LOCAL AND GENERAL

Grey River Argus, 10 June 1943, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Associated Gold Dredges’ returns for the week ended June 5 were 153 i oz from 71,000 yards in 314 dredging hours.

Runanga won the first grade and Convent Old Girls B the second grade section in the West Coast Basketball Association’s Yankee tournament on Monday.

Notifiable diseases reported in the Canterbury health district up to Monday were: Tuberculosis, six cases and scarlet fever four cases. There were eight cases of diptheria on the West Coast.

No payable oil has been found on the completion of experimental bores put down on the West Coast by the Superior Oil Company and by the N.Z. Oil Exploration Ltd., the latter a subsidiary company of the Shell Oil Company. The latter companv has lately been boring in the Arahura Valley.

When our family settled in the bush country 50 years ago, states a contributor to “Forest and Bird ’, we always noticed that the tui changed or varied his song every month, about the time of the new moon, and on one occasion for some weeks all the tuis about our homestead would repeat quite correctly seven bars of the latest tune which we youngsters would be whistling.

Unmistakably right are the Winter Coats showing at White’s Corner—Your Fashion Centre.—Advt.

The probably extinct North Island native crow or kokako, says Mr W. M Fraser of Whangarei in “Forest and Bird,” used its feet more than its wings and when disturbed would run from tree to tree. Neither the music of the bell-bird nor the rich and’ varied notes of the tui could be compared in quality to the voice of the kokako. Although the notes of this bird were uttered softly, they could be heard at a distance up to about 20 chains on a still morning, and sounded like: “Ko-kako, ngoong, ngo-ong, ngo-ong,” and were repeated every ten minutes or so.

Men! We have seven pairs of size 7 Tan Shoes. A real snip; 20/-. Post free. —H. Hamer, Kumara.— Advt.

Two opossums each with half its tail stripped to the bone and the end missing, were recently caught in a box trap by a contributor to ‘ Forest and Bird.” Search and enquiry failed to reveal the presence in the district of any steel traps which might have caused such terrible injuries but the' special trap later caught a very hefty polecat. Apparently this animal, knowing the opossums would put. up a tough fight if attacked head on, seized them by the tail as they endeavoured , to escape up the bole of a tree./ They did escape, but minussjialf their tails.

The hull of the tug “Westland” and the Greymouth Harbour Board’s diamond drilling equipment are to be offered for sale, as a result of a decision reached by the Harbour Board ab ifs meeting last evening. The engineer (Mr D. S. Kennedy) reported that the salvage of plate from the hull of the old tug for the board’s own use was. now practically finished. Referring to the drilling equipment he stated that there appeared to be little likelihood of the board engaging in further drilling and exploration work for coal, and there was a possibility of a Government Department being interested in the purchase of the equipment.

Have you that tired feeling on awakening in the morning as though you have not rested? Do you have trouble getting to sleep these nights ? So many people do. Well we can help you stop that tossing and turning by providing smooth professionally laundered sheets. There’s nothing so restful and refreshing. Why not try it to-night ? And besides, washing and ironing sheets at home is a backbreaking job. Let us free you from that unnecessary drudgery. You’ll be delighted too with the wrinkle free smoothness and surprised at the modest charge. ’Phone 136. Westland Laundry Ltd. Depot, 27 Albert Street. —Advt.

Repairs to the main wharf estimated to cost at least £1892 10s were stated to be necessary in a report presented to the Greymouth Harbour Board last evening by the engineer (Mr D. S. Kennedy). It was stated that the repairs which had been asked for by the Railways Department, did not include all that would be required, and that the examination of the wharf was also incomplete. Difficulty would be experienced in obtaining the necessary timber and extra labour to do the work. Mr Kennedy added that not only the superstructure was in need of certain repairs but the condition of the piling was open to doubt. The broken piles show that marine borer had been most active since the last examination in 1925. Examination of the piling should be put in hand as soon as possible, and the services of a diver should be procured and the whole length of the wharf examined. The report was adopted, and the engineer was asked to carry' on with the work as best he could.

Remarking that the way things were going on at present consideration would have to be given to the striking of a Flarbour Board rate, Mr. J. Smeaton, at last evening’s meeting of the Greymouth Harbour Board, suggested that an attempt be made to again secure the subsidy of £15,000 at one time granted to the Board in lieu of profits from Harbour Board endowments being used bv the Railways Department. Mr. Smeaton said that the subsidy had been taken away from the Board by a previous Government in a most unworthy manner, and it was only fair to ask that it again be paid. He suggested that the matter be placed before the Hon. J. O’Brien on his, next visit to Greymouth. Mr. J. A. Murdoch, supporting the suggestion, said that an additional argument was that at the time of the alleged agreement regarding the endowment between the Board and the Government the Board was not an independent body but was entirely approved bv the Government. The Boprd was then a mere agent of the Government and agreed to give away part of its endowment. Mr. Smeaton’s suggestion was adopted and the chairman of the Board (Mr. J. B. Kent) and Mr. Murdoch were appointed a deputation to approach Mr. O’Brien.

Commenting on the dislodging of a 132-ton block from the north breakwater by the storm last weekend, the Greymouth Harbour Board engineer (Mr D. S. Kennedy), in a report presented to the Harbour Board last evening, states that he has come to the conclusion that owing to adverse sea conditions some other method must be tried to complete the north breakwater with reasonable economy and dispatch. Mr Kennedy adds: I am therefore proposing to build some six or eight 100-ton blocks out of reach of the heavy seas and on special trolleys to transport them into position for tipping. Up till now the method used has been quite effective, but with the continually heavy ■ seas every effort .to finish off the head has been frustrated and further delay may prove costly. The plant and : gear for tackling this job has been I far too light and only by such make-, shift means as suggested can any. hope of completion be accomplished. I It was realised when the work start-; ed that suitable plant would cost: more than the total amount neces- ; sary to do the job. Some of the i stone removed by wave action has I h.ad to be replaced without delay, i and about -a dozen 15 to 20-ton stones 1 are being placed at nresent. Wheni the 80 to 100-ton blocks are placed j on too of this they will effectively key the whole together. Only heavy i blocks will bring the work to a. close, after which a small expend!-, ture per annum will suffice to main-j tain a good apron.