WEST COAST NOTES

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18366, 27 April 1925, Page 9

WEST COAST NOTES

ANZAC DAY OBSERVANCES. Cspicial TO "THE FXBSS. 1 GEEYMOUTH, April 26.^ Steady rain necessitated the curtailment of the programme for Anzac Day, but there was a crowd of over 300 at the memorial service held in the Opera House. Flags were flnown at half-masts and the holiday was scrupulously observed. Mass was held at St. Patrick s Church at 9 a.m., there being a special parade of territorials in connexion with the service. The attendance of scholars at the Greymouth State School, where a memorial service was held by members of the Ministers' Association, was very large. Mr T. Tennent, chairman ol the School Committee, presided, and addresses were given by the Mayor (j. W. H. Parfitt) and the Hon. G. J. Anderson. Several functions of a semi-private nature were also held during the morning. Members of the United Football Club placed wreaths on the Honours Board in the United pavilion. . At the parade in the afternoon there was only a small muster of territorials, about 30 parading under Captain Stedman. The Greymouth Band, which turned out in nearly its full strength, headed the march to the Opera House. Thirty returned soldiers, marched m t|ie procession. At the Opera House the audience included the parents of many soldiers who gave their lives on the battlefields. The-Eev. J. G. Martin conducted the service, which was commenced by the playing of the Dead March. The large audience sang The Eecessional," and the hymn, "0 God, Our Help." The Eev. T. N. Cuttle led in prayer. A Scripture reading given by Ensign A. J. Toomer, of the Salvation Army, .and Archdeacon Carr delivered an address. Aftor the Benediction was pronounced a bugler sounded the Last Post, and the audience sang the National Anthem. A reduced number took part m the procession to the Old People's Home, where the foundation stone was laid by the Hon. G. J. Anderson. En route there was a halt at the Cenotaph, and a number of beautiful wreaths were laid 'on the memorial. When the procession reached Karoro cemetery, wreaths were placed on the graves of nurses and soldiers, and in the main corridor of the hospital the matron placed a wreath on the tablet in memory of Nurse Jameson, who was drowned in the Marquette disaster. A very large crowd, in view of the elements, was present at the. ceremony at the Old People's Home. Mr J. W. Hannan, chairman of the Hospital Board, presided, and thanked the old boys, the Returned Soldiers' Association, and others who had assisted in raising the money for the home. He made sympathetic reference to the illness of the Prime Minister, and paid a tribute to the generosity of the Cabinet, which at the request of Mr J. O'Brien, M.P., gave a grant of £2OOO for the building. Other speakers were Messrs W. H. Parfitt (Mayor), .T. O'Brien, M.P., A. H. McKane (president of the U.S.A.), G. Perotti (president of the Old Boys' Association, and the Hon. G. J. Anderson. The latter, in declaring the foundation stone well and truly laid, paid a tribute to the pioneers who would be the occupants of the building.' He thanked the speakers for their references to Mr Massey, who was big in body, mind, and soul. The stone is inscribed with the name of the Minister and that of Mr C. S. Allen, architect, and Mr Williamson, contractor.

Aftor tlie ceremony, the visitors were entertained at afternoon tea by the hospital staff, and they were present when tea -was served in the old people's quarters. , Anzac Day was celebrated at Westport yesterday with a memorial service at the Theatre Royal, the Mayor (Mr John Menzies) . presiding and giving a brief address. The clergymen of the different denominations took part in the service, the main address being gfven by the Eev. Pickering (Methodist), and subsequently a brief service was held at the Gates of Eemembrance, Victoria square. The Salvation Army Band, returned soldiers, South African and Great War veterans and territorials took part in the procession, the territorials providing .the firing party, and Bandsman Larsen sounding the "Last Post." A wealth of wreaths were laid on the memorial. Eain fell throughout the service.

