LOCAL AND GENERAL

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 July 1937, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Public Works Department has received approval from the Main Highways Board, to proceed with the elimination of the level crossing at Nelson Creek, on the GreymouthParoa road. The elimination of the crossing will comprise the deviation of the road, and the construction of an overbridge.

The institution of a six-day week for members of the Buller Hospital nursing staff was decided upon at the monthly meeting of the Hospital Board on Wednesday evening. The matron (Miss Patterson) stated in her report that in order to give each of the nurses one day off a week additional staff comprising three nurses, one trained staff nurse, and one domestic would be required. It was decided to leave the making of the necessary arrangements in the hands of the matron and the medical superintendent (Dr. P. L. Foote.)

The North Canterbury Hospital Board is having great difficulty in finding a medical practitioner willing to accept the position of medical officer’ at Chatham Islands. The finance committee of the board has been trying to find an officer, and it told the board yesterday that its efforts had been quite without success. It now intended to advertise the position. The position, as defined by the board, carries a salary of £7OO with the right of private practice, and £lOO a year more if the position of school medical officer is accepted. A free residence is also offered.

Fresh milk is not the only thing children in the schools receive free. One small boy was being given a mouthful of soap and water when a reporter arrived in a suburban classroom yesterday (states the Christchurch “Press.”) His teacher had frequently heard him using “unclean’’ language and had frequently threatened to wash his mouth out as punishment. Yesterday she caught him at it. again, and carried out the threat. The boy seemed not to mind the soap and water so much as he did the humiliation of being punished just as an outsider arrived on the scene.

The lack of shipping facilities, due to the unfavourable conditions which have existed on the Grey bar for the past week, has seriously affected the Liverpool State mine, which has lost two davs work this week solely through the difficulty in getting the coal shipped. The James mine, in contrast. has not lost a day in the past month, owing to the fact that the greater part of its output is railed overland, and thus is not hampered by the disorganisation of the shipping. The Liverpool mine will, however, work to-morrow. The James- mine will also be working, to-morrow.

The “Do It Yourself” series of Handbooks” 1/6 each. Postage 2d extra. “Furniture Repairing,” “Accumulators and Batteries,” “How to Repair Your Cycle,” “Plumbing, Soldering and Brazing,” “Wireless and Gramophones Cabinet Making.” Books on Chess, 2/- each. Postage 3d. “Chessman in Action,” “Chess Endings for Beginners,” “Chess Lessons for Beginners,” at B. Dixon’s, Ltd., Tainui Street. — Advt.

What is a Springbok? A professor would reply that it. is an animal, native to South Africa, but the average New Zealander Avould promptly answer—a footballer. The arrival of the Springboks in the Dominion has aroused interest in Rugby to a high pitch, and the coming games may be depended upon to make Rugby history. The success of the Springboks against the Wallabies has given added interest to their meetings with the All Blacks. If the question were asked, What is the world’s champion whisky? there would be a universal reply, “Dewar’s Imperial!” Internationally famous, Dewar’s Imperial is available at all hotels. Messrs Griffen and Smith, Ltd., distributors, Greymouth, Hokitika, and Westport. Advt.

The Union Hotel, in Herbert Street, Greymouth, owned by Mr. .1. Darwell, has been sold to Mr. D. A, Withers, of Canterbury, who Avill take possession at an early date. Mr. Withers is a wellknown trotting trainer.

The Acting-Minister of Labour (Hon. P. C. Webb) stated yesterday at Wellington, that arrangements had been made for the employment of at least (j.OOO men for a period of four months at full-time work, Avith local bodies throughout New Zealand. —Press Assn.

Appearing before Mr P. C. Heaphy, J.P., in the Magistrate’s Court, Greymouth. to-day, a middle-aged man was charged with the theft, on July 28, of a pair of women’s shoes, valued at 18/11, the property of T. A. W. Tate. On the application of Detective C. H. Davis, accused was remanded until next Monday.

