WESTPORT NOTES

Grey River Argus, 6 April 1943, Page 6

WESTPORT NOTES

[Our Own Correspondent.! Tigh Tides. Port of Westport, a.m. p.m. Tuesday, April 6, 11.14 11.37 Wednesday, April 7, 11.55 Thursday, April 8, 00.17 00.38 Friday, April 9, 00.58 01.15 WESTPORT, April 5. Mr. K. Boon, of Christchurch, is visiting Westport. Messrs Pat Taylor and Dick Benson of Ashburton are visiting Westport .as the guests of Mr. and Mrs. Coppersmith. The many friends of Mr. Jack Nottle will be pleased to learn that, since entering the Buller Hospital he has made steady progress towards recovery Pilot Officer James Sherman Strachan has been promoted to Flying Officer as from« December 5, 1942. He is the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. S. Strachan of Westport. Captain A. G. Park, former Public Works engineer at Westport, and now of the New Zealand Railway Construction and Maintenance Group, has been promoted to be Major. Mr Brian Friend, eldest son of Mr. C. Friend, of Westport, was a visitor by rail car from Hokitika on Sunday. He recently was invalided home from the Middle East aftei serving with an English Division as a photographer. . Mr. A. R. Elcock, Mayor of Hokitika who visited here yesterday, had his first job at Westport as a youth on the staff of the Magistrates Court. He later went to Hokitika where he is now practising as a solicitor The District Patriotic Committee acknowledges the following donations for 1943 appeal: Minerton. Patriotic Committee £7 4s; A. Ellen-ber-er £l. Also for soldiers’ overseas parcels: Miss Doreen Marshall os, Mr. W. J. Rodgers 12s; “Arthur” 6s. On arrival of the double unit rail car from Hokitika on Sunday, conveying members of local bodies ana other citizens of Westland’s capital, the Mayor of Westport, Mr. J. M. Robertson, extended a civic welcome to the visitors. He hoped their brief stay in Westport would be very pleasant, and that this trip would be the forerunner of many others, witn return goodwill tours by the citizens of Westport and the Buller. He stated arrangements had been made to take the visitors to the Town' Hall |o,. en " able them to look over the building. After dinner they would be taken out to have a look over the harbour and the aerodrome, and on return, wou.d be the guests of the Westport Bowling Club at afternoon tea. Ciy W. Caldwell briefly endorsed the good wishes of the Mayor. Mr. A. R. Elcock. Mayor of Hokitika, replying, thanked the Mayor and citizens fo) their cordial reeeption He stated ne was last here in 1913, and was pleased to have the opportunity of renewing acquaintances. He hoped the citizens of Westport would make an early goodwill tour to Hokitika and assured them of a warm welcome. Mr. T. O’Neil, Chairman of Westland County Council, also replied,. .and stated that he was the originator of these goodwill tours in New Zealand, which had since developed on large lines He sincerely thanked the residents of Westport for their warm welcome. At the conclusion of tne ceremony, the visitors were taken on the round of sightseeing as outlined, also to the hospital, the O Conor Home the schools and the bowling greens. Before the contingent took their departure, citizens assembled m large numbers on the railway station to farewell the tourists. Messrs O’Neil and Elcock again warmly expressed thanks to all who had made their brief stay so pleasurable. . lhe Mayor, Mr. J. M. Robertson, reciprocated the good wishes and these were endorsed by the County Chairman, Mr. J. Ward and many others who had assembled. __