GENERAL NEWS SNOW ON OTIRA GORGE ROAD

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 August 1946, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS SNOW ON OTIRA GORGE ROAD

-Snow to the depth of eight inches was reported to be covering the Otira gorge road this morning. A truck was driven over the gorge road this morning, and this route is open to heavy cars using chains. The Lewis Pass is open, and a grader is operating on the road to clear show. It is advisable, however, for motorists to carf-y chains on this road, according to advice received by the West Coast Council of the Automobile Association, Canterbury, to-day. -

Mines Resume Work. The Liverpool and Wallsend State coal mines, which were idle yesterday, worked as usual to-day. The Liverpool mine resumed work with the back shift yesteday, the Morgan East section, where heating had been found, having been pronounced safe.

Passengers from Australia. Bringing 140 . inter-colonial passengers for Auckland the Dutch liner Tasman sailed from Brisbane on August 4 and is expected late on Friday according to advice received in Auckland. The vessel will embark 250 Dutch evacuees and sail for Wellington on Sunday morning to embark a further party of Dutch evacuees.— (P.A.) Launch Tragedy. The bodies of Alan Wright Ducker and Joseph Hazeldine, who, it is believed, were drowned when Ducker’s launch was capsized by the heavy swell off Cobden beach on Monday, July 29, have not yet been recovered. Police patrols are being maintained along the beaches from Cobden to as far north as Punakaiki, two constables being almost continuously engaged on this work. New Telephone Box.

Recently representations were made by the Greymouth Chamber of Commerce for a public telephone call box to be placed in the vicinity of the Regent Theatre. Advice has now been received that the Post and Telegraph Department is going into the matter of installing the box. Members of the chamber, at last night’s meeting, at which the information was received, expressed the hope that very shortly this amenity would be available to the public. Fish Supplies Scarce. Greymouth commercial fishermen are experiencing their leanest period so far this year. As a result of the continued heavy seas, fishing has been impossible since July 9. There has been no local fish on the market for over three weeks and only meagre supplies have been obtainable from Christchurch. This week, unfavourable sea conditions have created a similar shortage of fish on the East Coast and there will be no oysters from Bluff. Prior to the present spell of bad weather, the fishermen’s returns at Greymouth had been the best for some years.

Whitebait Catches. Since the season opened last Thursday, weather conditions have been unfavourable for whitebait fishermen in the Grey district, and no catches have been reported. In spite of the conditions, fishermen in the Hokitika district, it is reported, have met with a fair amount of success for so early in the season. One man operating in Mahinapua creek netted 10 pints, while others at the mouth of the Hokitika river obtained singlepint catches. Buyers, it is understood, are paying 7/6 a pint for the bait on the river bank, while some are booking a full season’s catch at £3 a four-gallon tin.

Power For Industry. An indication that the board would continue to deal with any new proposals for the advancement of the district with sympathy and generosity was given by the chairman of the Grey Electric Power Board, Mr. J. B. Kent, in a letter received by the Greymouth Chamber of Commerce, at its meeting last evening. The chamber had recently made representations to the board seeking the supply of free power to new industries for a period of three years. Members expressed satisfaction, accepting the inference that as the board had 33 different rates, new industries woqld now receive power under one of the lower rates.

Industries Fair Exhibit. For the first time, the West Coast will be represented in the exhibits at the New Zealand Industries Fair to be held in Christchurch from Friday next to August 24. This has been made possible by the recent affiliation of the Greymouth Chamber of Commerce with the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association which made available the space for a West Coast stall. With Mr. W. E. James, formerly of Trumans, Ltd. (Greymouth), as supervisor, the stall will display tourist photographs, a model of a gold dredge, mining equipment, and the products of local manufacturers, and will also advertise other West Coast attractions.

Cobden School Affairs. It was reported at the monthly meeting of the Cobden Home and School Association last evening that the recent competition raised over £l5O and that it was intended to devote the net proceeds to the purchase of modern equipment for the school. There was an attendance of 45 members at the meeting, Mr. D. Guthrie presiding. Arrangements were made for the forthcoming show and other activities. It was reported that an excellent response had been received on the house-to-house canvass for weekly donations towards the cost of the new school hall, which is in the course of erection. The district health nurse, Miss E. M. Pavelka, gave an address on her, work, with particular reference to diet and diphtheria immunisation.

The Greymouth Branch of the Returned Services’ Association to-day received advice from the secretary of the Canterbury Education Board that there was no objection to country school committees permitting pupils of. the various schools to attend the country districts . schools matinee of “Our Miss Gibbs” at Greymouth on Wednesday, August 14, providing that the day allowed above normal and special holidays could be used on this day. Arrangements are now being made for the Reefton line trains to be delayed on Wednesday next. —Advt.

Country school committees are urged to advise the Greymouth office of the Returned Services’ Association of their seating requirements for the country districts schools matinee at the Regent Theatre on Wednesday next for “Our Miss Gibbs.” Phone 911 or write secretary R.S.A. Mackay street and your bookings will be properly arranged for the various parties.—Advt.