Local and General

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 June 1942, Page 4

Local and General

As a result of engine trouble, whicn developed near Cora Lynn, the express from Christchurch did not reach Greymouth until 6.5 o’clock last evening, instead ol inc schedule time of 4.28 p.m. The engine o! a following goods train was used to haul me express to Arthur’s Pass.

When he fell from the Greymoutn wnart into the river, late last night, Robert Walker, a ship's fireman, received an exceedingly coid bath. Tne tide was low, and theie v.wS a considerable drop from the wharf to tne water. After a search had been m progress for some time, Walker was found clinging to one of the wharf piles. He was rescued oy Mr. J. Walton, of the Harbour Board’s staff, by means of a boat.

“We are producing wheat and potatoes with old men and boys,” said Mr. R. J. S. Wilson, of Methven, at’the conference of Soutn Island linen-flax growers yesterday, when the shortage of labour was being discussed. "Tne buys are casting eyes towards the- factories, and I don’t blame thesn. They get the 40lour week, ice-cream parlours, and picture shows, and they prefer that to the crabby old cocky.”

The Reserve Bank states that since the announcement by the Prime ol Liberty Loan subscriptions totalling £17,131.610. many hundreds of applications have been, received direct through the mail, and more are expected to-day. The total yesterday was £17,445,040, comprising £6.247.190 in 2i per cent, stock. £ 10,991.200 in 3 per cent, slock, and £206.650 in Liberty Bonds. It is reasonable to expect, therefore, that the loan w'll be oversubscribed by about £2,500.000. —P.A.

It is now an offence to use in a motorvehicle any fuel other than motor spirits, power kerosene, Diesel oil. benzol, producer gas. or coal gas. This is the effect of the amended Oil Fuel Emergency Regulations. Also, it is obligatory for any person holding a 44-gallon oil drum with less than eight gallons of oil fuel in it. to return the drum to the dealer who owns it. The Minister for Supply (Mr. Sullivan) said that the regulations were intended to assist the Government in its difficulties concerning oil fuel supplies. It had been found that through widespread use of substitute fuels certain imported commodities such as white spirit were becoming short in supply for legitimate users.—P.A.

The New Zealand Rugby Council, to-day. elected Mr. E. McKenzie (Wairarapa) as a life member of the New Zealand Rugby Union, in recognition of his services to the game, and set aside ,£750 for school football. The position of Rugby League players in the Services, who desire to play Rugby Union football during the war, was clarified, it being decided to allow them to play with and against Rugby Union teams, provided that once they have elected to play Rugby, thev must continue to play under the jurisdiction of the New Zealand Union. The status of Rugby players who play with League players, under the terms of the decision, will not be affected. After the war. such League players, if they wish to continue playing Rugby, must apply for reinstatement.—P.A.

Mr. F. M. Murray, accountant of the Hastings Borough Council. has been appointed town clerk of Waihi, in place of Mr. E. C. Westbury, who was recently appointed town clerk of To Aroha.

At least one New Zealand soldier, now a prisoner of war in Germany, has definite ideas as to the course of the war. He writes to his relatives: "Your mail has bucked me up no end. After July do not trouble to send me any parcels, for it is my pick that this war will be over by Christmas, 1942, and this silly old world will be at peace once more. At the end of the year we hope to be in London . . . Be of good heart. Everything is going line. See you next" Christmas’. He can't go on." There is no sign of the censor having touched this open epistle.

Representations by managers of restaurants and tearooms in Auckland that it is impossible for them to cater reasonably for the public on the basis of one-twentieth oi an ounce of tea a serving, were referred last night to tiie Dominion Rationing Controlizr (Mi’ J. E. Thoma.-;). Mr Thomas replied that he would be pleased to have the whole question of the ration tor cafeterias and' similar business iv considered. Although strict economy was necessary, it was not desi.red to inflict unnecessary hardship on any section oi the community which had a reasonable claim for supplies.—P.A.

Finding that a taxi she had engaged did not make its appearance at the appointed time to take her to the Auckland railway station, and that she would miss her train, a girl telephoned an appeal early on a recent morning to a friend who was in bed at the time. This friend got her car out and arrived at the station clad in a pink dressing wrapper, pyjamas and bedroom slippers. Unembarrassed, she made her way with a suitcase and several parcels through staring onlookers and saw that the girl who had appealed to her was safely dispatched by train. Both girls were nurses.

"From the advice we have received it would appear that the United Kingdom will take all our dairy produce," said the Minister for Marketing (Mr. Barclay), when asked at Christchurch yesterday to comment on an Australian report that the dairy industry there was being urged to supply the Old Country with every pound of milk product available. "We have had no request from the United Kingdom for increased quantities, but we have asked dairy producers to carry on and to produce as much as they can under the existing disadvantages of fertiliser and labour shortages."

A soldier in an officers’ training corps who is a keen follower of racing has found himself doing part of his training on a racecourse where, in civil life, he had seen many races run. This is how he described his reaction to a round of the track at the “double":—They have not killed me yet, though it was a near shave when they made us do a circuit of the racetrack with full equipment and rifles at the double. As a matter of fact. I imagined f heard the crowd booing as I approached the winning post. I suppose they did not consider me a ’trier.' I. guess 1 won’t complain when some horse I back begins to falter in the straight—common sympathy!"

The military service of a poultry farmer whose father, it was stated by the director-general of the Department of Agriculture. had the largesl egg hatchery in the Dominion and whose work was of the utmost importance to other smaller poultry farmers in Canterbury, was adjourned sine die by the Christchurch Manpower Committee yesterday. The appeal was lodged by the reservist’s father and the New Zealand Poultry Board. The reservist’s father said many poultry farmers who did not have either Hie plant or the experience brought their eggs to the hatchery, and later collected the chicks. ' Answering a question from a member of the committee, a representative of the New Zealand Poultry Board said the reason Wellington had to import from Canterbury about 75 per cent, of its egg requirements was that poultry-keep-ing and producing in Wellington were so costly as to be uneconomical because of the cost ol the transport of the necessary wheat from Canterbury.

In these days of rationing it will more than ever pay you to buy Quahty goods. Bring your Coupons to White’s; they will assist you.— Advt.

Have you tried our Thrifty Service? This will suit the housekeeping allowance of every Housewife. Price 5/- for a bag ol 181bs, all flat work returned dried and ironed, personal wear returned ready for ironing. Westland Laundry Ltd. Gresson Street. Depot: 27 Albert Street, Phone 136.-—Advt.

Pure wool sockettes in a large selection of shades, including, grey, air force, brown, clover, green, fawn. etc. Stocked in sizes 9in.. 91in., & lOin. 3/3 to 4/6 nm’r. C. Smiths---Advt.