WESTPORT NOTES

Grey River Argus, 18 September 1945, Page 6

WESTPORT NOTES

(Our Own Correspondent)

WESTFORT, September 17. The Gabriella arrived yesterday morning from Wellington, loaded coal and sailed this morning for Wellington. The Titoki sailed yesterday morning for Tarakohe. The Kaitoa arrived yesterday morning from Tarakohe, and to-day unloaded cement cargo, loaded coal, and sailed tor Motueka. The Rata arrived from Castlecliff yesterday afternoon, and is to load coal for New Plymouth. The Kakaflo arrived yesterday from Wellington, and is expected to complete loading and sail for Wellington to-day.. The Karepo and Kartigi arrived last night from Auckland, and are to load for that port. The Te Aroha sailed yesterday morning for Little Wanganui. but owing to engine trouble had to return to port. , A well-known and highly respected resident of the Buller district, M David Garing, of Waimangaroa, died at Westport on Saturday evening. Aged 67 vears, he was a native. of Melbourne, and came to New after serving in the Boei Wai. A pro minent bandsman in his y° un *g' he had been a member of the Dennis ton Granity and Waimangaroa biass bands He had also been a prominent cricketer and athlete in the years immediately after his arrival inthe dis trict He is survived by his wife ana two sons. Messrs William! Waimangaroa) and David Garing (Greymouth), and two daughters, Mesdames S. Shedden and W. Payne. Two brothers reside in Australia, and a sistei, Mis Bennett, at Napier. The death occurred last evening of bv his wife, two sons, and a daughter. Mrs W. Pettigrew returned on Saturday from Christchurch. Miss P. Campbell left on Saturday for Wellington. Cnl R. Craig, recently, returned from the Middle East, is visiting rela- “ AlbtoTcup Rugby fixtures, played during the week resulted as Westport defeated United by nine points to nil. Ngakawau beat Rangers 10 to 3. Three teams are now level in the competition with one defeat each, namely, Star, Ranger and Ngakawau. The junior fixtures wei t played. Rover defeated Stai 9 to 3, and Old Boys defeated Pirates 6-0. Rovers are assured of winning the Frince Memorial Cup competition. Star seniors visited Karamea on Saturday, and on a heavy ground gave a spectacular display to defeat Kai amea. bv 12 points to 3. A representative women s hockey match played at Karamea on Saturday resulted in a win foi the local team, which defeated Canterbury B bv six goals to one. The ground was very heavy, and in places under watei, this militating play, th e visiting team being unable to cope with the heav v gl Members of the 2nd N.Z.E.F. and veterans of Gallipoli and France of the 1914-18 conflict met at Westport on Saturday and Sunday to take part in the annual Returned Services goli. tournament. Inclement weather prevailed on Saturday afternoon, and at reveille on Sunday' for the commencement of hostilities, but, fortified by a ■ r ood dose of Army issue medicine, the bovs who made Armentiers famous and the long-range Desert Rats were smartly on the job. and salvo after salvo was fired off the Ist tee at zero hour. From his vantage point, FieldMarshal Ford watched the grim struggle against Colonel Bogev’s cunningly placed strength. Quartermaster Stafford and his assistant braved the fusillade and administered doses of "pennicillin” to those finding the going difficult. After about three hours the first of the advancing forces had overcome the Colonel, the remainder coming in at intervals dependent upon their line of attack. J. Caldwell, of the 2nd N.Z.E.F., at the conclusion of the day’s play, was awarded the Cross of Merit, having expended only 157 shots in his two bouts against the enemv. H. Wellsford 164. secured second place, while C. Robertson, also of the 2nd N.Z.E.F., secured the medal prize for conserving his supply of shots. Other warriors expended the following amount of shots: J. Hodgson 258, for which he was awarded a special prize; R. Nottle 167; E. Fair 177; D. Foote 187; F. Powick 187: W. Gore Porter 188: A. Quinn 201; F. Watts 201; J. Craig 203; P. Gallagher 205; G. Fraser 212; J. Hill 216; R. Stewart 224; N. Davis 154: S. Wood 277. The match between Ist and 2nd N.Z.E.F. teams was won by the Ist team, only one pair surviving the’ struggle. E. Fair beating J. Caldwell 3 and 2.

