General News

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 August 1949, Page 4

General News

Mines Resume Work The Dobson and Wallsend State mines resumed work this morning. Both were idle yesterday following a power failure in the early hours of the morning, which stopped the ventilating fans.

Fluorescent Lighting The installation of fluorescent lighting in Government buildings in Greymouth is proceeding steadily. The work ha"s been completed in the State Fire Insurance building, and is under way in the Ministry of Works building. These are the only two contracts to have been let in the meantime.

Arahura Dredge Salvage Although it is five months since the Arahura gold dredge sank suddenly in its potid, no decision has yet been made regarding its salvage. Shortly after the mishap full inspections were made on behalf of the Lloyds grouu of underwriters, whicn held a big insurance policy on the dredge, and reports were made to the London office but there have been no other developments to date. Most of the dredge is now submerged in the pond and, it is stated, parts are deteriorating fairly rapidly.

Railway Cups In the House of Representatives yesterday, the Minister of Railways, Mr Semple, replying to questions about a report that the Railway Department was inviting tenders from Britain for 500 gross of counter cups, said: “I find that through a regrettable error on the part of an officer of the department a letter inviting tenders for English cups was issued to likely tenderers. This was contrary to Government policy, and the letter has since been withdrawn and an inquiry for New Zealand cups substituted. It may be mentioned as an indication of Government, policy that 995 gross of New Zealand cups have already been ordered during recent months from local manufacturers for railway use.” —(P.A.)

Police Force Resignations In the House of . Representatives yesterday, Mr W. A. Sheat (Opposition, Patea) gave notice to ask the Prime Minister if he could give any information concerning reasons for the increasing incidence of resignations from the police force and whether any steps were proposed for arresting the exodus from the force of experienced men by removing those causes of dissatisfaction that had produced the present situation. Mr Sheat said it had been reported that more than 300 men, mostly of considerable experience, had left the force in the last three years and that the drain was a continuing one. — (P.A.) _____