LOCAL AND GENERAL

Grey River Argus, 16 December 1942, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

‘A creditable contribution to the war effort during the past school year has been that of Miss Jean Blackie, aged 13 years, a prefect ot the Grey Main Schoo], who has knitted no fewer than thirty-six scarves for the Greymouth Patriotic Committee.,

Gillespie’s Beach dredge last week secured 28ozs 7dwt of gold for 10l hours from 17,064 yards; Associated Gold Dredges 150ozs from 74,500 yards; and Slab Hut Creek dredge 390 z for 110 hours, from 16,000 yds. Grey River Dredging Company Ltd. has declared a dividend at the rate of Is a share.

Special new frocks, suits, costumes, etc., for the Xmas trade are showing at White’s. Make a lav-by whilst the selection is at its best. —Advt.

The Stuart Wilson Cup, which has been awarded each year for the past 20 years to the boy or girl adjudged the best farmer in New Zealand, has been awarded by the Education Department this year to Brewer Scott, of Lowcliffe School. Canterbury. He raised a crop of onions which gave a yield of 54 tons to the acre.

In the oast week two cases of cere-bro-spinal meningitis and one of infantile paralysis were notified in Canterbury, three notifications of scarlet fever, one of diphtheria, two of tuberculosis, two of septic abortion and one of hydatids. Two tuberculosis deaths occurred. There were no ! West Coast notifications. ■<

A change 'in the postal address of New Zealand air personnel in Cana'da is announced by Air Headquarters, Wellington. All correspondence should be addressed “Care of the Royal Canadian Air Force Headquarters, Lif.gard Building. Ottawa.” It is essential that the letters and N.Z. official number shall appear on all correspondence. —P.A.

The Xmas Gift Goods now showing by H. Hamer, Kumara, are as good as any other West Coast display, and moderately priced too I —Advt.

On the occasion of the social which the Greymouth Branch of the New Zealand Labour Party is extending to the Hon. J. O’Brien and Mrs O’Brien, at the Lyceum Hall on Saturday evening next, as a compliment, to Mr O’Brien on his attainment of Cabinet rank, there is a general invitation extended to the friends ot the guests of the evening, irrespective of political party, to be present on the occasion.

Strong exception- to the present criticism of the morals of youn? girls was taken bv the Hon. W. E Parry, when speaking at the opening of the Women’s Centre at Greymouth yesterday. . He said that the men concerned should be given equal blame. A man who defile.d a woman equally defiled himself. It was the women who upheld the morals of the community and the men should accept as much responsibility if these morals were violated.

The Labour candidate for the Christchurch East bye-election will be announced before Christmas. This reply was given by Mr. ,G. W. Dell, secretary of the Christchurch Labour Representation Committee. The nlames suggested by party members in Christchurch East will be referred to the National Executive of the Labour Party, which, under the constitution of the party, has the right to select a candidate- for any by-election. Most sunport from branch members appears to be for Miss M. B. Howard.

An appeal to the new Minister of Transport (Hon. J. O’Brien) to see that transport was allowed for country mothers to visit the Plunket Rooms at Greymouth was made by Mrs Cecil Wood, of the Dominion Council of the Plunket Society, when speaking at the opening of the new Women’s Centre at Greymouth yesterday. She also; referred to the need for Plunket, nurses to be able to visit mothers in their homes at least once a year.

An Auckland resident who had been proudly watching the daily development of a row of green peas ha'd a rude shock when his morning inspection showed him a heap of shells, from which the peas had been extracted, lying on the path. The next morning a similar thing happened. Rats and opossums were under suspicion. That night he spent a vigil over the vegetable- patch, and in due course the marauder arrived. It was a hedbehog, which, standing on its hind legs, was enjoying a meal of luscious green peas when it was suddenly caught by the irate householder.

£BO has been spent on the purchase of books on education for the New Zealand Education Fellowship sections in public libraries of eight cities and towns of the Dominion. This was announced at the annual meeting in Wellington of the New .Education Fellowship Trustees by the Chairman, Sir Thomas Hunter. During the year grants were made to assist nursery play centres in Wellington and Christchurch' with the purchase of equipment, and expenses of a survev of the problem of children whose mothers are working were met.—P.A.