In four years I,ooo,OOtlHicfes of land previously farmed had been given up and was not now in use, and in the Dominion more than 4,000,000 acres of land was carrying a second growth of scrub and fern, said Colonel S. J. E. Closey, Dominion organiser for the compensated-price campaign, in an address at Christchurch, yesterday. The value of all this land was now less than zero, he added. It was idle because, from high costs, no farmer thought he could work it profitably. Eventually, such a quantity of land out of use must cause a, serious crisis, ho said. ,

Mr. Raymond Ferner, S.M., in giving a decision in a licensing case yesterday’ (says the “Westport New’s ), where the publican was found guilty of not admitting a constable in a reasonable time, when he knocked at the front door, said that on a previous occasion he had Avarned the police as to their procedure in gaining admittance to licensed premises, but now’ he also wished to warn the hotelkeepers of their duty in promptly answering the door and opening it when a constable demands admittance in the right manner. He w’ould take a more serious view’ of offences in this respect than charges of opening for sale and selling liquor.

' Sawmills cutting red pine throughout the West Coast will .to-morrow observe the first of the holidays decided upon by the West Coast Sawmillers’ Association, in an effort, to off-set the decline in the~deniand for this class of timber. All of the mills cutting red pine will be affected, except where exceptional circumstances may exist, and they will close down this afternoon, for the week. Approximately 800 men will be affected, and the idle day will represent a loss of wages in the .vicinity of £7OO. Although no timber will be cut by the mills affected, to-morrow, necessary repair work may be carried out, and in some cases men will he retained for the day for this purpose.

“Indications are that during the coining season we may expect marketing conditions and price, levels to approximate to those of the season just passed, provided the expenditure in Great Britain is maintained at somewhere near the existing levels and British trade continues to improve,” said Mr. H. D. Acland, president of the New Zealand Sheepowners' and Farmers’ Federation, at the annual meeting at Wellington yesterday. “This is, of course, an unknown quantity at the present time, in view of the exceedingly complex conditions of world trade, but we can only continue as in the past to use our best, efforts to. Improve the quality and, where possible, increase the quantity of our product in order that wo may continue to meet the costs of production for export, and| leave ourselves a sufficient margin of profit, on which to live, and carry on our business.”

Rough seas, backed up by the south-westerly gale, last, night, caused considerable damage to the protection fence erected on the sea side of the Karoro Airport. The fence has been completely demolished for between four and five chains on the north and south ends, and the seas have encroached across the road and on the aerodrome itself, for a distance of about half a chain in several places. A considerable quantity of debris has been deposited on the road and on the fringe of the aerodrome, while several holes were scoured in the north corner of the landing field. Men are engaged to-day on filling the holes, but as vet no effort has been made to remove the driftwood. The fence itself will not longer be of any protection, and it would appear that a more substantial structure will be necessary, to keep the sea off the road and the aerodrome.

There is an interesting story attached to New Zealand's largest gold nugget discovered in Ross at the close of last century. At a lecture at Nelson. (says the “Mail”), Mr H. Foston, New Zealand lecturer and author, said that two prospectors found a narrow strip of land that had been left by prospectors. On either side, the ground had been thoroughly searched. Ono of the men casually .poked at the narrow strip with -a stick, and to his amazement, unearthed a 99 ounce nugget. As the two prospectors had not taken a mining license, they hastily buried the nugget, and on becoming registered, returned- io the. spot. The nugget was sold to a Rossi hotelkeeper for £4OO, who decided’ to use it as a door stop. N-f w Zealand’s largest nugget proved- such an immense attraction that within a. week the bar takings had paid for the nugget. The nugget was rnf-’led in an art union, to raise funds for .he Ross Hospital, and finally sent ti Queen Victoria.

Newest printings in Wages and Time Books, to suit a'l industries. 1/- to 6/6 each. Cash I’.eceipt Books 4Jd, 6d, 9d, 1/- to 4/3. Letter Books in duplicate or triplicate 1/-, 1/6, 2/-, 2/6 to 3/6 each. Account Books in all sizes, rulings, and bindings from 1/upwards. Balance Books, Ledgers, Cash Books, Journals, etc. All quality goods at B. Dixon’s, Ltd., Tainui Street. —Advt.