LOCAL AND GENERAL

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 October 1934, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

1 Railway refreshment rooms throughout the Dominion, now run entirely by the Department, lost 14,500 cups last working year.

The “Star’s” Bealey correspondent telegraphed to-day:- —Road through to Christchurch and over Otira Gorge m good condition for motor traffic. River and creeks are low. Weather is fine.

The Dominion Executive of the Farmers’ Union decided, to-day, to appoint Lord Bledisloe a life member, and to present him with a gold membership badge, in appreciation, of his keen and sympathetic interest in the Dominion’s primary industries.— Press Assn.

The trustees of the Auckland Savings Bank have decided to lower the net rate of interest charged on new mortgage loans to 4£ per cent per annum for prompt payment. If circumstances are favourable at the end of the financial year, the Board also proposes to apply the lower rate to current mortgages as from Apiii 1 next. —Press Assn.

• With reference to . the reception, to be accorded to the Duke of Gloucester, on his visit to Greymouth, the matter has been considered by the Borough Council, and the plans are now being finalised by the Mayor (Mr. J. W. Greenslade) and the Town Clerk (Mr. F. H. Denton). The proposals will be forwarded, this week, to the Minister of Internal Affairs, for his approval.

“Daylight saving has come to stay, and we might as well admit it, instead of bumping our heads eternally against a stonewall,” declared Mr. Polson, Dominion President at today’s meeting of the executive of the New Farmers’ Union. Mr. Polson added he thought it would be better to have half an hour all the year round. The meeting passed, to other business without expressing any opinion.—Press Assn.

Blue cloudless skies and warm temperatures were general in New Zealand to-day, according to weather reports received this morning, all but two of the 13 centres reporting fine weather with blue skies. The remaining two, Puysegur Point and Bluff, both in the far south, reported overcast skies. Temperatures ranged from 56 degrees at Wellington and Farewell Spit, to 42 at Arthur’s Pass, the next lowest being 49 degrees at Bluff. The temperature at Greyinouth at 9 a.m., was 52 degrees.

Sixty-three primary school teachers from all over the Grey district, as far north as Otira, and as far south as Arahura, commenced a refresher course in physical education and music at the Grey Main School today, under the instruction of Mr H. Longworth (physical education) and Mr E. Jenner, A.R.A.M. (music). Today the course in physical education is being pursued, and to-morrow the music course will be taken. The primary schools of the district are closed for the two days.

An outstanding feature of the returns of the average assets and liabilities of the six trading banks for the quarter ended September 30, are a further contraction in advances and a large excess of deposits. The returns also show other abnormal features due to the opening of the Reserve Bank for business on August 1, and the consequent change over of the note issue and bullion holdings as well as the subsequent payment of Treasury bills held by trading banks. For these reasons, it is possible only to give comparisons of deposits and advances compared with those for the September quarter 1933. They are as follow: Free deposits increased by £3,715,794, fixed deposits increased by £2,527,460, advances decreased by £3,502,27,0, and discounts decreased by £l3l,4o6.—Press Assn.

The New Plymouth Hospital lias been closed to visitors from October 8 to October 15, by order of the medical superintendent, Dr G. F. Rich. A short staff and full wards are given as reasons, says the “Taranaki Daily News.” The effects of a minor epidemic of influenza have depleted the effective nursing staff, so that no nurses can be spared to deal with visitors without curtailing l ordinary nursing activities. It is also believed that the sources of infection are people from outside. With a week away from possible contacts it is hoped to free the hospital from the epidemic. Admissions have shown a great increase at a time when they could least conveniently be handled. The wards at the hospital are almost filled to capacity, and there is no room for visitors in any number.

Enquiries made to-day from the Mayor (Mr. J. W. Greenslade), regarding the Greymouth aerodrome, elicited the information that the plans have been forwarded to the Director of Air Services, Wellington, for approval, and that his reply is still being awaited. “As soon as everything is in order.’’ said Mr. Greenslade. “we intend proceeding, with the limited amount of money available, to bring the site into a reasonable state of improvement, to cope with the earlier requirements of aviation. The land has been cleared of gorse and other growth, and it is now a matter of taking levels, and top-dressing. After the estimates of the Director of Air Services were gone into, it was found that it would cost considerably more than was expected, and the local bodies were requested to increase their allocations. Their estimates for the year had been made up, however, and they could not agree. Ultimately, it was decided to proceed with the work on a minor scale, to cope with immediate requirements. Labour under the No. 5- scheme will be utilised, and the subsidy from the Unemployment Board will be supplemented by the local bodies, to bring the payment up to standard rate.’’

Outstanding books just published.— “And Quiet Flows the Don,’’ by Mikhail Sholokhov. Its colossal vitality covers the Russia, of to-day as Tolstoi’s “War and Peace” covered the Russia of a, century ago. 7/-; “Spur of Morning,” by Alan Mulgan. This is a full-scale novel of New Zealand life and covers the opening years of the Twentieth Century. Written by a New Zealander it will attract many readers in both this and the Home land. Price 7/-. “This Little World,” by Brett-Young, depicts a valley hidden in . the Fruit Garden of England. Mr Brett-Young here voices those inarticulate desires and traditions that are the soul of that rustic life from which all England sprang. Procurable at B. Dixon’s, Taimii Street.—Advt.

