LOCAL AND GENERAL

Grey River Argus, 28 April 1942, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Owing to repairs, the Argo dredge did not wash up last week.

The Greymouth Patriotic Fund Appeal has now realised £1.796 2s fid. Latest donations are: Rev. A. D. Horwell (2nd. donation) £2; Mr. T. P. Ryan £5 ss; Baillie Neville and Coy. £25; Miss H. White 10s; Miss Dixon £2; Miss G. Dixon £2.

The sum of £164 was raised by the sale of poppies at Greymouta last week, an increase of £l4 on last year. However, the collection at The Town Hall on Saturday for the Greymouth Returned Services Association netted only £l5 17s lid, a decrease of nearly £lO on the amount collected at last year’s parade. Presbyterian Men’s Social Evening, St. John’s Hall, to-morrow (Wednesday), at 8 o’clock. All welcome.— Advt.

When a tree which he was felling at Kumara fell' and rolled on him, Donald Lawson, a tramlayer, of Camerons, suffered a fracture of the right leg. He was conveyed to the Westland Hospital where he is progressing staisfactorily.

Following the discovery on Sunday of the body of Robert Nelson McLagan, one of the victims of the tragedy on April 4 when he and Corneiuis Alexander Werner were swept away in? the Clarke River, the search for Werner was continued yesterday. Eight or nine men took part, under Constable A. W. Honey, of Ahaura. The only find made was that of a coat, belonging to Niall Werner, the third member of the party. He had left it on a log before attempting to rescue the other two men, and when he returned it had been washed away. The coat .was found yesterday by Niall Werner himself, who, with to other brothers, is taking part in the search.

Be smart on the street; at the afternoon function; in your home or anywhere you decide to go. Purchase your Fashion Goods from "White’s Corner, Your Fashion Centre.—Advt.

In some Auckland gardens lilacs are blooming. Gardeners have been surprised, for usually this plant does nol bloom until September or October, The lilac, however, is not alone. Blossoms are to be seen on occasional fruit trees. In the opinion of an expert, the hot and dry spell, followed closely by rain, has forced the plants into premature growth when they should be dormant. Under present conditions, he said, anything was possible, but. normal growth would return when winter proper sol Im

The match shortage, of which complaints are heard from ail over the country, is very acute in Auckland. A strict, policy of rationing has been Imposed. Some merchants say the position has not altered fo” the last six months, but others declare it has grown definitely worse since Christmas. They say the manufacturers have never been able to make up the time lost when many of the girl employees took extended holidays at Christmas. Auckland used to be the chief importer of matches into the Dominion, and consequently when overseas supplies ceased it felt the shortage more than other countries. i

Stating that some members of the civil service in mufti were doing work done by soldiers at 7s a day. Corporal G. H. Ferens, at a meeting of the Dunedin Returned Services’ Association, suggested that the association should look into the matter of lhe employment of civilians in army jobs and compare the rates of pay with those of soldiers. Corpora? Ferens said that New Zealand was on a war footing and under conscription, and it was making a farce of things when civilians could earn in an hour on Sundays what a soldier earned in a day. A motion on the lines suggested by Corporal Ferens was carried.

The Greymouth Municipal Band, on Anzac Day, had its busiest day of the year. Commencing at 10 a.m., it played hymns for the service at the Grey Main School, and an hour later at Cobden led a service at the Gymnasium, thence proceeding to the- Cobden Memorial Bridge, and rendering there appropriate selections. In the afternoon the Band led the procession to the Town Hall, and rendered the whole of the music for the service throughout the afternoon. Following this the Band completed the day by playing “The Garland of Flowers” and “The Last Post” for the Cenotaph Service.

As some confusion exists in the public mind regarding the Machine Tools and Engineering Equipment Control Notice which was gazetted on April 9th., 1942, the Ministry of Supply has published an advertisement in this issue. All persons who own machine tools or are affected by the notice should cut the advertisement out for reference. The Minister of Supply has clarified the position as to who must make returns. All persons who have already sent dn their returns should carefully check over the schedule to ensure that a complete return has been made of all information called for. The Ministry of Supply advises that no special forms are provided for the returns of importations, stocks and existing installations. In so far as tissues of machine tools, as referred to in Paragraph 1 of the advertisement is concerned, the existing application forms for the Factory Controllers approval will continue to be used meanwhile.

An inquest into the death of Robert Nelson McLagan, aged 18 years, a deerstalker, who was swept aw'ay while crossing Clarke River on April 4, and whose body was recovered on Sunday evening on the bank of the Grey River, near Ahaura, was opened before the Coroner, Mr G. G. Chisholm, S.M. yesterday afternoon. Senior Sergeant G. F. Bonisch conducted the proceedings. Constable C L. Scanlon in evidence said that he had taken the body to the morgue at Greymouth on Sunday. The body was fully clothed and was carrying Webb equipment of a military type. Of the three stalkers who made the trip McLagan was the only one carrying webb equipment. in the clothing was a letter from Niall Werner, the survivor of the accident, dated March 26, inviting McLagan to go shooting. One other member of the party also lost his life but his body had not yet been recovered. The Senior Sergeant said that only by the letter, the clothing and the webb equipment could the body be identified. He proposed to call no other evidence at present as the body of the other man had to be found. He asked for a sine die adjournment- so that a search could be carried out for the other -body. The proceedings were accordingly adjourned sine die.