LOCAL AND GENERAL

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 February 1937, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

An interesting exhibit is in the possession of the Public Wotks Department at the office at Hokitika. It is. the root of a willow tree obtained from some protective works in South Westland. The length of the root is 66ft.

At a meeting of the Greymouth Surf Life-Saving Club, this week, it was decided to build a temporary shed, in which to store the reels and gear. Accounts amounting to £34 1/2 were passed for payment. It was decided that letters of thanks for donations to the Club be written the Greymouth Borough Council, Harbour Board, County Council, Power Board, New Zealand Life Saving Club, and Mr. J. Emsworth.

The Greymouth Technical High School will re-open on Monday, March 1, for day classes. The opening date for the evening will be announced later. Boarders at the Hostel are required to go into residence on March 1. The Education Department in approved cases makes a boarding allowance of five shillings per week, and parents of pupils who come from remote districts, or who are compelled by train services to miss a part of the school-day, should communicate with the Principal.

The mutilation of magazines, through censorship, was discussed in a. remit from the Canterbury Public Library at the conference of the New Zealand Library Association in Wellington, yesterday. The remit, which was carried, was: “That, the attention of the Government be drawn to unnecessary mutilation of magazines by tne censor, whereby portions of reading matter are made useless, and the public are encouraged to further mutilation.” —Press Assn.

Representatives of the Association of Sir James Allen Fund in Wellington, have been advised by the Dunedin Public Art Gallery Society, that the Society has accepted a portrait of Sir James. Pending the time when provision may be made in the Art Gallery for a suitable display, the portrait has been offered, on loan, to the Otago University Council. Advice has been received from the Chancellor that the Council has appreciatively accepted the offer ,and that. it. would be displayed on the landing outside Allen Hall. —Press Assn.

Dog lovers are looking forward to tho Dog Section ,at the A. and P. Show, February 26 and 27. Champions from all parts competing. — Advt.

Finding several children she had undertaken to mind for the afternoon prostrate on the lawn of their Miramar home one recent afternoon, a young Wellington woman ran desperately for assistance. She had left the youngsters to their own devices for a time, and on returning was unable to rouse them from an alarming lethargy. She feared infantile paralysis or food poisoning, but a sophisticated male who camo in response to her cries. suspected tho cause when he found an open cellar door and a number of discarded vessels. When the eldest child recovered consciousness the suspicions were confirmed. The juveniles had been drinking father’s bottled home brew. They wore naughtily and hopelessly intoxicated.

As tho result of a conference held in Wellington, last week, between representatives of the Hotel Workers' Federation and tho National Council of tho Licensed Trade of New Zealand and tho Licensed Victuallers’ Association, barmen, barmaids, collarmen, boule-store hands, male general hands, and day porters at Auckland hotels may. from Monday next, elect to sleep and eat off their employers’ premises, in which case they will receive the full “dry wage,” the ordinary award wage plus 30/- board and lodging allowance, the arrangement to operate in hotels within a radius of 10 miles of the Chief Post Office. A similar arrangement will come into force in other metropolitan areas on April 2, and the general position of country districts will be dealt with when the next award conies up for consideration. in a few weeks’ time.— Pi ess Assn.

Acceding io the numerous requests of country residents, the Big Sacrifice in prices of High-grade Quality Carpets and Rugs ends on Saturday next (February 20). —S. Burnett White. —Advt.

To the farming community the Grevmouth A. and p - SUo Y a ? (i .P ar ' nival is one of their popular outings of the year, where they gather together and discu'ss exhibits and matters appertaining to the welfare of their farms. The “Cockie is a hard worker, and therefore requires all the comforts of a home, and' the ‘•inner man” is not neglected, particularly in regard to a good wholesome stimulant. This is more noticeable to his guests as Dewar s Impenal Whisky is the farmer’s favourite ‘ nip after a strenuous day on the farm. Griffin and Smith, Ltd., Distributors, Greymouth, Hokitika, and Westport.— Advt.

Dissatisfaction with the progress of work on the Homer tunnel was expressed by the Minister for. Public Works (Hon. R. Semple) when he visited the site of the tunnel yesterday The Minister made it clear that he did not blame the, men, but the work was proceeding too slowly, and costing twice as much as it should. He said that he intended to order more suitable machinery so that satisfactory, progress could be made.

