LOCAL AND GENERAL

Grey River Argus, 1 August 1940, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Greymouth Red Cross Society yesterday received a donation of £lO from the Grey Hospital Ball Committee.

Boys I Make a date now for Ikamatua, on September 7th. League Ball.—Advt.

Two half-fledged thrushes were discovered last Sunday in the hedgerow of a Hamilton farm, the owner staring that he had never seen nestlings early at any time in the past. The nest was found when a thrush was startled out from a barberry bush.

Last week freight hauled through the Otira tunnel, from west to east, amounted to 15,133 tons, compared with 14,063 tons in the corresponding week of last year, an increase of 1,070 tons. In 1938, the corresponding total was 13,450 tons.

Large increases in the number of, births registered and marriage licenses issued are shown in the monthly vital’ statistics for Greymouth for J*uly. The figures, with the corresponding totals for July, 1939, in prenthesis, are as follows:—Births, 37 (12); deaths, 1-1 (13) ; marriage notices issued, 22 (8); marriages by Registrar, 4 (2). Kumara people will have an opportunity to secure some rar,» bargains in Drapery and Boots at H. Hamer’s Sale. Now on!—Advt. The South Westland service of Air Travel (N.Z.) Limited, last month transported 106 passengers, 2623 lbs of mail, and 1802 lbs of freight. There were 213 flights made in 165 flying hours, on 29 days out of the 31. The Company’s Nelson service carried 87 passengers, 416 lbs of mail, and 1034 lbs of freight, there having been 41 flights, occupying 47 hours.

A remit urging the extension of t-ie territorial system in New Zealand to give military training to young farmers and farm employees who are unable to devote a full three months of their time to training wa s carried at yesterday’s meeting of the Franklin sub-provincial executive of the. Farmers’ Union. It was stated that there might be som e difficulty, at present in making instructors available lo organise parades in rural areas.

Every afternoon during our sale, special bargains will be displayed with a Bargain Drive every Saturday afternoon and evening. All goods marked at Real Bargain Prices.—H. Hamer, Kumara. —Advt.

Old and burnt-out electric lamps will be accepted at the Offices of tne .Auckland Electria-Pow’er Board in connection with th e recent Ministerial appeal to the public regarding disposal of waste materials. Consumers are being asked by the board to leav_« old globes in a receptacle specially provided for the purpose in the Power Board Building. Arrangements will be made later for the salvaging of the brass fittings on the lamps.

A group of senior Auckland Grammar School boys who attended the Auckland Supreme Court on Friday to observe at first hand something or legal procedure was a trifle unfortunate in the nature of the business that came U P> states the “New Zealana Herald.” After a youth' had been granted probation for burglary, ana several bankrupts had been discharged. Mr Justice Callan, who presided, took notice of the boys’ presence. *‘l regret there is nothing coming on by which their education will be advanced'. he said. “The business the Court: i P about to .do is of a nature highly unsuitable for these young peopia to hear.” The boys were not slow to take the hint.

The finest display given by the Po* hutu Geyser this year occurred on Friday, when it played for several hours, states a Rotorua correspondent. For the last 18 months the geyser has been fairly active after three years’ quiescence. Friday’s display, however, wa s the first for several months. The shots were frequent and between 50ft and 80ft in height.

Small supplies of green peas were again offered at the Auckland city markets recently, and were keenly sought at prices ranging up to Is lid per lb, states the “New Zealand Herald.” The very early , appearance of this tabic delicacy has been accelerated by mild winter weather, and growers have reaped a fine profit from the rapid growth. Prices will drop sharply when further supplies begin to come in shortly.

There is always a thrilling selection of new styles of fashion goods at White’s. Call to-day and spend a pleasant hour in our modern showroom.—White’s Fashion Corner. — Advt.

Sin'ce rainfall records have been taken by, the Greymouth Harbour Board from 1912, last month was the driest July experienced at Greymouth with only 1.92 inches of rain having fallen on 8 days. The maximum fail was .51 inches on July 2. In J'uly last year 5.66 inches of rain fell on 12 days. Figures for previous years are: 1938: 6.77 inches on 12 days, 1937: 8.23 inches on 21 days; 19362 7.76 inches on 14 days; 1935: 3.95 inches on 7 days; 1934: 5.82 inches on 16 days.

