LOCAL AND GENERAL

Grey River Argus, 15 May 1943, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Maori Gold Dredge return for the week ended May 14th, 1943, was 47ozs lOdwts for 14,500 yards for 132 hours work.

The report of the Royal Commission which inquired into the disastrous fire at the Seacliff Mental Hospital will be tabled in the House of Representatives by . the Minister of Health (Hon. Nordmeyer), early in the coming session. The fire occurred on the night of December 8 last year, and 37 women patients lost their lives.

Another Lucky Purchase: Men’s and O.S. Navy Sleeveless Bush Shirts, 7/6, 8/6, 9/6 —with small sleeves —1/extra. Wonderful value. —H.' Hamer, Kumara.—Advt.

A quarter of a ton of Strongman coal at a time is tbe ration allowed by the Greymouth coal retailers. Mines Departmet officials said yesterday that there had been no reduction in the quantity of coal to retailers. but that the heavy demand for Strongman coal from all classes of wholesale consumers has resulted in some delay, sometimes of a couple of days, in the fulfilment of orders.

Patriotic Effort, Regent Theatre, this Monday, at 8 p.m. The first entertainment of the big £lO,OOO Q u °t a scheme; everybody help by attending.—Advt.

Pineapples are making a welcome appearance in the Wellington fruiterers’ shoos. They have come from Australia, but out. of the 200 or so cases there will not be a great deal of good fruit as the shipment as a whole landed in very poor condition. A maximum wholesale price of 30s a case has been fixed by the Internal Marketing Division, but there is no fixed retail price, and those who can afford luxury prices for their fruit can get quite a nice pineapple tor four shillings.

You would not go to the Club or Lake your wife to the pictures whn bow yangs on your trousers. V ell, why wear your suits with those baggy knees when you can have those smart tailored lines and knife-like crease by having them sponged and pressed by experts, and then again it saves you the extra expense of having them cleaned so often. Phone 136 and that smart appearance that donates personal pride in your wearing apparel will be yours. Westland Laundry Ltd., Gresson Street, Depot 27 Albert Street.—Advt.

A total of £lOB 10s was raised by the combined street appeal of the Red Cross Society and the order of St. John in Greymouth yesterday in aid of the sick and wounded, and prisoners of war. The sum is considered to be very satisfactory in view of tne bad weather. During the morning eight blocks in the town were systematically' covered, and in the alternoon and evening collectors had a roving commission. 'Die organisers wish to express their thanks to the many collectors who took part, particularly the ladies, many of whom were o'ut morning, afternoon and evening.

“There is a lot of nonsense —humbug is a better word—talked about the control by international finance.” said the New Zealand Minister to Washington (Hon. W. Nash), in an address to the Wellington Branch oi the Royal Society of New Zealand when questioned by a member of the audience as to what influence international finance would have 'after the war. No country which knows its business can be controlled by international finance,” he said. “International finance cannot give orders to any country. I have been Minister of Finance for a good many years and I’ve never seen or heard of any such orders.”

The Runanga Women’s Institute held their monthly meeting in the Druids’ Hall. ■ Mrs Barker presided over a good attendance. New members and visitors were welcomed. Mrs Johnson read the aspirations and Mrs Thompson gave an interesting demonstration of papier mache dolls. It was decided on a vote to have afternoon meeting in the Druids’ Hall this year. During the social half-hour Mrs Key won a competition and Mrs Isaacs played selections on the piano-accordian with community singing. The president presented Mrs Outhwaite who is leaving the district, with a gift and extended good wishes. Competition winners were: Kitchen cushion, Mrs Armstrong 1, Mrs Griffiths 2; marble cake, Mrs Pattinson 1, Mrs Griffiths 2.

Mrs Mann presided over the . annual meeting o’f the Blaketown Women’s Institute. Visitors and one new member were welcomed. Motto for the month, “Better a small deed done than a great deed intended.” The roll call brought forth some good ideas for the birthday party. A demonstration on cleaning mats was given by Mrs-Mann. A musical competition was won by Mrs Sheard. Competition winners: Apply jelly, Mrs Dowell 1, Mrs Moreland 2 and 3; sugarbag article, Mrs Graham (Blaketown) 1, Mrs Herring 2; bowl of chrysanthemums, Mrs Thompson 1, Mrs Mann 2, Mrs Graham 3. Hostesses were Mesdames Henderson, Hillman, Gardjen, Griffin, Hickling, Graham (2).

