Local and General

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 September 1943, Page 4

Local and General

The membership of the Auckland R.S.A. reached 5000 yesterday, when an ex-service-man of the present war joined. This tota.is the highest foi' over 20 years and includes 1050 from this war, a rise of 800 since the beginning of April last. It makes the Auckland membership the strongest in the Dominion. The total does not include suburban. branches aggregating over 1000.— P.A.

The Auckland-Wellington Limited express was derailed about a mile on the Wellington side of Porirua this morning. It is believed the mishap was due to the front wheels of the first carriage jumping the rails. The engine driver promptiv pulled up the train and no one was injured. The engine and rolling stock were undamaged, but the track was damaged. The passengers were brought to Wellington in buses which the Department quickly sent to the scene. —P.A.

The* Greymouth Harbour Board’s dredge, which has not been in use for about seven months, will be at work again early next week, if the weather is favourable, to deal with the shoaling which occurred in the recent freshes. Captain H. Moar (Harbourmaster) stated this morning that soundings takten yesterday showed that not a great deal of shoaling has taken place in the river, but at the Nos 2 and 3 berthages the dredge would have to be brought into use. On the bar, after the recent good readings, a depth of three feet had been lost, so that the low water reading was now lift 6in.

Mr. L. Schaef, of Greymouth, is accompanying the Kiwi Concert _ Party on its South Island tqur, being* in charge of the electrical amplifier equipment.

A meeting of the Road Transport Utilisation Committee was held in Greymouth, last evening, when consideration was given the cases of two appellants held on appeal. It was decided to recommend further postponement of service for the men, who reside at Ikamatua and Reefton, respectively.

At a meeting of the Greymouth Rehabilitation Committee yesterday, an application from an ex-service-man for a loan to purchase a house was considered and was recom--mended to the Board for approval. At the initial meeting of the Hokitika Committee on Monday, Mr G. Gilchrist, the R.S.A. representative, was elected chairman..

Thirty Greymouth young women have been selected by the Manpower Office to appear before the Matron of the Grey Hospital (Miss Moffatt) for interview to determine their suitability for training as pupil nurses. The next class is to commence on April 25, and the Hospital has enlisted the aid of the manpower authorities in securing a quota.

The main route between the West Coast and Canterbury, over the Lewis Pass, is in good order, but motorists travelling between Murchison and Springs Junction should take the Shenandoah Road. This advice was given to-day by Mr. W. F. Harley, Secretary of’ the Grey Branch of the Canterbury Automobile Association, who pointed out that this section is bridged. All officers were re-elected at the annual meeting of the Greymouth Auxiliary Fire Brigade last evening, when Mr. T. McKay presided. The annual report and the balance sheet, showing a substantial credit balance, were read and adopted. Members had the unique experience of being twice called out to alarms of fire during the meeting.

The Food and Rationing Controller (Mr. J. E. Thomas), announced last night that, owing to the shortage ot pig meats required for essential demands, the period of prohibition on the retail sale of pork, which was the subject of a restriction order, had been extended from September 30 to October 30. A further public notice had been issued accordingly.—P.A.

Fire caused damage at the Greymouth Laundry in Albert Street, last evening, and the Fire Brigade was called to quell two fires in the same building within two hours. The fire apparently started about 8 p.m. in the drying room, where the room itself, and portion of its contents, including shirts and underclothing, suffered from fire, smoke and water. Shortly before 10 p.m. the Brigade was called to the scene again, but this time their services were not required, a stirrup pump providing the necessary assistance to buckets of water.

An address on plastic houses and coal distillation, with a view to the establishment of these industries in New Zealand, was given by Mr. J. McDonald, at a representative meeting at Westport last evening. Mr. Webb, who attended, gave the scheme his warm, support and his assurance that the Government would do all in its power to establish the industries, which would provide employment for soldiers returning from the war and others whom the Government would make provision for in post-war settlements. He believed that Westport would be the site of these industries. —P.A.

A prison camp escapee, who has been at liberty since October of last year, appeared before Mr. N. V. Lovell, J.P. at Greymouth this morning, charged with escaping from custody at Rangipo Prison Camp on October 5, 1942, and also with the theft at Haupiri on September 3, 1943, of a riding saddle, valued at £B, the property of John Murray Coates. He was Jeffrey Corbett, aged 32 years, alias Stanley King, alias Geoffrey Coibett, alias Frank Dixon. He was arrested after a chase, at Otira, last night. On the application of Senior Detective H. E. Knight accused was remanded to appear at Greymouth on Monday next.

The Registrar of Electors for Westland (Mr W. M. Fraser) stated yesterday that 423 absentee votes, 178 postal votes, and three seamen’s votes have yet to come to hand for the Westland electorate. The counting of absentee, postal, and seamen’s votes does not commence until all have arrived, the number being checked against prior telegraphic advice from the various places at which they have been lodged. After the rolls have been checked in the presence of scrutineers the counting of these votes begins. The result is not likely to be made known till some time next week.

Ask Yourself! Do you wash at home because you think it’s cheaper, more convenient, because you think you can do it better? Then just listen to this! The Westland Laundry No. 2 Thrifty Service will wash, dry and iron 181bs flat work for 5/-. Th comprises 8 sheets, 9 pillowslips, 9 towels, 6 tea ktwels, and 3 tablecloths—3s articles, or the equivalent, representing the average household’s fortnightly wash. You don’t have to worry about ihe weather—your washing is done—when you want it! And as for doing it better, our modern methods cause far less wear and tear than the old method of scrubbing on the washboard. ’Phone 136. Depot: 27 Albert Street.—Advt.

To date 273 formei' members of the Armed Forces, who have returned to civilian life from service overseas or in New Zealand, have been dealt with by the Rehabilitation Division of the National Service Department on the West Coast (“excluding Buller). Of the 139 who have returned from overseas, 72 of them are working again in civilian employment. Sixtysix are still receiving attention from the Division, as some are still recuperating, and others are not yet discharged from the forces. One returned man is deceased. Only one female has returned to the West Coast from overseas service and she has been self-placed with a private employer. Of the 133 men who have returned from service in New Zealand 16 are recuperating and the remainder have returned to civilian work.

; Opening the Navy League War . Council annual meeting, at WellingJ° n > to-day, Sir C. Newall said he thought there was just a danger of ; people becoming too accustomed to i good news. The news at the moment I was very very good, while things • were going well and he felt they would continue to do so. The road ahead, however, was a long one, and not altogether straight and smooth. . W e must keep on and not get the impression that it is all over ‘bar the shouting’—it is not by a long way.” He urged that the people should not forget what the sailors were achieving. The news of the dimunition of submarine sinkings of shipping was very gratifying but it must be realised that we were lighting a skilled ruthless enemy. Though there might be lulls in the sinkings we must expect a recrudescence of submarine activity. In fact, it had already started. Everything must be 'done to relieve the burdens of the Royal and Merchant Navies both in the way of comforts and by other means.—P.A.