WESTPORT NOTES

Grey River Argus, 14 May 1943, Page 6

WESTPORT NOTES

[Our Own Correspondent.]

High Tides Port of Wesport. a.m. p.m. Friday, 14th 05.40 06.20 WESTPORT, May 13. Flving Officer Keith and Mrs Ward have left for South Canterbury.

Mr J. Metson has left to attend the annual conference of Technical School Teachers which is to be held in Wellington. Miss M. Greenwood arrived home from Christchurch on Monday. Misses Forsyth and Anderson, of Christchurch, are the guests of Mr and Mrs H. Greenwood, Romilly St.

Miss Garvey, Wellington, is spending term holidays with her parents. Mrs Jones and her daughter, of Hokitika, are visiting Mr and Mrs P. Connelly Before Mr Justice O’Regan in the Compensation Court at Westport yesterday, three local claims for compensation were heard. All cases were adjourned. Mr J. M’. Robertson, chairman of the Buller District Patriotic Committee, acknowledges the sum of £7 5s 6d from Mokihinui Valley Patriotic Committee per Mr R. Harden.

Mr and Mrs R. F. Cunliffe, Lower Hutt, are visiting Westport. Mr and Mrs H. L. Harker, Wairoa, are visiting Westport. Mr Harker is Mayor of Wairoa. Mrs W.' J. Bimpson, iWellington, received word that her husband has been mentioned in despatches. Pte. Simpson is a son of Mr Joseph Simpson, Romilly St. Miss Fountaine left for Wellington by plane. Mr A... G. Knight, Inspector of Health at Hokitika, is to be transferred to Westport to replace Mr Satchwell who is transferred to Timaru.

Mrs W. Spence was a passenger by yesterday’s plane for Wellington. ’Mr J. L. Hay, managing director of Hay’s Ltd., Christchurch, has donated a medal for the winner of the bass solo instrumental section at the competition festival to be held here next week. On his letter to the secretary of the Boys’ Band Committee, Mr Hay wrote: “I hope that they boys reached home safely after their strenuous time in Christchurch and that they were not too tired. They certainly were an inspiration to all who heard them and their visit will be long remembered.” The Plunket Society held its monthly meeting on May 7, at 3 p.m. Present Mrs W. Smith (chair), Mesdames Enright, Fairhali, Hayes and Gemmill. Apologies were received from Miss Harkness, Mesdames Jenkins, Atkinson, J. M. Robertson, McHerron and L. Robertson. Minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The nurse’s report was read and adopted Inward correspondence was received and dealt with as follows. From Head Office asking branches to inform the Dominion Secretary whether, on account of existing war conditions, difficulties in travelling, etc., they consider that a general conference should be held, this year. It was decided that this branch be in favour of postponing the general and provincial conferences for one year. From the Dominion Secretary concerning an application for subsidy for relieving nurses’ salaries.—Received. From the same, advising that the annual report had been approved.—Received. Accounts amounting to £1 7s 8d

were passed for payment. The secretary advised that the annual meeting would be held on Monday, May 31, at 8 p.m. Mesdames Gemmill and Hayes were appointed a visiting committee for the month. Nurse’s report: Number of visits to office, adults 187, babies 167, per-school children 49; number of visits to homes, new cases 15, old cases 45. The following are donations received. by the Buller Hospital Comforts Committee: Previously acknowledged £23 ss, Westport Phoenix Lodge £1 Is, Women’s Branch N.Z. Labour Party £2 2s, Westport Ratepayers’ Association £1 is, C L. Mockett £l, Mr and Mrs J. A. Davies ss, Westport Borough Council £1 Is Denniston Bowling Club £1 Is, Mrs W. Skilton ss, Miss A. Skilton ss, Wing On Coy. £5, Glencrag Coal Mine per Mr N. Forsythe £3, Millerton Miners’ Union £2 2s. Millerton Women’s Institute 10s.

The Soldiers’ Relations Club held their fortnightly meeting in the Friendly Societies’ Hall on May 5. Final arrangements were made to send a number of parcels overseas, and a quantity of khaki wool was distributed among the members. The peggy squares are now completed and ready for backing. The president thanked Mrs Kerr for making and presenting the beautiful patchwork lining for the rug. Mrs Hayes was

appointed to represent the club on the Patriotic Executive Committee, and two of the members agreed to assist the committed in their block collection. Mrs Pomeroy and Mrs Stowell were hostesses for the afternoon and one new member was welcomed. The meeting closed with the singing of “God Defend" New Zealand.”

