Local and General

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 April 1943, Page 4

Local and General

Steady progress continues to be made by the Public Works Department with the completion of the Inangahua-Westport section of railway line, which will be handed over to the Railways Department later in the year. A difficult undertaking has been completed with the installation of a culvert at Muddy Creek, in the vicinity of Rahui Siding. To enable this work to be done the track had to be temporarily raised, and during the coming week-end, after the last train has run on Saturday, it will be restored to the normal position. To give the men a clear run with the job, the rail-car service on Sunday is being suspended.

During March 3026 tons of coal were railed westward and 3993 tons eastward through the Buller Gorge.

A lecture on V.D. in the Wesley Hall, Greymouth, attracted a large attendance. The lecture was givsn by a medical man and was organised by the Greymouth branch of the Housewives’ Union.

It is expected that the reconstruction of the Big Wanganui traffic bridge will be completed by the end of this'month, enabling the men to be transferred to other urgent undertakings. The decking, handrails, sheathing of piers, and other similar work is being carried out.

Laundry, which will cost about £9 to replace at present-day prices, was stolen from a Cobden residence a few days ago. There was no one in the house when the laundry was delivered, and it was left in the washhouse at the rear of the house. There was no trace of the parcel when the owners returned home and efforts to find it have been unsuccessful.

Elaborating the announcement made yesterday that large numbers of runners are required for the Greymouth E.P.S. organisation, the Secretary of the W.W.S.A., Mrs L. McGlashan, stated to-day that enrolments of girls for these positions may be made through the W.W.S.A. About thirty are required, and these will receive training by the W.W.S.A. before being allocated to the various units.

As a concession to persons travelling to Hamner Springs, the Railways Department announced to-day that they may now book seats on the rail-car between Greymouth and Reefton on the outward journey, also from Reefton to Greymouth on the return trip, conditional on there being accommodation available. Up till the present if the car has been full it has sometimes been necessary for such passengers to remain at Reefton overnight.

A meeting of the Engineering Trades Utilisation Committee was held in Greymouth last evening, when 16 cases were considered, 13 being from Greymouth, two from Hokitika, and one from Reefton. It was resolved to recommend sine die adjournments in all cases, subject to a total review in the event of Grade 2 and 3 men of suitable training, experience, and skill being made available as a result of the survey of skilled labour in the Army by the National Service Department.

The annual sports meeting for secondary schools was held at Greymouth this afternoon, when the Greymouth Technical High School were hosts on the Recreation Ground. A large party of competitors travelled from Hokitika, this morning, under three masters, while boys of the Marist Brothers’ School also participated in the fixture, which attracted a large number of entries. The Reefton District High School is not participating in this year’s events, a similar fixture having been staged at Reefton earlier in the year.

Directions to essential industries by the Greymouth Manpower Officer up to March 31 totalled 212, 126 affecting males and 86 females. Appeals against these directions totalled 27, of which eight were dismissed, 14 were upheld, and five are awaiting hearing. Appeals by both employers and employees to terminate employment totalled 935. Of these 25 were later withdrawn, 757 were granted, 132 were upheld, and 21 are stiff under action. Total appeals from the Manpower Officer’s decisions in these cases were 17, four latex - being withdrawn, five upheld, seven dismissed, and one is stiff awaiting hearing.

The second derailment in the Northland in five days occurred yestei’day moiming two heavy trucks on a special goods train leaving the track near Taipuha, 30 miles south of Whangarei, from where the train had set out. Passengers and luggage on the north and south-bound expresses were transhipped yesterday afternoon and the respective expresses returned to theii’ starting points. It was expected that the derailed trucks would ze restored to the line without the help of the special breakdown train, which returned to Auckland on Sunday after clearing the derailment at Ruatangata.—P.A.»

Commenting on the egg shortage, the Minister of Marketing (Mr. Barclay) said yesterday that the Plunket Society, which had helped to distribute oranges when supplies were short, had also co-operated with the Marketing Division in authorising, by means of chits, supplies of eggs to nursing mothers and children under five years. This had applied only to Wellington and Auckland, but now that there were shortages in other centres the Marketing Division would be glad to receive the co-operation of the Plunket Society in arranging priorities for eggs and oranges when they were available, but insufficient for normal civil needs.—P.A.

Mass will be celebrated on next Sunday, April 11, at Kotuku, 8 a.m., Rotomanu 10 a.m.—Advt.

An unsolicited testimonial was given to New Zealanders in Christchurch yesterday by Mr. L. W. Brockington, K.C., the Canadian advisei’ on Empire affairs to th eßritish Ministry of Information. “One hears criticism abroad at times of other - members of the British Empire,” he said, “but I have nevei - heard New Zealanders relerred to in adverse terms. What I have seen since I have been in your country has convinced me that what the world has to say of New Zealand is true —New Zealanders are unassuming and gentlemanly in social life, the best of sportsmen, and in war they are magnificent.”

After an enjoyable visit to Wellington, where the yparticipated in the annual inspection of Voluntary Aids by the Commander-in-Chief, Lady Newall, five members of ths party of seven from the Greymouth district returned yesterday afternoon. A reception in the ballroom of Government House, on Saturday, was held instead of a march past because of bad weather, Mrs O. McLean, with other District Commandants, being entertained at afternoon tea. Members of the Greymouth party were Mesdames McLean, A. J. Fairmaid, J. Reeves, James (Blackball), and Misses N. Brislane, L. Brown, and T. Hill (Dobson). A group from Hokitika, under the direction of Mrs Harrison, also visited Wellington.

The West Coast will be affected by the substantial reduction of customary railway services during the Easter holiday period, it was announced in Greymouth to-day. Expresses will run daily between Greymouth and Christchurch (and vice versa), except Sunday, from Thursday April 22 to May 1, inclusive. On April 22 there will be four expresses in each direction, including three relief trains, while on Good Friday two expresses will run each way. On that day there will be no rail-car service on the Midland line, but the usual rail-car time-table will operate on the Westport section. On. April 24 and 26 a special train will run fox - the Westport Races, and on the latter day three expresses will run each way on the Midland line. In formex - years the holding of othex - race meetings has necessitated the running of additional services.

Hundreds are viewing and buying White’s Coats. They have a large selection of right up to the minute styles. You too should call early at WHITE’S CORNER. YOUR FASHION CENTRE.—Advt.