LOCAL AND GENERAL

Grey River Argus, 15 January 1944, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Strongman and Liverpool mines worked yesterday with a restricted attendance. Dobson and Blackball worked as usual, but owing to the evidence of gas at Wallsend the men decided to return home.

Fashionable Summer Millinery showing at White’s priced from 10/6 and 15/6. White’s Corner, The Home of Fashions—Advt. Canterbury pastures, which are in a very dry condition, are reported to have yesterday received the benefit of some rain, but before conditions improve much a more substantial fall is required.

The restriction on railway services commencing on Monday in consequence of the coal shortage, will apply to the rail-car services on the West Coast, as in other South Island districts.

Lambs are this year being marketed earlier than usual on several West Coast areas, owing to the fodder shortage, the object being to leave some feed for the later ones. A number of truckloads of lambs have been railed overland this week.

The following members of theGrev Surf Club are requested to attend training to-morrow at 2 p.m. at South Beach: Richardson (2); Halos (2), Paul, (Martin, 'Affleck, Mitchell, Olsen, McGuire, Mathieson, White, Culling.

In response to a requisition for wharf workers from the port executive, eight members of the preymouth port watersiders transferred to Lyttelton yesterday, whilst a similar group from Westport made tne trip and are expected to remain at that port for about a week.

Repair work is proceeding on the Greymouth wharf. Beech is being used for decking, in the absence of a more durable timber, sufficient of the latter being unobtainable at present. The work of redecking the old and worn portions of the decking is expected to be completed in a lortnight.

Three hundred tons of coal in two trains were railed to Westport yesterday. During the week only comparatively small quantities have been available for transfer to shipping at Westport, and further shipments will be dependent on the production fFom the mines in this district which should gradually increase as production becomes normal.

.The 5.35 p.m. rail-car from Greymouth to Christchurch j last evening was delayed owing to the mte running of a goods train. At Rolleston trouble developed in the rail-car s motor and a steam train was f e " quisitioned from Christchurch which took the rail-car in tow right to Christchurch landing the passengers there at 11.30 p.m. The rail-ear was carrying a capacity number of passengers.

The attention of all Axemen competitors is drawn to the fact that no Sports Club will accept any nomination in future, unless such nomination is accompanied by the nomination fee. Competitors: Your co-op-eration is asked for 1 Remember the Ngahere Sports Club, with an excellent programme, starts the season on Saturday, February sth.—-Be in.— Advt.

The Maori Gold dredge return for the week ending January 14, 1944, was 28 ozs. 5 dwts. for 92 hours’ work, and 9,000 yards of material treated. Rimu Flat dredge return for the fortnight ending January 11 was 356.6 ozs. from 75,418 yards .of material treated in 237 hours 9 minutes. December totals were 668.97 ozs. from 178,490 yards treated in 522- hours. The total yield for 1943 w.a5'5542.15 oz. from 816,120 yards of material treated.

The drought is affecting the pastures in the Grey Valley more adversely than probably any other district on the West Coast. The fields are comparatively bare of feed. In South Westland and the Kop.ara conditions are definitely better but in the Kokatahi Valley district rain would be welcome. It is considered a couple of days’ steady rain is necessary to restore normality m the affected areas. > Several fodder crops now sown would thrive in the event of early rain.

An owner who advertised a new, well-equipped residence to let at N’hotupu. in the Auckland district, had ample proof of the keen demand for houses. The first telephone call from a prospective tenant came at 5.3 U a.m., .and before the day was over the owner had answered 81 applications by telephone and many of tne applicants had 'balled personallyAll available accommodation on the 'bus that passed the house was quickly takeri, and a number of other people made the journey by private car.

Influenza raging on the Continent. Death roll increasing! Yes, when Public Services break down, the health of the people is endangered. And here’s an important point to note—in England laundries are a public service. Authorities realise the great burden laundry work places on the shoulders of essential workers and housewives, and they have classed laundries as a No. 1 essential industry. Don’t you run the risk ot breaking down your health by constant washing and ironing-—it’s so easy to catch cold standing over a steaming copper then out into a cold wind. Send all vour laundry to the Westland Laundry Ltd. All clothes are sterilised and washed under the most exacting hygenic conditions—all water is softened and all impurities removed. Try our No. 2 Thrifty Service—lB lbs. flat work completely laundered for 5/-. ’Phone 136 now. Depot: 27 Albert Street.—Advt.

