GENERAL NEWS Westport Protest Over Harbour Report Delay

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 September 1947, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS Westport Protest Over Harbour Report Delay

Strong criticism of the delay by the Government in coming to a decision to implement the report of the British engineers on West, Coast harbours, particularly that' at’ Westport, where it was considered that improvements were urgently required to meet the increasing coal trade, was expressed by members of the Harbour Advisory Committee at its monthly meeting yesterday. Amongst other measures, which it was suggested should be taken failing satisfaction from the Minister of Marine, was the calling of a public meeting to acquaint the people of the Buller district with the position. Sale of Flowers

The sale of flowers which was conducted in Mackay, street yesterday by the Mayoress (Mrs F. A. Kitchingham) and other helpers, raised the sum of £23 for the Aid-for-Britain campaign. This sum will be divided between the two Greymouth candidates in the “Miss Westland” campaign.

Southern Tour A party of group-travel tourists left Hokitika this morning on a trip through the Southern Lakes district, via Christchurch, Timaru, Queenstown, Te Anau, Dunedin . and back through Christchurch to Hokitika. The seating accommodation in the bus had been fully reserved for some time.

Fined for Drunkenness The police were called to Lombard street shortly after 4 o’clock yesterday afternoon, and a 30-year-old man was later, arrested for drunkenness. He was released on bail at 8.30 last evening, and in the Police Court, before Mr J. B. Hood, J.P., this afternoon, he was convicted and fined 10s, the amount of his bail.

Strong Protest A strong protest at the failure of the Railway Department to put into operation the recommendations of the Commissioner of Transport (Mr G. L. Laurenson) 'that bus fares on the Granity-Millerton-Stockton run be reduced by 25- per cent, and that the charge for prams and push-chairs be abolished, was made by the chairman of the Buller County Council (Cr F. Connew) at the monthly meeting this week. He was supported by Cr. I. Tyler, who is secretary of the Buller Miners’ Council. National Day Of Prayer

In response to a request from the Governor-General to the Presbyterian Church to co-operate in a special national day of prayer on Sunday, the Moderator of the General Assembly (the Rt. Rev. Herbert Davies) has made a request to ministers and congregations throughout the Dominion to join in public and private prayer for the welfare of the British nation in its present crisis. Similar action has been taken by Mr B. Williams, president of the Baptist Union of New Zealand.—(P.A.)

Untimely Request Local bodies in the South Island have been placed in an awkward position by the South Island Local Bodies’ Association which will hold its annual conference at Timaru early in December. Requests to various local bodies to name delegates to the conference have not been easy to meet, and most bodies will follow the example of the Buller County Council, which this week decided to advise the association that the chairman and another councillor would be attending. It was deemed “wise and good manners to omit the names of the delegates because a new council will be elected on November 19.”

Dominion Day Tomorrow, September 2G, is the anniversary of New Zealand’s change of status in 1907 from a Colony to a Dominion. Dominion Day has been observed every year on the Monday preceding September 26, or on September 26 when it falls on a Monday. Flags were flown in Christchurch on Monday to commemorate the day. The news that New Zealand was to be officially styled a Dominion was brought back from England by Sir Joseph Ward, who was then Prime Minister. The Order-in-Council issued by King Edward VII was dated September 9, 1907, and took effect from September 26 of the same year.

New Dairy Prices . The new season’s prices for dairy products will not be announced until next week. The Dairy Products Maiketing Commission met in Wellington last week, but after two days’ discussion adjourned. It was expected that the prices for the 1947-48 season and the retrospective payment for the* 1946-47 season would be announced today, but a reporter was informed that “two or three considerations have yet to be taken into account.” Although no official indication has been given, it is expected that there will be some increase in next season’s prices.—(P.A.)

Lime Supplies

The possibility of the lime works at Cape Foulwind being developed to provide 1200 tons for use by Buller farmers next year, was mentioned by Cr I. Tyler at the monthly meeting of the Buller County Council this week. He -said that that amount would be three times the quantity used last year. Cr Tyler said that a special committee appointed by the council to investigate the position of lime supplies in this district had ascertained that 70 men had shares in the lime company, with total assets of £1,780, so that it was evident that it was being maintained by small subscriptions from all parts of the Buller district.

Removal of Flax

“Now that the flax industry on the West Coast shows signs of reviving, and as most flax grows on the banks of streams and on islands, will the board require the Land Board to refer to it applications for permits to cut flax?’ ’asked Mr H. M. Lawrey at yesterday’s meeting of the Westland Catchment Board. The engineer (Mr W. S. Ross) said that flax held debris and cut down the velocity of streams, and its removal would have the effect of allowing the full velocity of the water to flow across the banks. It was pointed out that the manner in.which the flax was cut would prevent the removal of the whole of the plant, and it was decided to advise the Land Board that there was no need to alter the present method of dealing with applications. The annual meeting of Greymouth Jockey Club takes place in Harker’s Lounge This Evening, at 8 o’clock. — Advt.

Fresh Whitebait Suppers now on. Mundy’s Cafe.—Advt. Pay your Brunner rates early and secure the current rebate.—Advt.