LOCAL AND GENERAL

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 December 1945, Page 3

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The sale of.,the Brian Boru Hotel, Greymouth, at a price of £6',500 from W. McCaffery to A .F. Breeze and A. M. Breeze, was approved at that figure, by the Westland Land Sales Committee at a sitting at Hokitika yesterday.

At the resumption of the inquest into the d-eath of Robert Charles Walsh, aged 19 months, who was drowned at Kaiata on Monday afternoon, medical evidence was given by Dr. W. A. Bird. He stated that he applied artificial respiration for almost an hour, but without success. The Coroner, Mr. M. J. Fogarty, J.P., returned a verdict of accidental drowning.

A recommendation that the Chief Postmaster at Greymouth, Mr. F. Mairs, be approached with a view to having all toll accounts rendered monthly in future instead of bimonthly as under the present system, submitted by the Industries and Commerce Committee to. last evening’s meeting of the Council of the Westland Progress League, was adopted, members expressing agreement with the move.

Included in the list of emergency regulations recently revoked were the Substitute Fuel Regulations, said the Minister of Transport (Mfr. O’Brien). He added that owners of vehicles driven by producer gas would in future be required to pay mileage tax and make monthly mileage returns within seven days from the end of each month. The first return would be due at the end of December. — P.A.

The following are the' comparative figures for the sale of Health Stamps during November, with the figures for October in parentheses:—Greymouth £123/10/- (£2OO/2/-); Hokitika £B5/1/ - (£37/5/-); Reefton £ 10/5/- ( £ 20/5/-); remainder of the district £36/8/10L (£49/8/10|); total for district £255/4/10| (£3lB O/l'OJ). The total sales from the beginning of the campaign to November 30 were £573/5/9 as compared with £283/14/- for the corresponding period last year, r

The formation of a Gr-eymouth Milk Delivery Scheme to operate in the Borough of Greymouth and portion of the Grey County has been gazetted by the Minister of Marketing (Mr. Roberts), the scheme to. come into force as from to-morrow. The Gazette adds that for the purpose of assisting in the administration of the scheme, a committee shall be appointed consisting of two members appointed by the Grey Borough Council, one by the Grey County Council, two by the milk vendors and the Director of Marketing or a public service officer appointed in his stead.

The particular attractions of the West Coast as far as scenic beauty is concerned will be pointed out. to the Tourist and Publicity Department in view of the visit to New Zealand of an English film unit to make a tourist film of the Dominion, according to a decision made at last evening’s meeting of the Westland Progress League. It was decided to send a letter of congratulation to Mr. L. J. Schmidt, a former West Coaster, who had recently been appointed head of the Department, at the same time bringing the quality of Coast scenery to his notice. It was stated at the meeting that some of the best scenery possibly in the world was to be found within an hour’s walk from Greymouth.

See the Aussies explore those “pastures new” in “Fresh Fields,” Town Hall, to-night and Thursday.—Advt.

Coal-drilling operations are to be carried out by the Mines Department in the Waiomio basin at, Kawa Kawa, near Russell, in the North Auckland Province, and a drill and crew are now en route from Portland, where the Mines Department carried out some drilling operations on behalf of Wilson’s (N.Z.) Portland Coment Co., Ltd., on cement deposits in that area. A geological survey was recently completed on the Waiomio basin area at Kawa Kawa, and it is now intended, in the initial stages of test drilling, to bore three holes of depths up to possibly 1000 feet each, with the prospect of proving coal deposits. The drilling superintendent of the Mines Department (Mr. R. McMillan), who is stationed at Greymouth, will shortly visit the area.

Mass will be celebrated on next Sunday, December. 9, at Kotuku 8 a.m. (closing Mission), and at Rotomanu 10.15 a.m. (opening of Mission). —Advt.

The following applications were finalised at a sitting of the Westland Land Sales Committee at Hokitika yesterday, consent being given in each case:—Public Trustee to H. G. Furness, Blake Street, Blaketown. Price £2OO (at £170). W. H. Shannon to C. E. G. D. Keenan, Revell St., Hokitika. Price £1,350 (at £1,290). E. Beurnelberg to J. Rathbun, Tasman Street, Karoro. Price £1,550. A. Mawson to M. E. King, Bright Street, Cobden. Price £390. P. J. Robinson to J. Marrison, Moana. Price £2O. G. Nimmo and others to F. J. Loubere, Taylorville. Price £225. W. J. Bernhard to A. N. Stuart, Kanieri. Price £35. A. Jeffries and M. Halliday in estate A. M. Jeffries to E. J. Johns, Sewell St., Hokitika. Price £llO. State Advances Corporation to T. W. Gilbert, Fitzherbert St., Hokitika. Price £4O. Public Trustee in estate T. Joyce to G. C. Gleeson, Greymouth. Price £4OO.

