WESTPORT.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 44, 2 March 1894, Page 15

WESTPORT.

(From an occasional Correspondent.)

February 18, 1894. A Content in our midst is at leigthan accomplished fact. The good Sisters, 7 in number, experienced a very rough passage from Greymouth to Westport. In fact it whs the roughest night experienced on this coaßt for a number of years. H.M.B. Lizzard bad two of her seamen washed overboard and one of them was drowned. The Gazelle was wrecked the same evening. You have had accounts of those disasters already, and I merely mention them to show what an experience our good Sisters had on that eventful night and with what anxiety we all waited for morning to bring news of them. Their reception here was all they could desire, and they expressed their thanks very warmly to tbe ladies of our congregation for making their new home so comfortable. I have cot had an opportunity of examining the interior of the convent building?, but from all I have read and heard about it, it is all that could be desired for the comfort of the good nuns and their boarders. They took charge of the parish school a couple of weeks ago, and already the change in the discipline and manners of the children are perceptible, as it ia in every school all over the world which is conducted by our good nuns, and it is not only in the children themselves that this is noticeable. We meet it in our homes where the little stimulating truths that are imparted to our children by their teach»rs are repeated to the parents and strengthen them in their faith and encourage them to persevere in their struggles against the iniquitous law that compels them to pupport a Bchool system whose object is to try and weaken that faith which we all hold so dearly,

Owing to the illness of Father Morrissey, preventing nim being able to celebrate Mass for s^vtral Sundays, tbe Archbishop's pastoral for Lent wa6 not read from the altar until to-day. The least I can say about it is that if a subscription was 6tarted to have it published in pamphlet form and distributed broadcast, 1 believe all those who have read it, or heard it read from our altars, would respond, and, as you have already published it in the Tablet, I am sure you will agree with me. Unfortunately, Catholic literature is not supported as it should be. Father Morrissey is now able to go about his duties, although not perfectly recovered. His doctor recommends a sea trip, but that is a difficult thing for him, considering the large parish be has to assist in attending to and the difficulty in travelling, more particularly in such a moist climate as the West Coast is.

Our harbour works and coal minps are progressing favourably All we require is a market for our coal. I am pleaßed to see the Westport Coal Company declaring dividends. They have certainly been the saving of Westport financially, and their ewplojees speak highly of their fairness, in fact, I may say Ihe-ir generosity, as 1 have been informed by their men. They want every man to make wages so that he can support himself and family comfortably, and put something to one side for old age. Often when a man gets a bad bore where he cannot make wages the company make np for it by paying him wages. There will never be another strike by the employees of the Westpoit Coal Company while the company continue their past treatment to their men, and in fact that them never should have been a strike in their mine is admitted by all. Its occurrence goes to show bow a few agitators can gull sensible men to throw down their pick and shovel instead of reasoning ont the question if they have a dispute with their employers. I sincerely hope that for the welfare of all, tha o her companies who are opening up their mines will treat tbeir men with as liberal a spirit as tbe Westport Coal Company. The failure of the deputation to Wellington urging the Government to tHke over the maintenance of the Buller Road is a great blow 'o this (Ue'rict. li is impossible for the county to keep it in

repair since the gold duty haa been abolished, and it is one of the mam roads which the Government have a right to look after. All traffic except a few light traps and the coach is stopped and these have to carry their goods separately across on pi .nks notil the bridges are repaired, and, according to present appearances, that will be a long time.

The Argyle Water race— another drag on the county — has broken away again, and it is estimated that it will cost over £400 to pat it in proper repair. Half the population of Charleston have to depend on this race for supplying them with water for gold mining purposes, and, if it is not speedily repaired, they will have to break up tbeir homes and go elsewhere. Addison'a is the most prosperous gold mining district in the Buller County at present. With the new appliances for extracting gold every company that has started ia doing well. The Shamrock Company, under the management of their energetic engineer, Mr Rene Proust— a native of oid Bendigo— are making wonderful progress". Their mode of working is an eye opener to old minen and excites the cariosity of visitors from all parts.