LOCAL AND GENERAL

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 December 1940, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Hamilton’s new post office, which has just been completed at a cost of more than £70,000, was officially opened yesterday by the PostmasterGeneral (Mr Webb). —Press Assn.

The Napier Borough Council on the casting vote of the Mayor, Mr. T. W. Hercock, yesterday reversed its previous decision not to, permit the screening of films on Christmas Day. —Press Assn.

Arrested for drunkenness in Tainui Street, yesterday afternoon, a first offender was fined 5/-, the amount of his bail, by Mr. J. M. Bunt, J.P., in the Magistrate’s Court at Greymouth, to-day.

While engaged with other workmen in the placing of the first of the 44-ton concrete blocks at the North Breakwater, this morning, Norman Ross, 19, single, a Harbour Board employee, was caught by a large rock, which rolled off a ledge. He suffered a crushed foot and injuries to the tips of the fingers on both hands, and received attention from Dr. H. S. Ray. Later he was conveyed to his home.

Drinking among men at the Battery Point Camp was the subject of a resolution passed by a meeting of Methodist ministers of the Canterbury district yesterday. It was as follows: “We welcome the inquiry ordered into excessive drinking among men at Battery Point Camp, and urge the military authorities to make the strictest investigation, and to insist, in future, that all intoxicating liquors be banned from the camp,”— Press Assn.

Shorty “Proves all men are Liars,” Town Hall, To-night, and To-morrow (Wednesday), at 8 o’clock.—Advt.

A serious view is taken by the Greymouth Harbour Board Engineer (Mr. D. S. Kennedy) of the action of some persons, probably irresponsible youths, who have on several weekends recently, tipped over the trucks loaded with gravel for use in the construction of concrete blocks the North Breakwater. The trucks, on the railway line to the breakwater, have not been damaged, but the tipping of the gravel has caused expense and inconvenience to the Board. Mr. Kennedy said, to-day, that if the practice did not cease, he would be reluctantly compelled to close the line to the breakwater, which is of great convenience to the public, particularly during the Summer months. See the Strip Tease Burlesque, Town Hall, To-night and To-morrow (Wednesday), at 8 o’clock.—Advt.

Under the system adopted all payments for New Zealand soldiers in Egypt were charged to the New Zealand ’ Government, the Minister for Defence (Mi’ Jones) explained yesterday. “Arrangements have been made to borrow from the British Government the cost of maintaining our forces abroad; but the Government’s policy is to meet such costs from New Zealand as far as possible, and to use the borrowing arrangement for the balance only,” Mr Jones said. He explained that pay varied according to rank. A private soldier received 7/6 a day, of which he was required to allot before leaving New Zealand 4/6 a day. ✓He could allot more if he chose; but must retain not less than 2/- a day for himself. Whatever sum a soldier elected to draw abroad, he received free of exchange New Zealand currency into sterling, the Minister said. If the amount was 3/-, then he was paid in Egyptian currency the equivalent of 3/- sterling.—Press Assn.

“The Alahabama Quartette,” Town Hall, To-night and To-morrow (Wednesday), at 8 o’clock.—Advt.

Freight hauled through the Otira tunnel, from Westland to Canterbury, last week amounted to 16,046 tons, as compared with 14,677 tons in the corresponding week of last year and 11,199 tons in 1938.

“I am convinced that Italy did not have,the slightest wish to be involved in whr,” declared the Governor-Gen-eral (Lord Galway) when speaking at Wellington. “It was the wish of one man only-v-Mussolini—and I hope the Italian people call him to account for the destruction and humiliation he has brought upon the whole country.”

The following are details of customs revenue collected at Westport in November, 1940, with the figures for November last year in parentheses:— Customs duty, £770/0/8 (£498/8/1); beer duty, £640/15/4 (£623/1/8); sales tax, £548/11/- (£6OO/6/3); gold duty, nil (£l3l/16/8); light dues £l6/4/4 (£53/15/8); war expenses (sales tax), £l9l/16/8 (nil); war expenses (other items), £212 13/1 (£376/3/5).

A 1246-acre block of coastal country fronting ¥ the West Coast, about 10 miles south of Dargaville, has been acquired by the Crown for purposes of closer settlement. It adjoins the southern boundary of Bassetts Block, acquired by the Crown for small farms about 1929. The owner was Mr. W. H. Bradley, of Te Kopuru, and it is understood that the deal fell a few hundred pounds short of £lO,000. The intention is to cut the area into 100-acre blocks. All but about 250 acres is ploughable.—Press Association. '

The theft of petrol from parked motor cars in Greymouth is causing motorists considerable inconvenience and expense. Early on Sunday morning, six gallons were siphoned from the tank of a car left for a comparatively short time in upper Mawhera Quay, and similar thefts have been reported from various parts of the town. The value placed on petrol, through the restrictions, has evidently proved an incentive to the thieves, who appear to be taking even greater risks of being caught “in the act.”

That in England there is a provision in the law for dealing with motor drivers “drugged in charge” was mentioned by the Magistrate (Mr. J. Miller, S.M.) in the Magistrate’s Court at Hastings (reports the “Daily, Mail”). The point arose in a case in which a man, who was an asthma victim, was charged with being drunk in charge of a motor-truck. When he was previously charged the information was dismissed when he explained that-his condition was caused by taking powders for his complaint. The Magistrate commented that a driver suffering from the effects of such drugs could be a menace on the road.

Shorty sells Inventions, Town Hall, To-night and To-morrow (Wednesday), at 8 o’clock.—Advt.

The University of New Zealand’s Shirtcliffe Scholarships were made possible by the substantial trust fund endowed in 1935 by Sir George Shirtcliffe. Students who have held the awards have shown that the scholarships have already fulfilled a need among the students of the Dominion, and to ensure that the full numbei' of awards will regularly be made in future, Sir George has lately added to the original sum a further gift of £4OOO. The executive committee of the Senate of the University of New Zealand at its November meeting adopted a resolution expressing high appreciation of Sir George’s further generosity.—Press Assn.

“Waltz Time” at the Railway Revue, Town Hall, To-night and Tomorrow (Wednesday), at 8 o’clock.— Advt.

By using a large fleet of motor vehicles, and a central concrete mixing plant, a record in the pouring of concrete was established to-day on the Internal Marketing Department’s new building at Auckland. Delivering over a ton of concrete per minute, the lorries kept a large number of men busy mixing and spreading concrete, from seven o’clock this morning. It is expected that by seven o’clock to-night, the laying of the second floor slab of the building, involving about 700 tons, will be completed, representing what is said to be the largest quantity of concrete poured in one day in New Zealand or Australia. A five storey building is being constructed by the Fletcher Construction Co. on the flat slab system.—Press Assn.

“Out West,” with the Railway Swing Time Revue, Town Hall, Tonight and To-morrow (Wednesday), at 8 o’clock.—Advt. Final ball for 1940 at Ikamatua on Saturday, December 7. Golden Hill Orchestra.—Advt. Calling all dancers to Ikamatua for Grand Ball in aid of Patriotic Fund, Saturday December 7.—Advt. We have a large s< lection 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. 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. White’s are showing beautiful Summer Coats specially for Xmas trade. The colourings are of the very latest and fit; quality and style guaranteed.—Advt.