LOCAL AND GENERAL

Greymouth Evening Star, 30 November 1940, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Mr. W. A. Bodkin, M.P. for Otago Central, will deliver a public address in the Town Hall, Hokitika, at 8 p.m. on Monday, December 9, under the auspices of the National Party. A first offender, arrested for drunkeness in Mackay Street, last evening, and who had spent the night in the lock-up was convicted and discharged by Mr. E. P. Stratford J.P., in the Magistrate’s Court at Greymouth, today.

Seve; _ private placements were made this week by the Greymouth office of the State Placement Service, five being permanent and two temporary. Those found permanent work, comprised a cowman-gardener, a labourer, a farm labourer and two truckers.

A story about Scotland, which came from the “Irish section” of the Invercargill Rotary Club, was told at the weekly luncheon of the club. It was stated that when the Germans were planning their air -raids on Britain they decided not to drop any screaming bombs on Scotland because they considered that such bombs would not in any way disturb people who had for centuries been used to the bagpipes/

That audiences should stand during a rendition of the national song, “God Defend New Zealand,” is the contention of Flight Lieutenant Hill, conductor of the Royal New Zealand Air Force Central Band. In a special announcement made immediately before the start of a farewell concert given by the band in the Auckland Town Hall, he referred to a point raised in the Auckland Star, and said that the Government of New Zealand had officially accepted the song as the Dominion’s “National Anthem.” Therefore, he added, audiences were expected to stand when it was played.

Comments on the marked decline in the use of stimulants at the Auckland Hospital was made by the chairman of the Board, Mr. Allan J. Moody, at the last meeting. The following figures show the quantity consumed in October, with figures' for October, 1938, in parenthesis:—Brandy, 82oz (2590 z whisky, nil (9oz); stout, 60 (315) bottles; ale, nil’(36) bottles; lemonade, 93 (409) bottlesf soda water, 594 (728) siphons. These figures are for the hospital alone, but those for the military annexe and other branches show similar movements. “This shows the .watchful eye which has been exercised by the Board,” said Mr. Moody. ' “These things are coming down, and they may be reduced to nothing soon.”

The shop day for the Grey Main School, arranged for next Friday, has been postponed until the following Friday, on account of Plunket Day.

It has been.decided to launch an appeal for a distress fund to provide for the dependents of the victims of the recent Ten Mile disaster, and an organisation is to be set up, headed by the Mayor of Runanga (Mr. R. McTaggart) and representatives of local bodies.

Prompt action by a motorist averted an accident at Greymouth, this morning. A car was proceeding, along Mawhera Quay in the ..direction of the railway station, when the driver, without giving the slightest signal as to his intention, stopped suddenly, practically in the middle of the road, there being a line of cars parked on the quay side. If the driver of the following car had not jammed on his brakes, a collision would have been inevitable. Failure to observe traffic signals is one of the main faults of too many motorists at Greymouth.

The inability of a German censor to comprehend the intricacies of an English idiom resulted in a novel message being’sent by an English prisoner of war in Germany to his parents. An extract from the letter has been received by Mr. and Mrs. D. G. Round, Hastings. The letter states: “Dear Mother —We are being well fed and domed here, and are very kindly treated by the Germans. Tell this to all our friends in the Army and Navy but above all, tell it’to the Marines. . . ” In several parts the letter had been heavily censored by the German authorities.

A record amount, between £ 140 and, £l5O, was raised by the Grey County Patriotic shop-day, held at Greymouth yesterday. Included in the net amount are the proceeds of raffles which had been conducted for some time prior to yesterday, but the shop itself did excellent business, and the Committee extends its thanks to all those who assisted to produce such a good result. Owing to the pressure of business last evening, it was impossible to draw the raffles and permission was received to extend the drawings until Tuesday. The results, will be published in Tuesday’s “Star.’

There was a large crowd at the Greymouth railway station this morning, to farewell approximately 100 West Coast members of the Fourth Reinforcement, who returned to camp, following leave. In view of the fact that the men were given a civic farewell on Thursday, there was no official ceremony at the station and in any case, it would have been impossible, with the congestion on the platform. The Greymouth Highland Pipe Band was in attendance and played appropriate selections, and cheers were given for the men as the train left the station.

The unexpected results which sometimes follow a change in fashions were exemplified at the Wellington Patriotic Council, when the council was asked to confirm the expenditure of £65-for the strengthening of a dance floor at a clubroom. The chairman, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, mentioned that when it became fashionable some time ago to perform dances like “The Lambeth Walk” and “The Palais Glide,” requiring large crowds following the ■same steps in rhythm, many dance floors throughout New Zealand were ruined. “The effect of these dances,” Mr. Hislop said, “is like a large body of troops, all in step, marching across a bridge—it is disastrous to the floor.”

In reply.to a question at the wind-ing-up meeting of the Wellington Provincial Council of the New Zealand Centennial Celebrations Organisation, the Mayor of Wellington, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, stated that no agreement had been arrived at between the Exhibition Company and the Government over the amount to be paid for the taking* over by the Government of the buildings, now in use as an Air Force station. It was, he said, possible that the matter would have to go to arbitration to obtain a final settlement. Mr. Hislop said also that there would be some small return to local authorities which had contributed towards the cost of the Dominion Court.

Wear a Rose! In honour of Plunket Day, Friday, December 6. Depot in Schaef’s, Mackay Street.— Advt. “If Mr. Nash doesn’t want New Zealand to go back to the state it was in when we took it over from the Maoris he Will have to consider giving farmers something to make up for rising costs of production,” said Mr. I. L. M. Coop at a meeting of the executive of the North Canterbury District of the Farmers’ Union. It was impossible to prevent costs rising in war time, said Mr. Coop. The Government was trying to keep all prices on a dead level, but costs of imported material had gone up in some cases by 100 and up to 200 per cent. The only way farmers could save was by neglecting their land he said. Farms were going back all over Canterbury. Most of the fences in the country were in a bad state. New wire wss needed and posts were “gone.” “When is Rose Day?” Friday, December 6. Plunket Society’s annual appeal for funds for district work. — Advt.

“It is better to stop the precious wine of life from flowing out of the barrel,” said Dr. J. P. Hastings at a meeting of the Auckland Hospital Board, in commenting upon the high incidence of disease. He suggested that the Government should issue free basic articles of diet, such as fruit, vegetables, and wholemeal bread, even if only it might be applicable to the children of New Zealand. He added that such a proposal was being considered in Great Britain, adding that if such a scheme were carried out there would be no need for a national health service, and in 10 years hospitals, at present overcrowded, would be depleted. Dr. Hastings said that Sir Truby King had said that hospitals were a monument to ignorance, and that was true. At present, free milk was being given in the schools, but that was only one step towards the solution of a national problem.

The Summer brings out the fresh beauty of Fashions. Do your Xmas buying at White’s Fashion Corner.— Advt. • Just opened! A beautiful selection of babies’ shawls. All pure wool, from 13/11. Shetland genuine hand woven, 35/6. Viyella 37/6. C. Smith’s.—Advt. We have a large selection of coir door mats. All are pre-war stock and represent outstanding value to-day.! Plain or coloured, from 3/3 each. C. Smith’s.—Advt. J