LOCAL AND GENERAL

Grey River Argus, 20 March 1947, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Some 430 cases of silk, worth £150,000, left Japan on Tuesday for Australia and New Zealand. Of the lot, New Zealand will get 40 cases, of which 110 tons will be turned into hosiery.

Don’t forgqt to pay your Brunner rates before March 24th. —Advt.

A resolution was passed by the annual conference of the United Fire Brigades’ Association at Auckland, asking that a telegram be sent to the Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. Parry), stressing the need for the reintroduction .of a “Fire Prevention Week”.—Press Assn.

The Wataroa Sports Club are now holding their meeting on Saturday, April 26. £220 in prize money. Full ■programme advertised elsewhere in this issue.-—Advt.

The total enrolment of students at Victoria University College for this year is very much the same as it was last year, about 2200, though it is likely that there will be more late entries after special March examinations for ex-servicemen. The total is considerably smaller than was expected from the number of applications. —Press Assn.

The Westport Competitions Society’s annual festival will be held from May 19 to May 24. Vocal, dancing, instrumental and elocution. Syllabus available on application to Robt. Francis, Greymouth and Hokitika.—Advt.

Making her first direct voyage to Auckland for nearly seven years, the New Zealand Shipping Co.’s 16,737ton twin-screw motor liner Rangitata, 37 days out from London via Panama, is expected in Waitemata harbour on Sunday morning with 800 passengers. The passengers include 72 members of the R.N.Z.A.F., and 41 members of the 2nd N.Z.E.F., who are about the last of the New Zealand forces to leave the United Kingdom. The shipping company is making arrangements for 219 civilian passengers to travel to Wellington by train. —P.A.

To-day (Thursday), March 20, is positively the last day for payment of Greymouth Borough Rates for the current year without the additional charge of ten per-centum. Please do not overlook.—Advt.

“The stupidity of mankind has resulted in our Kauri forests becoming almost as extinct as the moa,” said the Minister of Works (Hon. R. Semple), at Greymouth yesterday in answer to a question as to whether Okarito and Bruce Bay would be opened up as natural ports. Mr Semple stated that in the interests of the country it would be necessary to tap the timber reserves in South Westland, but it would be necessary to work to some plan whereby the mistakes of the past would not be repeated.

After 4 p.m. to-day (Thursday) the 20th day of March, an additional charge will be added to current rates payable to the Greymouth Borough Council.—Advt.

The practice of dredging the farm lands for the sake of “a bit of yellow metal,” was severely criticised by the Minister of Works (Hon. R. Semple) yesterday in answer to a question as to Government policy regarding dredging operations. “It is a most important question,” said Mr Semple. “Central Otago has l suffered more than the West Coast, and in that area, practically all of the once ier--tile river flats have gone for all time. It is for posterity and for 'he heritage of our children, that we must take the matter up.”

Mass will be celebrated on next Sunday (Passion Sunday), March 23, at Moana, 8 a.m., and at Paroa, 10 a.m.—Advt.

The Government has not become a benevolent institution, although at times it has come close to it, stated the Minister of Works (Hon. R. Semple) at Greymouth yesterday, in referring to the Government’s plans for clearing bush from farm lands. He said that it was the intention of the 'Works Department to establish central depots from which ma--shines could be drawn to clear farm lands at bare costs. “We played the part of Santa Claus before, but got almos't all the whiskers plucked off our faces,'• he added.