WESTPORT NOTES

Grey River Argus, 20 May 1942, Page 8

WESTPORT NOTES

(Our Own Correspondent). WESTPORT, May 19. High Tides for May: Wednesdav, 20—00.56 a.m.; 01.13 p.m. Thursday.” 21—01.34 a.m.: 01.54 p.m. Fridav, 22—02.18 a.m.;, 02.41 p.m. Saturday, 23—03.08 a.m.; 03.38 p.m. Mrs. Downie Anderson, left today on return to Christchurch. Miss R. Cooper, Mrs. W. Simpson, Mrs- M. J. Jose, Mr. and Mrs. L. Cunningham, were passengers yesterday from Wellington by ’plane. The funeral of the late Thomas Thomson took place at Mokihinui yesterday, a large number attending from all over the district. Services at the residence and the graveside were read by Rev. Rowe. Messrs D. Coleman, E. Johnson, S'. Jones, E. de Malmanche, A. S. Torbjornson and Bransfield acted as pall bearers. Many beautiful wreaths were placed on the grave. The death took place in Lew-sham Hospital on Monday of Miss Nellie McNamara, a. member of a .yen 1 known Westport and formerly Addi son’s Flat family. She had bee ill for some time. Deceased is survived by three brothers, .... (Auckland), Patrick and Wiikam (Westport), and three sisters, Mrs. Watson (Wellington), . Sist ® r nn Berchman (Wanganui Convent), Miss B. McNamara (Matron of St. Bede’s College, To the relatives, sympathy is in their bereavement. The death occurred last evening at the residence of her daughter at Cobden of Mrs. G. McKinlay wife of Mr. G. McKinlay, of Millerton. Deceased, who was 76 years of age, was a native of Fifeshire, Scotland, and had resided in Millerton for 30 years. Besides her husband she leaves a family of five Mrs R. Blyth (Cobden), Mrs. B. Senior (Timaru), Mrs. T. Porter (Millerton), Mrs. H. Smith (Denniston) Mrs. T. Holmes (Wellington), and three sons, Messrs P. McKinlay (Westport), J. McKinlay (Millerton) and G. McKinlay (Auckland). The’sympathy of ithe community is extended to the family in their bereavement. A black-out at Westport last evening, for which the signal went at 850 was in some departments fairly satisfactory, while in others, vital ones at that, something was lacking in organisation. The chief offender was the transport section which was to be used by the works and water branch of the E.P.S. The alarm system showed considerable improvement since the previous trial, the signals being heard clearly in all parts of the town. A “fire caused by -an incendiary bomb m the vicinity of Nahr’s brewery was quickly quenched by the Brigade. Gas and water mains “broken” at other points were notified, as also were electric line interruptions, some of which were promptly rectified. “Casualties” were dealt with by V.A.D.’s, and St. John Ambulance workers and ambulances were kept busy conveying patients to the numerous dressing stations and hospital. Instances o* lights showing were not numerous and in all cases . the offenders will be issued with a warning from the controller and a notification that a future transgression will result in prosecution. Taken all round the trial was not up to reouirements, but the lessons learned will enable any shortcomings w be rectified in future trials. It is understood that some difficulty has been experienced in selecting a site for the flaxmill that is 'to be erected at Westport, but that a site has now been chosen close to Bowater and Bryan’s sawmill. Final approval now rests with the Flax." mill Committee. A woman and her daughter arrived in Westport last evening from Invercargill, having made the trip right through by rail. They are probably the first passengers to make the long trio in this way. A service bus, carrying about 30 soldiers on leave from camp, slipped off a culvert between Inangahua Junction a|nd Lyell, on the Buller Gorge road, on the way to Westport on Saturday afternoon. None of Ithe passengers were injured, and no damage was done to the bus, which vjas hauled back on to the road by a timber lorry. The bus was able to continue the journey. So far payment, for 234 parcels