An increase in tonnage but a decrease in the number of ships arriving at Grey mouth during last month is shown by the Harbour Board’s returns. During last month 22 vessels aggregating 16,379 tons entered the port, as compared with 23 vessels (13.864 tons) in July last year. Departures were 19 vessels aggregating 13,883 tons compared with 22 vessels (11,737 tons) in July of last year. The 1938 figures were: Arrivals, 31 vessels (13,463 tons); departures, 35 vessels (15,372 tons).

Since allowances of petrol to commercial travellers have been reduceu, some Auckland firms are stationing cars in the districts usually canvassed. For example, cars are left in Hamilton ,and the travellers travel by tram between that town and Auckland. One extension of this principle been adopted by a firm which nas shipped a car to the South Island, a traveller will, journey by train and steamer to a South Island port, take possession of the car, and then start his business tour, travelling northward through the South Island, and finally through the North Island to Auckland.

Following Mr de Valera s announcement of a new Eire Volunteer l orce to augment the Regular Army ana Reserve, both of which are now on a war basis, comes news that the second of Eire’s coastal motor torpedo boats—the M 2—has been scheduled for delivery from Southampton, says the “Manchester Guardian.” This “flying sword” —a fifty-five feet long pocket warship, carrying two 18-inch Whitehead torpedoes, depth, charges, and other equipment—will join her sistership, the M. 1, commissioned some months ago. Six motor torpedoboats in all costing £170,000, are on order.

Free life membership offered to new members joining our Lending Library before August 5. 900 new books arriving this week. Over 4000 books for your selection. Inspection invited.—Claude Mason’s Greymouth Lookstall and Lending Library, Mackay St.—Advt.

The possibility that workers might be called upon to make greater sacrifices in the national war effort than those, imposed by the Budget was suggested by Mr M. Moohan, national secretary of the New Zealand Labour Party, when addressing a meeting of the Rotorua branch of the party, states a Rotorua correspondent, in addition to taxation measures there w lf re other efforts (that might be demanded of the workers. Mr Moohan stated, in suggesting that the 40-hour week might have to be suspended tn certain industries. The measures that the Government might have to introduce to meet the war emergency were likely to be unpopular, even with party, members.

The following amusing paragraph anneared in an English exchange in reference to parashots: “Meantime, for goodness’ sake don’t start blazing off if you see one parachutist coming down. It’s ten to one he’s some Air Force chap baling out of a damaged fighter. Even up to six may be the crew of one of our bombers. I’ve just been lunching with a chap who ‘has reason to feel very strongly about this. He attacked four German bombers 'and two Messerschmitts, bringing down the lot except for one that suddenly appeared on his tail and set his ’plane on fire. So, wounded in the back and leg, he jumped. The Ger-; man then tried to pot him as he came; down in his parachute, but missed him. But his troubles were not over. As he got near the ground, enthusiastic parashots started at him, but they also missed him.”

At a meeting of the Greymouth Patriotic Committee, the Mayor (Mr F. A. Kitchingham) reported on the recent visit to Greymouth of Mr Stephens, of the Internal Affairs Department who, he said, was taking up the questions of ticket-sellers i from other provinces coming to the West Coast to sell tickets, as it was contrary to the regulations. It was indicated that ticket-selling in the streets by girls of school-age (up to 16 years) should be discouraged, and, also that most likely an alteration would be made regarding the granting of permits for raffles of under| £5, by giving discretion in the, granting of permits to chairmen of; local bodies concerned. The use ofj books in which numbers and names were recorded would be stopped, pro-| visions would have to be made for the issue of tickets in.every case. The offer of the Grey R.S.A., to organise and conduct a week-end raffle was accepted with thanks', Ross and Glenclining wrote promising to donate £5O to the Provincial Fund, it was reported that Mrs M. Bradshaw had now given a greater area of ground than oeiore. enabling a larger building to be erected for the women’s shop. A large number ot, books from Mr Kinsella, Blackball,' for Burnham Camp, were acknowledged with thanks. It was reported that £47 12s promised during the 3ZR: Radio Appeal, was still outstanding. A general discussion on the motor car raffle took place.