Local and General

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 September 1945, Page 4

Local and General

The Minister of Agriculture and Marketing (Mr. Roberts) announced to-day that New Zealand will be represented at the first session of the Food and Agriculture Organisation next month, in Eastern Canada, rhe Nev Zealand delegation will be the High Cojnmisin” "’ev- Zealand in Ottawa, Mr. Wilson (leader), Mr. E. J. Fawcett, Directorveneral ot Agriculture, and Mr. G. M. PottmSec v °tary of the Export Marketing Division.—P.A.

The Governor-General and Lady L ewall received privately at Government House this morning the immediate relations of a number of deceased service personnel, when His Excellency handed to the. next-of-km the insignia, decorations and medals as follow: — Commander of the Order of the British Empire: Mrs. O. H. Mead, of Otane. wife of the late Major-General O. H. Mead, D. S.O„ New Zealand Staff Corps. Distinguished Flying Cross: Mrs. W. Herbert, Paraparaumu Beach, mother of the late Squadron-Leader W. A. C. Ball, R.N.Z.A.F. Mrs. W. J. Moynihan, Ox Nelson, mother of the late Squadron-Leader F. K. Moynihan. R.N.Z.A.F. Mr. C F Miller, of Blenheim, father of the late Flight Lieutenant C W. Miller. R.A.F. Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Montgomerie, of Sentry Hill, Taranaki, narents of the late Flight Lieutenant L. J. Montgomerie, R.N.Z.A.F. Mr. J. R._ Struthers, of Hastings, brother of the late Flying Officer G .A. M. Struthers, R.N.Z.A.F Distinguished "ivinrr Medal: Mr Mrs. C. D. Taaffe, of riappn+c: nf fate Flight Lieutenant R. J. Taaffe, R.N.Z.A.F. Mr. and Mrs. M T. wipiti, i\ew Plymouth, narents of the Jate Warrant Officer B. S. Wipiti. R.N.Z.A.F. Mr. and Mrs. W. D. Carson, of Brunswick, Wanganui, narents of the late Flight Sergeant A. L. B, Carson, R.N.Z.A.F.—P.A.

“If you’re going to wait for the Borough Council to do something I think you’ll be waiting till Doomsday,” said Mr James Steel, at the annual meeting of the Greymouth Trotting Club last evening in referring to a suggestion that the Greymouth Borough Council be asked to pipe a drain near the club’s property. The Minister of Defence (Mr Jones) announced last night that Major Vercoe, on behalf of the Maori Patriotic Committee, Rotorua, will present a valuable carved Maori inkstand to H.M.N.Z.S. Achilles, in appreciation and admiration of the service of that ship during the war- The presentation will take place on Saturday on board the Achilles at Auckland.—P.A.

Considerable quantities of coal both from Westport and Greymouth fields are being transported to Canterbury. To-day a special train from Westport was dispatched to the east and tomorrow another special will run from the same place, and altogether the two trains will take about 1,000 tons of coal to Canterbury. Overland consignments from Greymouth continue as usual.

Hokitika’s experience of army huts 1 cannot be too happy if a remark made by-Mr. E. W. Heenan, of Hokitika, at ’ last evening’s meeting of the Grey- ■ mouth Harbour Board may be taken >as a criterion. When the Board was discussing means of securing former army cottages, Mr. Heenen declared: »“I would like to make this point. Do not take any army huts, 1 would not take one as a gilt.” However the Board decided to investigate the matter.

The fact that all school holidays had come to an end was illustrated this morning by the size of the express which left Greymouth for Christchurch. Comprising only five cars, none was crowded and similar conditions prevail on the express from Christchurch. Quite a number of those travelling are members of the Armed Forces, who, recently back from overseas, are taking advantage of the leave before their discharge by .travelling around the country.

Exceptionally good depths were obtained on the Greymouth bar last month, the maximum depth being 28ft at high water and the minimum depth at low water being 17ft. 6ins., stated the Grey Harbourmaster, Captain H. .Moar, in his report which was received by the Harbour Board last evening. The average depth on the bar was 26ft. and in the river 22ft. Eighteen vessels aggregating 11,998 tons, arrived during the month and 17, aggregating 11,844 tons, sailed. The weather, during the month, stated the Harbourmaster, generally was of the usual variety for the season of the year.

