LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Grey River Argus, 21 July 1922, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Sleep in peace and comfort at McFarlane’s Albion Hotel. The only up-to-date fire-proof hotel on the West Coast that caters for travellers and the general public. Early breakfasts a speciality. Tariff 10/- per day.—Advt.

The Abattoirs report for June states that stock was dealt with as follows: Examined: Cows 4, bullocks 160, sheep 838, lambs 106, pigs 24, calves 6, condemned lambs 2.

Mass will be celebrated next Sunday at Cobden, at 8.30 a.m., and at Paroa at 10 a.m.—Advt.

The Public Works Department is going to put gates on the main traffic bridge at Inangahua Junction, and as the Department has invited tenders for two bridges on the Crock road, it is a straight out hint that the main bridge is to be closed and all traffic will have to go via the bridge at the Landing, increasing the distance from Westport to Murchison by 12 or 13 miles.

The adjourned half yearly meeting of the Westland Enginedrivers’ Union will be held at Blackball next Sunday, July 23rd at 2.30 p.m. Town members desirous of attending are requested to notify the Secretary at once. Cars will leave Cobden. Bridge at 1 o’clock.

Brough Street drains were referred to at the Council meeting last night by Cr Williams, who said a great deal of inconvenience was caused Borough officials z by people carelessly blocking the drains with ashes and other debris. The drains were not too good as it was and this practice was very annoying. The Council decided to bring the matter before the Inspector of Nuisances.

There was a depth of 14ft Gin of water in the Borough Reservoir yester- . day morning. The Borough Cemetery report for June stated that 14 burials took place during the month. Special Bargains—Boys’ Oilskin Coats now 17/6, Boys’ Mackintosh Coats usually 39/6 now 19/6, Men’s Double-lined Oilcoats now 19/6. McGruer and Co., Greymouth, Reefton and Hokitika.—Advt. During June, the books issued from the Greymouth Library totalled 2,319, whilst the tickets issued numbered 35. Books were placed on. the shelves as follows: The Clicking of Cuthbert (P. G. Wodehouse), Autumn (Muriel Hiire), The Ranchman (C. A. Seltzer), The Whisked Footman (E. Jepson) Rilla of the Ingleside (L. M. Montgomery), Panella Herself (D. Coke), John Dene of Toronto (H. Jenkins), The Empty Sack (Basil King), District of Desire (Margaret Peterson) Celia (Paul Trent) Threads (F. Stayton) Maori and Pakcha (Shimpton and Mulgar). On Monday there arrived at Freemantle, Westralia, the steamer British Trader, which has been fitted up by the British World Trade Expedition as a travelling exhibition to tour the world advertising the manufactured and other products of Great Britain and the Empire. She will call at the following Australian ports in succession —Freemantle, Adelaide, Hobart, Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane, and will remain three days in the last-mention-ed port. The British Trader will carry from these ports Australian manufactues to be displayed in the East, and, perhaps, held in reserve for the great Empire Exhibition in 1924. Mr Theodore has communicated with the Prime Minister expressing’ the hope that he will be able to secure a call by the British Trader at Townsville and Cairns, and has asked the Mayor of these cities to make a direct request to the Commonwealth Government on the matter. The Martin Family have oeen in the carrying business for over 43 years, and have never yet failed the public. Noth ing too small or too large for us to handle. All trains met and goods consigned to us will be delivered with out customary guaranteed punctuality. 11. Mrrtin, No. 1 Carrier, Greymouth.-— Advt. It was stated by the Mayor (Mr .1. 1). Lynch) at the Borough Council meeting last evening, that ho had received complaints that many butchers and tradesmen were in the habit of parking their lorries and other vehicles at the Abattoirs and using the abattoirs as a store for meat. He did not consider it fair to other tradesmen. Cr Doogau said the Council should not take any action until some wrong had been done. A letter from the complainants would be more specific. He pointed out also that there were too sides to the question, as certain people were said to be deriving a benefit out of a reduced price in meat. Nothing should be done without a consultation with the manager. The Council decided to refer the matter to the General Committee. The Queensland Government intends to hold the elections next year. A strong attack was recently made on the Sastri Mission by Sher Ali, an Indian University professor at present in Sydney. This fellow-countryman, after some candid comment on Mr Sastri’s record and standing, and on the contrast between the treatment of all Indians by most Europeans in India and the reception Mr Sastri had had in Australia, concluded in these terms: — “The average worker in India has one meal of grains and vegetables per day, weighs only 1041 b, and lives only z 22 years, as against the Australian 45 years, and has a most miserable existence of filth, ignorance, and disease, due to poverty not exceeded anywhere on earth in all history. The working classes in India number 180.000,000 roughly. It makes Indians laugh to hoar Nfr Sastri talk about improving their status, and being the honored guest of unknowing Australians who think they are patriotic in welcoming him as a distinguished statesman.”

