Local and General

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 September 1944, Page 4

Local and General

The Gabriella, Poolta, and Rata have all sailed from Greymouth with coal in their cargoes, exhausting the available supplies temporarily. As a result the Holmlea, which has completed discharging her cargo and is to load 600 tons of coal for Picton, and the Pakura, which is to load 800 tons of Miramar, were not able to start operations till this afternoon.

A slight increase in the number pf scarlet fever cases in the Canterbury district is reported by the Department of Health. Last week there were 53 new notifications in Canterbury, compared with 41 in the preceding week, and eight on the West Coast. Other notifications included five cases of tuberculosis in Canterbury and one on the West Coast, and one each of puerperal sepsis, hydatids,' and erysipelas, all m Canterbury. There were five deaths from notifiable diseases in the Canterbury district, three fpom tuberculosis and one each from cerebrospinal meningitis and hydatids.

Country schools in the Grey district are having their annual examination by membei's of the inspectorate of the Canterbury Education Board. They are Messrs A. Lake, J. P. Hawke, R. Dickie and Bennett, and their visit will not on this occasion include town schools.

The . Waiho School, which was closed more than two years ago because there were not enough children of school age in the district, has been re-opened, and nine pupils are enrolled. A weekly average attendance of 8.5 is needed to retain the.teacher. Miss N. McGrath (Greymouth) is in charge.

A shag drive was conducted in the Grey district during the week-end by the Acclimatisation Society and met with success, although petrol restrictions prevented a large number of sportsmen praticipating. Among the shags destroyed was one with the unusually large Avingspan of sft. 9m., which contained a quantity of partlydigested fish.

The programme of dredging the shoaling from the berthages in the Grey River has been interrupted by a further breakdown on the dredge Mawhera, due to fresh trouble with the buckets. No work has been possible since Friday, but it is hoped to resume work to-morrow. Last, week 5500 tons of spoil were dredged from the river and dumped at sea.

Pte. (Miss) M. Tyson, of Runanga, and Pte. R. E. Shand, *of Hokitika, Avho recently arirved back in Netv Zealand after service overseas, returned to their homes yesterday. They were met at the Greymouth Railway Station, yesterday morning, by the Mayor (Mr F. A. Kitchingham) and representatives of the Borough Council, the Red Cross, Patriotic organisations, and the R.S.A.

Members of the St. Columba Literary and Debating Club at. their weekly meeting last evening heard a talk by Sgt. L. B. Phillips, a former President of the Club, who was recently invalided home from overseas. Sgt. Phillips related the story of his particular unit from the end of the Tunisian campaign until the Battle oi Cassino, and was accorded a vote oi thanks, on the motion of the President (Mr M. G. Kelly) and Mr P. O’Farrell.

A decision to invest £lO in the Victory Loan Avas made at a meeting of the Brunner W.I. at A\ r hich Mrs. Gutberlet presided. Mrs. Mahon and Mrs. McSorley were appointed delegates to the Federation meeting. The balance sheet for soldiers’ parcels was read and six parcels Avere dispatched last month. Mrs. Browning read an interesting chapter from Pioneer Tales. Competitions resulted: Child’s knitted article, Mrs. Lockingtori; bowl of flowers, Mrs. Gutberlet; mystery parcel, Mrs. Mahon.

Five representatives of West Coast and Buller miners’ organisations left, this morning, for Wellington to discuss with the Minister of Mines and the Prime Minister debated questions in regard to the operation of opencast mines. The representatives were Messrs F. Baxendale (President) and W. Purdy (Secretary) of the Grey Miners’ Central Committee, A. .McArthur (a member of the National Council) and I. Tyler (Secretary) and F. Connew (President) of the Buller Miners’ Central Committee.

The operation of a persistent swell on the Grey bar has resulted in a diminution of the depth by a foot, according to soundings taken yesterday bv the Harbourmaster (Captain H. Moar). This gives a low-water reading of 15ft., compared with 16ft. when soundings were previously taken, and, with the incidence of neap tides, the depth at high water is now in the vicinity of 23ft. When soundings were taken there was a lift of about 7ft. The echometer is again out of action and resort was had to line soundings.

At a civil sitting of the Magistrate’s Court at Greymouth, this morning, before Mr G. G. Chisholm, S.M., judgment for plaintiff by default was given in the case of A. E. Kilgour v. W. Bishop for £l/5/2, with 3/- costs. In the Warden’s Court the Warden (Mr Chisholm) granted the following applications:—William MacDonald, residence site licence, No. 196/02. Ernest Edward Williams, renewal residence site licence. Ngahere Gold Dredging Co., Ltd., 13 applications for ordinary prospecting licences, Mawheranui S.D. W. S. H. Wick, ordinary sea beach claim, le Miko S.D.—Recommended for consent of the Minister of Mines.

The County is responsible for the Patriotic Shop on Friday. All kinds of goods are needed for sale to keep to the figures of previous shops.— Advt.

There were 134 coal mines operating in the Dominion in 1943. Fiftyfour of those mines were situated on freehold property, and produced 1,132,735 tons, or 41 per cent, of the total output. The remaining 80 mines are situated on Crown lands, and produced 1,655,133 tons, or 53 per cent, of the total output of 2,787,868 tons. A total of ' 247 licenses for mining privileges was granted under the provisions of the Mining Act last year, an increase of 23 on the previous year. Of the licenses granted in 1943, 32 were licenses entitling the holders to mine for gold. Altogether 45 mining privileges, including four claim licences and 16 water-race licences, were struck off the register.

Residents of the Grey County are asked to help the Patriotic Shop on Friday. Send all classes of goods for sale;—Advt.

Matters concerning the seventyfifth anniversary of St. John’s Presbyterian Church have been advanced by the setting up of a records and publicity committee, to compile a history of the church. The committee has agreed that names of members and events associated with the life of the church were more useful if of early origin. With the co-operation of all who can supply information the committee hopes to be able to produce an interesting history of the church. Miss C. Brown is convener of the committee. A week in January will be spent on celebrations? to which Presbyterians of other towns will be invited. An executive and sub-committees were appointed. Messrs J. McKenzie and K. Fehsenfeld being joint secretaries.

Trumans Ltd. now present for your approval an outstanding range of Floral Silk Frocks made in very attractive styles. Sizes S.S.W. and S.W. 51/9; Ws. 54/6.—Advt.

The United Debating Club held their annual banquet, last evening, when the following toast-list was honoured:—“The King”; “Kindred Clubs” (proposed by Mr H. W. Hay and responded to by Messrs J. E. Laing and M. L. Daly); “The*Visitors” (Mr G. Thompson—Private Hardie); “The Judges” (Mr H. A. S. Rollinson —Messrs R. T. Bush and Daly); “Absent Friends” (Mr L. Anderson —Mr J. Booth); “The Prize. Winners” (MT A. L. McKay—Messrs G. Gillespie and D. Mclvor); “Programme Committee” (Mr D. Hardie —Mr Rollinson); “The Musicians” (Mr H. G. Stiles —Mr H. Chalk); “The Press” (proposed by Mr A. Sumner). Items were given by Messrs Mclvor, Hardie and H. Malham, and Mr H. Chalk was pianist.

We have on display at Trumans Ltd. a new line of Floral Silk Frocks, bright and new for Summer wear. Sizes O.S. 54/6; X.O.S. 59/9.—Advt.