Local and General

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 October 1942, Page 4

Local and General

Only 46 men drawn in the recent Seventeenth Ballot remain to be examined by Medical Boards in the Greymouth Army Office’s district, this number including South Westland men, and recent transfers into the district. Of the 353 men examined, 156 were classified as Grade One, 51 Grade Two 84 Grade Three,, and five Grade Four. The gradings of 29 have been deferred, and 28 are to receive remedial treatment.

The body of Alexander Noble, 34, was found on the sea beach, below the Waitoto River, in South Westland, last evening. Deceased had been missing since Saturday afternoon, when he was engaged in whitebaiting in the Waitoto River, and was believed to have been drowned. A search had since been in progress. An inquest will be held at Okuru. The body is being brought to Hokitika by plane for interment from the residence, Arthurstown. He is survived by his wife and two children.—P.A.

As a sequel to the hold-up of seven men in a motor-car, carrying about £13,000 in cash at Otahuhu on Thursday morning, detectives arrested two youths under 17 years. They appeared before the Magistrate (Mr. Luxford) in the Auckland Children’s Court, to-day, charged jointly, with assaulting Robert John Quested, with intent to rob. Both were remanded to a special sitting of the Children’s Court on Wednesday. “Both boys desire bail,” said Detective-Sergeant Fell. “Both have good homes, and there is no reason why they should do this sort of thing. Both are well looked after. One has no father, but the other has parents.” The Magistrate said the charge was not bailable by rights. The youths would be remanded in custody, to be kept apart from other prisoners.

The staff issuing food ration books at the Greymouth Post Office were busily employed last evening, when 500 books were issued compared with 150 the previous evening. In celebration of the Battle of Trafalgar on October 21, 1805, Nelson Day was observed to-day, flags being flown on public buildings in Greymouth.

The trustees of the Auckland Savings Bank have decided to invest £lOO,OOO in the Liberty Loan, bringing the total invested to .date in Liberty Loans to £300,000. —P.A. During th.e week ended October 17, 18,142 tons of goods were railed through the Otira Tunnel from the West Coast to Canterbury. This compares with 16,878 tons in the corresponding week of 1941 and 15,407 tons in the same period of 1940.

Owing to alterations in the sailing hours of express steamers between Wellington and Lyttelton, all passengers booked for sailings between October 23 and the end of October, are requested to communicate with one of the Union Company’s offices. — P.A.

Stating that some men who had been discharged after service with the armed forces were being accused of having avoided service, Mr. F. L. Frost (Government, New Plymouth) gave notice in the House of Representatives yesterday that, he would ask the Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. Jones) if he would issue a distinguishing badge to men who had been so discharged.

The half-yearly meeting of the West Coast Federation of Women’s Institutes was held in the Wesley Bicentennial Hall, Greymouth, to-day. About 100 delegates attended, being present from an area bounded by Cronadun and Kumara. Mrs. R. A. Stewart, Federation President, was in the chair, and the consideration of remits was the chief business.

In the Teachers’ Certificate Examination, which was held in August last, the following Greymouth candidates were successful:-—Julia Eileen Williams (passed in seven subjects for Class C.), Mary Margaret Paget (passed in six subjects for Class C.), Margaret Hurley (passed in three subjects for Class C.).

Mr. T. Harper presided over a good attendance at a general meeting of the Brunner R.S.A. Tributes were paid to the late President of the Grey R.S.A. (Mr. McKane) also to a Brunner boy who gave his life for his country. Members stood in silence. Several matters of importance to returned men were discussed. The branch approved of the executive’s decision in regard to subscription for a memorial plaque. Notice to ask the Minister of Supply if he would make available a special ration of sugar for jam-mak-ing during the fruit season, was given in the House of Representatives yesterday by Mr.W. S. Goosman (Opposition, Waikato). Mr. Goosman commented that the making of jam in homes would utilise fruit that might otherwise be wasted, and would save transport and imported tin for canning.—P.A.

The Director of Education had given authority to state that the position in respect of school staffs was “very serious indeed,” Mr. W. M. Stewart, Principal of the Greymouth Technical High School, told the Armed Forces Appeal Board in Greymouth to-day. Mr. Stewart, who was appealing to retain the services of a teacher, pointed out that many specialist teachers were now engaged in war work and that youths in training colleges entered war service on reaching the age of 18. The appeal, succeeded.

Five appeals against the decision of the Manpower Officer at Wellington directing Italians to take employment with the Department of Agriculture were heard by the Wellington Industrial Manpower Committee yesterday. The Manpower Officer said that the department required men for vegetable growing, and as there was a shortage ol such labour it had been considered proper to mobilise aliens. Up till now aliens had not been called upon to bear personal sacrifices in comparison with those suffered by British subjects. Decision in all the cases was reserved. —P.A.

The duties of an E.P.S. Warden are many and varied, but one which fell to the lot of a Greymouth official on a recent evening is not included in the list of recognised duties for practice purposes. This Warden was doing his rounds, when he heard a child ciying. Investigating with the aid of his torch, he came upon a child, dressed in pyiamas, and.without slippers or dressing gown, walking along tne road. The Warden ascertained that the child had awakened, and had found that its parents were not in the house, so it had set out to look for them. The child was soon back m its bed, and the parents returned shortly afterwards.

The Salvation Army Annual SelfDenial Street Day, Friday, October 23.—Advt.

At the October meeting of the Brunner Women’s Institute, Mrs S. Williams presided over a good attendance. The motto for the month was “We are never too old to learn.” It was decided to hold a long-night social and dance in the near future. Mrs Rodgers gave a demonstration on the making of a work-basket, and was accorded a vote of thanks. A competition, a jar of flowers, was welk contested, the winner being Mrs Rodgers. A competition, a plate of shortbread, resulted: Mrs Mooney. 1, Mrs Gutberlet 2. Supper was served by the hostesses, Mesdames Pender, Gutberlet and Harper. Arab Hackney stallion to stand the season in Greymouth. Fee £5/5/-. For further particulars write P.O. Box 199, Greymouth.—Advt. If you are looking for Fashions for the Races or other smart places White’s can fit you out with the smartest and best.—White’s Corner, Your Fashion Centre.—Advt. For Summer wear, Morley’s Black Cotton, seamless gym. Hose. New soft finish. Sizes B£in. to 10in., 3/11 pair. —C. Smith’s.—Advt.