LOCAL AND GENERAL

Grey River Argus, 13 August 1937, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

.When it left the road near Haupiri, a small car, driven by Mr Geoffrey Hewitt, capsized over a bank and caught fire, being practically destroyed, the driver was not injured.

Complaints are many among motorists concerning the bad state of the streets in the borough. Although pot holes have to be contended with, the most growls are about the condition of the roads wherein new mains arcbeing laid, these causing the drivers the most discomfort.

Exceptional bargain, Men's Black Oxford Shoes 17/6. Post free, from H. Hamer, Kumara.—Advt.

“The Twenty First” Century Duplicator is the most up-to-date Duplicator on the market. No wax sheets or stencil inks necessary. No intricate mechanism. Costless upkeep. Simplicity itself in working. Foolscap size 90/- complete set. Inspect this line at B. Dixon’s Ltd. Local Agent.—Advt.

The first two West Coast members of the Civil Reserve, Messrs A. B. Baird and R. Orr, will begin their aviation training to-day. This will consist of forty hours’ flying during the current year, ten hours next year, and ten hours in the following year.

Catches of whitebait in the Grey River have been only small since the opening of the season nearly two weeks ago. With a warm, sunny day yesterday, there were some small shoals, but so far the catches have not been such that the retail market has been supplied. Better runs of the fish should be seen next week if the present warm spell of weather continues.

A number of insurance underwriters and the Government Inspector of Fire Brigades (Mr H. Girling-Butcher) have made suggestions, and inquiries are now being made regarding the advisability of installing a system of automatic fire alarms at Greymouth of the “break-the-glass” type used in the cities. The opinion of the Greymouth Fire Board, however, is against the proposal, on the grounds of the expense involved, it being considered that the existing alarm system is sufficiently satisfactory to meet all the requirements.

That famous series of books “Everyman’s Library” now comprised 10C0 Volumes. Book of liography, Fiction, History, Oratory, Referece, Philosophy, Theology, Romance, Poetry and Drama, Travel, Science and Topography, Essays, etc., are all represented. Prices range frim 2/6, 3/- to 3/6 each. Lists forwarded on application to B. Dixon’s, Ltd.—Advt.

The Brunner Collieries Ltd., have made arrangements to obtain a temporary mine boiler to replace that which was found to be defective last week, and the Wallsend mine will probably resume work towards the end of next week, when it is hoped to have the new boiler installed, provided no unexpected difficulties are encountered. The concrete foundations, to receive the new boiler, have already been laid. The miners have been idle for the whole of the week, and are not likely to work a shift before next Thursday.

The Mayor, Mr W. Meldrum, has been invited to officially open the Competitions Festival at Greymouth on Monday next, and to present the medals and exhibitions won by Greymouth candidates at the Trinity College and Royal Schools of Music practical examinations last year. Donations are acknowledged from Messrs J. Ballantyne and Co., Ltd., Ernest Adams, Ltd., and Miss Miriam Trott; and cups had been presented by Mrs Trott and Miss Billie Addis (Christchurch) for the dancing sections, and by Mr J. O’Brien, M.P., for the elocutionary sections.

The presentation of a bicycle was made to the son of Mr Gleeson, caretaker of the Grey Main School, yesterday, this being the outcome of a praiseworthy gesture on the part of the pupils. The boy recently suffered from an illness, but will soon be able to ride a bicycle. In token of their sympathy, his schoolmates embarked on a money-raising campaign, various methods being employed, and the object was achieved. The presentation was made by the headmaster, Mr J. Graham.

Mills cutting red pine throughout the West Coast will to-day observe the second of the holidays designed to overcome the difficulties facing the millers through the falling-off of the red pine trade, in accordance with the resolution passed by the Sawmillers’ Association. A further holiday will be observed on Wednesday, August 25. In the ordinary course of events the holiday would be again observed on Friday, August 28, but it has been agreed to take the holiday on Wednesday in view of the Springbok match with West Coast at Giey .mouth on that day.

No immediate prospect of the completion of the Parliament Buildings is in sight, a definite indication oi this being given recently by the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J* Savage). The fortnightly meeting of the Hibernian Society was held last evening Bro. O. Beirne presiding over a good attendance. Sick pay was passed to all members entitled thereto. Three members of the Juvenile Branch were admitted to membership in the senior branch, along with one other candidate. Of late, quite a number of the junior members have been promoted to the senior branch. One candidate was proposed for membership. The Blue Bird Gipsy D.H. Moth plane, A.A.D., which Mr M. E. Spiers flew to Greymouth on Wednesday, is stated to have been brought for a loan to the West Coast United Aero Club. Mr F. McDonald, Ground Engineer of the club, accompanied him on the flight from Invercargill, piloting the club’s own plane. The Blue Bird ' A.A.D. developed engine trouble on the east coast near Karitane, and Mr ’ Spiers made a forced landing to re- ’ pair the engine. There is, in Cobden, a machine for ' sharpening lawnmowers which is * guaranteed the same -method as used 1 by the leading manufacturers. Satis- - faction is guaranteed and the charge < for Overhauling and Sharpening is r only 10/-, including cartage. Ring Greenhill & Coy., ’Phone 428, or \ Abbie-Ramage, ’Phone 167. Electric 1 Lawnmower Service, Cobden. —Advt.

