WESTPORT NOTES

Grey River Argus, 27 November 1942, Page 6

WESTPORT NOTES

lOur Own Correspondent.] High Tides. Port of Westsport. a.m. p.m. Fridav, Nov., 27 00.29 00.45 Saturday, Nov., 28, 01.06 01.20 Sunday, Nov., 29, 01.42 02.01 Monday, Nov., 30, 02.22 02.45 WESTPORT, Nov. 26. Mr. and Mrs. S. Strachan, Westport, received advise last evening, that their son, Sgt. Douglas Lionel Strachan, is a prisoner of war. Mr. and Mrs. S. P. Perkins received word that their son-in-law, Ray Hand, who was reported missing in July, is now reported a prisoner of war. The death took place in the Buller Hospital, after a lengthy illness, of a highly esteemed resident, Mrs. C. M. Agent. A native of Cronadun, 66 yeiars of age, she had resided for the past 25 years in Westport. She was of a very kindly disposition and her passing will be "deeply regretted by a wide circle of friends. Her husband predeceased her by many years. She is survived by four sons, Norman (Auckland), William (Palmerston North), Alfred and Roy (Westport), and by two daughters, Mrs. P. Gallagher (R.eefton) and Miss Kath Agent (Westport), to all of whom sympathy is extended in their sad bereavement.

There passed away on Wednesday afternoon, at the Buller District Hospital, one of the best-known and most respected residents of the Buller Gorge, in the person of Mr. J.’ P. Burley. The late Mr. Burley was born at Addison’s Flat in 1872. About the year 1876, his parents took up land ‘in the Buller Gorge, now known as Melrose Farm. The late Mr. Burley is the last link of the Burley family. Deceased will be greatly missed at the A. and P. Shows. He was particularly interested in Clydesdale horses and was a regular exhibitor at the local A. and P. shows. He was a past president of the Buller A. and P. Association. In 1902, . he opened up lhe Burley coal mine, which is still working. In his younger days he was a prominent sportsman, being an exponent of the Cumberland and collar and elbow styles of wrestling. The sympathy of the community is extended to the relatives mf deceased. A happy gathering was held at the Westport" Bowling Club’s Pavilion to big au revoir to Mr. Andrew Steele, who ha's been transferred on promotion to Nelson district. Mr. C. Mitchell (vice president) in the absence of the president, proposed the healtn of the guest and hoped he would long be spared to do the good work he was doing, and that he would find bowling and social association in Nelson as pleasant and happy as in Westport. Other members who spoke. were Messrs J. M. Robertson, A. Taylor, A. Fletcher, A. G. Green and H. Levy, and all referred to the sporting qualities of the guest and wished both Mrs. Steele, and himself all future happiness. Mr. Steele thanked all present on behalf of Mrs Steele and himself, for the good wishes expressed He did not like leaving the happy associations he had made in Westport, but hoped it was for the best. Mr G. G. Chisholm, S.M., presided over a' sitting of the Magistrate s Court yesterday. T. E. Pirie was charged with being the driver of a motor vehicle and failing to give way to traffic approaching on the right. The case was adjourned to December 9, 1942. Kenneth Jones was charged that at Millerton he did operate a motor-cycle’, not being the holder of a' motor driver’s license, and did not carry a warrant of fitness, and also that he did carry more than two persons on the cycle. He was fined on the first charge £1 and costs, and on the second charge was convicted and ordered to pay 10s costs, and on the third charge was tinea 10s and costs. H. L. Betteley. hcensee of Larsen’s Hotel, was fined xiv land costs for onening the premises after hours. Sergeant Holt said that one evening at about 9 o clock he visited the hotel and the licensee was about to let some one out. He went straight to the bar. Some men got away and four were left, but they would not admit having been supplied with liquor. S. Malmanche, licensee of the Commercial Hotel wins fined £2 and costs for opening ms presises after hours and was also fined £2 and costs for aiding and abetting an offence. Sergeant Holt stated that he knocked at the door at about. 9.30 p.m. Someone' inside asked: “Who is there?” and when witness replied: “Sergeant of Police, he went away. Witness remainec-. at the door for four and a hair minutes before it was opened. While was waiting, Constable Monteith went to the back door and found two men getting away. One man claimed to be a boarder, but his name was not in the register. Mr. M. B Scully. wh 0 appeared for the licensee admitted the offences. He stated that the licensee was inexperienced, or he would not have acted a's he did. r our men, for being found on licenseed premises after hours, were each fined ]os and costs, and one of them was also fined £1 and costs for falsely

alleging ithat he was a boarder. One man was fined £2 and costs for consuming liquor on licensed premises after hours.

Addison’s Flat Gold Mining Company was charged with employing without nermission of the Manpower Officer, a worker whose last continuous employment for a period of seven days was in an essential undertaking", and O. Hansen was charged that without lawful excuse he left his employment as an electric fine erector with the Railways Department, despite the fact that nermission was refused by the' District Manpower Officer. Mr. H. Lovell appeared for Hansen and the company. Mr. J. M. A. Bryce, District Manpower Officer, gave evidence that Hansen left essential employment.. He was ordered to return to his employment with the Department, but replied that he was absent from employment owing to illness. Witness advised him to produce a medical certificate to his employer and to return to his employment. He again asked permission to leave his employment, which was not granted. The manager of the mining company, J. H. Powell, applied on September 29, 1942, for permission. to engage Hansen. Witness advised the secretary of the company on October 3, 1942, that Hansen had left his employment in an essential industry. To engage him without permission would be an offence under the regulations, and notwithstanding this Hansen was engaged by the company. Mr. Lovell submitted correspondence dealing with the matter. He stated that Hansen made objection to working in the Buller Gorge as he required diet which could not be obtained while camping in the Gorge. Referring to the company, the directors knew nothing of the matter and the manager was advised by the secretary of the objections to the employment of ’ Hansen, hut was under the impression that everything was in order. When the directors became aware of the position, instructions were given and Hansen was paid off. Hansen gave evidence that he was employed bv the Department and became ill. He produced a medical certificat?. Last winter, witness was directed to go to Rahui. He protested because he could not obtain a proper diet. Witness returned to the Gorge and remained there a fortnight, and he left because his health became worseHe had explained the circumstances to the Railway Manager. Mr. Lovell submitted that Hansen’s attitude was genuine. He was a foreigner and a good honest worker. The Magistrate, in fining 'the company £2 and costs and Hansen £1 and costs, remarked that the Railways Department might have shown a more sympathetic attitude. " The Magistrate gave judgment lor the plaintiffs in the following debt cases: C. Walker v. J. A. Corrie £3 5s 3d. same v. H. Pablescheque £1 Ils 6d same v. Jim Caldwell £3 4s 6d, same v. J. Halsall £2 ss, same v. C. Gibbons £3 10s 6d, asme v. F. N. Franklin 15s 3d, same v. C. J. McIntyre £2 10s. At the Warden’s Court the following cases were dealt with by the Warden: Application for residence site by N. B. Paine, A. E. Paine and J. P. Burley.—Adjourned to December 9. Renewal of residence site, the Westport Coal Company.—Granted. Renewal of water race license No 121, the Westport Coal Company. —Adjourned to January 27. Application for permission to sell coal by A. E. Paine, N. B. Paine and J. P. Burley—Recommended for the consent of" the Minister. Application for coal prospecting license by J. R. Stewart and G. Clayworth.—Granted. Surrender of mining privilege by E. Bourke-.—Surrender accepted. Application for residence site by p. H. Gear.- —Recommended for Minister 3 consent. Application for residence site by W. Jenkins.—Granted.