LOCAL AND GENERAL

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 November 1944, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The annual examinations for the Seddon and Bevilaqua Memorial Medals were held to-day at the Grey Technical High School.

Whitebaiters on the banks of the Grey River, to-day, obtained a good harvest. With practically a smooth bar, the fish came up in numerous large shoals, but in many instances they kept further out from the banks than usual, eluding the nets.

This morning’s rail-car brought a full passenger list to Greymouth, and the perishable goods train, which arrived yesterday morning, was well patronised by returning racegoers. The six cars held 175 passengers at Otira, about 40 leaving the train en route to Greymouth.

The Wallsend State mine was idle to-day following a prolonged stopwork meeting at the bathhouse this morning. It is understood that the matters discussed were mainly of a domestic nature and that there is no dispute existing with the management.

The Postmaster-General (Mr. P. C. Webb) said yesterday that on August 30, 274,617 motor-vehicles had been licensed for the current year. This represented an increase of 12,527, or 4.77 per cent, compared with the number at the corresponding date of 1943. The number of cars licensed (189,571) is an increase of 3303 compared with last year’s figures.—P.A.

During the week ended on Saturday 18,777 tons of goods traffic passed through the Otira Tunnel from the West Coast, much of it being timber, with a good proportion of coal from the Westport district. In the corresponding period last year only 15,233 tons were handled, and in the similar week of 1942 the total was 16,797 tons.

A mine carpenter, Kevin Creagh, 35, single, suffered a bruised back on Saturday afternoon, when he fell from the poppet heads at the Wallsend State mine. Creagh was doing repair work when a beam on which he was standing was knocked off, and he fell 30 feet to the ground. After attention by Dr. Kent he was admitted ■to the Grey Hospital. His condition to-day was reported to be satisfactory.

Mr. Semple stated at Christchurch, on Saturday, that concrete forms of house construction will be adopted for State houses as soon as suitable designs are available. Mr. Semple said that three types of construction were at present under consideration. A tender had just been let for the construction of 20 houses of pumice wallboard in Auckland. —P.A.

A special work train performed a novel task on the Westport section, yesterday, when, between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m., a railway house was transported from Te Kuha to Westport, more than six miles. The house was cut into sections and loaded on to long UB wagons, which also carried smaller buildings, all being loaded and unloaded by means of skids.

The Rata sailed for Nelson with a cargo of coal yesterday afternoon instead of on Saturday as expected. The right type of coal was not available on Saturday morning, and labour had to be called yesterday to load the vessel. The Karu, which arrived yesterday morning, has started loading 400,000 super feet of timber for Wellington.

A dozen members of the 'West Coast Alpine Club, yesterday, participated in a tramp lasting from 9.30 a.m. till 4.30 p.m. Ascending the track from Marsden Road, they travelled to Kaiata, thence back along the Omoto Ridge to Nikau Valley, returning to town via King’s Domain. The track was found to be in good condition, and splendid views were obtained from the various look-outs.

Mr. R. Wilson, of Greymouth, figured in two rescues on the Grey bar, on Saturday and Sunday. On the first dav a launch broke down and he brought it back with difficulty with his own launch after the tow rope had parted. Yesterday two men fishing in a rowing boat were swept some way north to the tip heads and were rescued by Mr. Wilson after being unable to return to port with the use of the oars.

Greymouth yesterday and to-day experienced the two hottest days so far this Summer. At 9 a.m. yesterday the thermometer stood at 52 degrees, but this morning at the same hour it was two degrees higher. At noon on both days it registered 60, and rose higher subsequently. Yesterday afternoon there was a large attendance at the Children’s Park when the Municipal Band presented a programme, while sports fixtures were well attended, as were the Municipal Baths. To-day the barometer indicated that a change to the “normal” weather of recent weeks was pending.

An angler in the Grey district has a real “fish story,” but a true one. While casting a minnow yesterday he had the experience of hooking a paradise duck. The duck, concerned for the safety of her young, was flying round near the angler when he was casting, and tne line went right round the bird, one of the hooks becoming embedded in a quill. The duck immediately dived into the stream, and the angler had a lively 20 minutes endeavouring to land the bird without injuring it. The duck ran out about 60 yards of line, but was ultimately secured with a landing net, after what the angler described as a fight worthy of a 10pounder trout. The duck was nearly exhausted when landed, but after a brief rest recovered and was released.

Greymouth, yesterday afternoon, had a visit from the R.A.F. Lancaster bomber, Aries, which is making a world flight on a special navigation mission. The giant machine, which came in low over the town about 1.15 and circled twice, flew 1000 miles in five hours, yesterday, leaving Ohakea, near Palmerston North, at 11.30 a.m. and landing at Wigram, Christchurch, at 4.30, after flying over Nelson, Westport, Greymouth, Hokitika, Jackson’s Bay, Queenstown, Alexandra, Cromwell, Dunedin, Oamaru. Timaru and Ashburton. The machine flew at a comparatively low altitude to enable residents to obtain a splendid view. A standard bomber with extra fuel tanks fitted, it left Britain on October 21, having previously flown on the North Atlantic route.' On its present trip it has traversed 14,000 miles, and after a return visit to the North Island it will fly to Australia, Ceylon, India and North Africa. Secrets of success! Many and varied have been the secrets of men and services which have atisen to fame — and here’s the secret of the splendid results obtained by the Westland Laundry. All fabrics are expertly separated and washed according to their kind. Coloureds, woollens and white goods are washed in varying temperatures of water, just as you would yourself—so coloureds are sparkling and vivid, whites are snowy —and woollens are soft and keep their shape. So you can send us anything without worry. There’s a service to suit every member of the community—bagwash, fully finished and thrifty, and costs are very reasonable. ’Phone 136. We will be pleased to advise and answer any inquiries at any time. The Westland Laundry Ltd. Depot: 27 Albert Street. -Advt. 1