LOCAL AND GENERAL

Grey River Argus, 21 March 1947, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

While testing a rifle on Sunday evening, Mr M. Swift, junr., of South Beach, received painful injuries to his right eye. The bolt flew out when the shell exploded, but did not strike Swift. Many fragments of brass from the shell case, which flew to pieces, entered his eye. Thirty pieces of brass, some very minute in size, have been removed from the eye, but it is believed that the sight will be saved.

After almost ten weeks of warm, dry weather in the Reefton district, during which only 1.44 inches of rain have fallen since February 12, the country has become tinder-dry, with the result that bush fires are a common sight. One fire reached a most dangerous stage on Wednesday when clouds of smoke rolld over the town, and in the Waitahu area, poles carrying electric power to the nearby mines were set alight. No major damage was caused and the transmission of power was not affected. On Wednesday evening the Reefton fire brigade stood by for calls for aid but their services were not necessary.

The West Coast Gun Club’s opening shoot was held at Victoria Park on Saturday and attracted over 30 shots. Three 'well-known Canterbury shots Mr and Mrs D. Davison and Mr H. G. Davison were present. Results were: Five-bird Eye-opener.— Mrs Gladys Davison, Mr H. G. Davison and Mr F. Hines all scored possibles. Ten-bird Handicap Shoot and Sweepstake (first, gold medal; second, silver medal).—J. A. Brown, 1; N C. Russ, 2; W. Neame, 3.

The three West Coast Boy Scouts, who have been chosen to attend the world jamboree in France this year, will leave Greymouth about the beginning of May to join the Rangitata at Wellington. They are Masters P. James (Greymouth); R. Skelton (Camerons) and P. Wood (Westport). The contingent, which is in charge of Sir Joseph Ward, is scheduled to arrive in England on June 9. The jamboree will commence at a spot about 40 miles from Paris, on August 6 and last for two weeks. The party will leave for home on September 20.

Sales of gas by the Greymouth Borough Council during December and January, totalled 5,832,400 cubic feet, an increase of 94,600 cubic feet on the amount sold in the corresponding period last year. Cash receipts for January and February (with the figures' for the corresponding period 1946, in parenthesis) were: gas £1,853 11s lid (£1.722 Is lid); fittings and residuals, £465 7s Id (£529 4s 6d). A combination and an ordinary type gas cooker were the only new installations made in Greymouth during the month.

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

Eleven building permits for work totalling £5,025, were issued in Greymouth during February, according to the engineer’s report, presented at last night’s meeting of the Greymouth Borough Council.

It was decided at a meeting of delegates from the Reefton Distinct High School Committee and the Reeffunds be raised to install a 16 mm. >n Adult Education Group that the film projector at the Reefton District High School. The total cost of the machine and installation would be £260, and those present, 13 in all, each decided to give £lO towards the cost of the plant--a total contribution of £l3O.

A brilliant display of Aurora Australis was seen from New Plymouth between 10 and 10.30 on Saturday night last. The lights showed so vividly and over such an area at one stage as to appear in the sky like the reflection of a huge fire. It is believed that sunspots were the cause of the phenomenon.

An applciation by Auckland R.S.A. to hold a Rose Day street collection lias been rejected by the City Council which is suggesting to the association that it should make application to the National Patriotic Fund Board for a grant which would equal the sum expected to be collected on a street day. In the opinion of the council’s Public Safety Committee, the patriotic funds collected during the war should be made available to the R.S.A. and such organisations. The Mayor, Mr Allum, said there were ample funds to provide for the interests of ex-servicemen for years ahead.

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 American practice of fining motorists on the spot is one of several suggestions advanced by the re-cently-appointed Public Relations Officer in Auckland. Under this method motorists admitting breaches of the traffic regulations would have the opportunity of paying up, and so finishing the episode. The same authority also r-ecommends that a special Court shomd be established for hearing cases where the motorists (or other persons concerned) plead not guilty. These suggestions are advanced with the object of speeding up the disposal of charges which under the ordinary practice may hang over a motorist's head for weeks. The suggestions have been sent to the Justice Department and are also to be considered by the Automobile Association.

With the object of showing the public what industries in Auckland can produce, and the developments which have taken place since 1939, Auckland Manufacturers’ Association proposes to hold a fair this year. The views of its members are being sought. An official statement says the war imposed on manufacturers the necessity for developing their manufacturing technique. It was felt that the time had arrived to demonstrate to the public something of the remarkable development that had taken place in Auckland. In other quarters, not connected with the association, it is felt a fair would do much to disabuse the public mind of much of<he Ipose criticism frequently made that there is a preponderance of ‘luxury” industries in our midst. It would also serve to show the high standard of craftsmanship and technique possessed by New Zealand workers.