Local and General

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 December 1945, Page 6

Local and General

The closing hours of shops at Greymouth during the Christmas and New Year period were fixed at a meeting of representatives oi retail firms yesterday afternoon. On rnday, December 21, shops will close at 9 p.m., ana open again Saturday morning; on Monday, December 24, shops will close at 10 P-m. Prior to the New Year, shops on Friday, December 28, will not observe a late night, closing at 5.30 p.m. On Monday, December 31, they will remain open until 9 p.m.

Work in clearing the slips and wash-outs which block the Greymouth-Otira road on the other side of Aickens is progressing only slowly, as the bulldozers are still being used on the railway line, and it is expected that it will be the middle of next week, before cars can use the route. The worst slip is at The Bluff, where debris is piled 15ft high on the road. Its removal will be a big job. At Stony Creek, the road had been built over a previous slip, but a washout here has removed the surface metal, leaving >big boulders strewn over the highway. Broad Creek is reported to be badly scoured and impassable and Haulpin Creek is also reported to be badly scoured.

When, advice that the cost of keeping each child at “Glenelg” would probably be £2/10/- a week was received at a meeting of the Ashburton Health Camp Committee, members expressed concern that the charges were so high. Stating that at that rate it would cost £75 for each party of children to visit the camp for six weeks, the chairman (Mr E. C. Bathurst) said that it was beyond the resources of the committee to do this. It was decided to inform the Christchurch Central Council that the charge was considered exorbitant and to ask for a detailed statement of the expenses.

The Plunket Society has received a. nuinber of inquiries regarding the hours of work for Karitane nurses who take cases by day. In reply it' has been pointed out that the 10hour day mentioned in the rules for Karitane nurses includes meal hours. In order to clarify the matter the Dominion executive of the society has decided that, the rate of salary payable to a Karitane nurse who takes cases by the day shall be in respect of an eight-hour day, exclusive of meals, and that the rate for hourly service shall be calculated on the basis of an eight-hour day — P.A.

The Auckland Fire Brigades’ Union decided yesterday that the men would continue to carry out their nowmal duties and it is ' understood that a tribunal will sit within a few days to deal with the dispute which arose between the union and the Auckland Metropolitan Fire Board about a relieving allowance of 2/- a meal. The secretary of the union (Mr. J. W. A. Stead) said he understood the Government intended to set up a tribunal under the Strikes and Lockout Emergency Regulations, and under those circumstances it was felt the best policy would be for the men to carry on their work. —P.A.

The Davy Cup, competed for annually by shooting teams from Greymouth, Hokitika, and Westport Cadets, was won this year by Hokitika High School with an average of 79.9 points. ’ Greymouth, who won the trophy last year, came second with an average of 77.3. Captain Curtis, of the Army Department, Greymouth, stated’ that he was pleased with the performances of the comneting schools. The “Press” Challenge Shield for 1945 was won by A Company, Nelson College Cadets, with an average of 88.4 points, but the conditions affecting competition for the Davy Cup are much more stringent.

The University Districts Adjustment Order, published in the Gazette, provides for taking part of the Victoria University College district for inclusion in the district of Canterbury University College. When the Victoria University College district was formed, the area not in the other three University districts was taken in by Victoria University College. After the Otira tunnel was cut, Westland was removed to the Canterbury area and the adjustment made by the order now gazetted removes further areas to the south of the Buller River and of Kaikoura to the Canterbury district, the reason being that modern travel facilities bring these areas nearer to Canterbury University College than to Victoria University College.—P.A.

A move to link South Westland up with the remainder of the province by telegraph and telephone has been commenced by the Post and Telegraph Department, who are super? vising the erection, by Public Works Department employees, of a complete new line from Haast to Jackson’s Bay. A large shipment of materials was landed at Jackson’s Bay at the end of last month,, and the work was commenced. Up till the present, South Westland’s only means of communication with outside districts has been by radio from Jackson’s Bay to Awarua and from there messages have been transmitted to the desired destination. The new line will eventually form part of a permanent ground line connecting Grey mouth with Jackson’s Bay.

' It’s Xmas time and the best for six years. Do it justice and purchase from Revingtons Bottle Store (street entrance) the best of wines and ales. —Advt.

When the Allies invaded Europe it was thought that there was a possibility of stock diseases, particularly rabies, being brought into Britain and consequently the importation of dogs from Britain into New Zealand was prohibited. An amendment to the regulations prohibiting this importation was gazetted last evening and will have the effect of removing the restriction on the importation of dogs from Britain and Eire. Future importations will be on the basis existing before the regulations, brought about by D Day, were enforced, that is, dogs that have been certified free from disease may be shipped to New Zealand and if, on arrival, they are given a clean bill of health, the importer will be permitted to remove the animals to his own premises on the condition that they are kept in segration for 60 days under the supervision of the local inspector of stock.—P.A.

Half of the 10 offices in the Westland postal district obtained National Savings quotas last week, and the net result of these lodgments was to give Westland still another success, without having to call on reserves. Greymouth made the best return, followed by Blackball and Brunnerton. Otira invested another £B/7/-, leaving a balance of £l/10/before a cash success can be achieved. Its small reserve enabled the quota to be obtained. Total investments were £llO2, an excess of £57. The percentages of those offices which reached their quotas before November 24 were:—Hokitika, 161 per cent.; Blackball, 138; Brunnerton, 114; Reefton, 106. Those still to secure 100 per cent, are Ross 97, Kumara 95, Otira 94, and Runanga and Greymouth 90. Five of the offices last week lodged £1033, or just £3O below the district’s quota. They were Greymouth, £695 (surplus £175); Blackball, £9B (£48); Brunnerton, £95 (£45); Reefton, £97 (£24); Kumara, £46 (£2l). Hokitika invested £5B, a deficiency of £126; Runanga £l3 (£86); Waiuta, nil (£25); Ross, £6 (£18); and Otira, £B/7/- (£l/13/-).

For Xmas giving; a little Girl’s Frock in spun Art Silk, smocked and hand-embroidered. In Sky, Peach and White. Size 18in, 19/6. —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.