LOCAL NEWS

Grey River Argus, 24 March 1949, Page 4

LOCAL NEWS

The Otira Gorge route from the West Coast to Canterbury, which was blocked through a slip at Candy s Bend on the Otira side of the pass, was open to traffic again yesterday.

A sixty-foot popular tree crashed during a storm this morning on a house at Fanmure, Auckland. Neither of the occupants, Mr Tim Adam and his wife, was injured. The roof withstood the weight. One window was hit by branches but was ,not broken. The trunk of the tree was hollow and decayed.

Wasps have made their appearance in the Franklin district. A few days ago blackberry pickers in the Manga-tawhiri-Mangatangi area disturbed a hive, and members of the party suffered painful stings. Prompt measures were adopted and the colony was destroyed. Last week, the first wasp was seen in Pukekohe, and steps are being taken to locate the colony if one exists.

Mass will be celebrated on next Sunday, March 27, at Ruru 8 a.m. and at Paroa 10.15 a.m. —Advt.

Four cases of enteric fever among Maori families in Gisborne have been admitted to the Cook Hospital in the past fortnight. The patients, who come from homes in Te Hapara and Awapuni, and all known contacts, have been isolated. Health Department officers inquiring into the cause of the infection learned that some of the people affected consumed shellfish gathered near a sewer outfall at Kaiti. However, specimens of mussels from rocks in the vicinity yielded negative results. Although it showed no signs of even blossoming two days ago, the tomato plant growing in Shortland Street, which is being tended by Mr S. Thorne George, and Auckland sharebroker, was unexpectedly covered with fruit. Tomatoes in all sizes and degrees of ripeness appeared on it overnight. The prize fruit on the plant, however, was a large red pej> per.

Mr. A. Roberts, F.S.M.C., England, representing Procter’s, Opticians—since 1877, Christchurch a.rrives in Greymouth to-day on a professional visit.—Advt.

The new regulations covering health requirements in public eatinghouses are much more stringent than formerly. Inspections have been carried out in Greymouth recently by Mr J. R. McGeorge, of the Christchurch office of the Health Department, who is relieving at Greymouth pending the appointment of a resident inspector. Some owners of the premises visited were instructed to have renovations carried out before they comply with the new regulations. Where repairs were necessary, said the inspector, it was expected that they would be carried out within a reasonable limit of the date fixed by the council for their enforcement. Registration is now necessary and it is expected that all premises in Greymouth will be registered shortly.

Have you seen Jeff’s new bar ? Empire Hotel. Ross. —Advt.

The annual meeting of the Ross Women’s Institute was held on Thursday evening. The report and balancesheet were read and confirmed, and officers elected for the ensuing year. The roll call, “How to keep young”, was well responded to. The competition for the best carrot was won by Mrs C. Griffiths, and the wandering shilling by Mrs G. Forrest. Each member brought a cake of soap to be sent to the link at Chillaton, and a most interesting letter from -this Institute was read. They were especially grateful for a Christmas cake sent, and which arrived in excellent order. A successful bring and buy was held, and the meeting closed with the singing of the National Anthem.