WESTPORT NOTES

Grey River Argus, 1 December 1943, Page 6

WESTPORT NOTES

[Our Own Correspondent]. WESTPOKT, Nov. 30. High tides. Port of Westport: a.m. p.m. Dec. 1, 0u.23 00.41 The Kanoa sailed early yesterday

morn.ng for Picton. The Titoki arrived from Tarakohe to-day' and Loads for Picton. The Kaimiro is due tomorrow from Greymouth and loads for Napier. Mr. F. H. Morgan, of Westport nas been appointed a member of t|ie Buller Licensing Committee, succeeding Mr. Arthur Taylor. # Master Reggie Warren, a pupil of St. Canice’s School has won a scholarship, entitling him to a three yiears’ course at St. Bede’s College, Christchurch. Mrs. E. Foote left yesterday tor Wellington by plane. Mr. E. Cholerton, proprietor of Proctors, Opticians, Christchurch, arrived to-night on a professional visit to this district. (Miss M. Ray left for Wellington yesterday. Mrs. P. Burke was a passenger by yesterday’s plane for Wellington. Miss P. M. Kelly, who has been visiting friends here, left on return to the North Island. National Savings investments in the Westport district for the period ended November 27. were as follows: Westoort £155: Granity and Millerton £lO7 12s; Denniston £1: Karamea £24 10s; district surplus carried forward £62 10s; total £350. The official handing over of the Westport Inangahua' railway by' the Public Works Department to the Department will take place on Friday afternoon. The ceremony will be performed by the Hon. K. Semple, Minister .of Public Works and Minister of Railways. The Ministerial party is due to arrive in Westport by rail-car at 3.10 p.m. on Friday, 3, and it is proposed that a short ceremony will be held at the Railway Station on the arrival of the car. The official party will comprise Hon. R. Semple and private secretary (Mr. G. Musson), Hon. P. C. Webb and secretary (Mr. ft. Kemp), Mr R. Casey (General Manager of the Traffic Manager, the District Engineer and District Traffic and District Loco. Engineers, N.Z.R; (Christchurch), Engineer-in-Chief, P.W. Department; District. Engineer, P.W. Greymouth, and T. Smith, Inspecting Engineer, P.W.D. Christchurch. In the evening an official dinner will be held at the Hotel Buller, and it is intended to suitably acknowledge the good work, the Minister, Hon. R. Semple has done m bringing to a happy conclusion this undertaking. A building erected in 1868 for Messrs Hughes and Tonks, owners of the Empire Hotel, and known during the intervening years as the Theatre Royal, Mason'c Hall and Empire Hall, has been demolished. The building was removed to the present site in 1873 when the original site was washed away, by a big flood. The first Thistle (now defunct) and Phoenix Freemasons’ Lodges were 'started in the building and other societies also held their initial meetings in the hall. The first boxing contest to be held in Westport was staged there in 1890 between “Big Infant” and Charlie Mosley. The first service of the Presbyterian Church in Westnort was held in the building, the officiating minister being the Rev. C. Fraser. In 1887 the Salvation Armv. under Cantain Garbett, Captain Garrity and Lieutenant Murray held its first meeting there. During demolition operations receipts from Still Bros., wine and spirit merchants, were found, showing that in the earlv days Mr. Hughes (licensee of the Emp’re Hotel at that time) naid 5s a bottle fn’’ Hennessyi’s “Three Star” brandy. The removal of the building leaves a considerable vacant snace in Palmerston Street. The property is colliery reserve.