While preparing for the despatch of a rather wild bullock, at his slaughter yard at Kumara 'yesterday, Mr. W. Stewart, butcher, met with an unusual accident. The bullock' having proved unapproachable, it was de-. cided to shoot it. The shot when fired struck the animal’s face, the I bullet ricochetting and entering Mr. Stewart’s leg. He was conveyed to Greymouth and entered Oranui private hospital. The bullet was located and will be removed to-day. Mr. Stewart’s condition is not thought to be serious. T

In this issue the Railway Department advertises train alterations consequent upon the shortage of coal. These alterations will take effect as from and including 12.1 a.m. on Monday, 17th. January. 1944, and . will remain in operation until further advised. Permits will be required for travel over 50 miles. Reservations already made for travel in 'the South Island on and after Monday, January 17th, must be cancelled and essential journeys re-booked. Only shipping, perishable and urgent goods traffic will be accepted by rail in the South Island. —Advt.

The’* Railway Department. to-day advertises train service alterations, consequent on the restrictions necessitated by the coal shortage. The alterations will continue until further notice. Those wishing to travel more than fifty miles will have to obtain permits. ’ Reservations already made for travel in the South Island on and after Monday, January 17, must be cancelled and essential journeys rebooked. Only shipping, perishable, and urgent goods traffic will be accepted by rail in the South Island. The restrictions apply to the railcar services equally as to the others. The railway road services have not yet received any instructions locally.

Systematic house numbering is lacking in Wellington, and this must cause considerable difficulty to tradesmen who are still delivering. Numbers in relief are frequently painted the same colour as the house, and there is no uniformity in the position of the numbers. City milk roundsmen, who commence their work at 3 a.m., have difficulty in finding them in the dark. It is suggested by one of them that if at any time the whole numbering system is reorganised, all numbers be placed on the gates. This, it is pointed out, would be equally suitable for all callers, and especially for those who go no further than the gates.

Warirakei will lose much of its picturesqueness as a result of the fire which recently swept through, the Wairoa Valley. Here the majority of the pine trees have been seared or destroyed, .although a few of the older trees near lhe road escaped damage. During the winter some oi the big trees near the well-known Honeymoon Cottage were cut by millino- interests and the waste fired to avoid risk during the summer months. In their place it is proposed to plant poplars, which will ultimately restore the beauty of the area without being subject to the summer fire hazards which are now the menace of the district.

' Hopes of reducing the incidence of tooth decay by adding fluoride salts in minute quantities to drinking water are being widely entertained in the United States, and it has been suggested that local research on the subject might be undertaken With advantage in New Zealand, whicn cannot afford to neglect any means of promoting dental health. It has been known for a long time that relatively large concentrations of fluorides in drinking water cause mottling and pitting of tooth enamel, but discourages decay. The discovery was shelved for a number of years until quite lately, when there was a revival of interest in if and investigations were' made to find out whether lower concentrations had any effect.

A young horseman with relatives in Gisborne has just completed a ride across cne of the widest pares of the North Island in eight days—i d.stance of 300 miles. He is Mr. Reg. Pies-e of Taumarunui, 18 years ot age. He used only one horse on the trip, and averaged 37 miles a day. He took his food along with him. and was dependent upon wayside setL.ers only for boiling water. The route taken from Taum.arunui was via Tokaanu, on the southern point of Lake Taupo, then v ia the township of Taupo which is on the northern tip ot the lake, on to Waiotapu, which is south of Rotorua, then through rhe Urewera, via Waikaremoana. on to Frasertown and Tiniroto. Rain followed him practically all the way, and he had only two fine days out of the eight throughout the trip. i Castaways at sea can now set up housekeeping in their lifeboats or on theii rubber rafts with an ingenious device which converts salt water into fresh and provides facilities for cooking as well. The newest invention to save the lives of men mar? ooued at sea, a portable still, has intrinsic features which provide easy means for preparing fish caught at sea as well as food which are a 1 part of the lifeboat equipment, according to Mr. Albert O. Herrons, whose company is now turning out thousands of the stills for the U.S. Navy. Heart of the practical Pfe-isaving gadget is its unique fuel, a non-explosive solid compound which burns without melting or possible risk of fire. To protect it. for unfailing emergency use at sea. a food ration can to preserve the precious concentrate was adopted as well as another protective container produced by techniques similar to those used in making fibre "suits of armour” for artillery shells. Compact, versatile, and easily stowed, each of three sizes of safety stills can produce many times its deadweight in drinking water. The largest, designed for large life-rafts, lifetoats, and small craft, will supply the needs of 40 men if operated 12 hours a day. The smallest, weighing only four pounds, provides .sufficient water for three men when operated only two hours daily.