REEFTON NOTES

Grey River Argus, 25 March 1943, Page 3

REEFTON NOTES

[Our Own Correspondent.] REEFTON, March 23. Mrs W. McKechnie and daughter of Cobden are on a visit to Reefton. • Mrs Hall, who has been spending a holiday with Mrs Auld left on return this morning via Lewis Pass. Mr C. Nevin returned from Weilington last evening, making the trip across the Strait by ’plane. Mr T. F. McKenzie underwent an operation in the local hospital to&The County Chairman has called a meeting of citizens to be held in the Oddfellows’ Hall on Tuesday evening at eight o’clock, for the purpose ot forming a strong representative Patriotic Committee. Notices have been sent to various organisations and citizens, asking them to attend. The original committee has been depleted owing to various members leaving the district, while others resigned owing to their Home Guard dutiesj taking up most of their time. Hon. P. C. Webb was entertained at dinner bv the Inangahua County Council at the New Commercial Hotel yesterday. Mr F. W. Archer (County Chairman) extended a hearty welcome to Mr Webb on behalf of Reefton residents. Mr Webh in reply, expressed thanks and said he was very pleased to be present and wished "he could spend a longer period in Reefton, but owing to pressure of business he had -to run to a timetable. A deputation from the Housing Committee, consisting of Messrs J. McGregor, V. Newcombe, G. Rosaniski and C. D. Buist, waited on the Minister, asking for six State houses to be built in R'eefton. Mr Webb said that at the present he could not guarantee them, owing to the shortage of material and urgent defence works, but promised they would get them as soon as it was

possible. He was quite aware of the necessity of houses being built ±Ol the miners in the district. Messrs J. B. Auld and F. W. Archer brought up several hospital matters x which the Minister said would be attended to. Several private deputations waited on the Minister. Mr G. Williams gave a request item during the dinner. Mr Webb left for Christchurch via Lewis Pass at 5 p.m. Owing to the increased voal output in the district, the Railway Department have decided to extend tne loading bank. The surveyors are already on the job, and when completed the bank will allow an extra ten waggons in the siding. A new telephone line has been erected in the vicinity of Reefton for the use of the Home Guard, while an almost new V 8 truck has arrived for the use of the Guardsmen.