In Bankruptcy. None of the creditors attended the meeting called by Mr A. Naylor, Deputy-Official Assignee, to enquire into the- affairs of James Martin, blacksmith, of Nelson Creek, who recently filed his petition in bankruptcy. A list of liabilities disclosed that bankrupt owed £316 9s. \ Included in the creditors were: Hewlett and Co., Cliristchurch, £9; Anderson and Co., Christchurch, and Bates and Co., Sumner, £1 19s; and Sumner Meat Co., £3. The other debts had all been contracted on the West Coast. Martin stated in answer to Mr. Naylor that he had no property, and the furniture he held was in his wife's name. The meeting was accordingly adjourned sine die.

An Indictable Charge. .William George Muir appeared at a sitting of the Magistrate's Court at Hokitika, before Mr A. E. Benjamin, J.P., charged with forging a cheque for £25 and causing D. L. Lloyd to act on it as though it were genuine; forging a, cheque for £25 and causing T. P. Lock to act on it as genuine; obtaining goods valued at £1 9s lid and cash £23 10s Id from D. L. Lloyd by false pretences; and obtaining goods valued at £9 12s 6d and cash £ls 7s 6d from T. P. Lock by false pretences. He was remanded until next Thursday on bail of £2OO. League Football. Drizzling rain compelled 'the League to postpone all football matches to-day. Municipal Elections.

The following have been elected as borough councillors at Koss: —Messrs James M. Allan, Charles Black, Francis N. Carter, Henry J. McMullan, John Minehan, Prank Mitchell, Herman Osmers, Andrew P. Sharkey, James Thomson.

Mr T. W. Bruce has been elected unopposed the representative of the borough on the HokitLka Harbour Board.. Personal. Mr J. S. Collett, chief clerk of the Tourist Department, will visit Maruia Springs during the week. A motion of sympathy with the Prime Minister in his illness was carried by the Inangahua County Council. A similar resolution was carried by the Inangahua Hospital Board. Mrs J. and Miss R. Orr were tendered a farewell by the St. John Ambulance and a number of friends prior to their departure for Christchurch, where they have taken up their residence. The Mayor (Mr W. H. Parfitt) presided, and presented Mrs Orr with a sunshine purse. . Mrs Orr was also presented with a suitcase by the staff and pupils of the Eunanga School, at which she was a teacher.

Mr James Bishop, consulting engineer to the Brunner Collieries, Ltd., has left ioT Auckland. Mr C. S. Allen, technical supervisor for the Health Department-, is visiting Greyiriouth. Mr M. Kennedy, general manager of the Wellington Gas Company, is visit-

ing. liis parents, Mr and Mrs J. Kennedy, of Tainui street,- Greymouth. .. Mr Thomas Frankyn has been appointed secretary, of the Brunner Collieries, Ltd. The Eev. Father Shore, of Auckland, who is at present in Greymouth, leaves for Dunedin on Tuesday.

Mr H. W. Kitchingham has returned to Greymouth.

Mr T. Burley, who left Greymouth some 18 months ago to reside-in Wellington, has returned to the Coast and accepted a position at the railway workshops. Archdeacon Carr will visit Deuniston, Millerton, and other Buller townships next, week. Wedding. Miss Ella Boswell, of Millerton, was married atWestport to Mr Thomas Wilson, of Stockton. Casualty. A man named John McLcod dropped dead this afternoon in Boundary street, Greymouth. He was apparently overcome by a heart attcak, and fell with his face in a pool of .water. The deceased, who was 58 years of ago and single, was formerly employed at the State mines, but was forced by an accident some months ago to give up work. He leaves a number of relatives in the district. An inquest may not be necessary, as McLeod had been attended recently by Dr. Eoy, of Eunanga.

Funeral. The funeral of the late Mrs Sarali Johnston, who died at the age Of 105 years, took place at' Karoro cemetery. The Eev. Father O'Eegan celebrated Eequiem Mass and conducted the burial service.