GENERAL NEWS New Hostel For Miners At Reefton

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 March 1948, Page 4

GENERAL NEWS New Hostel For Miners At Reefton

i The Minister of Mines, Mr A. McLagafr, it is believed, will officially dpen the new miners’ hostel.at Reefton, where it is planned to hold an appropriate ceremony,. probably early nekt month. The hostel will be completed shortly, it is expected, finishing work on the kitchen be ; ng tile only requirement.

Coupon Collection ’ - Seven butter coupons ahd 418 meat coupons were' collected in Greymouth this week in the campaign being conducted by the Aid-fdr-Britain committee, as compared with 917 meat coupons and nine butter coupons last week. “Ball of Fire”

An extraordinary phenomenon occurred at Hokitika in.the early hours of yesterday morning, when what appeared to be a ball, of fire fell from the sky. When it was quite low down the ball disintegrated in a blinding flash, lighting up the whole countryside. - ' • . -

Schoolboy Injured Alan Ware, nine-year-old son of Mr and Mrs George Ware, of Ngahere, received a severe cut in his left foot when he struck himself on the foot with an axe while chopping wood at his home last evening. The boy was admitted to the Grey Hospital and his condition today was reported to be satisfactory.

Writ Served on Mayor A writ for alleged libel was served on the Mayor of Auckland, Mr J. A. C. Allum, this week by Mr D. M. Robinson, president of the Auckland and Suburban Drainage League. The plaintiff claims £5Ol general damages, costs incidental to the action and such other relief as the Court may think just. The claim arises from the publication on November 18, 1947, of a statement by Mr Allum criticising a circular ; issued by the league. Hokitika Club

The deletion of the words “workingmen’s” and “mutual, school of arts” from the original title given the Hokitika. Workingmen’s Club, was agreed to at a special meeting of the club this week. The organisation will now be registered as the “Hokitika Club.” The club has decided to proceed with an application to the Land Sales Committee for the purchase of its proposed club rooms in Hamilton street, so that a start can be made with alterations to the building. Danish Meat

The Danish Charge d’Affaires in Wellington (Mr Karl Eskeland), referring to a cable message received on Thursday, stating that the agent for the British Ministry for Food (Mr G. E. Holmes) had admitted at Brighton that Britain was being forced to buy inferior meat from Denmark, said the statement was auite incorrect. He stated that the delivery of butter and bacon from Denmark to Britain had not been made conditional upon her purchase of meat, nor had Denmark in any other way endeavoured to force Britain to buy Danish meat.—(P.A.)

Gas Workers’ Wages The Minister of Labour (Mr McLagan) announced last- night that it has been decided to revoke an order modifying the provisions of the Factories Act, 1946, in respect of the rate of payment for work performed on Sundays and holidays-by the workers in coal gasworks. The revocation of the order will be gazetted next week, and it will be effective from March 19. The effect of the revocation of the order is to restore to these workers the usual rate of payment for work performed on Sundays and holidays in addition (in the case of holidays) to payment for the holiday.— (P.A.) Hospitals’ Plan The appointment of a pathologist and a radiologist to serve the requirements of the whole West Coast was proposed in letters from the Buller and Grey Hospital Boards discussed at this week’s meeting of the Westland Hospital Board. The need for the appointments was confirmed . in a report by the medical superintendent, Dr Smart, who expressed himself in favour of the Greymouth proposal that the headquarters of both appointees should be at Greymouth rather than one at Greymouth and the other at ’’ Westport. The chairman (Mr E. W. Heenan), secretary and Dr Smart were deputed to represent the Westland Board at a proposed conference of West Coast boards on the subject on March 22. Maintenance Appeal

On September 12, 1947, the Court of Appeal heard an .appeal brought by Peggy Armstrong Coutts, of Wellington, against a decision of Mr Justice Johnstone, given in October, 1946, which reduced the amount of maintenance payable to her by her former husband, Douglas Evelyn Coutts, of Auckland, soldier. The maintenance was payable under an agreement for separation entered into by the parties three years before their divorce. Mr Justice Johnston had held that he was entitled to vary the amount of maintenance payable as the result of the agreement, and that the circumstances of the particular case warranted his doing so. The Court of Appeal delivered its reserved judgment in the matter yesterday. All members of the Court were agreed that it was competent for a Judge of the Supreme Court to review and vary, after divorce, a provision as to maintenance contained in a separation agreement executed during the marriage, but that the circumstances in this case did not justify the reduction. The appeal was accordingly allowed with costs. -(P.A.) Nominations for St Patrick’s Sports chopping, cycling and athletic events close today Saturday with Secretaries, Box 81, Phone 866.— Advt.

“My dreams are getting better all the time.”—so runs one of the song hits of the moment. But it’s a different story when Mum can’t get to sleep when she’s overtired after doing the family wash, and sometimes dreams are not too pleasant. Well, there’s one way you can help yourself and avoid that ‘.‘done in” feeling on wash day. Send all your washing to the Westland Laundry. We have a service to meet the needs of every household. All clothes are sterilised and washed under the most exacting hygienic conditions—and all the water is softened and all impurities removed. Phone 136. Depot Sam McAra, Mackay street. The Westland Laundry Ltd. —Advt.