LOCAL AND GENERAL

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 July 1941, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Only £3O 000 is required to complete the objective of the £1,000,000 appeal for patriotic funds. This was stated- yesterday by Major J. Abel, in a statement in Wellington. Auckland had advanced its total to more than £230,000. —Press Assn.

Two trains, conducted by the Christchurch Corsair Social Club brought 800 excursionists to the West Coast oh Saturday. Five hundred of the excursionists proceeded to Hokitika and Lake Mahinapua, but the weather conditions were unfavourable for outdoor activities. The return trains left Greymouth just before midnight.

The Lady Galway Patriotic Guild is displaying in Dixon’s windows a quantity of baby clothes for our refugees in Britain. All these garments, including the rugs, have been made by women in the Grey district, and will be forwarded at an early date. The Guild is in need of more clothing.

There was a small muster of Runanga Home Guardsmen at the parade vesterday, which was held in the Gymnasium. Rifle drill and physical training occupied the morning. More time is being given to live ammunition practice, and at last week’s parade, all members were given 10 rounds of target practice at the Miniature Rifle Club’s range. At a meeting of the Greymouth Business Executive, members discussed a sum of about £2O in a bank account which was raised some years ago by Greymouth business men, in connection with a poll of the half-holiday question. It was decided that the Executive, suggest to the trustees of the fund that the money be donated to tne Plunket Society. The Dannevirke R.S.A. carried, a motion urging that every person exempted from military service, on any grounds other than medical or undue hardship, should be required to serve in alternative services for the duration, at soldiers’ rates of pay. The mover, remarking on the labour situation, said that he recently advertised for a farm manager and share milkers. He received no fewer than 32 applications.—P.A.

Answering an urgent instruction for him to return to Canada, Dr. C. J. Burchell, K.C., until a few days ago High Commissioner for Canada in Australia, arrived in Auckland by the Monterey and will leave again to-day. Dr. Burchell said he understood he was wanted for a special task. He had received two-and-a-half days’ notice to leave Sydney and so far as he. knew no one had been appointed to succeed him. His secretary was continuing with the work in the meantime.—Press Assn.

A statement that many people were taking advantage of the calling up of reservists who own one-man businesses to make absurdly small offers to take them over was made by counsel at a sitting of the Armed Forces Appeal Board at Auckland. It was stated that when the names Qf such men apeared in the Gazette calling a draft for service, buyers would offer them sums that were obviously well below the value of the business. Later a reservist gave evidence that he had received three offers of this nature within a short time of the Gazette being published.

An Australian trade delegation, which is on its way to the United States, arrived at Auckland by the Monterey. The leader, Mr. E. McCarthy, Assistant Permanent Secretary of the Department of Commerce, said the purpose of the delegation was to conduct negotiations on shipping and the Lend-and-Lease Act. Questioned, he said he was unable to elaborate. Mr. McCarthy was accompanied by Mr. J. Fletcher, an executive officer of the Department of Customs, and by four assistants from the Departments of Commerce and Customs. He said he expected that the delegation would be absent from Australia for some months. — Press Assn.

Yesterday afternoon between 1 and 2 p.m. a sea leopard was found on the South Beach above high water mark between the wireless and the signal station (says the “Westport News”). Its tail was thrashed, and the beast seemed to be sick. The leonard was about eight feet in length, fawny on top, with dirty white breast, with black spots. It had a wonderful set of teeth, like a dog’s, and, strange to say, when it breathed •in. its nostrils closed, while they opened when it breathed out. The eyes were like those of a horse and very alert. It took some prodding to get the beast to leave the sand on which it was Iving, but it was finally driven into the sea and well out beyond the breakers, swimming just like a dog, with its head bobbing out of the sea.

Three English music examiners, Dr. J. Lyon, of the Trinity College of Music, London, and Messrs I. L. Powell and A. W. Roberts, of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, have arrived in Auckland. They will conduct examinations throughout New Zealand and expect to be in the Dominion until Christmas. Commenting on the effect of the war on music in Europe, Dr. Lyon said he thought music would be cultivated much more effectively and earnestly after the war. Dr. Lyon-has been away from England for some months. Since leaving he has received adviceßhat his home in the Midlands has been destroyed in an air raid. In spite of all difficulties, music schools were still being carried on, Mr; Powell said. Londoners were being given a chance to enjoy music at lunch-hour concerts, and there was still a good deal of musical activity in the provinces. A new class that had never before attended concerts was coming to appreciate music.— P.A,

The latest figures released by the National Savings Committee show that receipts now total £2,269,260, representing £1,936,585 from the sale of National Savings bonds ana e . 332,675 deposited with the National Savings Account. —P.A. Wellington Observatory officials report seeting a sunspot group, approximately one hundred thousand miles long, followed by a second group. Both groups are showing considerable activity.—Press Assn.

Statistics of the Union Airways of New Zealand for the year ended June 27 f 1941, were: Passengers carried 11,572, freight carried 25,9171b5, mail carried 77.7821b5, passenger miles 2,960,625, freight ton miles 3,049, mail ton miles 10,581, hours flown 2.504, miles flown 360,024, trips scheduled 996, trips flown 996, trips completed 991. Brigadier O. H. Mead, Officer Commanding the Southern Military District, arrived in Greymouth on Saturday evening from Westport. He was accompanied by Maior C. P. Duke, Area Officer, Nelson, and Lieutenant Stead, Christchurch. Yesterday morning, Brigadier Mead ‘inspected the Gfeymouth National Reserve and the Greymouth Home Guard at, the Drill Hall. He left this morning, for Christchurch, accompanied by Major Duke and Lieutenant Stead.

Facial injuries were unusually common in yesterday’s Rugby League representative match at Wingham Park, possibly due to the slippery nature of the ground. Several players required attention from the St. John Ambulance men on the ground, but only one, L. Brown, the Canterbury half-back, had to seek further medical attention. He completed the game, but was then treated as. an outpatient at the Grey Hospital, several stitches being inserted in a cut over the right eye.

Where’s the most popular place on the Coast, on Wednesday nights? The Blaketown Hall, popular long-night dance, of course. —Advt. In the hands of the public on the last Monday of May this year were 8,748,040 Reserve Bank notes of a total value of £16,927,000. The Reserve Bank every year compiles a table to show the denominations and value of the notes held by the public, that is, the active note circulation, on the last Monday of May. Reserve Bank notes are issued in five denominations, and on the day of the calculation this year, the public held 1,422,000 10/- notes worth £711,000; 5,537,000 £1 notes worth an equal number of pounds; 1,670,400 £5 notes worth £8,352,000; 90,100 £lO notes worth £901,000; and 28,540 £5O notes worth £1,427,000. The total note circulation was, however, £400,000 greater than the amount covered by the Reserve Bank notes, because £400,000 worth of the old trading banks’ notes are still not accounted for. Trading banks’ notes were withdrawn from circulation on August 1, 1934, and two years later became a liability of the Reserve Bank. The total active note circulation has risen from £6,177,000 to £17,327,000 between May, 1935 and May, 1941. Who’s not going? Well, that’s up to you. Make up your mind now and join the merry throng which will be attending the annual Ikamatua R.S.A. Ball on Saturday, August 9, in aid of patriotic funds. Be wise! Beware! Now prepare! Be there! —Advt.

■For one week only White’s are giving 4/- in the pound off their stylish warm Coats. Your money will go further at White’s. Call in during this week—White’s Fashion Corner.— Advt.