Heavj’’ expenditure on social security prescriptions was the subject of comment in the annual report of the Health Department tabled in the House. It was stated that the cost of this benefit, which last year was £980,237, compared, with the previous year’s expenditure of £762,198, continued to rise,, and represent an expenditure of 12/3 a head of the population. Part of the increase was explained as being due to extensions of the drug tariff, and the higher costs of drugs, but the actual rise in the number of prescriptions was still very marked.

The preliminary work has been commenced on the construction of a new public slot telephone cabinet outside the Chief Post Office, Greymouth, adjacent to the present cabinet, which will be removed. It is expected that the new cabinet, which will house two telephones in separate compartments and which will be modelled after the style of those in Cathedral Square, Christchurch, will be erected and operating early next week. The present cabinet and ’phone will, after certain renovations have been carried out, be removed to the Greymouth railway station, where it will be erected some 10 feet from the southern end of the station buildings, below the platform and adjacent to the area used by lorries collecting and depositing goods at the station.

Don’t forget the Daffodil Show, Columba Hall, on Saturday.—Advt. Another excellent return for National Savings was recorded in the Westland postal district for the week ended on Saturday last, the 10 offices lodging a total of £2078/9/6, almost double the weekly quota. On a percentage basis, Ross had more than 600 per cent, of its weekly objective. Hokitika and Greymouth also made substantial lodgments. Last week s returns of the successful offices were as follow, surpluses being indicated in parentheses:—Hokitika, £767/9/(£582/9/-); Greymouth, £B7B (£358); Ross, £153/4/- (£l2B/4/-); Brunncyton, £123/10/- (£ 13/10/-); Kumara. £4B/10/- (£23/10/-). From the offices not reaching quota oabjf'ctives scJ the investments were, deficiencies being indicated in parentheses: —Otira, £B/14/— (£l/6/-), Waiuta, £l9/19/6 (£5/0/6); Reelton, £4l (£32); Blackball, £l7 14/6 (£32/5/6); Runanga, £2O/8/6 (£79/11/6). Reminder. —The Red Cross shop will be held on Friday next. All donations gratefully received. —Advt.

New Zealand’s prison population continues to show a decline. The number of persons received into New Zealand prisons during 1944 was 3284, or 372 fewer than in 1943, stated the annual report of the Con-troller-General of Prisons (Mr B. L. Dallard), submitted to the House of Representtives. The fall in the number of receptions would have been more pronounced, he said, but for the fact that 108 military defaulters and courts-martial prisoners were received. The daily average number of persons in custody dropped from 1099 for 1943 to 1030 for 1944. That average would also have been lower but for the more or less static state of the number of military defaulters who were ordered to be detained for the duration. The ratio of prisoners to the general population for 1944 was 12.68 per 10,000, and it was satisfactory to observe that the general downward trend had been maintained.

The shortage of cigarettes and .tobacco in Greymouth has become acute in the last tew days, and almost all sellers display notices to the effect that they have neither cigarettes nor tobacco. Replies to enquiries from merchants to-day give little hope for early relief of the “famine.” It is stated that usually efforts are made to have the quota available in Greymouth before the 16th day of the month, but that no advice has yet been received from the consignors as to the probable date of arrival. The last shipment came early in August so that the period for which it had to last was much longer than usual. The timber strike has had some effect on the situation as the Gabriella, which usually brings tobacco with other general cargo when coming to Greymouth to load coal and timber, had now been diverted to Westport, because of the lack of timber at Greymouth. Ordinary colliers do not usually bring tobacco cargoes. One merchant stated this afternoon that efforts to arrange delivery by another route had not been successful.

Whites are showing a very smart selection of Spring Millinery. Hundreds of Hats from which to choose and every one outstandingly smart. — White’s Corner, Your Fashion Centre. —Advt. I Infants’ Dressing Gowns in all wool materials. Tiny collar, front buttoning and ties, in Saxe and Pink. Sizes 27in. to 33in. Priced at 38/6. —C. Smith Ltd.—Advt,