has been received for Soldiers' overseas parcels, leaving 88 to make up the quota of 322. The closing date is 20th. May. Mrs. Farrell presided at the meeting of the Soldiers’ Relations’ Club held at the Friendly Societies’ Hall. Each member brought a gift and at the conclusion of afternoon tea. the President auctioned the goods, realising the sum of £2 towards the parcels’ fund. One member conveyed her son’s thanks to the Club for a cake received by him. The hostesses for the afternoon were Mesdam.es Neill and Hawes. At the Nelson Education Board meeting on Monday, Buller district business was as follows: —Denniston Committee wrote for an improvement of the surface of the new playing area. The matter was referred to the Chairman to consult with Mr. Schadick (County Engineer), and report at next meeting. The Secretary reported that an application had been made for a grant to cover the cost of removing Waitahu School building to Inangahua Landing. He had approached th building controller for authority. The Director of Education asked the Board its views on the use or the Assembly Hall at the old school at. Westport, when evacuated, toi physical welfare and recreation ac-, tivities. The Board appointed the Chairman (Hon. W. H. Mclntyre), Mr. Harkness and the Secretary to consult with the Army Authorities at Westport on the subject and report. It was decided to lurnisn Westport North new school with all furniture, and the secretary was authorised to invite tenders for this from merchants at Westport and Christchurch. The Board granted renewal of lease for 21 years at £5 per annum of Section 507, Westport, to C. H. Thomas. Mr. Harkness brought up the matter of improving the grounds at Westport South School, stating the site was not lit for use by pupils. The Secretary said the Public Works Department was given a contract to stump, level, drain and sow the grounds in ( grass, and should be asked toy finish the contract. The Board decided to draw the Department’s attention to the state of these grounds and to request that the contract be completed. It was decided to erect a dividing fence between the teacher’s residence and. school at SeddonvilleSergeant’s Hill committee submitted an account from Buller County Council for replairs to the school fence. It was decided to draw the committee’s attention to the fact that School Committees were responsible for the fences, and the Board could net allow committees to rncur expenditure on behalf of the Bo’hrd without approval. A grant of £5 towards the fencing was passed. WESTPORT. Mav 17. Messrs J. Hateley (President), A Mouatt, Durkin, Lemon, Martin, Bruning, Palmer. Stephen, Pottinger, Bowater, Donaldson and Radford (Secretary), attended the annual meeting of the Westport Branch of the Farmers’ Union, held in the office of the Secretary, last evening. | Minutes of the previous annual meeting were read and confirmed. A financial statement showed a debit balance of £25 10s 6o with &17 or £lB due from the Provincial Executive. It was stated that the Union got only

7/6 out of the 30/. annual subscriptions paid by members. A discussion on the finances took place, some members being of the opinion that the Union had gone back since it amalgamated with the West Coast Union. Mr Stephen said the centre should have been here, not down south, as this Union was- formerly the most financial union. Mr Durkin said this Union seemed to have no weight or influence as it had not yet got the work in Stafford Street, the money, it was stated, being transfer-’ red to the lime works. This Union was no more “than a gust of wind.” The secretary said the members of this Union had been very loyal; very few had dropped out of it. It was decided to vote the secretary £5 5s for his services for the year. The financial statement as presented was approved. Mr Hateley, in vacating the chair, thanked members for the assistance given him

during the past year. Mi’ Palmer was elected President for the ensuing year, with Mr Durkin as VicePresident; Mr Lemon as Treasurer, Mr J. Radford as Secretary and Mr Powell as Auditor. Provincial delegates, Mr Palmer and Mr Durkin; Executive, Messrs E. McFadden, P. Bowater, W. H. Martin, J. B. Go aiding, R. Stephen, J. Carter and officers. A sheaf of leaflets, bearing on various phases of farming was circulated amongst members. A budget of correspondence from the N.Z Farmers’ Union was laid on the table. It was decided to support the Buller County Council in its endeavours to have Tauranga Bay-Okari road constructed and to send this as a remit, to the Provincial Council for consideration next Saturday. It was also decided to ask Buller County Council to put this in the list of urgent works if it has not yet already done so. Mr F. J'. Donaldson was elected as a new member and the resignation of Mr W. Rea was accepted with regret. Mr J. Covzan also resigned, but it was decided to ask him to re-consider his decision. The Secretary was authorised to send a complete list of members to the management of “Point Blank”. Mr Mulcare advised members that the Provincial Council would meet at 10.30 next Saturday in the County Chambers, Westport. Mr Bowater moved and Mr Bruning seconded that a remit be sent to the Provincial Council, asking it to approach the Government with a view to having the lake and outlet channel at Bradshaw’s cleaned out.—Carried. Mi- Bruning moved that the Government be requested to continue the pakihi dairy farms at Sergeant’s Hill Mr Martin said, as the result of representations, farmers were to be allowed 4 lbs. of bran per day per cow as against formerly 3 lbs. A greater supply of pollard, however, was required for sustaining pigs during the winter months. It was dec’ded to make representations to the Hon. P. C. Webb on the question of an increased supply of pollard for pigs in the Buller district.