LOCAL AND GENERAL

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 November 1944, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Minister of Defence has released .and discharged from their obligations all parties who entered into agreements with him on the hire of horses to him for the duration of the present, war. A notice to this ef-fect-is contained in the Gazette issued last evening.—P.A.

Arrested at the Grey Hospital, last evening, in a state of drunkenness on the premises, a member of the crew of a coastal ship appeared before Mr. A. A. McLachlan, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court at Greymouth, this morning. As a statutory first offender he was fined 5/- and ordered to. pay 3/- taxi hire.

The West Coast Horticultural Society decided last evening to conduct a competition between November and the end of February next for. the best garden as seen from the road or footpath, and to award the McLean Rose Bowl, valued at 25gns, to the winner. The Society also decided to hold a chrysanthemum show this season.

The monthly meeting of St. Pauls Men’s Society took place at Wesley Hall, last evening, the speaker being the President, Mr. S. H. Sofield. His address dealt with personal experiences in Brazil. It was decided not to hold the usual end-of-year social function, but to conduct the December meeting as a games evening for members.

Greymouth overnight experienced the heaviest rainfall for several weeks, 1.25 inches being recorded from tire time the storm broke about 5 p.m. till 9 o’clock this morning. It was the heaviest fall since October 23. when 1.54 inches fell in 24 hours. The total precipitation for the year to date is now 101.72 inches. At 2.30 this morning a brief electrical storm accompanied the rain. The Grey River was normal to-day, but Sawyer’s Creek carried a large quantity of water. An easing of the restrictions which have been imposed on certain farm materials was indicated in correspon x dence received by the West Coast Council of Primary Production, today, from the Dominion Council. In view of the ample supplies of wire rope and plough and back chains, and the prospect of further large quantities arriving in the Dominion it will no longer be necessary for permits to be obtained by intending purchasers from Production Councils.

Work on the Greymouth waterfront was completely suspended because of the heavy rain, last evening, upsetting the ’schedules of coastal vessels in port. The Pakura, Poolta and Karu are expected to complete loading in time to sail this evening, but the Kaimiro’s coal is coming forward slowly. The Gabriella arrived in the roadstead at 6.28 this morning, but overnight a considerable sea had developed, and to-day it was doubtful if she would be able to enter port even tonight.

Armistice Day will be honoured in the customary manner at Greymouth to-morrow, when bells will be tolled at 11 a.m., and a tWo-minutes silence will be observed. The Mayor, Mr. F. A. Kitchingham, today made a request that all traffic stop during the observance of the silence. A wreath will be placed on the Cenotaph in Tainui Street by the Mayor, on behalf of the citizens, at 11 a.m., and a similar token will be placed on the memorial by the Greymouth branch of the Returned Services’ Association.

Concern over the delay in arriving at a decision on the harbour question at Greymouth was, to-day, conveyed to the Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser) and the Minister of Marine (Mr. O’Brien) in telegrams couched in identical terms by the President of the Westland District Progress League (Mr. W. D. Taylor). The text of the telegrams was as follows: “This district is gravely concerned over delay in carrying out works urgently required to ensure thaf this port is kept open until the deep-sea harbour problem is fully investigated. Fully endorse Harbour Board resolution that immediate investigation by a commission of harbour engineers is essential, and strongly urge setting up of such a commission without delay.”

Now is the time to have your chimneys cleaned by G. D. White ’Phone 576 M. Clean, reliable and reasonable. —Advt.

“It is very gratifying to know we have got what we have been aiming for for some time —the appointment of a representative of the farming community on the Armed Forces Appeal Board,” stated Mr. D. B. Jellie, Chairman of the West Coast Council of Primary Production, at to-day’s meeting, congratulating Mr. J. Mulcare, who is Secretary of the Council, on his appointment. Mr. Jellie said he was satisfied the appointment would relieve the minds of a large number of farmers. Mr. Mulcare had a wide experience of the district and of the requirements of most farmers. Mr. Mulcare, in reply, said he had not sought the position, and would not have taken it on but for the fact that the Board had a competent secretary in Mr. G. G. M. Mitchell.

A serious accident took place in the Stillwater railway yards shortly after 6.15 last evening, when two trains fouled each other, resulting in the derailment of both engines and ten wagons. The 4.45 p.m. GreymouthOtira goods train was standing in the yard when the 5.15 p.m. BlackballGreymouth train, with a heavy load of coal, arriving at 6.18 fouled it. Each engine left the rails immediately, the crews jumping clear without injury. Nine hopper wagons of coal were overturned, spilling their contents* and a truck containing a heifer was upended without the animal being hurt. A breakdown train left Greymouth for Stillwater at 8 p.m. and returned at 6.30 a.m. aftei’ a crane had restored the engines and wagons to the rails. The locomotives, travelling at a speed of five miles an hour, were able to come to Greymouth under their own steam this morning. Main line traffic was not affected by the derailment.

“If I could, I would ban the term ‘factory girl’ in its social sense,” said Mr I. Matheson, president of the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation when he addressed the annual meeting at Dunedin. “That term, I feel, belongs to a past era of ‘sweated labour’ conditions, and the industrial indignity of 50 or 100 years ago. There is not, and should not be, any such person as a ‘factory girl.’ The girl who is employed in manufacturing industry is an industrial worker, and because she plays an important part in producing goods she is of no less social account than the worker who purveys them or dockets their sale or purchase. This war has shown us how much we depend on our industrial workers who, fundamentaly, have been the material basis of every action fought. This view is widely recognised in England, and should be recognised in New Zealand. Manufacturers, by providing only the best working conditions, can assist in raising the status of their employees, and in continuing to. attract the best persons available into industry.”

Whatever type of life you lead, White’s have the Frocks to make you look smart ... to suit every occasion and they’re priced for every purse. Call early while the selection is at its best.—White’s Corner, Your Fashion Centre.—Advt.