LOCAL AND GENERAL

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 January 1944, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

In the course of a brief visit to the West Coast yesterday the Minister of Works (Mr. R. Semple) inspected a coal deposit in the Reefton district. He stated last evening that he had been impressed with the possibility of working the deposit by the open colliery method with the use of modern machinery. Investigations were proceeding with that object in view. w

A Press Association telegram from New Plymouth stated that last night general rain was experienced throughout the greater part of Taranaki, giving rise to hopes that the dry spell, which has lasted there since November 9, has ended. Some falls occurred on Tuesdav night, but it can now be said that the position has been eased. Not since 1928 has Taranaki been so long without an adequate rainfall, and the effect on dairy production has been severe.

Cabinet has approved of the renovation, at a cost of £6OO, of the premises formerly occupied by Williams and Ross, chemists, in Mawhera Quay, Greymouth, for use by the Air Training Corps as district headquarters. When the work is completed the building will include an R.N.Z.A.J. office, a reading room, lounge, lecture rooms and buffet. The Greymouth Squadron has now received an aircraft engine, of 14 cylinders, tor instructional purposes. The carburettor of the engine is valued at £320.

A heavy truck owned by the Mines Department and driven by Mr A Ward, of Runanga, was seriously damaged. yesterday, when the hydraulic brakes failed to act on tne Nine Mile Hill. The truck was loaded with gravel and ran down the hill and off the road. Mr Ward jumped out when he found that he could not stop the truck with the hand-brake on account of the pace which the truck developed. Mr Ward was not injured.

Electric power on the West Coast was cut off from 10.55 p.m. yesterday until 11.14 p.m., as a result of-a fauL which developed on the Canterbury side. Power was restored to the West Coast through the Arnold and Dobson stations, but the full system was in operation again by 11.25 p.m. The fault also affected Christchurch power supplies, where the current was not restored until 11:25. The cause of the interruption was not known in Greymouth to-day.

A new world’s record for sheepshearing is claimed on behalf of Mr Henry Thomas Tuwhangai, aged. 47, of Kawhia, who sheared 417 ewes m nine working hours. The was established on the farm of Mr H. Robinson, Putaruru, under the supervision of Mr A. R. Vosper, J.P. the “New Zealand Herald”). Previous records were claimed for Mr P. de Malmanche, who sheared 412 sheep in 10 hours in South. Taranaki in 1933. Before that the figure stood at 406 sheep in the same wonting period. A good average number for nine hours’ shearing is 220 sheep.

The first section of the new block of State flats on Wellington Terrace is rapidly nearing completion., r ive storeys high and constructed in reinforced concrete, this section will contain 17 one-bedroom flats. It was originally intended to erect only the outer shell meantime and to use it as barracks for women of the armed forces stationed in Wellington. It is now considered possible, however, that it may be finished and made available for occupation as flats by April 1. Surveying for the second and main section of the block is now proceeding. As tentatively planned, this section was to be of nine storeys, containing 78'flats.

A supply of gumboots has just been landed in New Zealand. Last evening at Wellington, the ActingPrime Minister, Mr Sullivan, announced that the gumboots would be released immediately for certain retricted essential users, but, as the shipment was small, it would be impossible to supply all essential demands. Mr Sullivan said tnat evei.y effort would be made to effect a fair distribution, and to give the greatest possible coverage to essential users, particularly dairy farmers. A system lor distribution has been established, and this would also apply to .ffinnboots made in New Zealand. the supplies will be distributed thiough retailers, after application, on . a form available at the stores, which has been approved. —P.A.

The meeting of dairymen called for this evening, lias been postponed until next week. Due notice will be advertised. —Advt.

A hotel account of £35 for three days’ accommodation for members of the Brabin Shield cricket team which visited Dunedin recently came as a shock to members of the Canterbury Cricket Association when it was read at their meeting last evening. “The Otago Cricket Association had undertaken, to provide billets for the players, then at the last minute this could not be done, nor could cheap lodging be found, as it was holiday time, and the players had to stay at one of the city’s most expensive hotels. The Otago Association offered to pay a small part of. the sum, but the Canterbury Association passed a unanimous motion last evening accepting no liability for the cost of the team’s accommodation. They agreed, however, that they would be prepared to provide billeting for the Otago team when it visited Christchurch for the return match.

Track and field athletics, Recreation Ground Saturday. Main attraction, West Coast 100 yards Amateur Championship.—Advt.

A head-on collision between cars driven by Mr R. Pepperell, of Greymouth, and Mr A. Collis, of Reefton, occurred on the Manila Road, about 17 miles from Reefton, yesterday morning. Mrs L. Levene, of Auckland, received a severe lacerated wound in the right leg, Mrs H.jPoulton, of Reefton, a fractured ankle, and facial injuries, and. Mr L. Levene, of Auckland, arm injuries. All three were passengers in the car driven by Mr Collis, who was taking his passengers to Chistchurch from Reefton. The passengers in the other car, Mr and Mrs Pepperell and their daughter, and Mrs W. D. Panckhiwst and her three children, received only minor injuries. Dr. J. L. Wicken attended the injured at the scene of the accident and Mrs Poulton and Mrs Levene were admitted to the Inangahua Hospital for treatment. The cars were extensively damaged.

Owing to the prevalence of bush and scrub fires Mr. Wilson, Minister of Civil Defence, stated yesterday in Wellington that, in view of the danger of a serious interruption of New Zealand’s war effort resulting therefrom, he had notified the chairmen of local E.P.S. organisations that in aistricts where there were no fire fighting organisations, such as exist in. the forest fire districts and certain State forests as well as in urban areas,, they are to assume the full responsibility for fire fighting in the districts under their control, and to instruct the E.P.S. squads in their district that they must be prepared v a ny fire that may occur. Individuals unable to cope with a fire ™ m ediately notify the nearest i.P.S fire warden. If all local at- i .empts to put a fire out are insuffi- I nent, then the Army should be call ■ ;d upon, for assistance if there is ny camp within the vicinity.—P.A,