A special meeting of the Greymouth Borough Council was held last evening to confirm a resolution passed at a special meeting held on July 15, 1937, authorising the raising of renewal loans 1937, as follows:—‘ln pursuance and exercise of the powers vested in it by ‘The Local Bodies Loans Act, 1926,’ and with the precedent consent" of the Governor-Gen-eral-in-Council as required by the ‘Local Government Loans Board Act, 1926,’ the Greymouth Borough Council hereby resolves by way of special order as‘follows: For the purpose of paying the outstanding balance £lB2O of the Cobden Town Board’s loan of £2300 and the outstanding balance £9938 of the Greymouth. Borough I Council’s Antecedent Liability Loan of £ll,OOO, the Greymouth Borough Council hereby authorises the raising of a loan of £11,750, such loan together with interest thereon to be repaid by thirty equal half-yearly payments‘of £4lO 18s 5d each, the first of such payments to be made on the Ist day of December, 1937. and subsequent payments on the Ist days of June and December in each year thereafter up to and including the Ist day of June, 1952, and by a final payment of £3739 17s lid on the Ist day of June, 1952.” The motion was moved by Cr. McKane and carried. Those present were the Mayor (Mr W. Meldrum), and Crs. J. B. Kent, A. H. McKane. G. R. Harker, A. M. Carroll, R. J. Williams. P. Blanchfield, and A. H. Paterson.

New Books at B. Dixon’s, Ltd. “Victoria Four Thirty,” by Cecil Roberts, 7/6 (4d),' “The Marsh” by E. Raymond, 9/6 (6d); “Ordeal in England” by Phillip Gibbs, 9/6 (6d); “Testament of Stephen Fane” by Neil Bell, 9/6 (6d); “Civilians Into Soldiers” by Lee, 7/6 (4d); “Omnibus of Thrills” by Seamark, 4/6 (6d); “Nurse to Dives” by Paul Trent, 7/6 (4d) • “Christianity and its Critics” by Sope’r, 1/3 (3d) ;J. B. Priestly Omnibus “Four in Hand”, 7/6 (4d). Postage in Brackets. —Advt.

With the completion of the landing circle at the Blenheim aerodrome the main work" on the landing area is rapidly drawing to a close, and it remains'now only for the grass to come through over the magnificent surface of the aerodrome for the whole area to be available for landing purposes. This should be a matter of a few months (states the “Marlborough Express”), and when the growth is complete one of the best landing grounds in the Dominion will be provided. The circle itself, intended as a landmark for aviators, fulfils its purpose admirably, for it is constructed of concrete 16 feet wide and 100 feet in diameter, while above it is “printed the name of the aerodrome in concrete letters 20ft. long and 16ft. wide, with 16 feet spacings between the letters. It is easily discernible from the air, and it forms one of the final improvements at the aerodrome, which now can be considered easily one of the most up-to-aate in New Zealand, second only probably to Wigram.

By the courtesy of his granddaughter, Mrs. H. E. Jones, Wanganui, a photograph of the late Mr. J. T. Wicksteed has been obtained for the old colonists’ room in the Taranaki Museum at New Plymouth (reports an exchange). Tnis completes the series of photographs of the Resident Agents who represented the authority of the Plymouth and New Zealand Companies when New Plymouth was first established. . Mr. Wicksteed succeeded Captain Liardet in 1842, and was in turn succeeded by Mr F. D. Bell, during whose term of office the Bell Block of land was acquired for settlement. In appreciation of Mrs. Jones’s courtesy regarding the photograph and other family papers connected with Mr. Wicksteed’s official career a replica of tne photograph in the old colonists’ room has been sent to her by Mr. W. H. Skinner, chairman, and other members of the museum committee.

Great interest is being taken on the East Coast regarding the proposal to change the name of Poverty Bay to something more in keeping with the prosperous nature of the district, states the “Poverty Bay Herald.” Opinion there is not altogether favourable to the Gisborne agitation to obliterate the name of “Poverty,” and the Maori community particularly resents any suggestion that an alteration should be made. ‘lt would be an insult to the great navigator to change the name,” stated a member of the Native race at Ruatoria during the week. “Even if the district were named after Captain Cook himself and called Cook Bay, I think it would still be an insult to him. It was also suggested that the name or ‘‘Poverty presented great possibilities in advertising the district. The judicious use of the name alongside figures representing the true wealth of the district would give “Poverty” an entirely different meaning, and the very name would attract widespread attention if presented in an interesting or novel manner. A catch phrase such as “30 000 people share an income of £3,000,000 to £4,000,000 a year from farming in misnamed Poverty Bay, was suggested as something that should be circulated as widely as possible. If that were done, it was maintained, the name of “Poverty” no longer would have the sinister meaning it has now. ..