WESTPORT NOTES

Grey River Argus, 23 January 1943, Page 6

WESTPORT NOTES

LOur Own Correspondent.] High Tides—Port of Westport: v a.m. p.m. Saturday, 23. 11.25 11.44 Sunday, 24, 11.59 Monday, 25 -17 .32 WESTPORT, Jan. 22. Mrs Norman E. Hassell and Master Bruce Hassell, of Palmerston North, are visiting Westport. Mr Morey, District Engineer, and Mr. Binsted. Loco Engineer, New Zealand Railways, are visiting Westport on departmental business. Mr F. Hayes, who was at one time first assistant at the Westport School, accompanied by Mrs Hayes, arrived from Featherston on a short visit to Westport. Mr J. Williams, Building Controller for the West Coast, is visiting Westport for the purpose of procuring tradesmen in the* allied building trades for work in Wellington. Mrs R. J. Auld and family, of Nelson, are visiting friends in Westport. Miss Shirley Ackroyd, of Lower Hutt, is spending a holiday in Westport. Mrs Daly, of Christchurch, is visiting her son and daughter-in-law, Mr and Mrs Norman Daly. Miss Joan Mosely, of Waiuta, arrived by rail-car yesterday, to visit, friends in Westport. ' Miss D. Sheldon. W.A.A.F., Wellington, is spending annual leave with her parents, Mr and Mrs C. Sheldon. Berlins, Buller Gorge. A meeting of the Buller Progress League was held in the County Chambers on Thursday night. Present: Messrs J. C. Brown (president), Messrs' R. E. Sissons, R. Marshall, R. R. Dawber, D. Moloney, F. Kei 1 -- and M. B. Scully (secretary). The following letter was received from, the Minister of Railways referring to representations with reference to the dangerous crossing at Bentham St. — “With reference to your representations regarding the installation of warning bells at the Bentham Street, railway crossing at Westport, I desire to inform you that I have had an opportunity of looking into the matter. In this connection I would like to point out that it is the policy I to instal automatic warning devices at crossings in order of urgency, hav-j ing regard to the conditions in re- i spect of the view obtainable at each crossing and to the density of the road and rail trailic thereat. At the present time there is a large number of crossings where the need for protection is much more pressing than it is in the case of the Bentham Street crossing, and in view of this, I regret that favourable consideration can not be given to your request at the present time. In any case I would like to add for your information that great difficulty is being experienced bv the Department in obtaining supplies of certain parts of the automatic warning devices from overseas, and this has materially affected the Department’s pro-

gramme in respect of level crossing protection. As regards the Bentham Street crossing I am satisfied that provided all road traffic approaches the crossing with reasonable care, there should be little I'kelihood of an accident occurring.” The League was asked to support a petition to have the rail-car outwards and inwards stopped at the Queen Street crossing to pick up and set down passengers, which would be a great convenience to people living in "the vicinity. It was reported that the petition had been forwarded to Head Office. It was pointed out that proper facilities would be required to deal with passengers and luggage. It was resolved to support the petition. The inconvenience of the two hours’ wait at Stillwater for passengers travelling from Christchurch by the early rail-car was raised by Mr F. Kelly and if. was suggested that the timetable should be altered to obviate this, and it was resolved that the secretary should communicate with the Railway Traffic Manager at Christchurch, requesting that the timetable be amended. Mr Sissons reported that he had obtained particulars of cycle stands and he understood one was now in course of manufacture. .Mr Kelly suggested that there should be a direct mail

from Westport to Blenheim on the days the service runs, as at present it takes three , days for leters to reach Blenheim' via Nelson. Mr Sissons said he would investigate the matter. Mr J. C. Brown mentioned the Uncomfortable seating in the carriages on the Westport section and it was decided to request the Railways Department to replace the longitudinal seating with chair seats ' as soon as the material is available. | A discussion took place ’ regarding, the criticism of the League with reference to harbour matters, and it was resolved on the motion of Mr F. Kelly and Mr M. B. Scully that the League wishes to point out that the chairman had always endeavoured to do everything for the improvement of the Westport harbour as a perusal of the minutes of j the League would show, and considers' that a leading article was unfair and thoughtless as the sole J control of the harbour is at present under a Government Department.. viz., the Marine Department. The secretary reported that access to the shingle beach had been provided through the flax-drying ground for pedestrians and cars. Notices were exhibited requesting people not walk over the fibre out were ignored, which may result in the privilege being withdrawn.