The chairman of the Buller Dis-, trict Patriotic Committee, Mr J’. M. Robertson, .acknowledges the following sums for the 1943 appeal: Collections per Mrs T. Mathewson £1 8s 9d, Union Steam Shin Coy. of N.Z. £lOO.

The Westport Borough Council meeting was attended by the Mayor, Crs J. M. Fairbairn, H. Elley, M. B. Scully, R. H. Betts, C. Howard. W. P. Caldwell. A. Ridsdale, W. Cummings and C. H. Thomas. The outward correspondence was laid on the table and inward correspondence was dealt with as follows: From G. D. Archer offering .to rent sections 87 and 0, Municipal Reserve. —Offer accepted. Application by a resident for a permit to run 200 poultry on his section. —Referred to inspector With power to act. Letter from the secretary E.P.S., requesting the supply of blackout shutters at the headquarters of the Medical Unit, ano notice boards for section wardens’ residences. —Agreed to. Letter from the secretary, Buller Trades Council, requesting that a municipal milk supply be considered. —It was decided that no action ,be taken. Letter from the Buller District Patriotic

Committee requesting the council to appoint a member to act on the committee. —Cr Thomas was re-ap-pointed. Letter from Buller Rugby Union .applying for the use of Victoria Square for the playing of matches on the same terms as last year. Cr Howard raised the question of repairs to the grandstand. The percentage of gate takings received from the Rugby Union had been reduced two years ago from 20 per cent, to 10 per cent.—Application agreed to. Letter’ from the Medical Officer of Health forwarding a report of the analysis of a sample of the Westport water supply, which is of satisfactory quality.—Received. The Council considered a report from the consulting engineer with reference to kerbing and channelling. It was resolved to place £lOO on the es--4-—. n nn n n + /-x hll Zi

timates to commence the work, the construction of the moulds to be done under the supervision of the consulting engineer and that the work be undertaken on wet days. Letter from the secretary, Westport Boys’ Band Committee, requesting the Council to support their protest against the treatment meted out to railway travellers from this district. —lt was resolved to support the complaint. The consulting engineer re- : ported on the purchase of a Triplex mower for cutting grass on the flanks of streets. The purchase of plant of this type is almost out of the question at present and it is recommended that the proposal be held over until after the war. The consulting engineer reported on the fencing of Orowaiti Cemetery and estimated the cost at £s69.—The report was referred to the Finance Committee. Cr Howard moved a resolution that the Government be asked to set up a register of domestic help to be made available for people able to produce a medical certificate. He said that it was very necessary and could be operated by the Manpower Officer appellant to be responsible for payment unless in case of undue hardship, when payment should be from Society Security Fund.—Carried. A special meeting was held to authorise a loan of £2150 to complete the construc-

tion of a power line from Denniston. Cr Howard explained that the loan was raised prior to the present Council coming into office and it was necessary to sanction the loan. — Agreed to. The Mayor, referring to the condition of the harbour, said: “We, as representatives of the citizens of Westport would be failing in our duty if we do not protest to the Government regarding the state the harbour has been allowed to get into. At the present time we have ships loaded to the same depth as there is water on the bar and then not fully loaded with the result that the ships cannot sail and it may be some days before they can be dispatched. As you know the Government made this a national port, and if the way it has been managed is a sample of State control, well it is a wash-out. The new Minister of Marine has not yet had a look at this important port. We want coal. The miners are willing to put in more time and unless something is done we will be unable to get our coal away. We should protest to the Government in the strongest terms .and ask that a new Harbour Board be constituted so that the future development of the port will receive proper attention.” He moved in that direction. Cr Howard supported the motion and stated that it is necessary in the interests of West-

port that the harbour should be kept in a satisfactory state and if the Government cannot do it a Harbour Board should be elected. —Carried. Cr Thomas moved and Cr Betts seconded that the Minister of Marine be asked to visit this district in connection with harbour matters.—Carried.