Westland’s future depends on industry. Hear Mr. N. S. Dolamore, of the State Forest Service, on “Utilisation of Wood Waste” in the Borough' Council Chambers to-night at 8 o’clock.—Advt.

Premises had been acquired and the top floor would be extensively renovated and modernised and so far 49 applications from girls for employment had been received, said Mr. R. J. Truman, reporting on behalf of the committee set up to deal with the matter of labour for a new clothing factory to be established at Greymouth, to the Westland Progress League, last evening. He said that the premises would hold only a staff of 60 and this was certain to be obtained. The Hokitika factory, he added, would open on January 20, the Westport factory on January 15, and the Greymouth factory some time after that. , Referring to the manpower problem, Mr. T. Pratt suggested that it was wrapped up with the transport problem. ’ If workers from country townships had some cheap means of getting to town it would be solved. He said that a subsidised bus service for them might meet the position. It was decided to refer this proposal to the' Transport Committee. 1

Another burglary took place early | yesterday morning, when the Whole-sale-Boot Warehouse, owned by Mr J. Steel, .in Mackay Street, .was broken into, but only 3/- in pennies was stolen. Entrance was gained through a skylight, which was removed, and a wall was broken by the intruder in his attempt to enter the main shop. No damage other than this was. caused.

Heavy rain and strong winds have been general throughout the district in the past few days. Reefton had 1.46 inches of rainfall in the 24 hours up to 9 a.m. to-day, while Greymouth had 2.42 inches, most of which tell between 9 o’clock last night and 9 o’clock this morning. The Inangahua River was 2ft. 6in. above normal this morning and the Grey River was running a seven-knot fresh.

The Prime Minister has sent a message to Queen Salote of Tonga on the occasion of the celebration of the centenary of Tonga as follows:— “The history of our Pacific area is only at its beginning, and, in the years ahead we hope, and shall do our best to ensure, that our two countries shall continue in a brotherly friendship, contributing to each other’s welfare,” said Mr Fraser. — P.A.

There are 104 vacancies in the sawmilling industry on the West Coast, according to a statement made by the Manpower Officer, Mr. G. G M. Mitchell, at a sitting of the Christchurch Industrial Manpower Appeal Committee at Grevmouth this morning. He added’ that the majority of the vacancies were for bushmen. At the present time, sawmillers would not take on adult men unless they were experienced and preferred to take on boys and train them in the industry, he said.

Only the shortage of materials was preventing the immediate construction of a gold dredge at Taramakau. said the New Zealand manager of Gold Mines (N.Z.), Ltd., Mr. J. KWatson, in evidence before the Christchurch Manpower Appeal Committee at Greymouth this morning. The company, he said, was trying all over the world for material, but a start might be made within a few months and he expected the dredge to be digging within a year. In connection with the Barrytown dredge, which recently ceased operating, Mr. Watson said that it was not likely to work again in the present area, but if a new area were found it could be dismantled and shifted. He also pointed out that with the deterioration of tin dredges in Malaya, the transfer of the Barrytown dredge to that country was not an unattractive proposition.

An indication that men who had returned to New Zealand after service in the Pacific to take up essential work, now could justly leave the work to which they had been directed and return to their former occupations or take up other work, unless the present employer had some strong grounds on which to claim the retention of their services, was given by. the chairman of the Christchurch Industrial Manpower Appeal Committee, Mr. K. G. Archer, at a sitting at Greymouth this morning. In connection with the men manpowered to work for the Railways Department, he said that a large number of men had left this work recently in Christchurch, and there men were being* manpowered to the Department to replace the “Necal” draft men. The Greymouth Manpower Officer said that this was not being done in Greymouth. Mr. Archer added that the Railways Department was given seven days in which to lodge an appeal against a man’s release, otherwise that release was granted. “And, naturally, they nearly all get released,” he commented humorously.

Give Recordings or Music for Christmas. —Anderson and' Hopgood, Albert Street.—Advt.

Briggs and Stratton engines for saw benches, pumps, lighting plants, etc., now in stock.—Schaef’s Ltd., Herbert Street.—Advt.

Briggs and Stratton stationary engines for all purposes now in stock. Schaef’s Ltd., Chevrolet dealers.— Advt.

Ladies’ Floral Spun Pyjamas, Coat has revers, button front and ties. Short sleeves. Sizes S.W., M., and O.S. 22/1. C. Smith Ltd.—Advt.

Maids’ Pyjamas in Plain and Floral Silks. With revers or Pete .Pan collars and. buttons. Short sleeves. All sizes. Prices from 10/6. C. Smith Ltd.—Advt..

Special Notice. Westland Laundry Ltd. wish to notify all customers requiring extras in the way of curtains, drapings, blankets and eiderdowns laundered before Christmas, to send early and avoid disappointment. We will not be able to handle these lines a week before the holidays. ’Phone 136. Westland Laundry Ltd. Depot: Sam McAra, Mackay St.—Advt.