At an executive meeting of the Nelson-Marlborough-West Coast League of Local Bodies at Westport on Saturday there were present: Messrs E. R. Neale (chairman), F. H. Newman (Owen River), R. W. Sparrow (Takaka), W. J. Eginton (Motueka), C. Coxall (Inangahua), M. Durkin, J. M. Robertson J. C. Brown, J. Ward and J. W. Fairbairn (Westport), C. Kidson and H. E. Stephens (Nelson), C. E. Costello, C. M. Turner, J. Kennington and H. J. Stace (Blenheim), C. S. Townshend' and F. J. Beach (Picton), the Pion. Walter Black, M.L.C., and the secretary, Mr. L. R. Palmer, of Nelson. Messrs Neale, H. Hurst (Nelson), J. Ward (Buller), C. Coxall (Inangahua). and W. J. Girling (Blenheim) were appointed as the League’s members on the South Island Association's executive. Messrs Neale H. E. Stephens, J. M. Robertson, C. Coxall, J. Ward. L. R. Palmer and the Hon. W. Black, M.L.C. were appointed delegates to the conference of South Island Local Bodies at Dunedin next month. The completion was advocated of the . fiftymile rail gap between Glenhope and Inangahua to link up with the South Island network. Reporting on a recent deputation to Wellington concerning the line, Mr. L. A. Palmer, (League’s secretary), said' Mr. Semple had intimated that a report on its completion was in course of preoaration and would be available to Cabinet within a matter of weeks. Mr. H. E. Stephens (Nelson), felt there was a good possibility of the railway being completed to Murchison. If so, there would be only a 20 mile gap left. Mr. C. Coxal (Inangahua) said he had secured authoritative details of present freight charges. Road freight on a lull truck of hay from Nelson to Inangahua Junction was £3 a ton. To bring hay by rail from Christchurch to inangahua cost £1 15s a ton. For apnles the respective figures were 2s "8d a case from Nelson, and 8d by rail from Invercargill to Inangahua. It was cheaper to send timber from the Junction to Blenheim via Christchurch than by direct road transport. It was obvious that completion of tne line would be of great benefit to Marlborough. Nelson and Westport areas. Mr. J. Kennington (Marlborough) said he could confirm what had been said about timber. The cost by road was 16s, whereas the freight bv rail via Christchurch was 13s F H Newman (Owen River) said the figures were astounding and to the detriment of Nelson and Bienheiixi. They furnished proof, that that railway line was the only thing that was going to control such rates. Mr C. E. Costello (Blenheim) said that although the prices quoted seemed high, only a small quantity of material might be handled. Before pressing the Government, information in this connection should be secured. ,It was decided tn urge that, as the survey of the . Midland line was complete to Murchison, and

formation was also complete when work had ceased some 15 years ago, the construction of the line to Murchison should be commenced as soon as possible while the remainder of the- line was being surveyed. The League decided' to support the construction of a road from Karamea to Collingwood and of a railway to Charleston, The Cobb and its place in providing for the future power requirements of the Nelson-Marlborough-West Coast territories, was discussed, and it was decided to thank the Prime Minister and Mr. Semple for the interest they had shown ana’ to advise them,tnat the League reiterated the urgent necessity for being prepared for electrical extension in the northern end of the South Island, and a link up with the main grid system. Mr. L. R. Palmer (secretary) said that Hon. R. Semple assured the League deputation that a power line from Stoke would be going close to the Gowan and would be continued to link up with the one from Coleridge, which at present termined at Reefton. It had' also been stated that this line could be completed within two years if the manpower and materials were available. The Gowan scheme was being given more prominence in the final plan than previously. Mr. Semple' had indicated that investigations for a dam foundation at Cobb were proceeding, and was confident that a dam could be built, but on a smaller scale. His own personal opinion, said Mr. Palmer, was tnat the limited capacity of the Cobb was the reason of the intention to link up with the Gowan and another similar source in connection with the national grid' system. Mr. James Ward (chau,man of the Buller County Council) said he had the impression that, when the time came. power.-would be made available for Westport fairly quickly. v Mr. H. E. Stephens, • chairman ot the Waimea Power Board, said Mr. Semple had indicated definitely that when the link-up came it would come past the Gowan, which was being investigated. Even with such a link-up with the grid system however, it would not be possible to transmit power for the whole area if there was a complete break-down at the Cobb. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded' Mr. Palmer and the deputation.