WESTPORT NOTES

Grey River Argus, 12 May 1945, Page 8

WESTPORT NOTES

COur Own Correspondent] WESTFORT, May 11. Two seamen, Sydney Smith, of the s.s. Kaimai, and Melvern Webster, of the s.s. Wingatui, who were arrested at. 2 a.m. to-day by Constable. Monteith, were fined £4 10s each in the Magistrate’s Court, later in the morning bv Justices of the Peace, Messrs J. C. ' Brown and G. M. Powell, on a charge of stealing six flags, the property of the Public Works Department, valued at £lB. The flags were taken from the Public Works office. The accused were in the act of removing other flags from the premises of J. W. Fair when accosted by. the constable. Mi- R. Ropata is visiting Christchurch for medical treatment. Gunner F. Grimes, a former resident of Westport, arrived from Christchurch to-day on a visit to relatives. Mr L. Francis arrived from Dunedin this morning. Mr T. Pond, after 45 years’ residence in Westport, is shortly to depart for North Auckland, where he will reside. Heavy seas, backed by a strong easterly wind, were running at the harbour entrance yesterday. To-day they had subsided considerably. The depth of water on the bar is expected to have been reduced by the set. The final European peace celebrations locally were held last night, with a torch light procession, headed by the Boys’ Band, in fancy costume, in Palmerston Street, and a gathering at the school ground, where a huge bonfire, the third erected, for the occasion, was set alight. After singing and dancing around the blaze, the crowd continued celebrations until a late hour in Palmerston Street. Children of Fairdown and Sergeant’s Hill, about 40 in number, were brought in to town yesterday for the celebrations, and in the afternoon were guests at a picture matinee at St. James’ Theatre. Arrangements for the conveyance of the children were made by Mr C. F. Schadick.