An oil painting of Mr. H. E. Holland for many years leader of the Labour Party, was unveiled by the Prime Minister, Mr. Savage, .at the Government caucus yesterday. The painting was presented to the Labour Party by Mrs. Holland, who was represented at the ceremony by her two sons, Messrs Roy Holland and Harry Holland. It is to hang in the Government Whip’s room until ■ a more suitable and more public place can be found for it. —Press Association.

Whether a traffic inspector was in error or a 30,000 to one chance had occurred, was the issue left to Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court, Wellington, when he heard a charge against a car-driver, of parking a car in Johnston Street for more than one hour. The inspector deposed 'that he marked the front and rear wheels of the car near the bottom, and also placed a corresponding mark on the roadway. Nearly four hours later the car was parked in the same place, with the two marks corresponding exactly. Defendant on the other hand described his movements, with the car elsewhere during the four hours. Mr A. R. Cooper, who prosecuted for the City Traffic Department, said that if both stories were right, defendant must have parked his car the second time on exactly tjie same spot. The odds against this, ho said, were one in 32,000. The magistrate decided there was room for a mistake, and dismissed the charge. ‘

The Labour Department was criticised as “inefficient” in the inspection of factories for suitable arrangements for sanitation and changing-rooms for employees, during the sitting of the Conciliation Council at Christchurch, yesterday. The Dominion biscuit and confectionery employees’ dispute was being heard, and Mr. F. P. Walsh, ,of Wellington, one of the employees’ assessors, referred to the girls’ changingrooms as “scandalous.” “The conditions in the changing-rooms for girls in some of the factories are scandalous. That they are allowed to remain so is due to the inefficiency of the Labour Department,” he said. The employees asked that boiling water should be provided for meals; that dressingrooms, lockers, meal-rooms, and hot showers should be made available, and that towels and wash-basins should be provided in all cloakrooms. Mr. D. I. Macdonald, agent for the employers, suggested that all these claims would be satisfied if the usual clause was inserted, and it was left to the unions to keep the Labour Department inspectors to their work. • It was then that Mr. Walsh made his remarks.

The £l5 Underhand Handicap Chop at. the A. and P. Show’, February. 26 and 27, 'will be an exciting featurp. as well as Ladies’ Heading the Steers Event. —Advt.

A case of interest to dairy farmers was heard in the Kaikohe Magistrate’s Court before ,Mr. G. N. Morris, S.M., when Sydney Pennefather, farmer, of Waimate North, claimed £lO from Robert Gardner, farin'hand, for breach of contract in failing to give sufficient notice when leaving (states a correspondent). Plaintiff said he milked a herd of 70 cows and that he had employed Gardner as a general hand with the provision that one month’s notice was to be given by either side in the terminating of the verbal agreeemnt. On November 20 plaintiff paid defendant his month’s wages as was his custom each month, and that evening defendant, said he was leaving the next day, which he did. Plaintiff said he was left in difficulties and as farm labour was scarce he had to ask his wife to assist in the shed for two months until another man was obtained. Farm work went back, and there was general dislocation, especially as it v r as during the hay season. The Magistrate said he was satisfied there had been an actual loss in addition to considerable inconvenience, and pointed out that it was necessary for farm hands to give adequate notice. Judgment was given against Gardner for £5, and he was ordered to pay expenses amounting to £4/15/-.

“Forty Fathoms Deep,” the latest book by that popular writer I. L. Idress, deals with pearl divers and sea rovers in Australian seas. Profusely illustrated, 6/- each, postage 4d extra. All this author’s works are obtainable at. B. Dixon’s, Taimii Street. —Advt.

“Winnie the Pooh.” series of books at 2/6 and 4/- each, postage extra. 3d. “Now Zealand Birds and How to Identify Thr-tn,” by Moncrieff, 7/6, postage 3d. New stocks of Technical Books on all subjects, just arrived at B. Dixon’s, Ltd.. Tainui Street. —Advt.

Have you learned tn make flowers from Wood Fibre? Lots aye making them for sale anti showing handsome profits! Why not you? It’s so easy to learn and such a delightful way of filling in your spare time profitably. Let C. Smith’s teach you! It costs nothing to learn!—Advt.

Builders. Architects and Draughtsmen will be interested to know that all Drawing Instruments and materials are stocked at. B. Dixon’s, Ltd. Buying direct from the factories enables us to offer the lowest of prices. —Advt. Wood Fibre Flowers! What are they like? Everyonh's asking this question. They are so natural in form and colouring it is almost impossible to believe they are not real. Besides their loveliness is perman put. See them to-day at C. Smith’s. They’ll teach you' how to make them free of charge. Book your appointment now!— Advt. 1