Local and General

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 November 1944, Page 4

Local and General

The annual festival for all West Coast branches of the Anglican Mothers Union was held yesterday at Hokitika. There was a good representation of members from ad parts of the district. On arrival the visiting members were entertained at morning tea by the local members. A communion service was held, the celebrant being the Rev. E. C z Harding, vicar of Runanga. noon, an address was given by Mrs. Mason, a missionary from Melanesia. Since his recent reference to the existence in New Zealand of a colour bar against Maoris, there have been encouraging signs of a change of attitude, said Major K. 1. Harawira. Maori vocational guidance .officer, in Auckland, to-day. In the past there had been some unfortunate rebuffs, but since his address -o th- Roffirv Club, b p had received not only offers of jobs for Maori boys and girls, but also encouraging letters from all parts of the country support him m the remarks he made. “There is still room lor improvement, however, and this will continue to be the case for some time, he added. —P.A.

A large number of citizens were at the Greymouth Railway Station early this morning to welcome home the party of 42 West Coast men who have returned from the Mediterranean theatre. The Mayoress (Mrs. r. A. Kitchingham). Deputy-Mayor (Mr. P. Blanchfield), Acting-Town Clerk (Mr. C. E. Heaphy) and members of the Borough Council. Patriotic Committees, and the R.S.A. were present, and the Pipe Band was m attendance. The Greymouth men were taken to their homes by car, and those for Westport and the north, who had also come on to Greymouth, were entertained to early morning tea by Mrs. Kitchingham and Mrs. E. Parfitt at the Women’s Patriotic Depot. They left for their homes by the Westport rail-car.

From Stillwater to the Grey County boundary near Jacksons, a distance of 36 miles by road, no provision has been made for a cemetery, nor has any.land been set aside by the Lands Denartmnt for the purpose. Mr. J. Higgins, County Engineer, reporting to this effect to to-day’s meeting of the Grey County Council, said that probably two cemeteries would be required—one at Kotuku and one at Rotomanu, entailing considerable expenditure. There were nine cemeteries m the County—at Greenstone, Maori Gully. No Town, Nelson Creek, Ahaura, Blackball, Barrytown, Napoleon Hill and Moonlight—but only those at Ahaura and Blackball were likely to be made use of in the future. Mr. Higgins said it would be worthwhile to consider making a contribution to the upkeep of the Greymouth Cemetery instead of incurring the cost of establishing cemeteries at Kotuku and Rotomanu. The Council decided to defer fuller consideration till the next meeting.

The Minister of Transport (Mr. O’Brien) announced that a license had been granted to Union Airways to operate an air service between Dunedin and Invercargill daily except Sundays, leaving Dunedin at 3.15 p.m. and Invercargill at 4.15 p.m.—P.A. After being in short supply during the early part of the week, whitebait were again running in good quantities in the Grey River to-day. Numerous catches of several kerosene tins full were obtained.

Six extra carriages had to be added to the Midland express at Greymouth, this morning, when 320 passengers left for Christchurch in a train of eleven cars and two vans. The train to the Coast is bringing 207 passengers in nine cars.

At a meeting in the Council Chambers' yesterday Of the recentlyformed committee of women’s organisations to help the Royal Navy and Merchant Navy Hostel, at Wellington, arrangements were made to hold a shop-day and street appeal at Greymouth on Friday, December 1.

Rain interfered with loading operations on the Greymouth wharf last evening and this morning, but the Kaimai left shortly after 11 p.m. with coal for Wellington. The Karepo s loading was interrupted by rain during to-day, but she should sail about noon to-morrow. The Holmlea has been awaiting coal supplies since berthing yesterday morning, but com* menced loading this afternoon.

To recompense for the loss of rates as a result of the State taking over the Blackball mine, the Minister of Mines advised the Grey County Council, to-day, that the Government has decided to make an annual grant of £520 for three years, this being the limit of the Government’s responsibility. The Council decided to point out that the loss of rates would continue for longer than three years and to state it was not satisfied with the position.

