WESTPORT NOTES AND COMMENTS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 41, 8 February 1895, Page 15

WESTPORT NOTES AND COMMENTS.

(By Old Identity.)

Janu -ry 29, 1895 The Very Rev Father Washe, P.P., and F-ther McCormick, curate, left for Wellingion on Tuesday last to attend the annual retreat, The Rev Father Holland, ia response to an urgent sick call, anived here from Beef ton on Friday evening. Father Rolland officiated at Ht 0 mice's Church on Bunday — morning and evening. He preached an exce lent seitnon at 9 o'clock Mas*, the subject being " Christian charity, or brotherly love one towards another." Father Rolland returns to R efton to-morrow. The annual meeting of the congregation took place on the 14th inst, at the schoolroom, for tbe purpose of electing a school committee for tbe ensuing year. The meetiog was fairly attended by parents and other friends of Christian education. The Very Rev Father Walsh occupied the chair. The balance-sheet and report for the past year, showing a satisfactory state of affairs, were read and adopted. The following gentlemen compose the new school committee :— Messrs A. Horn, Myles McPadden, M. Noonan, M. Miller, T. Q. O'Biien, aDd the Very Rev Father Walsb. The Sisters arrived from Reef ton on Saturday, and the Catholic schools were re-opened yesterday, after the Christmas vacation, I notice the Nelson Education B jard at their meeting, to-day, deferred consideratioa of the Bis v op's circular, asking that the Catholic schools in the Nelson education district b e inspected by the Government inspectors. Both Westport and Reefton are in tbe Nelson district. The local State school committee has nominated Mr James Colvio, of this town, for a seat on the Nelson Education Board. The election takes place soon. Ttere are two old croakers already on the Board, viz —Major Franklyn and Mr Maginnity, The fortnightly social under the auspices of the League of the Cross took place at St Canice's school on Wednesday evening. Mr M, Organ was voted to the chair, and made a few remarks appropriate to the occasion. The programme, which was interspersed with recitations, vocal and instrumental music, was thoroughly et joyed by the large and appreciative audience. The eventDg's entertainment was brought to a close by a humorcus piece, entitled, " W-n'ed — a Confidential Clerk," in which the characters were ably susUinrd by Messrs James Molony, J. O'GormaD, James Curt:iz o, T. Enrigbt, John Curtazan, and M. Miller (late of Duneiin). These sooials are becoming very popular and are also attended by many Protestants at the invitation of their Catholic friends. There has been a series of accidents and fatalities in this district daring the past few week?. On Christmas Day, a young man named Thompson, a clerk in the Colonial B.nk, was drowned ia the Buller River, while batiing. His parents reside at Titnaru, where his remains were conveyed for interment. — On Christmas Eva aa old man named George Patterson, proceeding aloDg the Orawaiti road i was met by an infuriated bu'l, and was terribly gored in the ie^ion of the kidneys. He was found four boura later and tiken to the District Hospital, where be lingered for several days, and was relieved by a merciful Providenence from much suffering. The deceased will be remembered by marjy as a fireman for a number of years on boajd tbe cattle boat Wallabi, trading between Wanganui aid the West Coa9t. — Mr John McOill, hotelkeeper, of Denniston, died, af .er a short illness, on fie 30 h ult.— Ten wife of Mr J. B M irris pissd away peacefully on the 18 h instant, after a long and painful illn sa, The deceased was the eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs W. Lloyd of this town,— tMrs Hill, 'wife of Mr Hanry Hill, form jrly of Waitnangaroa, died on Saturday last from an internal compliint" — On New Year's Eve, through the accidental bursting. of a cannor, fired in the State school ground?, a lad named Green, aged 16 years, sen of Mr A. J. Green, draper, was killed instantly by a piece of matal Striking him on'the head, Thejdeceaeed was standing on toe f ;otpath of the main street, some eight or ten chains awiy, watching tbe pyrotechnics from the Fire Brigade Station. Tbe firing of the oannon was independent of tbe brigade's display, and, fortunately, was known to take place by a select few, otherwise the mortality in all probability would have been something terrible. Many buildings in the vicinity of the State school grounds were perforated by pieces of cannon, and Mr James Howard, who was standing closa to young Green, had his right arm so severely shattered that amputatation of tbeiDJared limb was rendered necessary, The third victim, Captain Patterson, formerly of Dunedin, escapel with slight i. juries. The peculiar report of the cannon was heard six miles from town.

The cannon was fired nnder the direction of the State schoolmaster (Mr Oosgrove) who was captain of the Naval Corps. He has sine 3 resigned his c>mmission in the Navals. The cannon originally belonged to the 6.8. Suva, wrecked some years ago, and, by some mears or other, fell into the han-ls of the State school cadets. — Through the breaking of an axle of a truck attached to the 5,30 minera train on tbe local railroad this afternoon, eleven tracks were derailed The permanent way was torn up for some distance/and damage done to the ex'ent cf £400 or £500. The train comprised twenty-nine loaded c>al trucks, and it was the fourth truck from the engine that broke down. Tho gu rd's van, fortunately, came last of all, the occupants of whicb, and tbera were a few passengers, escaped uninjured. A gang of men was imaiedi vtely put on to tffect repairs and clear the debris. Traffic was resumed at 5 a.m. to-day. No bin me is attributed to the railway officials, and the driver (Mr James Conway) is to be commended for the prompt action he took in bringing the locomotive to a standstill. The accident occurred between the Wariakia Creek and Fairdown Junction.