Local and General

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 October 1944, Page 4

Local and General

Deposits to National War Savings accounts in Greymouth, this week, were the poorest for some time. Only £287/5/2: was obtained, leaving a deficiency of £209/14/10 compared with the objective of £497. The Strongman, Blackball and ’Dobson mines worked to-day (a back Saturday). Neither the Wallsend nor Liverpool State mines worked. The Wallsend miners decided recently not to work any more back Saturdays, and Liverpool did not work on the last one, October 14. The supplementary estimates passed by the House of Representatives included the provision of £50,000 for road work in the Greymouth road district. A footnote said that a larger provision was required than the £30,000 on the main estimates. An amount of £lOOO was included for a £ for £ subsidy on a working model of Greymouth Harbour. The Minister of Marine (Mr. O’Brien) said it had been found with large engineering jobs that construction of a model saved a good deal of money. Another amount of £20,000 was provided on the account for harbour improvement, which the Minister of Finance (Mr. Nash) said was probably for West Coast

The shop conducted in Mackay Street, Greymouth, yesterday in aid of patriotic funds by Cobden and Blaketown residents realised £34.

Organised by girl prefects, a concert in aid of patriotic funds was held at the Greymouth Technical High School, yesterday afternoon. Pupils attended, admission being by silver coin, and a little more than £6 was obtained.

Letter-boxes in Preston Road have received the attention of vandals twice in the past week. On the first occasion many boxes on one side of the street were broken off and last night a start was made on the other side.

Consignments of coal from Westport to Canterbury, this week, have totalled 4780 tons, averaging about 800 tons a day. In addition to the normal service, a special train has been run from Westport each day to handle the traffic. The Gabriella is loading 900 tons of Grey district coal and 400,000 super, feet of timber at Greymouth.

“Military defaulters are building houses on a farm development area near Rotorua,” said the Minister of Rehabilitation (Mr. Skinner) in an address at Invercargill. The defaulters had already built nine homes and had five more to build. When asked if the defaulters liked the work, the Minister replied: “It doesn’t matter what they like. They will be doing what they are told for a year or two yet.”

The boxing and reinforcing for the pumping station to be erected as part of the sewerage scheme, in Preston Road, near the Erua-Moana bridge, are being prepared in the Greymouth Borough Council’s yard. When the pumping station is completed and in working order, within six months, it will be possible for all houses south of the main sewer in Preston Road and Reid Street to be connected to the sewer.

Since about 3 o’clock yesterday afternoon, when the temperature in the shade was 62 degrees, Greymouth hasexperienced humid conditions with a persistent fog. The thermometer remained high throughout the night, reading 53 degrees at midnight, 55 at 3 and 6 a.m., and 56 at 9 a.m. During the 24 hours ended at the latter hour 11 points of rain were recorded. After falling during the night, the barometer' commenced to rise this morning.

With the object of conferring with Mr. D. S. Kennedy, Engineer of the Greymouth Harbour Board, Mr. O’Brien (Minister of Marine) was due to visit. Greymouth this afternoon to discuss harbour matters. Mr. O’Brien intended to fly to Westport and then come on to Grey mouth if weather’ conditions permitted, returning to Wellington later in the afternoon. It is understood that only brief notice of his visit was received.

Conditions on the Grey bar have remained stable, probably as a result of the marked reduction in the swell. Soundings were taken yesterday afternoon by the Harbourmaster (Captain H, Moar) from the dredge, and these showed there had not been any change since Wednesday, when lowwater soundings of 15ft on the inner bar and 12ft on the outer were obtained. On Thursday and Friday good progress was made with the dredging of the berthages, 2000 tons of material being taken to sea on each day.

Although still poor compared with Thursday’s haul, whitebait were running belter in the Grey River, today, as against yesterday. South Westland has continued to record big catches, and this morning’s express took about 250 consignments, 50 of which were destined for Wellington. Ross, Hari Hari and Hokitika all contributed, while another ton came from Arahura. Last evening more than a hundred lots were consigned from Greymouth by the perishable train.

In the last seven years car conversion has increased almost 100 per cent., states the annual report of the Wellington Automobile Association, and in that period 7960 vehicles have been stolen, which were worth £l,990,000 if each was worth £250. The following official figures are quoted in the report: In 1937, 786 vehicles taken; 1938, 906 vehicles; 1939, 1087 vehicles; 1940, 1287 vehicles; 1941, 1160 vehicles; 1942, 1377 vehicles; 1943, 1347 vehicles. The comment is made in the report that the safeguarding of vehicles against thieves by locking and other means is absolutely necessary and that hitherto the punishment has not fitted the crime.

A thar, or Himalayan goat, was shot at the head of Evans River this week by Messrs Haste and Palmer, of Rotomanu, who were mustering cattle in that area. The thar was brought out by their dogs. Thar have been seen on a few occasions in the Arthur’s Pass district. They were first liberated in New Zealand in the Mount Cook district in 1904, six, which were bred by the Duke of Bedford at Woburn, England, being imported. Eight more were liberated in 1909 and, in 1917, three in the Franz Josef area. The full-grown thar is about three feet six inches high at the shoulder and weighs about 200 lb. It has long hair of a dark russet colour and black horns.

Referernce to the fact that ■ he seemed to have been “cast for the role of Jeremiah” on several occasions when he had expressed his views was made by Mr. Leslie Lefeaux. former Governor of the Reserve Bank, when addressing members of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce at their annual dinner last evening. “Having been denied the privilege of serving New Zealand in any useful capacity during these later war years, I have not felt it fitting that I should intervene in your affairs unless specifically requested to do so,” said Mr. Lefeaux. “But when my views have been sought, I have endeavoured to express them without fear or favour, as I think that more than mere lip service should be accorded to the freedom of speech for which it is alleged that we are fighting.”

The choice of a successor to the Rt. Rev. G. V. Gerard as Bishop of Waiapu has still not been completed. It is probable that it will be at least a fortnight before an announcement will be possible. A special session of the Waiapu Diocesan Synod, over which Dean Fancourt, of Auckland, presided, was held early in the month, when nominations for the vacancy were received and a choice made. The proceedings were conducted in the strictest secrecy, and it is not possible to obtain any indication as to the men under consideration or the final selection. Synod’s recommendation has been forwarded to the Bench of Bishops for its approval, and from there consideration has tp be given to it by the standing committees of each diocese. After this, acceptance of the position has to be received from the appointee. Mr C. IV. Dunlop, 5.D.0., N.Z., of W. J. Dunlop and Son, Opticians, Christchurch, and his Caravan Consulting Room will visit intending clients in Reefton and surrounding districts on receipt of letters making appointments, C/o P. 0., Reefton (Letters must be received by Monday, October 30). —Advt. Smartly dressed women prefer to shop at White’s; the Home of the newest and most charming Fashions of the Season. White’s Corner, Your Fashion Centre.—Advt. .