LOCAL AND GENERAL

Grey River Argus, 7 February 1941, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Mr Jas Roberts, President of the Canterbury L.R.C., who has been indisposed for some days past, has indefinitely postponed his intended visit to Greymouth.

During January 1650 books were issued by the Greymouth Municipal Library, whilst 42 tickets were issued, as well as eight children’s tickets. Twenty-five books were added to the shelves.

Buy your Fashion Goods at the home of style, quality and value.— White’s Corner, your Fashion Centre. —Advt.

A good record was established yesterday when, of twenty-seven overseas ballotees medically examined at Greymouth, not one was rejected as permanently unfit. Sixteen were passed a’s fit and eleven were classed as temporarily unfit.

The Minister of Defence is to be approached by the Greymouth Borough ’Council with a request that the use of the Greymouth aerodrome as a training ground be considered. At last evening’s meeting of the Council Cr J. B. Kent said that the ground was a fine one, and some scheme should be put into operation. He pointed out that 100 per cent, of the trained members of the Aero Club were on active service, which showed that the ground was suitable for training. The Mayor and Town Clerk were instructed to frame a suitable letter to the Minister.

After having been blocked by a slip since Monday, the railway line from Dunollie to Rewanui was cleared at 4.45 o’clock yesterday afternoon. The repairing of the centre rail on the incline, which was damaged, was completed at about the same time. ’The Liverpool mine was idle yesterday. A train leaves Greymouth this morning for Rewanui. where, work will be available for the miners. The accumulation of coal in the Liverpool mine binns will be relieved to-day, as it is now possible for wagons to be taken to Rewanui-

A live question in Greymouth at the present time is that of the quality of the “standard of life.” It even cropped up last evening at the meeting of the Borough Council. After Cr C. Neville had been referring to recent explosions in town, Cr J. B. Kent remarked: “Cr Harker has another matter of great importance to bring up—it’s about the wheat germ in bread!” (Laughter). Cr Harker: “No! No!” (More laughter). The Mayor, declaring the Council in committee, said that there was no need t 0 fool—the Council had done enough fooling already that night!

Bring your boors and shoes to Chalk’s Footwear Repairing Depot, opposite Haglund’s Store, High Street, Greymouth (formerly Mr. J. Murphy’s). Good leather, laces, polishes, etc., at town prices. Absolute satisfaction guaranteed.—Advt.

While it was necessary to have emergency precaution plans perfected and made ready for immediate application to any situation that might arise, Mr. F. L. Frost, M.P., suggested at a recent meeting in New Plymouth that nothing should be done to disturb the calm of the people or to create a panic. He said a good deal of reference had been made to the need of a black-out, but he thought the executive of the scheme in New Plymouth, which was a body of responsible citizens, should be the authority to decide whether and when there should be any such precaution either total or partial. The chairman, Mr. P. E. Stanton, said that would be one of the matters which the executive would take into consideration.

During December four building permits for work valued at 1380 were issued by the Greymouth Borough Council. In January, two permits for £932 were issued.

Last month, fees collected at the Greymouth Abattoirs amounted to £124 10s 3d. Stock dealt with comprised: 166 lambs, 458 sheep, 171 bullocks, 12 cows, 81 pigs and 25 fowls. One cow and one pig were condemned.

An incident in a water polo match on Tuesday night at the Napier Municipal baths caused amusement. The o-oalie dived for a hard shot and came up with a piece of the goal pipe in his hand. The structure tottered and the goalie barely escaped before it collapsed into the wafer. Play was held up while the goal was repaired.

Blackberry pickers:—Consign your berries to Richard McMeekan, 89 Packe Street, Christchurch. You receive 3/6 dozen lb. I pay freight and supply tins. —Write to-day- Advt.

The insertion of an optional paper in Maori in the University entrance scholarship examination was decided upon by the Senate of the University of New Zealand on the recommendation of the Academic Board. Maori as a subject is already included in matriculation and Stage 1, Bachelor of Arts.

A sailor's hat, believed to be German, was washed ashore on the east coast of the Great Barrier Island after the storm last week. It wa's picked up by a resident, who has been instructed by the military authorities, whom he advised of his find, to forward it to the naval intelligence officer at the Devonport base. A wooden clog which German sailors wear when ashore also was found at the same place.

Among the Australian trophies from the Italian defeats .in Libya now en route to Sydney is a flag from the tower of the courthouse at Bardia. Pulled down by some of the first Australians to enter Bardia, it was handed over to their commander, Major John M. Abbott, of Randwick, who is having it sent to his tw 0 young daughters. Major Abbott is a young Auckland boy, Having attended Sacred Heart College during his residence in that city.

Black Gym. Hose, best quality, sizes 5 & 6, 6/6 pair; 7, 6/11 pair; 8 &9, 7/6 pair—H. Hamer, Kumara.— Advt.