The prices set for apples and pears in the price order in force from May 10 are amended by a new schedule jssued yesterday. This is in accordance with the terms of the order providing for amendments at intervals. An amended schedule covers both retail and wholesale prices. The range of retail prices per lb is, in general the same as in the earlier order but with more differentiation according to the sizes . In addition, there is now almost no differentiation in retail prices per lb between fancy and commercial grades, except in certain sizes of three varieties of Delicious and of Granny Smith. This is because changes in the prices for case lots wholesale, are not sufflcient to substantially effect retail prices per lb. The smalles sizes of Jonathans are now 5s 6d a case retail, and the smalles sizes of Stunners are 4s 6d a case. Two additional varieties of apples are named in the new schedule. These are Rome Beauty and Frimley Beauty, retail prices for which range from 2id to 3d per lb and, 5s 6d to 7s 9d a case. The retail prices for pears now range from 4id to 6d per lb. The range of wholesale prices in the new schedule is: Golden , Delicious, fancy grade 6s to 7s; Commercial grade 5s 6d to 7s 3d; Delicious Richard, and Granny Smith: 6s to 7s and 5s 6d to 7s 3d; Jonathan: 4s to 6s 3d and 4s to ss; Rome Beauty and Frimley Beauty: 3s 9d to 6s 3d; Stufmer and other dessert, 3s to 5s and 3s to 4s 6d; Ballarat, Washington and Lord Wolseley:-4s to 6s 3d; other; cookers 3s to 5s 3d. For pears the' wholesale prices are now Ils to 13s per case for Winter Cole and Winter Nells and 10s to 12s for others. —P.A.

In the search for oil, boring will commence at Arahura about Thursday of next week. It will be. undertaken by the New Zealand Oil Exploration Ltd., an associate of the Shell Oil Company of N.Z. Ltd. The Arahura district has been prospected for about four years by the company and now it has made arrangements for the use of the plant and some of the members of the expert staff of the Superior OH Company, which recently ceased its boring operations in the Kumara and Marsden districts. The latter company’s plant will be used for the completion •of the P eo_ logical survey of the prospected area, which is several miles inland from the Greymouth-Hokitika main highway. While the main plant is being re-assembled, a single bore is to be put down, this operation is expected to last about four weeks.

The regular monthly report from the Commissioner of the J'oint Council of the Order of St. John and the New Zealand Red Cross Society, in the Middle East, has come to hand, and shows how much attention is being paid to our sick and wounded in the various hospitals. Radio transmission and amplifier systems have been installed in our hospitals; and have proved a boon. Surgical dressings, extra hospital clothing, toilet requisites, stationery, reading matter, tobacco, fruit, sweets, and other comforts too numerous to mention are distributed by the Joint Council Commissioner’s competent staff. One pleasing feature in the latest report is that the position regarding books and magazines is quite satisfactory. With the advance of our men. further west, the Joint Council representative has established an advanced base at Tripoli, and stocked the store with all goods necessary for the welfare of the sick and wounded..

The establishment of a National Fire Council as advisory body to coordinate and standardise as far as I possible the various phases of the tirelighting services of the Dominion is announced by the Minister of Civil Defence (Mr. Wilson). I't will be an advisory body to examine such phases of the firefighting service as policy, administration, training, operation, organisation, and finance. It is purely a wartime arrangement, made after very full consultation and with voluntary agreement of representatives of all interests concerned. The Council will consist of Messrs S. S. Dean, Wellington, W. W. Callender, Duriedin, W. H. Hall, Timaru (repre-j senting the New Fire 'Boards), 1. Jordan, Masterton (representing the New Zealand Municipal Association), L. Glover, Wellington (representing the New Zealand Fire Brigade Union, the Federation, and the Superintendents’ and Deputy-Superintendents Union) and Captain T. Watts, Auckland (representing the United Fire Brigades’ Association). The Mmister will be Chairman, and Mr. J. S. Hunter, Director of National Service Deputy-Chairman. Attached to the Council will be a technical mit'tee. The establishment of the Council follows a report made by Mr. A. D. Wilson, who was brought t 0 New Zealand some time ago to report upon: the Dominion’s fire services and to recommend any improve-1 ments necessary on account of threat 1 of enemy action and war conditions generally.—'P.A.