Men of the world, men with education, who have travelled widely, and men with a natural good taste, all say “Dewar's Please!” For many years past Dewar’s Imperial Whisky has held a record for absolute purity and quality that has never been excelled and to-day, this famous brand is undoubtedly the most popular spirit on the market. Griffen and Smith, Ltd., Agents, Greymouth, Hokitika, and Westport. —Advt.

The report of the Public Works Department states that, of the £5OOO allocated for police stations, only £74 was expended during the past year. One of the purchases made was a site for a police station at Runanga.

“I don’t believe it is true,” said Sir lan Fraser, speaking to Imperial exservicemen at the Returned Soldiers’ Association rooms at Christchurch, “that the men who went to the war will die 10 years sooner than those who stayed at home.” He was of the opinion ' that constant work underground in a coal-mine or at “ironpuddling,” was just as detrimental (o health, if not more so. than war service.

Advice has been received by a Greymouth gold-dealer, from the Under-Secretary qf Mines (Mr A. Tyndall) that it has been decided to abolish, as from October 15, the provision requiring subsidised prospectors to refund the subsidy by means of deductions of 10 per cent, from the proceeds of gold sold by them. It is not proposed, however, to make any alteration in the system for obtaining refund of the cost of fares and equipment advanced, so that where an endorsement on the miner’s right is for a greater amount than 10 per cent., the percentage shown will still be deducted and accounted for in the usual manner. To keep a check on gold won by subsidised miners, the miner’s right will in future be endorsed “Unemployment Board Subsidised Prospector.” Until the rights of subsidised men are so endorsed, they will be recognised by the previous endorsement on their rights.

We are closing our visit on Saturday at 9 p.m. Large numbers of clients have called during the week to view and purchase our wonderful range of luxurious smart creations. Only two days’ further opportunity. Have you been yet? D.I-.C. Central Chambers, Mackay Street. —Advt.

Ten single men and 81 married m*en were granted the usual parcel of foodstuffs, at yesterday’s meeting of the Mayor’s, Relief of Distress Fund, the applicants being residents of Greymouth, including Cobden. In addition, each married man received an order for 10/-, and each single man an order for 5/-, on Greymouth tradesmen, for goods. 'Accounts amounting to £32/6/8 were passed for payments The tenders for the supply of goods from Messrs Duncan McLean, Griffen and Smith, and E. McDonnell were accepted. An appeal is made urgently»for the" following: Clothing for a girl aged six years; general clothing; boy’s boots, size six; coat for a girl aged eight years. Donations received include two pairs of men’s shoes, a parcel of men’s clothing, bread and cakes from Messrs Robertson, Shannon and Glen, and Blanchfield. Nineteen pairs of footwear were repaired at the depot during the week ended yesterday, the 1 value of the work being £4/17/-.

The Public Works report states that the expenditure for telegraph extension by th© Post and Telegraph Department for the financial year in respect of telephone, telegraph and wireless facilities throughout the Dominion amounted to £144,159 as against £99,999 for the year ended March 31, 1933. The downward trend in the number of telephone exchange subscribers has been checked in that the relinquishments of telephones for the year have exceeded the new connections by only 775, or 0.6 per cent, of the paying main stations in use at the beginning of the year, as against 5,370 or 4.3 per cent., for the previous year. A pleasing feature is that the past six months have all shown gains in telephone-exchange plant subscribers. No important additions have been made to telephoneexchange plant during the year, but attention has been paid to the reconstruction and improvement of the existing plant, so that, when the time conies, the subscribers who have relinquished telephone service may be reconnected with a minimum of delay.

If you have a son at school this ought to interest you. Navy Serge Shorts of splendid wearing quality, any size from 5 to 16, now offering for 5/11 at C. Smith, Ltd. A - real bargain and a boon to parents.—Advt.

At White’s there are soft furnishings for every room. Beautiful new materials which solve the Spring problem of interior decoration. White’s can make your home beautiful at low cost. S. Burnett White, West Coast’s High-grade Furnisher.— Advt.

Have you seen the latest linen. Lovely floral and modern designs. Every yard guaranteed . absolutely fast to sun and washing. They are 2/11 yard, a remarkably low price. Also those snappy Linen Tweeds at 4/11 for summer suits will delight you.—C. Smith, Ltd. —Advt.

Three New Zealand Booklets for Christmas Presentation. —“The Coming of the Maori to Ao-te-Aroa”; “The White Boy Among the. Maoris in the ’Forties”; “First New Zealand Christmases,” each 1/6. Dainty in design and profusely illustrated, will make ideal Christmas gifts. Procurable at B. Dixon’s, Tainui Street. — Advt.

For Christmas mans. Xmas Gift Goods for friends at Home. This year’s Novelties comprise useful articles made in New Zealand of New Zealand Parchments and Leather beautifully decorated with Bush Scenes, Maori Figures and Life, Native Birds, Flowers and Berries. Prices’“range from 1/- each to 7/- each at B. Dixon’s, Tainui. Street.—Advt.