News Of The Day

Northern Advocate, 17 December 1942, Page 4

News Of The Day

Harbour Board Felicitations At the close of today’s Whangarei Harbour Board meeting the chairman (Mr. E. L. Whimp) extended greetings to the staff, the board and Press. The outlook was brightening, he said, and he hoped the time would soon come when the relatives of members overseas would be with them again. It was decided that no board meeting would be held in January and the next will take place in February. » * * * Y.W.C.A. Grant Following an appeal from the Y.W.C.A. for a contribution towards the £ 1600 it is aiming to raise to purchase rooms in Rust Lane and meet committments for 19.43, the Whangarei Harbour Board decided today to make a grant of £lO. Members stressed the valuable work being done by the asso, ciation, both in providing entertainment for the forces and looking after the welfare of many, country and town girls. It was generally agreed that the contribution was one to a worthy cause.

Health Camps

Health stamp sales, inaugurated on October 1, total to date £5884, compared with £4342 for the corresponding period last year. The last accounts of the King George V Memorial Fund, reveal that more than £55,000 has been spent on the health camps during the year. 3

£90,000 for Dairymen

On the eve of Christmas week two dairy companies in the Whangarei district will be distributing £90,000 to suppliers. The Whangarei Co-op. Dairy Company is advancing £50,000 today, November production having been well maintained despite the dry, cold weather. On Saturday the Hikurangi Company, paying out at the rate of 1/3 for superfine and a halfpenny less for standard grade, will be disbursing well in excess of £40,000. * * * * Doubters Invited Discussing the proposed conference of county council representatives to be held at Whangarei when the new counties’ association insurance will be discussed, the chairman of the Mangonui County Council stated yesterday .that there was little chance of the conference being held before the New Year.. A letter received from Mr W. G. Belton, who proposed to address the conference on the insurance scheme, asked that, besides supporters, the councils send members who had doubts about the scheme or were not in favour of it. * * * $ Dredging Works In his report to the board today the Whangarei Harbour Board’s engineer (Mr. W. M. Fraser) stated that work had been stopped on the Grey Street stopbank until the mud, which was very soft, had dried out. Until the mud had consolidated the dredge will not operate. The suction dredge was being overhauled, but with only two men available, the work was being done slowly. Soundings had been taken in the fairway and the depth of water had been found constant. The only area where silting had occurred and where vessels might touch bottom was to the west at a point where the suction dredge had not operated. * * * * swimming carnival Cancelled Owing to military circumstances over which neither the Whangarei Swimming Club nor the committee of soldiers which was co-operating, has any control it has been necessary to cancel the combined swimming carnival which was to have been held at Central Park, Whangarei, on Saturday. With the utmost assistance from the army, the swimming club had organised a carnival which promised to be the largest and best Northland had seen. So many entries had been received that a series of elimination heats had been held in preparation for the big day, proceeds of which were going to local patriotic funds. It is hoped that arrangements already completed, and the good work done by officials of the swimming club and members of the army committee, will not be wasted but that the carnival will be held early in 1943.

A short, sharp attack was made on a north-east coast town tonight. According to agency messages, flares were dropped over a populated Dart of the town and, a few minutes later, several bombs followed. Some damage was done to residential property.