GENERAL NEWS Comet Observed From New Zealand

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 March 1948, Page 4

GENERAL NEWS Comet Observed From New Zealand

A comet that was first reported from Greece can now be observed from New Zealand. This comet is slated by the director of the Cartel' Observatory, Wellington, Mr I. L. Thomsen, 1o be of the tenth magnitude, and to be in the constellation of Hercules. It cannot be seen by the naked eye, but can be observed through an ordinary telescope. It is a diffused object and.no reports of a tail have been received.—(P.A.) Overseas Mails

Surface mails for the United Kingdom, Eire and Europe, except the Balkan States and Italy, will close at the Chief Post Office, Greymouth, at 5.30 p.m. tomorrow and also on Friday. Parcels Arrive in Britain

Advice has been received at the Chief Post Office, Greymouth, that 3,225 parcels for the United Kingdom posted in the South Island (except the Nelson district) during the period December 15, 1947, to January 4. 1948, inclusive, arrived at their destination on March 10. The total weight of the parcel mail, which was shipped from Lyttelton by the Mahana, was 30,1201b5.

Health Camp Re-opens With '■ the . re-opening of health camps seven West Coast children, comprising three from Greymouth, one each from Reefton and Maimai, and two from Westport, left by this morning’s express for Christchurch where they will spend seven weeks at the Glenelg health camp. They travelled under the care of Miss N. Tulloch, of Westport. Cobden Fire Alarm .

A telephoned fire alarm to the Central Fire Station at Greymouth at 7.21 this morning resulted in both the Greymouth and Cobden Fire Brigades proceeding to the residence of Mr J. Keating, 26 Fox street, Cobden, but their services were not required. Firewood had been placed in the oven of the kitchen stove to dry and was apparently overlooked when the stove was lit. The room filled with smoke from the smouldering wood and this resulted in the alarm being given. Industrial Disputes

Last year 78,835 days’ work was lost through industrial disputes, in New Zealand. There were 123 direct strikes (excluding a refusal by seamen to work overtime), involving 22,070 workers and affecting 191 firms. Excluding the consideration that work not performed may have been carried out subsequently, £123,326 was lost in wages. In 1938, 35,456 working days were lost in 72 strikes involving 11,368 workers and affecting 103 firms. About £42,104 was lost in wages in that year. Festival of Britain

Undeterred by economic reports and other discouraging omens, the Government is going ahead with its plans for the Festival of Britain to be held in 1951 on the anniversary of the great exhibition of 1851. It has appointed Lord Ismay, Mr Churchill’s chief of staff during the war, to be chairman of the organising council, and Mr Gerald Barry, formerly editor of the London News Chronicle, to be its director-general. The organising council will begin its work next month in the eighteenth century building in John Adam street, off the Strand, where the 1851 exhibition was conceived. —London, March 14.

Don’t forget the St Pat’s annual Hibernian Ball tomorrow, Sturge Street Hall. Everybody will be there! —Advt. '

Tennent’s advise that their optician, Mr J. Mann, will visit Hokitika tomorrow .(Wednesday), March 17. Appointments may be made by ringing 83S, Hokitika.—Advt.

Make sure you hear Mrs Cara Cogswell, of Christchurch (formerly of Greymouth), in two brackets of Irish songs at the annual Irish National Concert, Regent Theatre, Thursday next. —Advt.

Penalty will accrue on Greymouth Borough Rates if unpaid by 4 p.m. on Wednesday, March 31, 1948. Do not delay.—Advt.

“Not only for the pleasure of it,” but to really appreciate beauty in motion see “Everybody Dance,” Regent Theatre, Monday, March 22. — Advt.

Visiting cyclists from Nelson and Canterbury are competing at the St. Pat’s Sports, Saturday next. See them in action against local talent.— 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.