LOCAL AND GENERAL

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 February 1940, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Otira Gorge road was re-open-ed for traffic yesterday afternoon. The road became bjocked on Monday night, as a result of’the severe storm.

Grand Centennial Picture Programme, Ikamatua, to-morrow (Friday), Edward G. Robinson in “I Am The Law”; Popeye; 2-reel Colour Cartoon, “Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp,” and other excellent featurettes.—Advt.

An interesting comparison of the relative forgetfulness of young men and women is provided by two lists of . articles published in “The Outlook,” official paper of the Presbyterian Church. The articles were left behind at the annual conference of the youth of the Church at Palmerston North. Possessions left by ‘ the women numbered eighteen, ranging from a purse to a bathing suit, and an unspecified number of coathangers, handkerchiefs, gloves, stockings, towels, berets, belts and brooches. The men left only seven articles, including a hat and an extension camera trigger.

Stressing the urgent need for the appointment of a. resident house surgeon at the Buller Hospital, Mr. J. R. Simp'son, at a meeting of the Hospital Board this week, said that while he was a patient in the hospital he had seen a glorified porter rush down the ward with a kit of tools and tear plaster from a patient’s leg with a pair of tongs. He pointed out that there was no hospital in the Dominion so .under-staffed. As regards medical service, Greymouth Hospital had three full-time medical men while Dr. Foote, medical superintendent, and the matron were responsible for all patients at the Buller .Hospital. They had too much to do and, as a result, patients did not get proper medical service.

In the first four months of war, New Zealand’s expenditure totalled £2,459,398, according to the War Expenses Account, which does not coyer the period of Expeditionary Force disbursements overseas. The largest item is £1,311,239 for land, buildings, aerodromes and fortifications, while £293,264 was expended on stores, and £375,228 on pay and allowances, the Army proportion being £268,565. The main items of receipts are Treasury bills, £300,000; transfers from Consolidated Fund, £2,260,000; special war taxation, £277,724. The largest estimated receipts will be from income tax surcharge, which has not yet been received. The only substantial item so far is Customs duties, £150,500.

Hundreds of frocks, coats, suits, etc. to be cleared to make room for new season’s arrivals. At White’s Half Price Sale.—Advt.

The Canterbury Museum has made the first authentic record of a weasel taken in the South Island of New Zealand. This week it has received . a specimen from Mr. John Matthews, of Rangiora, which was caught by a cat at Sefton. It is the only specimen of the weasel in the museum. The taxidermist (Mr. P. J. O’Brien) said that weasels were rare in the South Island, and this was definitely the first authentically recorded specimen taken. Although farmers often reported the presence of weasels, these reports were not always to be relied upon, as young stoats were often mistaken for weasels. The weasel which had been received was nine inches long, weighed two and a-half ounces, and had a tail two inches long. It was an adult female.

Ladies rain coats and capes, in plain shades with tartan trimming, checks and tartans. Styles plain with wide revers and belted. Swing styles with buttoned front. Special prices from 10/6. C. Smith Ltd.—Advt. .

We still have some stock at the old prices of the best quality' British made Pocket Knives and Scissors. Made of high class steel by British workmen they are wonderful value today. Pocket Knives all sizes from 2/- to 10/6 each. Scissors; in different sizes from 2/3 to 8/6 each. Also best quality .steel Bread Knives 3/- and 5/each at B. Dixon’s Ltd., Tainui Street. —Advt.

There are now 663 electric ranges installed in the Grey Electric Power Board’s district, being one for every seven consumers, or 14.4 per cent., according to a report made to the Board, last evening, by the secretary, Mr W. S. McClymont. He added that, to date, £3,060/19/10 wprth of ranges had been sold by the Board, on terms, and that of the sum, £1,519/9/7 was outstanding. ' ' '

A centre of interest for Greymouth juveniles, yesterday afternoon, was the Melanesian Mission steamer Southern ■ Cross, and hundreds of school children swarmed all over the vessel, freely indulging their curiosity. Souvenirs of the Islands were in keen demand, while members of the crew were kept busy inscribing their names in autograph books. Thp vessel sailed this morning, for Westport.

Thirty-two sheep were killed when a derailment occurred in the railway yard at Ashburton early yesterday. A goods train bound for Christchurch was shunting when the accident occurred. The guard’s van and two sheep trucks were derailed as they were crossing slowly over a * set of points. After leaving the line one of the sheep trucks fell on its side, and the sheep inside were suffocated before they could be released. Minor damage occurred to the rolling stock.

