LOCAL AND GENERAL

Greymouth Evening Star, 4 January 1938, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Liverpool mine will resume work, to-morrow, but the James mine will not be working until next Monday, at the earliest.

Cook Strait Airways, Ltd., has completed its second year of operations, and its returns show an increase in the passengers, freight and mails carried. Figures supplied by the managing director (Mr E. H. Thomson) show that passengers increased in number from 12,565 in the first year to 19,136 .in the second year, an increase of 52 per cent. Freight carried increased from 17,8131 b to 34.1771 b, an increase of 92 per cent and mail matter carried increased l from 14,8571 b to 32,5711 b, an increase of 111 per cent. —Press Assn.

Many of the 450 passengers who travelled to Otira by the excursion train yesterday had what must have been a new experience for most of them (says the Christchurch “Press.”) When the train was returning to Arthur’s Pass through the Otira tunnel, one of the two electric locomotives broke down, and after a short delay, when it was found that the engine could not be repaired, half the train had to be left in the tunnel. Fortunately for the passengers in the lattei’ half of the train, the breakdown occurred near the Arthur’s Pass entrance to the tunnel, and it was not long before the locomotive returned to take them to the station. However, it was only after a delay of about an hour that the train left the pass.

Yesterday was Maoris’ day at the Riverton Centenary celebrations. Full rein was given to a big party of southern Maoris to re-enact, in pageant form, the arrival of Captain John Howell 100 years ago to establish a whaling base at Riverton, and his subsequent marriage with a beautiful native chieftainess, Kohl Kohi, in picturesque ceremony almost unique in modern Southland. The Maori customs of the period preceding European occupation were revived, and native songs and dances presented. The pageant attracted the biggest crowd yet seen at the centenary gatherings, about 7000 spectators watching the proceedings from a natural hillside grandstand. The programme ended with a typical Maori feast, cooked in a Maori oven, and the pakeha spectators joined in a meal of roast beef, venison and potatoes. —Press Association.

Free classes in making Wood Fibre Flowers re-opened at C. Smith’s! Learn this fascinating art. It’s the latest craze. Book your appointment now! —Advt.

1938 Diaries in all sizes from the smallest pocket to the largest Desk Diary, in all rulings and bindings and at N.Z. published prices. Range from 1/- upwards at B. Dixon’s, Ltd., Greymouth. —Advt.

Smart women are choosing these gaily patterned Canton Crepes for Summer Frocks. Showing in the most delightful colourings. 36 ins wide. Price only 2/6 yard at C. Smith’s, Ltd. —Advt.

I New Year Cards and Greeting Sta- . tionery in singles or assorted boxes. ! AU prices from 2d upwards. Large assortment at B. Dixon’s, Ltd., Tainui Street. —Advt.

SiSFWk*New Year hospitality will certainlny call for the best Whisky. Therefore we earnestly recommend Dewar’s Imperial as the New Year Spirit. It can safely be said that each bottle of Dewar’s has seen several New Years before the lever is prised, and it is the ageing process that brings to Dewar’s that unique flavour which appeals so greatly to all men who value good matured whisky. Griffin and Smith, Ltd., Distributors, Greymouth, Hokitika and Westport.—Ad vt.

Fishing in the Teremakau River 1 over the week-end, Mr. S. Hamill landed four brown trout, of an aggregate weight of 19lbs, the largest fish being 9glb. Using a dry fly in the same locality, Mr. F. Boustridge also landed four brown trout of a total weight of 171bs.

Very happy memories of New Zealand will be taken away by the Australian Minister for Trade and Customs (Hon. T. W. White), who arrived at. Auckland yesterday after a. three and a half days’ motor trip from Wellington by way of Napier, Taupo, and Rotorua. Mr. White is delighted with his experiences in both islands. Her. found the Westland bush like a fairyland, and the scenery in general utterly different from anything in Australia. His trip through the North Island had been equally enjoyable, and showed the great variety of attractions that New Zealand offered to the tourist. He felt tho Dominion should attract visitors from all parts of the world, especially since there was a. very fast and efficient steamer service across the Tasman Sea. “New Zealand is a wonderful country,’’ he remarked. “All it needs is more population.’’ —Press Association.

Two Ministers of the Crown, Hon. P. C. Webb (Mines) and Hon. F. Langstone (Lands) are visiting the West Coast this week and a third, Hon. W. Nash (Finance) is expected to arrive next Monday. Mr. Webb has been in the district for several days and yesterday took part in a private conference with the State Miners’ Union. To-day, he is to visit the Buller mining centres and will return to Greymouth to-morrow. It is his intention to spend almost the whole of next week in his own electorate, Buller. Mr. Langstone is to arrive by to-day’s express, proceeding direct from Otira to Hokitika. To-morrow, he will visit far South Westland by aeroplane and will leave on Thursday, on return to Christchurch. Mr. Nash is expected to arrive in Greymouth on Monday next. His itinerary is as yet indefinite, but it is expected that he will visit several Buller centres and South Westland.

The intrusion of two visiting firemen was responsible for upsetting the efficiency of the Hastings fire brigade during its attendance at a fire in the town. When the alarm was sounded these men, quite unknown to the regular firemen, rushed into the fire station, seized the nearest available uniforms and helmets, and went to the fire. The men mingled with the firefighters, and their intrusion was not noticed for some time. It is stated that they were a definite hindrance, and, until their removal, tended to upset the efficiency of the brigade rather than improve it. “I pulled the uniform off one man and ordered him out of the vicinity,” said the superintendent, Mr. R. Henderson, when commenting upon the intrusion of the two men. Mr. Henderson added that he understood both men had had some experience of fire fighting in other parts of New Zealand.

Mark Twain said, "Be good and you will be lonesome.” Yet you can be good and never be lonesome while you have a rich Port at hand. There are many good Ports, but Tintara Rich Port is alone in its particular place in the affections of wine lovers. If you are one of the few who do not personally know the charm of Tintara, now is the time to get acquainted. Messrs Griffen and Smith, Ltd., Agents, Greymouth, Hokitika and Westport.—Advt.

The suites of offices provided for the headquarters of the Railways Department on the fourth floor of the Wellington railway station building and occupied just before Christmas are far removed from anything of the kind yet provided for railwaymen in this country. Indeed, there is a. richness and refinement in the furnishing and deeoration of these apartments that sets a standard beyond anything formerly in vogue in the Dominion. The office of the general manager, Air. G. H. Mackley, has appointments which may be described as luxury tempered by good taste. The walls, cream toned, have a low dado of rimu, into which are set panels of selected- mottled kauri (veneer) of exquisite pattern, and at one end of the room this graceful panelling extends clear up to the ceiling, with a very handsome centrepiece in the form of a radiator mantel, made of pink Whangarei and Hanmer marbles. The chief feature of the furnishing is the general manager’s flat-topped desk, a piece of furniture about 4ft by 6ft. The top of this desk consists of very beautiful mottled kauri (veneer), in a modest frame of polished rimu, and the side, front and back are finished in the same way. Other headquarters offices are on a par with the general manager’s.