LOCAL AND GENERAL

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 June 1944, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

So far only about 500 motor licenses have been issued at Greymouth, comprising a third of the total at present in force. The new stickers are required to be in use next Saturday.

The air temperature in Greymouth, this morning, stood at 51 degrees—ls degrees warmer than at the same hour on Saturday. A total of 37 points of rain fell from the time the wet wea< th er resumed last evening, but in spite of the continued rain, this morning, the barometer was steady at the high level of 1014.5 millibars.

St. John Ambulance Brigade members from Greymouth and Runanga held their annual church parade yesterday at St. Patrick’s Church and at Holy Trinity Church. The parade from the headquarters of the Brigade to Holy Trinity Church was led by .the Greymouth Highland Pipe Band.

A dozen members of the West Coast Alpine Club travelled by bus to Kumara, yesterday morning, and then walked through the old oil boring workings and the bush track to Camerons. The condition of the track was fairly good considering it has not been generally used for some years.

About 2200 tons of coal will be lifted by the three coastal ships which arrived at Greymouth, this morning, releasing about 270 hopper waggons. Awaiting another ship, there will be a further 800 tons on the wharf when these vessels have completed loading. About 3600 tons were taken by the ships which sailed on Saturday for Wellington.

Evidence of the extent to which the railways handled additional tonnage to Canterbury while the port was unworkable is given in the figures for the week ended on Saturday. During the seven days 21,087 tons of goods passed through the Otira Tunnel from the West Coast, compared with 16,951 in the same period of last year and only 14,903 in the corresponding week of 1942.

Although there was a considerable swell, with increasing seas, on the Grey bar, this morning, three coastal ships entered port to load coal. They are expected to sail again this evening. The Port Waikato, which sailed just before midnight on Saturday with timber for Port Waikato, experienced engine trouble when fifty miles north of Westport and put into that port, arriving early yesterday afternoon. She is expected to sail again to-morrow.

The future of the recently established linen flax industry in New Zealand cannot be viewed very hopefully, according to Mr. F. R. Callaghan, deputy-secretary of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. Mr. Callaghan, in an address to the Nelson Philosophical Society, said that at present, even with Jhigh war prices, the industry was working at a loss. The present price of £224 a ton for linen fibre was approximately double the pre-war price. In 10 New Zealand factories, all of which were in the South Island, the cost of production varied greatly, and all but a few were working at a loss.

The Liverpool State mine was idle to-day. Repairs to the boys’ bathhouse were commenced recently and on Saturday the mine employees complained about the state of the building. They were told that the work would probably be completed by to-day. Work was continued on Saturday, but not completed. When they assembled for work this morning the boys decided to return home, and the miners went with them. The afternoon and night shifts will both work. The Wallsend State mine, which has. been idle since June 16, during repairs to the poppet-head of the main shaft, resumed this morning.

The Armed Forces Appeal Board held a brief sitting in Greymouth, this morning, Mr W. Meldrum presiding. with Messrs P. J. McLean and A. Panther. Mr G .G. M. Mitchell was Secretary. Consideration was given an adjourned application by Tinning and Party, Jubilee Mine, to adopt the appeal of the 'State Mines Department, Mangapehi, for Herbert Pattinson, miner. The application was approved and a sine die adjournment granted. Evidence was heard from a soldier of the second furlough draught seeking release from the Armed Forces to take over a farm property which had been vested in his name.

A meeting of the' Lady Galway Guild was held recently at Mrs. F. M. Dennehy’s residence. Those present were Mesdames F. A. Kitchingham (chair), Dermehy, Hannan, Russell, Harley, Cameron, Abbie, Congreve, Millar, McGlashan and Misses White and Haglund. Mesdames Kennedy, Wright and Wilson, Runanga, and Mrs. Martin, Brunner. Members passed a vote of condolence with Mr. and Mrs. Fogarty in the loss of their son. Reports on the activities of the Guilds at Dobson, Brunner, Runanga and Greymouth were received. Since the previous meeting two large cases of clothing have been sent to Christchurch en route to England. Owing to the liberation of considerable areas in Europe, the need for clothing is more urgent than ever and it was decided to hold a clothes drive early in July. The Guild passed a vote of thanks to the many people who sent in such good clothing for the relief of distress overseas.

Big Coat Drive now in full swing at White’s; every coat drastically reduced. Watch the big window display. Every coat plainly marked. — White’s Corner, Your Fashion Centre. —Advt.

How would you like to be tied to your clothes line? Sounds like a pleasant form of medieval punishment. Yet, right here in Greymouth, there are many women who are tied to their clothes lines. Yes, week in and week out, the old household drudgery goes on. When the weather is fine, it’s bad enough, but when it’s unsettled and inclined to rain—why run the risk of catching cold? Start Winter the right way by sending all washing to the Westland Laundry. Our No. 2 Thrifty Service costs only 5/- for 181bs flat work perfectly laundered, and you’ll be surprised just how much you can cram into 181bs. It works out at approximately 2/6 a week, representing the average household’s fortnightly wash. ’Phone 136. Depot: 27 Albert Street.—Advt.