LOCAL AND GENERAL

Grey River Argus, 3 May 1947, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The British Phosphate Commission has allocated New Zealand 420,000 tons of raw rock phosphate for the fertiliser rationing year beginning on July 1. This will manufacture approximately 700,000 tons of superphosphate, or its equivalent. Norfolk Island, a territory of the Commonwealth of Australia, will issue next month its first individual postage stamps on the i.Oth. Until then the postal service will continue to be administered as part of th” Australian organisation, and the stamps of the Commonwealth of Australia will be used in the territory. The retirement of Mr T. H. Jones, of the staff of the Rehabilitation Department at Greymouth, took effect yesterday afternoon. Mr Jones has been a member of the staff of the Department at Greymouth since its inception in 1942. He will continue to reside in Greymouth. The picture, “The Harvey Girls” (in technicolour) will be shown at Blackball to-morrow (Sunday). (Universal certificate).—Advt.

The annual meeting of the Runanga Literary and Debating Society was held at Runanga on Thursday evening, Mr R. McDonald presiding. The election of officers resulted as follows:^ —President, Mr A. Keown; vice-president, Mr F. Baxendale; secretary, Mr G. Anderson; leader, Mr W. Wick; deputy-leader, Mr S. Braithwaite; committee: Messrs R. Day and Ron. McTaggart; librarian, Mr S. Braithwaite; auditor, Mr J. Richmond. It decided to agree to the suggestion made by the United Debating Club that inter-club debates be resumed. The season is to commence on Thursday next.

Messrs A. E. Lawrence, A. Manning, F. G. Armstrong, and G. Edgar, members of the Canterbury Education Board who have been carrying cut an extensive survey of schools on the West Coast district, left Greymouth yesterday for Reefton on the final day of their visits to schools in the district. They were accompanied by Mr G. Bignell (superintendent of works for the board). The party will return to Christchurch to-day.

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. Dunedin City Council is to impose electricity cuts, on the recommendation of its engineer, that street lighting, except for that in a central area to be determined in consultation with the police and the Traffic Department be switched off at 1 a.m.; that all shop window lighting be discontinued after shop hours; that Neon signs be discontinued or used as little as possible; and that applicants' for unreasonable and unwarranted space heating by electricity be urged to reconsider their proposals. The retirement of Mr. T. H. Jones of the staff of the Rehabilitation Deyesterday afternoon. Mr. Jones has partment al Greymouth, took effect been actively connected with rehabilitation matters since the inception of the department in Greymouth in 1942. He was also closely associated with the local branch of the R.S.A. and in conjunction with .this body and the Rehabilitation Department, was hospital visitor for Greymouth. Mr. Jones is well-known to exservicemen throughout the district, and his keen conception of the problems confronting exservicemen, has always placed him in a position to be of the greatest assistance to all those requiring assistance. Prior to coming to New Zealand, Mr. Jones was a member of the British Imperial Force. On the eve of his retirement he was met by members of the Rehabilitation Department at Greymouth and on behalf of the staff was presented with a smokers stand as a token of the esteem in which he was held, by Mr. F. Hutton, Rehabilitation Officer. Mr. J. Corbishley of the National Employment Service, of which Mr. Jones was formerly a member, also paid tribute to the esteem in which Mr. Jones was held.

The game shooting season in the Grey Acclimatisation Society’s’ district opens to-day, and black swan, grey duck, shoveller duck, pukeko, and paradise duck may be taken up till and including June 2. The Coal Creek flat has been classed as an exempted area for paradise duck. During the past few weeks, sportsmen have been buying up all available ammunition, and yesterday, no shotgun cartridges were available in Greymouth. Supplies, however, are expected to arrive by sea from Auckland shortly.

A man who lost £B5 in notes in the main street of Lower Hutt on Saturday night had the money returned to him on Monday afternoon at the police station. Representing winnings at the trotting meeting at Hutt Park that day, the notes were in a single roll. Within a few minutes of the roll dropping from the owner’s pocket, it was picked up by another man, who took it to the Lower Hutt police station. A shipment of 16,000 cases of tea from Colombo arrived at Auckland the other day in the Shaw, Savill and Albion motorship “Karamea.” It is for distribution throughout New Zealand. The “Karamea”, which discharged in Australia before coming to Auckland, carried from London a German V-2 rocket, with its special trailer. The rocket, which was reassembled from components captured by the Allies during the liberation of Europe, was sent to the Australian War Memorial at Canberra. During April, 1947, the National Employment Service at Greymouth placed 37 men in permanent employment. Of this number, 7 were skilled men placed in skilled positions. The department also placed 9 females in permanent employment. During the month 77 males and 18 females consulted the Department regarding employment. At the present time there are 200 vacancies for males recorded at the office, including 108 for skilled men and 13 for juveniles. The largest number of vacancies are in ' the sawmilling industry—s 3, coal mining—73, and building and construction 29. There are also 85 .vacancies recorded for females, including 4 skilled and 25 juveniles. The largest number of vacancies—s2 —exists for women in hospitals. During the month the two Home Aides employed by the Department attended two maternity and two sickness cases. Two of these cases were situated in country districts and it was necessary for the 'Aides to live in these localities. The Adies are performing a particularly fine service to the public, providing household assistance in urgent maternity and sickness cases, particularly in isolated areas.