LOCAL AND GENERAL

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 August 1940, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A Chinese market gardener, Chong Kee Lee, Otaki, was fined a total of £2O and costs by Mr. Coleman, S.M., in the Magistrates’ Court, Wellington. Defendant was charged on two counts of falsely packing four cases of celery for sale, and was fined £lO on each charge.

• Since the Tasman Airways’ service commenced regular running on April 30, the Aotea and Awarua have carried between Auckland and Sydney 209 passengers, 114 being to Sydney and 95 from Sydney. This is very promising, in view of the uncertainty in time of war. Freight carried in May was 606 lbs., Juno 729 lbs., July 655 lbs., and mail 4917 lbs. in May, 3189 lbs. in June, and 2713 lbs. in July.—Press Association.

A meeting of the Westland Branch of the New Zealand Institute of Surveyors was held at Hokitika last Friday. Those present were: Messrs J. W. Mclntyre (chairman), C. H. Morison, T. Learmont, M. Bagg, — Brown, A. Wilson, F. N. Farnham, H. Hutchinson, — Smart, B. King, — Stuart, and J. E. Thorn. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs Goodbehere (Westport) and McFarlane (Hokitika). Mr Mclntyre was re-elected chairman and Mr Thorn re-elected secretary. An address was given by Mr Murray, the District Land Registrar.

“Why do the male nurses work only 40 hours a week, and the female nurses 48 hours?” asked Mr. R. Harding at the last meeting of the Hawke’s Bay Hospital Board. The question arose from a paragraph in the matron’s report in which it was stated that some overtime had accrued to the male nurses. The medical superintendent (Dr. J. J. Foley) explained that there were really no male nurses, but male orderlies, who were covered by an award and enjoyed a 40-hour week. The men were willing to work longer hours, but could not do so without the payment of overtime. It was decided to take up the question with the Labour Department.

Mrs. Martin presided over a good attendance at the August meeting of the Brunner Women’s Institute held in Wallsend last evening. The motto for the month was “Don’t waste sympathy on yourself.” It was decided to hold, a shop day in Taylorville, the proceeds to go towards the soldiers’ Christmas parcels. A visitor from Culverden was welcomed. The competition winners were:—Best potted meat, Mrs. Rodgers; article made from flour/ bag, Mrs. Bennie. During the social half-hour, two amusing competitions, were held. The roll-call was: Uses of One egg. Supper was Served by the hostesses, Mesdames A. Mooney, P. Moore, C. Maghon. ,

At yesterday’s meeting of the Nelson Education Board, Mr W. H. McIntyre was re-elected as chairman. The Board decided to congratulate Mr R. A. Dickie, head teacher at Reefton, on his appointment to the inspectorial staff of the Education Department. The appointment of Mr Stanley to the vacancy was recommended. Fresh tenders were received for the installation of a septic tank at the Ikamatua school. \ The Board considered the tenders were still too high, and no action was taken. The' Blackwater Committee wrote asking that a teacher’s residence be erected. The Board regretted it could not, under the present circumstances, recommend this to the Department.

Mr J. Mann, Tennent’s Optician, will visit the Hokitika ;■ branch on Thursday, August 22. Appointments may be made by ringing ’phone 83 Hokitika, or calling at their business premises, Revell Street, Hokitika. — Advt.

Plentiful supplies of periodicals, illustrated Magazines and latest novels. Over four thousand excellent books in lending library. Your inspection cordially invited. Claude Mason’s Greymouth Bookstall and Lending Library, Mackay Street. — Advt.

A limited supply of Niue Island Baskets in new shapes and sizes. These are exceptionally strong and serviceable, priced from 2/6 to 6/6. Also Work Baskets at 4/11 and 5/6 each. Obtainable only at C. Smith’s. —Advt.

> . . I Twenty-three members of the Ter- | ritorial Force were -medically examined at Greymouth, to-day, all being passed as fit for service. A of Hokitika Territorials will be medically examined at Hokitika, at .seven' o’clock this evening.

Through a fall at her home, 10, Stratford Street, Greymouth, this morning, Mrs. Elizabeth Stratford received a fracture of the left leg. She was attended by Dr. W. A. Bird, and admitted to the Greymouth Hospital. Her condition this afternoon, was reported to be satisfactory.

“The question of wet canteens , in Territorial camps will be considered by the Government very shortly,” said the Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser) last evening. “Any assumption about the Government’s policy in this connection is premature,” said Mr. Fraser. “Representations have been made to the Government. Due weight and regard will be paid to them.”— Press Assn.

