GENERAL NEWS NO MAJOR SALVAGE ATTEMPT BEFORE MONDAY

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 February 1947, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS NO MAJOR SALVAGE ATTEMPT BEFORE MONDAY

Sections of the coffer dam to cover the main damage in the No. 2 hold of the Wanganella and so give buoyancy when the air compression is again applied were taken to the liner to-day by the tug Kahanui, which also took five powerful floodlights to illuminate the work in the hold, as well as other salvage activities, at night. The office of the Huddart Parker Company said to-day that work was being advanced with great speed, but there was still no indication when the next attempt to free the liner would be made, the principal factors being the quick assembly of the coffer dam and the constant problem of the weather, which continues to be favourable. It is thought unlikely that any fresh attempt will be made before Monday. The company spokesman paid a tribute to the unflagging work of the salvage workers.—(P.A.) Returning from Canberra The New Zealand delegation to the South Pacific Conference in Canberra, headed by the Minister of Finance, Mr Nash, will arrive back in the Dominion on Saturday after a fortnight’s absence.—(P.A.) Sugar for Greymouth. Further supplies of sugar for the Greymouth market were scheduled to leave Auckland’ to-day by the Kairanga. The supplies, when combined with the 48 tons received last weekend, will relieve the local shortage. The cargo will probably have to be transhipped at Wellington from the Kairanga to a vessel trading between the capital and Greymouth.

Air Force Relations The Air Force Relations organisation has concluded its war service with cleared shelves, every one of the 329,00 garments knitted for airmen by New Zealand women having been utilised. The surplus in hand when the war ended has been forwarded to the officer commanding the British Occupation Air Forces in Japan. The secretary, Miss Constance Morice, said in Wellington yesterday. that the garments had arrived there in time for the cold weather. Check of Water Mains.

Using specially-designed listening apparatus which operates similarly to a doctor’s stethoscope, Greymouth Borough Council employees last evening checked the water mains serving Blaketown, where the pressure is unsatisfactory, but without finding any serious faults. It was however, that one three-quarter-inch supply pipe had been left running all night, thus contributing to the increased dry-weather draw-off. Fire Near Reserve.

Fire broke out near the Kowhai native reserve, between the Blaketown lagoon and the railway line, on Tuesday, but prompt action by about 20 employees of the Greymouth Borough Council, who were transported to the scene, prevented serious damage from occurring. Dry undergrowth blazed fiercely and the fire threatened to sweep through the small reserve of native trees and shrubs, but the firefighters managed to. beat out the flames with sacks and by ffie. use of implements.

Small Savings Investments. Reefton and Brunnerton were the only two offices in the Westland district to raise their National Savings quotas last week, though accumulated surpluses enabled all offices to be credited with quota successes. The total invested was £551, compared with the quota of £1063. Investments in Reefton totalled £lO4/9/-, a surplus of £l/10/-, and in Brunnerton £7l/13/-, a surplus of £2l 13/-. Other investments, with deficiencies in parentheses, were as follows: —Greymouth, £214/15/- (£305 5/-)- Hokitika, £BO/15/- (£lO4 15/-); Otira, £B/10/- (£l/10/-); Waiuta, £l7 (£8); Blackball, £37 10/- (£l2/10/-); Kumara, £B/4/(£l6/16/-); Ross, £3/16/- (£2l 4/r); Runanga, £5 (£95).

Bread Deliveries. A meeting of the Canterbury Master Bakers’ Association was held in Christchurch yesterday, but at the conclusion no announcement about resuming full bread delivery services was made. The secretary (Mr. G. R. Burrowes) said that a very full discussion had been held on the problems of bread delivery, and a further meeting would be held next week to review the situation. “At the present time,” said Mr. Burrowes, “quite a few bakers are delivering bread retail to customers to the limit of their resources, which are limited by the present shortage of vans. For example, at Shirley, Richmond, Burwood, _ and parts of Riccarton bread deliveries are being made now, but they are limited. We are endeavouring to make plans for the improvement of the existing services as soon as possible, and we .realise our responsibilities.” Leading horsemen will be riding at the Kumara races at Omoto on Saturday. The fields are good and splendid racing is assured. —Advt. The Kumara races being held at Omoto on Saturday commence at noon. Trains leave Greymouth for the course at 11, 11.20 and 11.40 a.m. —Advt. Mr. Stouppe, of Barry and Stouppe, Opticians, may be consulted for sight testing to-morrow at his rooms with Mr. Gordon Oldham, Mawhera Quay. Please ring for your appointment. — Advt. Large bottles of Vok. Liqueurs. Special Australian sherry and wine. Large bottles of English Cocktails suitable for parties and dinners, also gin and a few bottles of genuine French brandy, procurable at the Albion Hotel bottle store. —Advt. After the unveiling ceremony of Airmen’s Roll of Honour on Sunday relatives and friends of deceased airmen, members and ex-members of the club who served during the war years and members of the West Coast United Aero Club and local club will be entertained at afternoon tea in the hangar.—Advt.