to investigating electricity charges, was passed. After the motion had been passed. Mr. Wealleans pointed out that the Council should be asked what it paid for power. If no reply was received, it would be wise to consult the Westport Coal Company with a view of ascertaining the cost from them. Miniature Rifles: In the Westport Miniature Rifle Club’s first competition shoot of the season, J. Singer won the men’s Hotty Button. The ladies’ button was retained by Mrs K. Smith. Following were the leading scores: J. Singer 68—1—69, L. Hutchison 67—2—69, G. Marshall 62—7—69. W. T. Brown 62 —7—69, K. Smith 62—7—69. K. Taylor 61—8—69, R. Lineham 58—11—69, Mrs K. Smith 52—17—69, A. L. Williams 65—3—68, A. Tennant 59—9— 68, G. Lineham 57—11—68, N. Palmer 55—12-67, N. Perkins 66—0—66, D. J. Cunningham 65 —1—66, P. Petley 54—12—66.