Housekeeping need not be an ordeal. Not when you let us put v O ur home in shape. Are your drapes, rugs, curtains, blankets and bedspreads all clean and ready for Xmas? Home will be a brighter, more cheerful place to entertain in -—above all, to live in. Your house furnishing will last longer and conservation means so much these days. 'Phone 136 and Westland Laundry will do the rest. —Advt.

The Prime Minister, Defence Minister and others recently welcomed a contingent of New Zealand soldiers who have been invalided home from the Middle - East, all walking cases, most suffering from nervous complaints. There were no battle cases. Many have seen long service in the Middle East and some previously were in Suva. The voyage benefited them, though a large number of cases of anxiety neurosis caused bv bombing and shelling take a little time to repair properly. The voyage was uneventful. The escort over the last stage was by Dutch warships.

The Netherlands Delegation headed bv Dr. van der Plas, were accorded a civic reception at Westport last evening, in the Town Hall, which was crowded for the ociasion. The speakers were the Mayor, Mr J. M. Robertson (Borough), Hon. W. H. Mclntyre (County), Hon. P. C. Webb, Hon. R. Semple and Hon. W. E. Parry. Allstressed the bond of friendship between the Dutch and British nations. The proceedings, which included several excellent vocal solos bv ladies, were broadcast bv Station 3ZR. The delegation left Greymouth at 1 p.m. yesterday, after visiting the Strongman State mine, where they travelled to the coal face, and also visited the new school at Runanga. Eighty cigarettes a day! M. Aristide Briand. “the strong man of French politics,” smoked 80 cigarettes a day—and lived to be old. Yet the enemies of the weed will insist that smoking, even in moderation, shortens life! But that depends on the tobacco. Th e famous Frenchman’s favourite blend must have been of exceptional purity to admit of his indulging so freely. Because brands there are in plenty, which it i would be simply suicidal to smoke to that extent owing to the quantity of nicotine they contain. Tobacco absolutely free from nicotine is unknown, but bur N.Z. brands are not far off the mark. The toasting they are subjected to at the factory accounts not only for their comparative freedom from nicotine, but for their peculiarly delicious flavour and unequalled aroma. They do not, be it noted, affect the heart, and are the only toasted tobaccos. That they possess an irresistible attraction for smokers is proved by their extensive sale. There are only live toasted brands: Riverhead Gold, Desert Gold, Cut Plug No. 10. Pocket Edition and Navy Cut No. 3. But ’ware of imitations!—Advt. ' At a meeting of the Executive of the Grey Returned Services’ Association on Monday, Mr G. Batty presiding, it was resolved that a letter be sent to the New Zealand Council, emphasising the alleged unrest J l } the community in the Grey district at the number of sine die adjournments granted in appeals against military service, and suggested that a military tribunal be appointed in both islands to re-examine all sine die decisions. It was decided to ask the Council if progress had been made in the efforts to secure better representation on the various patriotic councils throughout New Zealand. Christmas cheer grants to the sub-branches were approved. A grant of £2 2s was made to the Grey Hospital Christmas Cheer funds. Mr T. Jones reported that on his first fortnightly visit to the hospital there were seven ex-servicemen patients, and on his second visit eight. The men were being well cared lor. The president and secretary were appointed to deal wth Christmas Cheer grants. It was reported that Mr J. Duffy had arranged a concert to augment the funds of the Association.

Waterside workers and railwaymen at Dunedin who had been engaged to unload coal from a steamer on a recent Sundav had a pleasant day financially. 'Men engaged for Sundt'V work have* to be substantial rates, and thev also have to be engaged before 4.30 p.m. on the preceding Saturday. with a minimum ot five hours’ employment. The cost ot th : s particular Sunday work, which will eventually fall on the people, totalled £46 4s 6d whereas had it been carried out at ordinary rates of pay the amount would have been only £9 7s 6d. Bad weather interfered with the arrival of the steamer, and consequently no work, could be done on Sunday. The £46 4s 6d had. however, to be paid just the same.