BLUFF NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 22076, 25 July 1933, Page 3

BLUFF NOTES

VALEDICTORY.

(From Our Correspondent). On Thursday evening the staff of the Bluff Post Office met to say farewell to one of their number, Mr R. J. Dickson, on the eve of his departure for Gore, to which office he has been transferred as exchange clerk. On behalf of the staff, Mr F. J. Shearer (postmaster) presented Mr Dickson with a suitcase, and in doing so voiced the regret of all present at the guest’s impending departure. By his courtesy and ability Mr Dickson had gained the esteem of those with whom he was associated, Mr Shearer said, and he would take with him best wishes for his future career from the staff and all his Bluff friends. The recipient suitably replied. Mr Dickson left Bluff on Friday to begin his new duties in Gore on the following day. Meeting At Greenhills.

The need of a public hall at Greenhills has long been apparent. While the schoolroom has proved very useful as a substitute for a large building in the holding of various functions, it is not always suitable and the erection of a hall to meet local requirements has been increasingly discussed of late by residents. On Thursday evening about seventy of the latter gathered in the school to fully consider the matter of erecting a hall for the district. Mr James McLauchlan, jun., was elected to the chair. A general discussion took place, opinion being strongly in favour of the project, and eventually it was unanimously decided to set. up an investigation committee to go into the whole matter of cost, design and site, and report the results of its inquiries at a public meeting to be called at a later date. The personnel of the committee is as follows:-Messrs. J. M. McLauchlan (chairman), A. P. McDonald (secretary), R. Wylie, D. Mitchell, J. Calder, L. Mowat, T. McKenzie. After the public meeting had adjourned the committee held a meeting at which plans for the investigations to be carried out were formulated. R. S. A. Euchre. On Saturday evening the series of euchre tournaments run by the Bluff R. S. A. was resumed. ( There was no play on the previous Saturday owing to the Association’s annual reunion being held in the Athenaeum Hall). For the latest meeting the excellent attendance testified to the continued popularity of the series. In spite of the large number of patrons play was expeditiously handled by Messrs. W. Gibson and T. Finnery and the evening proved a most enjoyable one. Winners were:—Mrs A. Vincent 1, Mr J. Webber 2, Mr E. Walters 3. The prizes for most games won in the first and second rounds respectively were won by Mrs. J. Dawson and Mr. W. Robbidge.

Farewell Dinner.

On Sunday morning Mr R. B. Hutcheson left Bluff by car for Dunedin en route to Wellington where he will join the liner Akaroa for the voyage to the Old Country. Mr Hutcheson came out on the Harbour Board’s tug Awarua as guarantee engineer, reaching Bluff on November 11 of last year after a very successful voyage, no stoppage of the engines occurring except when the vessel was in port for coaling purposes. He had had a wide experience in his profession before his visit to the Dominion, some of which was gained in the position of superintendent engineer on a large new construction work in Nassau Harbour in the Bahamas and as engineer in charge of tin dredges in Malaya. During 1 is stay at Bluff Mr Hutcheson was held in great esteem by all who knew him, not alone for the ability he displayed in his profession, but also for the unassuming friendliness of his nature and his kindly regard for those who were associated with him. Before his departure he was the guest at many functions arranged in his honour by various members of the Harbour Board staff; and on Saturday evening he acted as host at a dinner given by him to the above. Among those present at the function, which was of a. purely informal nature, were Captains N. Haszard and A. R. Champion, Messrs D. E. S. Mason, H. Newman and W. F. Cameron. Mr Hutcheson expressed his sincere regret at leaving Bluff, where, he said, he had been very hospitably received and had made many friends. All present paid tributes to the hosts