Local and General

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 January 1944, Page 4

Local and General

Sea, air and rail transport suffered interference yesterday in a strong south-east gale which swept Wellington, the east coast,' and districts on the east of Cook Strait. No commercial planes operated the Cook Strait run, but the Auckland-Wellington-Christ-church and Christchurch-Dunedin air serr- lce F, °P er ?t e d both ways. Heavy seds in Cook strait were reported, and several small steamers were held up. The gale, which reached 84 miles an hour at Roi>-riai yesterday morning, damaged the railways signal system between Wellington and Paekakariki, ana trains were delayed, the Limited last night being delayed for two hours. Service flying all over the North Island was cancelled for the day.—P.A.

The Prisoners of War Inquiry Office Headquarters, Wellington, has been advised that Stalag VIIA is stated to be at Gorlitz, approximately half-way between Dresden and Breslau. Stalag VIIIC is at Sagan, the same position as Luft 111 on the prisoner of war map. During the ”’eek 146 notifications were received, regarding New Zealanders previously in Italian hands; 142 were transfers to Germany, two were escapees to Switzerland, and two are safe with,the Allies, leaving approximately 1440 to be accounted for. A visit to Stalag 383 in December by a representative 6f the International Red Cross brings the report that there were approximately 4700 prison there, including 334 New Zealanders. Discipline was exthe camp was stated to be good. i+ + e Office is still anxious to receive copies of letters written by prisoners of war since the transfer from Italian camps to Germany.— P.A.

The winner of the first prize in the “Lucky New Year” art union was Mr I Cyril 1 Griffin, a sawmill hand at Tahakopa, South Otago.—P.A.

Investments in National War Savings at Greymouth during this week totalled £261/10/-, a deficiency of £235/10/-, the quota being £497.

Half the members of the nursing' staff of the Grey Hospital to-day travelled to Moana for their annual picnic. The remainder of the staff will visit Moana next Saturday.

Replacing a building over 50 years old, a new school will be opened at Lower Koiterangi on February 2. The ceremony will be performed by Mr. F. L. Turley, of Greymouth, and Mr. McNeil, members of- the Canterbury Education Board.

From time to time one hears of tyres having been stolen. One way in which motorists could assist the authorities was mentioned by Mr F. R. Picot, Commissioner of Supply, who suggested that all motor users could, to advantage, take a record of the serial numbers appearing on the sidewalls of each tyre. In the event of loss, this number should then be made available to the police, and would greatly assist them in their endeavours to trace missing tyres. — P.A.

A Government subsidy of £1,400 towards the cost of the Cobden sewerage scheme has been approved by Cabinet, according to advice received by the Mayor (Mr. F. A. Kitchmgham) last evening from the Minister of Transport (Mr. J. O'Brien). The Mayor stated to-day that the Borough Council will be able to commence the work almost immediately, and that it will provide employment for up to 36 waterside workers, who have been idled by the shoaling of the bar.

An application for training as a hairdresser was approved at a meeting of the Greymouth Rehabilitation Committee this week. Despite the large number of men who have been discharged from the armed forces only three men in the Grey district, excluding Reefton and Hokitika, are receiving a rehabilitation allowance, which is a monetary allowance paid to men discharged from the .forces but awaiting employment in industry, or to men awaiting settlement of pension claims.

It is understood that endeavours are being made by the Marine Department to secure the use of light draught vessels to work the port of Greymouth pending an improvement in the depth on the bar. However, few of this type of ship are now available in the Dominion. It is pointed out that even a shallow draught vessel would not have been able to work the port recently, heavy seas during the last 10 days having militated against a passage over the bar.

The annual conference of the New Zealand Hospital Boards’.Association, which was to have been held in Dunedin early next month, has been postponed for five weeks because of the railway travel restrictions in the South Island. It was to have commenced on February 1, and would have occupied the following week. It has now been decided to hold the conference in Dunedin in the first week in March when it is hoped that delegates from ail parts of New Zealand will be able' to attend. This will be the first occasion since 1925 on which the conference has been held in Dunedin.—P.A.

With reference to the cabled announcement from London yesterday of increased rates on cargo shipped to Australia and New Zealand, it is explained that all British tonnage trading to New Zealand is under charter to the Ministry of War Transport. All increases in freight charges, though put into operation by the shipping companies, are solely for the benefit of the British Government to meet increased costs. The new rates apply to outward cargo coming to New Zealand. When spread over all articles it is considered that the increase may prove to be comparatively small. — P.A.

At the Buller Gladioli and Dahlia Club’s annual show at Westport yesterday, Mr O. Jackson, of Greymouth, secured three firsts .in 'the open gladioli section, winning the nine distinct varieties, the six varieties, and the three varieties. Mr Jackson’s “Recardo” was runner-up to the premier bloom of the show, the premier being “Miss New Zealand,” exhibited by Mr D. J. Cunningham, of Westport. Air A. E. Martin, of Cobden, secured first place in' the six varieties, amateur section, and second place in the three varieties, which class was won by Mr H. Booth, of Cobden. Mr Martin was also second in the gladioli seedling class.

The depth on the bar at Greymouth, this morning, was only 15 feet five inches, but this represented an increase of eight inches compared with yesterday’s reading. The Westport bar is now also subject to serious shoaling, interfering with the departure of coal vessels. Soundings taken on Thursday morning indicated shoaling of 2ft 3in. The depth of the water at high t : de was 17ft sin. Two vessels had been loaded on the assumption that there would be 19ft on the bar, and these colliers will now have to stay in port, possibly until after the weekend. Loads’ for the Kartigi and Poolta. which were due to leave yesterday evening, were lightened by a total of 800 tons. Even the Kaicoa, a small vessel, scraped on the bar on the way out on Thursday evening.

The attention of all axemen competitors is drawn to the fact that no sports, club will accept any nomination in future unless the nomination is accompanied by the nomination fee. Competitors, your co-operation is asked for. Remember, Ngahere Sports Club, with an excellent programme, starts the season on Saturday, February 5. “Be in.”—Advt. The amendments to the Government’s new pip fruit marketing scheme, which were made as the result of a deputation of growers’ representatives to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Marketing last week, are now being presented lo growers at me/ lings in the various fruit growing districts of the Dominion, says the Nelson “Mail.” It is learned that the principal improvements from the growers’ point of view are that the proposals nnw include a minimum guarantee of 6/P e r case, based on last year’s price schedule, more direct growers’ representation on the Fruit Marketing Council and the. abolition of the 5 per cent, deduction from the growers. gross returns to assist uneconomic orenards. For this last item is s uos titut ed a special reserve of £25,000 out of subsidy money. The scheme is now proposed to be for one year and then to be subject to review, whereas the original proposals intended that it should last a ? . .J?g as the period of economic stabilisation.

Ladies! Here is your great opporxxUr?uy; z-Y" in the £ off Hats.— White s Corner, Your Fashion Centre. —Advt.

Quilted Satin Pram Covers and Pillow Slips to match. In white and bl « e - Covers 22/9; pillow slips 11/9. —C. Smith’s.— Advt. Infants’ White Silk Petticoats, lace edging round neck and hem. Sizes 16in. and 18in. 5/6.—C. Smith’s.— Advt.