A list of names omitted from the District Electors’ List totalling 1076, on the grounds they did not possess the necessarj' qualifications, was approved by the "Borough Council last evening. There were 4220 left on the list, the Town Clerk (Mr F. H. Denton) reported. The Mayor (Mr F. A. Kitchingham) said that notices would be sent to all persons omitted and those receiving notices could apply before April for reinstatement if they had the qualifications necessary.

The position regarding import restrictions on sheet music, pianos and other instruments and accessories was the subject of some comment at the conference of the Society or Registered Music Teachers of New Zealand. The opinion was expressed by delegates that with the small amount of sheet music allowed to be imported, what is allowed should be devoted to educational requirements. A decision was made to write to the Government asking for some relaxation of the restrictions.

After a brief discussion initiated by Cr H. Herring, the Greymouth Borough Council last evening decided to support the efforts of West Coast sawmillers in urging that the Forestry Department should push ahead with reafforestation on the West Coast. Cr Herring said that in fifteen years’ time there would be a very little millable bush north of Hokitika, and in another 15 years it would be necessary to go to far South Westland. The Forestry Department expected the forests to re-afforest themselves, but that would not be in our time or in timd for the continuity of the industry. On Cr Herring’s motion, the Council decided to write the Minister-in-Charge of State Forests, asking him to take steps to pursue a more vigorous line of policy in establishing new forests in Westland.

Alleging that Press Association reports “half a column long” had been published in Wellington, during his visit, Cr C. Neville at last evening’s meeting of the Greymouth Borough Council ■ asked the Mayor (Mr F. A. Kitchingham): Are you satisfied, as Mayor of Greymouth, that the necessary steps were taken to see wno committed, those explosions here? The Press Association went to great lengths to record it. It reflects on Greymouth, and to my mind it is very serious. I don’t think sufficient steps were taken to trace and clear them up. The Mayor replied that the matter was in the hands of the police, and he was satisfied they were doing their duty.

Doubt and confusion arising from a varying wage scale for married couples according to the circumstances of their employment, were cleared awaj' by the contents of a circular from headquarters which was read at the Southern Hawke’s Bay Farmers’ Union executive meeting at Dannevirke. It quoted a recent magistrate’s decision to the following effect: “To a couple engaged on a dairy farm a joint weekly wage must be paid; unless an underrate permit be obtained, the wife is legally entitled to the full adult workers’ wage, provided she is actually working on the place.” Couples engaged on farms other than dairy farms are covered by the extension order for workers on sheep and agricultural farms.

The annual balance sheet of the Greymouth Borough Council for the year ended March 31, 1940, was finally passed by the Council last evening after it had been received from the Auditor-General with a tag pointing out that money held in the sewerage advances account had not been paid into a separate account. The Mayor (Mr F. A. Kitchingham) said that the money was put into the District Fund Account at the time it was raised, and had been there ever since. The Council had been paying interest to the debenture holders and not to the bank, and the effect of the AuditorGeneral’s demand was that tlie Council would have to open another account and lose one per cent, or more in interest through having to pay it to the bank. It was decided to pass the accounts and inform the AuditorGeneral that the Council was taking steps to "'comply with his request.-

A supply of between 400 and 500 gallons of milk on Saturdays and 250 gallons on other days, is being sent daily to Waiouru military camps from Wanganui. The remainder of the supply for the camp is drawn from the Taihape district. The milk from Wanganui is pasteurised and sent by I rail, and is then placed in a refrigI erator in camp. An accident occurred last evening ■ as the result of a trailer attached to a car, driven by Mr Wright, of the Centennial Waxworks, swerving when the driver tried to avoid a child on the main highway at South Beach, near Morley’s Road. The vehicles fell into a deep disused dredge pond. A young boy, a baby and several other passengers in the car were slightly injured. Those injured were 1 attended by Dr. H. S. Ray. 1 | An instance of inter-locking of rel search was. given at the annual conI ference of golf greenkeepers, held at I Palmerston North. In the course of a lecture, Mr. E. A. Madden, of the Grasslands Division of the Depart • ment of Scientific and Industrial Research, said that experimental wors lon the research area devotee, to the study of the grassing and main: I ance of golf courses, this bemg sdttj ated at Hokowhitu, had beer. [able for that in connection "th landing grounds for aeroplanes. W '<th the plots there was already available the experience of eight years operations to give a' guide as to suitable grasses and the eorreej manurial programmes to follow. Unusual svmptoms involving blindness in cattie were reported in the Gisborne district a tew da\s ago. In some cases a film was noticed over the eyes, but in other instances the eves were clear. The condition is believed to be only a temporary one, and farmers were dosing their animals with a view to clearing the trouble up as quickly as possible. The cattle affected were in dairy herds, and farmers had the unusual experience of watching cows blundering about the paddocks sightless. Calves also were affected in some cases, and in other circumstances it would have been amusing to see how the youngsters reacted, for some gave a good imitation of the goose-step as they tried to feel their way about.