WESTPORT NOTES AND COMMENTS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXII, Issue 6, 7 June 1895, Page 9

WESTPORT NOTES AND COMMENTS.

(By Old Identity.) May 26, 1895. The Bey Father O'Connor, the newly-appointed curate to this parish, arrive I here yesterday, and immediately entered upon his duties. He officiated at St Canice'a Church to-day. Archbishop Redwood was to have arrived here last week. Prior to preaching a neat little sermon at 11 o'clock Mass, Father O'Connor mentioned that through tbe death of Bishop Moran the exact date of Lis Grace Archbishop Redwood's visit to this district was at present unknown but that due notice would be given. Father O'Connor is a native of County Longford, and arrived at Wellington six weeks ago from the land of the faith. At Mass in St Canice's Church on Ascension Thursday tbe Very Bey Father Walßh announced the cad intelligence of the demise of his Lordshp Bishop Moran, and offered prayers for the repose of the soul of the deceased prelate. Although his Lordship's death was not altogether unexpected, still, when the sad news reached here that the end had come, there was a genuine feeling of sorrow, snd the unanimous opinion was expressed that we, as a Catholic body, hid lost a true friend and an able advocate. Biihop Moran's years of conBietent and conscientious pleading that justice should be done in the matter of education, won for him not only the admiration of his own people, but also the respect of many of those who differed from his views on that all-important question, Your correspondent (although a lad at the time) has a pleasant recollection of a vißit paid to this district by the late Bishop Moran twenty-two years ago. May his Boul rest in peace, Michael O'Heir, coalminer, died suddenly at Mokihinui yesterday. Deceased was 65 years of age and a native of County Clare. The cause of death was heart disease. Since last writing two old residents of this town have passed away, viz., Mr Mark Simon, brother of Mr Jules Simon, merchant ; and Mrs Gothard, wife of Mr E. Gothard. Mr James Colvin, local director of the Mokihinui C jal Company, accompanied by Mr Robert Carr, paid a visit to the Mokihinui Company's valuable property on the Queen's Birthday. As stated in my last communication, this mine is being worked on terms by the Knights of Labour. This is an experiment that is watched with keen interest by many, f o far everything has gone on as merrily as a wedding-bell, with mutual advantage to both capital and labour. Tbe visitors were shown all over the mine by the manager (Mr Alexander) and the deputy (Mr Joseph Elliott) There are thirteen men busily engaged driving a tunnel to connect the old and new workings. Only five chains remain to be driven, and when this is finished the Knightß will be in a position to grea'ly increase their output. It will also then be found necessary to provide increased storage accommodation. In fact they are somewhat hamppred now in tbe matter of loading co-il waggons on account of the bins not being in their natural position. The visitors, on being provided with Divy lamps, proceeded through the mine, and found the day shift bard at work hewing the black diamonds. The coal is of excellent quality, and tbe men expected to have COO tons ready for shipment by lhursday next. The mine is giving direct employment to between forty and fifty men, besides adding to th 6 wealth of the country indirectly. The company's plant generally has been put in a state of efficiency, including the erection of a fine substantial and roomy blacksmith's shop Mr Colvin, as a representative of the shareholders, expressed himself well pleased with the future, prospects cf the mine and the progress that is being made in its development by the Knights of Labour. Tbe Government have had extensive improvements made ia the Makihioui branch railway— culverts have been removtd, bridges strengthened, curves reduced, etc., and the line is now in firstclass order for heavy mineral traffic. All that remains to make the Mokihinui coalmines boom is a foreign export trade. The Harbour Board and tbe Government are using their best effotts in this dieection. The Cardiff mine (Mokihinui) is now progressing favourably, the fault met with having been got through. Mr M. Miller, of thu Railway Department, who has just returned from a trip to Dunodin, ib in temporary charge of the Mokihinui Railway Station. Our popular Inspector of Police, Mr McGovern, is on his periodic tour of inspection to this district. He visited Mokihinui yesterday and entered into possession of the new Police Btation there. Constable Brophy of Westport, takes temporary charge on Monday next. A married man is to be appointed permanently. Inspector McGovern visits DenDiston to-morrow, and returns to Greymouth on Tuesday via Reefton. The local Harbour Board's dredging plant arrived from Nelson last evening, where it has been engaged during the past three m> ntlis. Dredging operations arc to be resumed in the local harbour in a fortnight's time. It is understood the engineer of the Board has evolved an idea that the two hoppers can in future be worked with one crew.

The Haibour Board meets on Thursday. Tbe purchase of ft tn; for the ÜBe of the Harbour is to be di finitely settled at this meeting.