WESTPORT NOTES

Grey River Argus, 16 December 1943, Page 6

WESTPORT NOTES

LOur Own Correspondent]. High Tides, Port of Westport: a.m. p.m. Thursday, Dec. 16, 00.48 •. 01.05 WESTPORT, Dec. 15. ! The Totara from Wellington loads I for Tokomaru Bay; the Kiwitea from | Greymouth, completes loading for Auckland; Kakapo from Wellington, loads for Wellington. Mr. J. Metson left by yesterday's ’plane for Wellington. Hon. W. H. Mclntyre is visiting Wellington. Mr. and Mrs. J. Allan left for Wellington yesterday by ’plane. Rev. Father Phelan has left for Wellington. He will return on Saturday. Teachers of the South and North Schools who organised a party at the Theatre Royal last evening, had good reason to feel pleased with the result of their efforts. In of heavy rain, there was a good attendance, the smaller children attended in the earlier part of the evening and the older children from eight o’clock until 11. A most enjoyable supper was served.

Buller Rehabilitation Committee have released the following figures, showing the benefits being secured by ex-servicemen in the district. Since rehabilitation loans came into force, up to the end of October, live housing loans, to a total value of £3.278 have been granted. Two loans to purchase farms hove been granted to a total value of £3,805. There has been one furniture iQan of £BO, and one of £3O 10s to buv tools of trade.

At the Education Board meeting in Nelson, the Secretary reported that the winner of the Tinline Scholarships thiq year were from the Golden Bay district. Ronald Lockart, Takaka District High School and Myra Benson, Collingwood D.H. School. The Central Committee of the E.P.S. at Westport wrote urging that removal of air-raid shelters at the schools be deferred in the meantime, but the secretary pointed out that a general direction had been received from the Department for the Board to have air raid shelters at schools removed where possible, so the Committee’s request could not be agreed to. Murchison Committee was granted £l5 towards the cost of special work at the school. Sergeant’s Hill Committee wrote asking that a septic tank system be .installed at the school a s the present provision was unsatisfactory. The Chairman stated he had visited the school and certain improvements were to be carried out, but he doubted if the necessary water could be obtained for a septic tank system there. Two tenders were received for the installation of a septictank at Inangahua School, but were considered too high and the matter was held over. The remodelling of Millerton School was in progress and would be finished before thfe school resumed after the holidays. At the break-up ceremony of the North School, the year’s work was reviewed bv the Headmaster, Mr. R. Brown and the Chairman of the School Committee, Mr. E. .Fair addressed the children. Miss J Bailie presented the Dux Medal to Susanne Fair and Ron Hickford, the runnerup, also received a prize. Mr. J. M. Robertson, the Mayor, presented proficiency and swimming certificates. There was a good attendance of parents and at the request of Miss E. Findlay, a teacher who retired during the year, an extra day’s holiday was granted. > The establishment of a Carpentry Training Centre in Westport has been approved by Cabinet and Mr. Martin, Chief Inspector of Carpentry Training, will be in Westport this week to choose a location for the centre. Fifteen ex-servicemen have so far offered themselves for training. Elevevn are returned soldiers and four have done home service. Thirteen of the men are married and the period oi training is three years, with pay starting at £5 5s a week. A. grant has been approved by the Minister of Works (Hon. R. Semple) for the complete survey of the proposed route of the Westport-Grey-mouth Coast Road deviation between Cape Foulwind and Charleston, according to advice from the Hon. P. C. Webb received by the Buller County Council as a result of urgent representations made by local bodies ana the Rehabilitation Committee. The deviation which will not shorten the distance of the existing route, but will eliminate the steep grades of Costello’s. Shine’s, and Limestone Hills, will give improved access to farms, flax and timber lands in the TauraJiga Bay. Okari and Totara areas. The survey will commence in the New Year and work on the construction of the road would employ more than 100 men for two years.