Whangarei butchers are observing a five-day week. In future shops will not be open on Saturday, and no delivery will be made that day or on Wednesday. This decision has been made with the idea of conserving petrol, as, on Saturday mornings alone, the vehicles used by butchers in Whangarei run 300 miles. The shops will remain open on Friday evenings till 8.20, so there will be no shortening of hours.

The Price ' Tribunal has recently received numerous inquiries from various districts in New Zealand about the selling price of wire nails, and on investigation it has been found that in some cases the prices charged have been in,excess of those authorised. To correct this position, the Price Tribunal has issued a price order fixing ..the maximum wholesale and retail prices at which wire nails may be sold throughout the. Dominion. In the prices fixed by the new order, allowance has been made for the additional 5 per cent, sales tax recently imposed. The prices fixed are on a basis of £49/10/- a to?i wholesale fqr seven gauge and heavier.—Press Assn.

In Tattersall’s Horse Bazaar, Christchurch, yesterday, at the annual Grand National sale of trotting and thoroughbred stock a black mare changed hands twice within an hour. A novice at the game of bidding, a woman in the gallery, found to her surprise that her diffident early bid was the last; the mare was knocked down to her by Mr. Alan Matson's vigorous hammer. When the woman went in search of the former owner of the mare and asked questions about its age and qualities, she found she had bought an aged mare that had never been broken to saddle. An aour later the woman put the mare back at auction as the last entry in the sale and made a profit of £l/1/on the buying price.

Ratepayers in the Paroa Riding of the Grey County are perturbed about the recent re-valuation of the County, and the probability of a substantial increase in their rates. The County has not been re-valued for about 30 years, and, in some cases of residential sites, the rates will be raised by over £3, if the rates are struck on the same basis as last year, as the valuations have gone up by 50 to 70 per cent. Objections are being made to the re-valuations, and it is likely that the County Council will be petitioned. A meeting of ratepayers of'the Riding will be held tomorrow evening to discuss the revaluation, and to consider the formation of a Ratepayers’ Association.

According to figures supplied in a brochure published under the authority of the Wellington Electricity Department to mark the 50 years’ jubilee of electricity in New Zealand, if everyone of the 425,000 consumers turned on every switch possible at the one time there would be no current for anyone, as every generating plant would become so overloaded that it would automatically cut-out, producing a perfect black-out. The figures show that the total load capable of being produced by the 41 main stations and 51 stand-by stations amounts to 395,742 kilowatts, whereas the total connected loads soars up to 2,100,000 kilomatts. From these figures it is seen that actually the generating plants of the whole Dominion are capable of supplying only about one-fifth of the connected load. At present the capital invested in electrical supply plants throughout New Zealand amounts to £38,600,000.

Restrictions on the sale of spirits are being intensified both in hotels and by merchants, in Auckland. Very few hotels will now sell a full-sized bottle of spirits, unless perhaps to an bld customer, the general policy being to conserve stocks so far as possible for the bar trade. Some hotels are stated to be without supplies of square gin, the importation of which has been closed by the German occupation of the Netherlands. Under the import control scheme, importations of wine and spirits have been reduced by half. Shipping delays and other factors have introduced such uncertainty into the situation that both the wholesale and retail trades have been forced into close rationing. The experience of most private customers of spirit merchants is that their normal orders for spirits are being cut down by one-half. Naturally the stock posi-" tion varies considerably among wholesalers, so that their attitude to customers is dictated by that factor.

Bar conditions have resulted in a lengthy delay to the Union Steam Ship Company’s Kaimiro, which completed loading coal at Greymouth last Thursday night, and she is now to be partly unloaded in an attempt to get her away to Wellington. The Totara arrived in the roadstead from Westport, this morning, and as soon as conditions enable her to berth, possibly to-night, she will take a full Idad of coal from the Kaimiro’s holds, the latter’s loading gear being used .for the transfer. By this means it is hoped to reduce the Kaimiro’s draught about 20 inches and to despatch her as soon as possible, as the seas on the bar today indicated the possibility of further shoaling. Unless there is an improvement .. in the bar depth before the end of the week, which is unlikely without a fresh in the river, the scheduled loadings of two large vessels at Greymouth at the week-end will probably be cancelled.

Men! For the showery weather, Roadmen’s Coats are just the thing. Extra strong canvas, short sleeves Priced at 15/6 and 17/6 each.' Leggings to match 7/6. C. Smith’s have them.—Advt.

Call in and she White’s distinctly new Summer Saunter, box and Military coats.—White’s Fashion Corner. —Advt. /'