A LADY’S LETTER FROM WESTPORT.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 937, 14 February 1890, Page 2 (Supplement)

A LADY’S LETTER FROM WESTPORT.

February 6. The want cf more extensive shipping accommodation here is making itself keenly felt, more especially now that large steamers such as the Cairntoul are comiag into this port for coal. However, I daresay the admitted necessity will soon bring about the much desired result. While the Cairntoul lay at the staiths large numbers of visitors went on board, e?ger to see and examine for themselves the largest steamer that has ever yet visited the Buffer River. But if the harbour works are pushed on with sufficient vigour to ensure a rapid and successful completion, vessels of much larger tonnage will soon cease to he a novelty in our wans. The Earl and Countess of Kintore and a party of six visited the Coast during the present week, but did not come on to Westport, for by a curious mistake the West Coast route, as at present mapped out by Cook’s agency, includes only a portion of the Buffer Valley, leaving out the finest section of gorge tcenery throughout the entire length ; but I am informed that a rearrangement of this route will probably be made before long, when tourists will be enabled to enjoy its beauties to the fuff. Colonel Sargood and a party of ten recently telegraphed for

accommodation in Westport, as they desired to explore the attractive environs. And so the stream of tourists trends gradually in this direction. Dr Macgregor has also just paid his annual visit to this district, and has been favoured with delightful weather, in striking contrast to his last year’s experience on the Coast. Westport has hitherto enjoyed a remarkable immunity from many of those minor evils and annoyances which invariably prevail to a greater or less extent in the larger cities. For instance, until the last year or so, anything approaching street rowdyism, petty theft, or offences of a like character were all but unknown amongst us. Indeed, the sense of security was so general that to lock your door when leaving home was simply to be laughed at, while those of the gentler sex "who might have occasion to traverse the streets after nightfall without male escort could venture forth without fear. However, events of recent occurrence point with marked significance to the fact that we are fast leaving such a happy state of Arcadian simplicity behind us, and, like other advancing communities, must pay the penalty of progress and bear the evils entailed by a state of socalled “ higher civilisation ” (?). The delightful anticipations regarding a certain social function, to which I referred in my last letter, were more than realised o:u the evening of 24th January, when the interior of the Theatre Royal was transformed into a beautiful ballroom, where Mr and Mrs John Mortis entertained a large number of their relatives and friends in : celebration of their silver wedding. Over 170 pretty silver-lettered cards were seat out, and nearly all the recipients responded to the hospitable invitation, The etutertainment arranged for the occasion was of a diversified kind, and the numerous guests were unanimous in their expressions of pleasure. The decorations by Mr Lougwood were admirable. The music wa s supplied by the Navals’ band, and during the intervals between some of the dances several young violinists belonging to the family of the hostess played some excellent selections. Among the large number of beautiful gifts received by Mrs Morris, wa3 one presented by the Mayoress, which consisted of some stanzas, commemorative of the auspicious occasion, from the pen of “L.J.S.” The verses were printed in silver lettering upon white satin, enwreathed by a delicate bordering of silver, and the whole richly mounted.