Local and General

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 April 1945, Page 4

Local and General

A Gazette notice extends the period of daylight saving for the usual half horn throughout the Winter months.—P.A. Polling day for the Hamilton by-election has been fixed for Saturday, May 26. The Deputy-Prime Minister (Mr. Nash) announced that nominations will close on Wednesday, May 9, and supplementary roll will close at 6 p.m. on Monday, Apul 23. — P.A.

A strike occurred at the Westport-Stockton Slate mine to-day, idling between 200 ana 300 men, producing between 500 ana oUU ions of coal daily. The Council agreed to a deduction of 8d per day from miners pay for transport from Stockton to the loop, where they entrain in tubs for the mine, lhe miners objected to the deduction and stat? they will not resume until payment is refunded. —P.A.

The fact that the Westland Public Works district has been altered to a sub-district will have little effect on the working of the Department, according to the reply to a.query by a deputation from the West Coast branch of the Automobile Association which waited on the Minister of Public Works (Mr. Semple) during his visit to Greymouth yesterday. He assured the deputation, which comprised Mr. P. C.. Heaphy and Mr. G. R. Harker, that a competent engineer would be stationed at. Greymouth and no machinery would be taken away from the district. The deuptation also made representations to the Minister regarding the need for signals on the railway-traffic bridge at Hokitika. Mr. Semple stated that he realised the danger involved, but the machinery would have to be imported. Hovzever, he hoped to procure the necessary gear in the near future and signals would then be installed on the bridge.

The Dobson State mine was idle today following a dispute over the working of some compressed air drills. The men discussed the mhttei' at a stopwork meeting and decided to return home.

“Oranui" private hospital in Cowper Street, Greymouth, which failed to reach the reserve when offered at auction this week, being passed in at £2,200, was subsequently sola privately.

Ponpy Day, the annual appeal of thQ Greymouth Returned Services’ Association for its benevolent fund, is being held to-day and to-morrow. There was an excellent response by townspeople this morning, over £7O being collected by mid-day.

Regulations have been gazetted under the Public Trust Office Act reducing rates of interest from 3| per cent, to 3d per cent, in cases of moneys held by the Public Trustee on estates administered by him, and also from 2 per cent, to 1| per cent, on moneys held by him at call.—P.A.

The following stock were examined at the Greymouth Municipal Abattoir during March, according to a report received from the manager at a meeting of the Greymouth Borough Council last evening: Cows 78 (one condemned); bullocks 115; sheep 614 (one condemned); lambs 233; pigs 15; calves 56. Total fees £ll7/15/8. Under an amendment to the Social Security Contribution Regulations, gazetted last night, the time in which anplications for refunds- where the tax paid has been in excess of the actual amount due is extended from three to four years, thus bringing the period into line with similar income tax applications.—P.A.

Representations made by the Westland District Progress League for the installation of a public telephone call office at the Greymouth Railway Station have been successful, advicehaving been received by the League from Mr S. Shrimpton, Acting-Chief Postmaster at Greymouth, that arrangements will be made to have the office installed as soon as possible.

After the seasonal adjustment has been made in respect of certain commodities, the prices of which are subject to seasonal movement, the general level of prices of commodities included in the war-time price index was 0.6 per cent, higher aj March 15 than at December 15 Notice to this effect appears in the latest Gazette. —P.A.

Seventy-three building permits (including seven for work valued at £255) were issued by the Greymouth Borough Council for work valued at £19,360, according to the annual report of the Engineer (Mr. A. J. Fairmaid) presented to a meeting of the Greymouth Borough Council last evening. The permits were for: One dwelling (£950); business premises three (£12,330); additions to dwellings 60 (£4,340); additions to business premises nine (£1,740). The payment of war gratuities had been referred to the Minister of Finance (Mr. Nash), who had been asked for an expression of the Government’s views, said the secretary of the New Zealand Returned Services’ Association (Mr. S. J. Harrison) yesterday. The Minister had replied that the matter was under consideration. Mr. Harrison said the question would be discussed at a meeting of the Dominion council of the association in June. —P.A.

The Mining Controller, Mr. C. H. Penney, has requested district State coal mines to recommence working back-Saturdays as from Saturday next, April 28. Liverpool and Wallsend have decided to work, but Dobson miners have decided not to work The voting on the issue at the Strongman mine was so close that it was decided to hold the matter over until ■here was a larger attendance at the meeting. Blackoail miners have not yet reached a decision. Wallsend miners have also acceded to the Controller’s request that they keep on working on May Day and the King’s Bir’hday, but have declined to work on Anzac Day.

Be sure and see Smith Bros, plants and shrubs on display at McKenzie’s. —Advt.

During his recent visit to Westport, Mr. O’Brien (Minister of Marine) said that with a view of having an engineer sent out to New Zealand to report on the West Coast harbours, he had been in touch with the Sir Benjamin Gibbs and Sir John Coode companies in England. He added that he was not quite convinced that the erection of a groyne at Tauranga Bay as suggested in Mr. F. W. Furkert’s report, would serve the purpose sought—the diverting of the drift of silt and other debris up the coast. Any harbour scheme, he said, must take into consideration the quick and efficient handling of coal and timber, and must be of a comprehensive nature.

Dances are being held in Schaef's Hall regularly. If the closing of the hall is arranged it will be announced by the Management.—Advt.

A moderation yesterday afternoon of the heavy seas on the Grey bar, enabled the Karu and Titoki to sail, but the Karepo, with urgently needed coal for Auckland was unable to leave. The Karepo has been barbound since last Saturday night. Soundings taken yesterday showed a loss of two feet in the depth of water on the bar, the high water depth being 21ft. While this depth is still satisfactory, the continuity of westerly weather with its consequent , heavy swell prevents the larger type of vessel, such as the Karepo, from leaving when the depth has decreased. There was a considerable swell on the bar this morning, and the Karepo may not be able to depart to-day.

Be sure . and see Smith Bros.’ plants and shrubs on display at McKenzie’s.—Advt.

The Minister of Public Works, Mr. Semple, left this morning for Westport, while Messrs T. G. Beck, Assistant Engineer-in-Chief to the Public Works Dept., and E. R. McKillop, Commissioner of Works, who accompanied the Minister on his visit to South Westland, left by plane on return to Wellington. While in South Westland, the Minister made an intensive survey of flood damage, which he described as being a large and serious problem the repair of which would have to be undertaken by the Department, and he also inspected the' areas where erosion had taken its toll. He also paid a visit to the Bruce Bay and Hokitika harbours, and. while at Greymouth, visited harbour works.

The Grey district branch of the New Zealand Institute of Electricians was recently formed and the following officers were elected: Patrons, Messrs Sinclair Trotter and E. E. James; president, Mr. R. F. Woodhouse; secretary, Mr. L. N. Downes; treasurerer, Mr. J. F. Knight; wicepresidents, Messrs R. C. McLachlan and J. Grant; committee. Messrs R. Black. J. Hunter, H. Kelly, G. Martyn. D. Williams; trustees, Messrs J. A. Pearson, W. McGilchrist; auditor, Mr. W. S. McClymont. Mr. T. E. Salvesen, president of the Canterbury branch visited the Grev branch addressing members on the social and technical advantages of the institute, whose objects are: (1) To advance the science and knowledge of electrical engineering; (2) to encourage and facilitate the dissemination of professional knowledge among members; (3) to provide questions of interest and to encourage the studies of electrical apprentices: (4) to create and maintain a spirit of co-operation and goodwill among members.