The Americans were lately talking of a project to sell 300 ships at t«u price of a peanut—2ooo dollars for each—and the project was defeated at the last minute by Richardson, a Washington newspaper man, who dug up all the nefarious particulars and destroyed the infamy by publication. The position of a mercantile fleet purchased at wartime prices can never be hopeless while freights stay at peak prices. Isolated by war demands on shipping, with beef, mutton, hides, sheepskins, wheat flour, butter, and fruit for overseas held up to their producers’ ruin, Australia had to acquire mercantile marine or die out of the export trade. The Government bought 39 ships at a capital cost of £4,353,365, and made net profits of £7,441,819. Its wooden ship experience on top of the capital cost of the ships showed a loss of £2,515,000. After paying that loss Australia has a balance-sheet show ing 39 oceangoing steamers paid for and a surplus of £450,000. Also five modern steamers have been ordered for fast freight and passenger trade; the capacity of each being 700 passengers, 370,000 cubic feet for refrigerated cargo and 580.000 cubic feet for ordinary. Other construction will bring the Australian Government fleet to 51 ocean-going steamers at a total capital cost of £10,706,976, against total net profits to June 30, 1921, of £7,551,813 or less interest to £7,169,810. That experience should steady the desire of some Americans to sell its ships at scrap prices.

It was his (Kitchener’s) lot to love a woman who was as emphatically devoted to duty as was he. This woman had been adopted by a wealthy relative, who, after the engagement, fell incurably ill. It was not possible, so argued the girl, to desert her in her enfeeblement, and so the man went on his lonely way In later days, after the cares of State, his car might historic palace where he lodged, westfrequently be seen starting from the wards to the house of the elderly woman whom he still loved. He leant upon her counsel. She was a woman of rare mental balance. He never sought her sympathy in vain.—Sir Jus. Denham, in “Memories of the Memorable.” As showing the cost of paper, the head of the New Zealand Newspaper Proprietors’ Association, Mr P. Selig, stated the other day that the price of newsprint is now 100 per cent over pre-war rates, ami is getting still dearer. A telegram from Pahiatua states: — The Governor yesterday unveiled a dis trict war memorial here, with 122 names of fallen soldiers thereon, in the presence of a record large assemblage. He gave a short address, ami received a civic welcome from Major J. D. Wilson (County Chairman) and Mr Samuel Bolton, on behalf of the residents. There was a muster of returned soldiers, under Doctor Patterson (President of the local Association), who were individually spoken to by the Governor. About a thousand children were inspected. Lady Jellicoe was presented with a bouquet by a little girl. The visitors were entertained at afternoon team, and left for Woodville, accompanied by Mr McNieol, member for the district. Whether there is a common understanding between the Governments ami the Capitalists for the purpose of helping the class interests in times of disputes should no longer be in doubt in the minds of tho members of the Seamen’s Union. At the time the “Hobson’s Bay’’ was in Sydney some little dispute occurred as to the manning of that vessel. The lying press, as is usual in all cases, however trivial, between employers ami workers, came out with the awfulest lies. However, immediately certain statements were cabled to London tho class interests urged Lord Inchcape to offer his services to the Manager of the Commonwealth Line to fight the Seamen’s Union; the noble lord went a great deal further, and threatened to withdraw all the ships he has any control over from the Australian coast. The sooner the profit hogs carry out their threat the sooner will the workers of this country come near a decent living. At present the toilers are so busy grinding out profits for the Lord Inchcapes that they are merely existing.—Australian Seamen's Journal.