LOCAL AND GENERAL

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 July 1942, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Severe injuries Io the head were sustained by Robert McGregor, a miner, aged 22/while at work in the Millerton mine on Friday. He was admitted to the Buller Hospital in a serious condition.

The problem of feeding servicemen on leave in Wellington was again a serious one at the week-end. As at the previous week-end, there were queues formed outside the few tearooms and restaurants which cater for the Saturday night and Sunday trade.

There will be no short shooting season for native game as sought by a petition signed by 3500 sportsmen of the Wellington district and the South Island. The Prime Minister (Air. Fraser) has advised Mr. E. J. C. Wiffin, Secretary of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society, to this effect. —P.A.

Shortly before 5 o’clock, last evening, the services of the Greymouth Fire Brigade and Auxiliaries were required at the premises of Mr. F. E. Stent, Albert Street, where a bottle of petrol had become upset and ignited. Prompt action by the firemen prevented the spread of the outbreak, and little damage was done.

Adding to the difficulties arising from the heavy, snow, which itself blocked the route to motor traffic, a slip has now descended on ths West Coast side of thg summit on the Otira Gorge road. The highway is completely closed to traffic, and it is not known when a passage will be cleared.

About 20 men have so far been released from military camps for work in Grey district coal mines, and advice has been received by the mines authorities that 30 more are to be released at an early date. Some of the men released have had a good deal of experience in the industry, but others have had little.

Members of all units of the New Zealand forces in camp in the Dominion are now receiving their special issue of 15 clothing coupons. No time limit to their cancellations has been fixed. The coupons, which are numbered, are yellow. According to the civilian scale for men. the issue will supply one each of shorts, shirt, socks, singlet, underpants, pyjamas, and eight handkerchiefs.

Under the will of the late James Paterson McGowan, company manager, Dunedin, whose estate is sworn at £65,000, the whole capital and income of the residuary estate, after certain specific bequests, and subject to a life interest, is to be devoted equally to the Aged and Infirm Ministers’ fund of the New Zealand Presbyterian Church, and the Salvation Army’s homes for children.—P.A.

Although no further trouble has been experienced in the Grey County's section of the Coast road, apparently slips are still prevalent in the Buller area. The Buller Rugby team which played in Greymouth’on Saturday was unable to return to Westport that evening owing to the road being blocked, and was compelled to travel via Reefton, reaching nomo at 5 p.m. on Sunday.' It is believed the blockage occur - ! ed in the vicinity of Mabel Bay.

The Board of Managers of the Westport Technical. High School has accepted an invitation from the Greymouth Technical High School for basketball and Rugby teams to visit Greymouth for inter-school games. In view of the war situation the Westport Board had earlier passed a resolution prohibiting teams from travelling, but as a train service could bo utilised, ihe invitation was accepted. No date has been fixed for* the matches.

A distinct falling off in the incidence of cerebro-spinal meningitis is shown in the Health Department’s returns at Christchurch for last week. Only three cases were reported, as compared with, eight the previous week, and there have been no notifications since last Thursday. One death from cerebro-spinal meningitis occurred. Other notifiable diseases reported were: Tuberculosis, seventeen; scarlet fever, one; puerperal fever, one; hydatids, four. There was one death from tuberculosis. The West Coast again had a clean sheet.

The sale of beer in reputed pint bottles in Auckland hotels will cease when the present stocks are exhausted, it was stated by trade representatives in Auckland. The breweries have stopped bottling in these small containers, and in future nothing smaller than the reputed quart bottle will be filled. “This step has been taken, to effect economies in the use of crown seals and caps,” said a brewery representative. "The restrictions of bottling to larger bottles will result in at least a 50 per cent, saving in caps, although it may even be larger in cases where particular lines have been put up in smaller containers. The virtual disappearance of small bottles from the hotel trade will bring Auckland in line with the other centres in the Dominion.— (P.A.).

The warmest spot in town on those cold Winter nights—the Wednesday night favourite—the Blaketown Hail dance. Warm up there this Wednesday.—Advt.