At the annual, meeting of the Greymouth Licensed Victuallers’ Association yesterday, the following officers were elected: —President, Mr A. Beban (re-elected); vice-president, Mr G. Paul; treasurer, Mr W. Gieseking (re-elected); secretary, Mr C. Johnston (re-elected); committee, Mrs A. Marshall, Messrs C. McKechnie, W; Kells, D. R. Dowell, McLuskie, G. Hill, Barry, Francise, Martin and King. A motion of condolence was passed with the relatives of the late Mr and Mrs F. Heslin, of Dunollie.

In the course of a report toi the Grey Electric Power Board, last evening/the assistant engineer, Mr. R. Langbein, reported that since the last meeting of the Board, six new applications for supply had been received, making a total of 4,709 to date. Nine new consumers had been connected, bringing the total number of consumers to 4,732; extensions and alterations to 31 existing installations had been carried out; and four washing machines and 25 radio sets had been connected.

In reply to queries by two members at the meeting of the Nelson Harbour Board, the secretary, Mr. H. Milner, said that the charges on the overseas vessel which had been in port were: Pilotage in and out, £81; port charges, £95; berthage, £l3/10/a day. The chairman, Mr. A. Gould, remarked that this was a matter of public interest. Someone had recently approached the secretary and thought that the charges were twice what they actually were.

Petrol rationing in Australia is not at present —In the words of the Acting-Minister for Supply (Sir Frederick Stewart) —<“a live possibility.” The latest issue to reach New Zealand of the “Open Road,” the official organ of the National Roads and Motorists’ Association, New South Wales, says Sir Frederick Stewart used these words when talking with newspaper reporters. It reports that he also said: “Petrol rationing., would mean unemployment for large numbers of men in the motor industry. Otherwise, we might be saving some dollars by using it.”

Keen support is being given by New Zealand Greeks to the National Patriotic Fund appeal. Two members of the Greek community in Wellington, Messrs Dennis. Gerondis and A, Loucas, were appointed recentlj r official collectors for the Patriotic Fund Board among their countrymen in New Zealand. A committee has been established to carry ■rout .an appeal among the Greeks throughout the Dominion. Mr T. E. Y. Seddon, the Greek Consul, is treasurer for the fund. Not only have these steps been taken to organise a campaign, but already £49 10s has been collected from Greeks in Wellington. Mr Gerondis gave £25 and Mr Loucas, £lO, the remainder being subscribed by five other Greeks. —Press Association.

“Although building conditions 100 years ago were totally different from those of to-day, there are several points of similarity between them. With the simple requirements of the profession, it was a case of ‘every m,an his own architect,’ ” said Mr J. M. Dawson, in his presidential address at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Institute of Architects last evening at Wellington. “Then again, like us,” said Mr Dawson, “our earliest settlers suffered by import restrictions—due to high freights and, I have no doubt, in individual cases, shortage of funds at Home. There is the difference, however, that while Nature provided the material necessary for a simple standard of living, Nature, with the help of local manufacturers, is unable to provide all that is necessary for our advanced ideas to-day.”

The need for a resident doctor at Kumara, to serve the town and surrounding district was stressed at a meeting on , Tuesday evening. Mr. James Murphy presided. The Mayor (Mr. A. B. Spiers), said the town and district warranted a fully qualified medical practitioner. That opinion was held by all residents of the district. People were suffering a distinct hardship as there were no medical facilities closer than Greymouth or Hokitika, and an appointment was long overdue. The secretary (Mr. H. Hamer) read a draft letter giving full details of the district to be served by a doctor, and showing the impossibility of collecting more money from the people. It was resolved that copies of the letter be forwarded to- the Westland Hospital Board, the Prime Minister, the Minister of Health, Mr. P. Fraser, and Mr. J. O’Brien, M.P.

With an inscription dedicating it to the memory of the pioneers of New Zealand, the handsome foundation stone of the Look-out Monument, which is Dunedin’s tribute to the past, was laid on Signal Hill yesterday afternoon by the Mayor, Mr. A. H. Allen, in ..the presence of a representative gathering of citizens. A dedicatory address was given by the Mayor, and the Minister for Defence (Mr. Jones) also spoke. The memorial will be in the form of a look-out platform commanding a view of the city, suburbs, and harbour from one of the finest points of vantage round Dunedin. The coping stone, bears the inscription: “At the beginning of the Dominion’s second century this monument is dedicated to the memory of the pioneers of the first. Foundation stone laid by his. Worship the Mayor, Mr. A. H. Allen/ February 21, 1940.”—Press Assn.