LOCAL AND GENERAL

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 December 1940, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Freight hauled through the Otira tunnel, from Westland to Canterbury, last week amounted to 16,879 tons, as compared with 14,166 tons in the corresponding period of last year and 13,773 tons in 1938.

The sum of £ll, which had remained in the hands of the Greymouth police for some weeks, • after being found by a Greymouth shop-keeper, has now been claimed, as a result of a paragraph in the “Star,” drawing attention to the quantity of lost property at the police station. The owner was an elderly woman.

Made from the material forming the windscreen of a Nazi Dornier bomber brought down in England, seven signet rings have -been received in Napier by Mrs. W. H. Burgess from her son, Driver B. W. Burgess. The material is transparent and very tough.

An inspection of the Dobson mines rescue station was made to-day by the members of the Coal Production Council, Messrs T. O. Bishop (Chairman), A. McLagan, and C. J. Strongman, who witnessed a demonstration of the latest equipment used in rescue work and resuscitation.

“How much of a business does the owner of the business own?” -was a question put at a meeting of the Oamaru Chamber of Commerce when Government restrictions were being discussed. “The book debts,” came one answer, followed by “The bad debts.” The lid was put on the discussion with the reply, “Perhaps the ball of string!”

The simplicity of dealing with nonpayers in zoned milk supply, was apparent, when Mr Luckie, chairman of the Wellington Man-power Committee, to-day, asked a vendor his position, when he made bad debts through not being able to choose his own customer. “There is only one way,” said the vendor. “Don’t leave any more milk. Let them walk to the nearest dairy. They soon get tired of it.”—Press Assn.

An inquest into the deaths of five ‘victims in the explosion at Kaye and Party’s Co-operative Coal Mine at the Ten Mile on November 6 will be Resumed at Greymouth on Friday, December 20, at 10 a.m. About 10 or 12 witnesses will give evidence. It is also possible that a departmental inquiry into the explosion will be held in conjunction with the inquest. The five men who lost their lives in -the explosion were John William Kaye, Jack Leighton Kaye, Alexander McIntosh, Frederick Llewellyn Williams, 4nd Lindo Colpo. Two other miners, William Burnett and ..Adam Boote, escaped with injuries and have recovered.

The air blitzkrieg against Britain has not affected the people’s intention to adhere to customary Christmas celebrations, according to letters re-ceived-in New Zealand. “I think we should make the usual festivity of it,” says one writer, “and it may amuse you to know that we have made our Christmas puddings and mincemeat.” The same writer, whose age is 72, tells how the British are finding amusement in air-raid shel--ters. “They learn to know theii neighbours by the snore instead of by name,” he says, “and you get Blaster, Squeaker, Wheezer, and Woodsawyer.”

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.

Just arrived: A shipment of Ladies’ Silk and Cotton Vests in two styles—round neck and shaped top. In flesh and creme only. 2/11 each. —C. Smith. —Advt.

/ Mrs. Mason presided over the monthly meeting of the Blackball Women’s Institute held in the-Druids’ Hall. Mrs. Heyward read the aspirations. Nine shillings was handed in towards the soldiers’ parcels. Competitions were won by. Mesdames McKiner, Gibson, Park and Aly ward. An exchange of Christmas gifts took place. The National Patriotic Fund Board has purchased 200 copies of - a largesize portrait for His Majesty, the King for distribution to officers’ and sergeants’ messes and recreation huts in all the mobilisation camps in the Dominion. In the portrait the King is wearing the uniform of a FieldMarshal.

“The day when the United Kingdom gets tired of one-sided treatment will be the day when New Zealand will sit up, and will be the death knell of these restrictions,” said the president (Mr. E. A. Christie), addressing the annual meeting of the United Kingdom Manufacturers’ and New Zealand Representatives’ Association, commenting on the New . Zealand Government’s control of imports. Mr. Christie said the council of the Association would continue to work to achieve its objective of no restrictions on United Kingdom goods.—Press Assn. '

A concert programme, arranged by Mr. J. Duffy, was given at the Old People’s Home, last evening, by a Greymouth party, including Mesdames C. Broad, J. G. Mclntosh, A. Thurlow, Misses J. Sweetman, D. Willis, J. Holt, C. Brown, and Messrs Duffy, R. Buchanan, and J. Paterson. The accompanists were Mr. Paterson, Mrs. Thurlow, and Miss M. Cawley. Two of the inmates of the Home, Mrs. Parker and Mr. Russell Black, contributed items. Mr. P. Keenan returned thanks to the visitqrs, who were entertained at supper by Matron Jones.

Domestic help for farmers’ wives was a question discussed at the meeting of the. Waimate branch of the Farmers’ Union on Friday. It was decided to request the South Canterbury Executive to ascertain' the number of registered unemployed girls in the district. Mr. C. G. Verity said that a good many farmers’ wives were already overtaxed, and recently the Mayor of Waimate (Mr. G. Dash) had given publicity to a proposal that women from towns should offer help in the country during their holidays. “The matter is of very great importance,” said Mr. W. J. Fletcher. .“I know of five farmers’ wives who are urgently in need of assistance.” Remuneration as high as 35/- a week had been offered, but no replies had been received. “It seems to me to be a shocking state of affairs,” he went on, “when some members of the community can do what they call their war effort on a 40-hour week, while farmers’ wives have.to work 90 to 100 hours a week and cannot get assistance, even if competitive wages are offered.”

A Wellington non-commissioned officex’ serving with the New Zealand forces in Egypt sees a .trade opening for the Dominion in beer and to-, bacco. In a lettex’ to. his family, he described how He saw Australian beex’ and Australian tobacco t obtainable everywhere .by Australian troops. He asked himself, why not New Zealand? As Australians were able to buy their own. made tobacco, cigarettes, and beer, New Zealand troops should likewise enjoy the same privilege. “I believe,’-’ he wrote “.that more than 50 per cent, of the soldiers’ money goes in these articles It would mean thousands of ‘ pounds extra to our export trade, not only in beer, cigarettes and tobacco, but in bottles and containers, cans, nails bottle tops. It would mean that a lot of the soldiers’ money would go back to New Zealand, which is a matter not to be sniffed at. It would make the soldiers much happier, and give them greater faith in their country’: action. The local beer is very poor, and the English tobaccos xnuch dearer than those of New Zealand. The Australians certainly pay a little more for their beer, but the lads would not mind that for New Zealand beex- and tobacco.”