The Soil. Conservation and Rivers Control Council has, pending the establishment of a Catchment Board on the West Coast, deferred making a decision on fixing a definite rate of subsidy for river works. Mr. W. L. Newnham, conveying this information to the Grey County Council, today, stated that the Control Council proposed to deal with each application for subsidy on works on its merits and would keep in mind representations made by the County Council as to its financial position.

The Grey District Acclimatisation Society’s Council met last evening, Mr R. Kay presiding. It was decided to offer a trophy valued at £l/1/for the heaviest eel caught in the district up to March 31, 1945. Discussion on the Society’s future policy in the re-stocking of trout fishing streams was deferred till the next meeting, as also was discussion on a report on co-ordinated research and administration in wild life, the report to be circulated among members in the meantime.

A decision has been made to alter the constitution of the National Patriotic Fund Board to provide for those provincial councils which have not until now had a separate and direct representative on the Board to be so represented. Provincial councils concerned have been asked to nominate their representatives. The decision will apply equally to the three new councils constituted recently in Northland. Waikato, and the Bay of Plenty, and means an increase in the Board membership from 21 to 31.—P.A.

Although all 10 offices were credited with quota successes for national war savings last week, the total investments of £696/7/2 fell far short of the West Coast weekly requirements of £-1069. Four of the 10 offices which obtained their quotas (apart from accumulated surpluses) were: Hokitika, £2lO/3/- (surplus. £4O 3/-); Ross, £36/12/- (£4/12/-); Kumara, £27/10/6 (£2/10/6); Blackball, £52/17/- (17/-). The lodgments of the remaining six offices were:— Greymouth, £287/5/2 (deficiency, £209/14/10); Runanga, £l7/9/(£B3/11/-); Reefton, .£lO (£73); Waiuta, £4 (£31); Otira, £7/1/(£6/19/-); Brunnerton, £43/9/6 (£6/10/6).

When the Greymouth-Westport rail-car, which left here at 7.25 this morning, was at Kaiata mechanical trouble developed and it could not proceed further on the journey. A relief car was despatched from Greymouth, and eventually the passengers continued their journey after an hour’s delay. The car from Christchurch to Greymouth also experienced mechanical trouble, and was about 20 minutes late in reaching Greymouth. During shunting operations at Rewanui, this monning, a carriage was derailed, fouling the main line and preventing the usual passenger service being run. However, the Dun-ollie-Greymouth service was maintained, passengers reaching Greymouth at the usual hour, and later a special train was run from Rewanui to Dunollie, enabling passengers from Rewanui to connect with the ordinary train and reach Greymouth in good time to connect with the Midland express.

The National Patriotic Fund Board has received by direct payments and through provincial councils £37,750 6/3, in response to the special appeal in June on behalf of the Allied Nations. Amounts totalling £20,612 7/7 are by subscriptions specifically for asistance to certain countries, and the money has been allocated in accordance with those wishes. With the exception of Denmark, which was not included officially in the appeal, 50 per cent, of the balance has been apportioned equally to ten countries, and the other 50 per cent, in proportion to the total amount specifically subscribed for each. The total allocation for each country in accordance with this procedure is: China £2719/11/6, Czechoslovakia £3199 13/5, Greece £12,867/14/-, Holland £1099/1/7, Norway £7767/7/3, Poland £7BBB/12/3, Russia £2476 17/10, Jugoslavia £4036/4/11, Franco £lOBB/6/1, Belgium £ll2O/1/10, and Denmark £77/1/5.—P A

In the election of officers for* the Grey Miners’ Central Committee, Mr F. Baxendale (Runanga) was elected President with 660 votes to the 255 of his opponent, Mr. E. Duggan (Brunner), a majority of 405. Mr. W. Purdy (Dobson), 481, was elected secretary, with a majority of 52 over the combined votes of his two opponents, Messrs A. McGougan (Blackball) 232, and H. Browning (Brunner), 197. Mr. Purdy was also elected delegate for the district to the National Council of the United Mine Workers. The other candidates for this office were Messrs J. Queen (Runanga), A. McGougan (Blackball) and J. Davies (Brunner). The preferential voting system was adopted for the election, but of the three ballots _ held there was only one in which it was necessary to make more than the first count, the successful candidates in each of the other two obtaining an absolute majority of the first preferences. In the elction of National delegate the second preference had to be counted.

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