WESTPORT NOTES.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIII, Issue 40, 29 January 1886, Page 13

WESTPORT NOTES.

(By » Old Identity.")

January 22, 1886. The local branch of the National Land League held its aunual meeting on the 3rd inst., at St. Canice's school-bouse at which there were a large number present, including some country members. The balance-sheet and report, as presented were received. It was shown that the League, which now numbers between 50 and 60 members, bad made satisfactory progress during the past year. The following officers were appointed to manage the affairs of the League for the ensuing term :— President, John Corr ; Vice- President, J. Daly ; Secretary, Robert Carr ; Treasurer, M. D. Regan. Mr. Thomas Scanlan was appointed Auditor. A vote of thanks wad accorded Mr. T. H. Easton, the retiring Secretary, for the valuable assistance be had rendered the local League since its establishment. At the previous monthly meeting Charles Stuart Parnell, leader of the Home Kule party, was made an honorary member of the Westpjrt Branch of the National League. Since the floating of our harbour works loan, some few months ago, the population of Westport has greatly increase^. However, I am sorry to state that many of those coming in search of employment have been doomed to disappointment by having to wait longer than is con venent, owing to the seemingly unnecessary delay of the Harbour Hoard people in pushing through the preliminaries in connection with the Nine-mile qunrry railway line, — testing the quality of btone and ascertaining whether the quantity procurable at Nine-mile would warrant the proposed exDenditure, and the route such line should take,-but the plans and specification now have been sent to the Government for their approval, so that tenders will be called almost immediately and ample work afforded. Alternate tenders are to be called for the work in three or four sections or on»» contract, and the line is to run along the centre of Queen street. This will bo a big job as thtre is a deal of trestle woik. Messrs Clarke and Price, the contractors for the construction of the Railway line on the western side of the Builer river, will, it is eaid, shortly finish their contract. This line i* laid for the purpose of conveying stone from the Cape Foulwind quarries to the proposed breakwater on the west side of the Bullet, and the nine-mile line to carry stone for the breakwater on the eastern (or town side) of the river. The contract price for the Cape Foulwind line, will, including extras, amount to something like £14,000. Most of the hands employed thereon came from Hokitika with the contractors, who have successfully put through some big contracts down south. A blast was fired in the Foulwind quarry on Saturday afternoon last which bi ought down a great body of stone. It is estimated that 35,000 tons of stone were dislodged at a cost of 6i per. ton to the Harbour Board. The Rev. Father Goggan. Professor ot Mathematics, St. Patrick's College, who was passing through WVstport en, route for Wellington, celebrated Masses, (9and 1 1 o'clock,) on the Hth instant at Bt. Canice's Church, and preached an impressive sermon a r Vespers. A large number of tbe congregation availed themselves of th" opportunity of going to their Christmas duty. The parish priest (Father Walshe), in the course of his sermon on the previous Sunday, having exhorted the members of his flock who negiected to approach the Holy Sacrament on Christmas morning, to do so as early as possible, remarking that those who c 4 1 no* were only nominal Catholic. The Rev. Father Goggan's mission on th« West Co.st. w»q, to conduct the examination for the St. Patrick's College, West Coast Scholai ships. The Annual meeting of St. Genie's Church congregation, for the purpose of electing a new School Committuf for tae ensuing 12 noenths, took place at the church imrapdiaf. ]y after Vespers on Sunday last, the Rev. Father Wals'ie being voteil to the chair. The meeting was numerously attended, and much interest taken in the proceedings. The balance-sheet and report showed a crtdit balance

of 460. — The grounds .were fenced, tbe school-building enlarged and a stock of school requisites, and books, valued at about £60, in hand. Such a satisfactory state of affairs reflects great credit on the efficient and economical manner in which the business of tbe school was managed by the retiring committee. Tbe following gentlemen were appointed a Committee, (the number being unnecessarily increased from seven to ten) :— Jno. Corr, B. Roche, M.)M'Baddeo, M. Quane, B. Doherty, F. Sontgen, T. Sheehan, M. Organ, P. Kelly, J. J. Moynihan, and the » cv. Father Walshe, (ex ofici* member) Three energetic members of the old Committee (Messrs T. M. Easton, T. O'Sh&a, and Robert Carr), also &everal otheis, declined nomination. A unanimous resolution was paused expressing confidence in the teachers (Mr. M. D. Regan and Miss MaDson). The school re-opened on Monday last after tbe Christmas vacation. The bazaar, held during Christmas week in aid of the Building Fund of St. Canice's Cbuicb, was well patronised by all classes and denominations and yielded the magnificent sum of £380 after paying expenses. The election of St. Canice's Church committee takes place on the 14th February next, and it is expected that more than ordinary interest will be taken on that occasion. I hear tub rota that the upper Palmerstonians are already organ(is;ing their forces so as to make a determined attempt when tbe time comes to have the new Church built «t their end of the town. I learn that Father Walshe has made application to Bishop Redwood for tbe assistance of a curate who will shortly be sent h<-re. At the pretent time we only have mass once a fortnight in Westport, Father Walshe having to attend to tbe spiritual wants of the people at Addison's. Charleston, and Brighton, and occasionally Waimangaroa and Karamea. Those outlying districts could be better attended to with the assistant* of a curate. A chapel is very urgently required at Waimangaroa.