A return of parts in stock used in servicing radio receiving sets has been called for by the Factory Controller, Mr G. A. Pascoe, who requires dealers to supply particulars within a week. Valves, high test condensers, resistors, and certain kinds of wire are the components chiefly concerned. All parts are to be immediately “frozen” and they must not be- sold or otherwise disposed of till the Controller of Radio Production issues authority. If the Government finds it necessary to purchase any part or ail of a dealer’s stock, the dealer has been assured of adequate replacements for servicing work. A shortage of any type of valve should not, be of Jong duration because modern valves have a high priority rating.

Joan Crawford, Robert Taylor, Greer Garson, Herbert Marshall,' the four Great Stars of “When Ladies Meet,” commencing Regent Theatre, Friday.—Advt.

Sitting as Warden, at Greymouth, this morning, Mr G. G. Chisholm. S.M., dealt with the following applications: —Tom Learmont. three ordinary prospecting licenses, 100 acres each, in Arnold and Mawheranui Survey Districts.—Withdrawn by leave of Warden. George Proudfoot Graham, certificate of protection for two water races, 83/34 and 64/34, for 12 months.—Granted. Barrytown Gold Dredging Co.; Ltd:, partial surrender of special dredging claim, 232/34, -357 acres.—Accepted as from June 26, 1942. John Connors, surrender extended sea beach claim. 71/39. —Accepted as from June 29, 1942. James Stanley Langford, application for reduction of rent on special dredging claim, 76/34. —Recommended for consent of Minister. Richard Kean, surrender of extended alluvial claim, 30/29.—Accepted as from July 6. 1942.

Have you tried our Thrifty Service? This will suit the housekeeping allowance of every Housewife. Price 5/- for a bag of 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.

The Greymouth Borough Council is commencing a “drive” almost immediately for the recovery of arrears of rents and rates as at March 31, 1942. The amount outstanding under these headings is approximately £3,483. Last year, a similar effort was made, and £3,493/16/4 was collected in rates, rents, and sanitary fees.

A Motor Utilisation Trades Committee has been set up for the West Coast, charged with the duty of keeping under review the position in regard to the number of motor mechanics and apprentices available, and. where necessary, lodging appeals with the Armed Forces AppeaJ Board. The personnel is Messrs G. Walters. representing the motor garage proprietors; J. Scorgie, representing the workers; and G. G. M. Mitchell, for the National Service Department.

The Minister of Defence (Mr. Jones) stated to-day that numerous inquiries had been received since the recent amendment to the National Service Regulations, which made liable for Overseas service all members of the Territorial Force, whether volunteers or balloted men. who previously were only liable for Home Defence service. Mr. Jones added that Territorials consisted of men between the ages of 18 and 45. and the policy, up to the present, had been to send abroad only those who had reached the age of 21, but who had not passed the age of 41 years. The Minister stated that there was no present intention that this policy be changed.—P.A.

A deputation representing a section of industrial workers on the West Coast, and the licensed victuallers trade, will meet representatives of the Government at Wellington, this week, protesting against the recently passed Licensing Emergency Regulations (No. 2) 1942. Mr. G. E. English, President of the State Miners’ Union, will be one of the deputation, and he left this morning for Wellington. He stated that the object of the deputation was to endeavour to secure some amelioration of the stringent licensing laws which have recently been imposed on the workers and the licensed trade. It will be recalled that at a meeting of the State Miners’ Union on July 5. a lengthy resolution of protest against the new legislation was unanimously adopted.

Conditions under which men in the Home Guard may obtain exemption from service have been announced by Army Headquarters, Wellington, according to advice received in Greymout|i. This states that men may obtain leave from a particular paraue or from parades not exceeding a period of three months where the Battalion Commander is satisfied that: (a) The man is engaged in essential work, (b) There are special circumstances in connection with the nature of his work which justify his absence, (c) Undue hardship would result to the man arising from his domestic circumstances, (d) The man is too ill to attend. Applications for exemption must be made in writing, accompanied by a medical certificate where- necessary or a certificate from the employer declaring the man is required for essential ’ work at the time of the parades. If the Home Guardsman is unable to attend parades for three months or longer an. appeal must be lodged with the Armed Forces Appeal Board. Power is vested in Battalion Commanders to prosecute in all cases of default.