LOCAL AND GENERAL

Chronicle (Levin), 13 June 1947, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

"Black Friday" Today is Friday the thirteen-th, commonly known to the superstitiorus as "Black Friday." The Origi'n of the term "Black Friday" is somewhat obscure, but this does hot stop the superstitious from regarding it as something which calls for the greatest of care. It is interesting to note, however, that the number 13 is seldom used by hotels for 'numbering their rooms, and also that vit is never S6en on any type of ship. Red Cross Meets The usual monthly meeting of the Levin. Red Cross Society -was held recently, Mrs. Blake presiding over a gOod attendance. At the conclusion o'f the routirie business mehibers discussed work to be done in connection with the Clothes drive. It TVas decided to work on Monday afterhoons as well as Thursday afternoOn to get as many articles as poSsible completed by- the 'end of the morith. Aftemoon tea ^s.,served, by .Mfs., Huncan. /4 ,l Widesprcad Paper Shortage . "This paper posftion is beeoming worse all over the place," ^.nd the chairirian Of the Makerua Hrainage BOard (Triistee J. D. Aitehison) at the monthly meetiftg of the board yest^rday when the engineer (Mr. O. Dolan) reported that he had deposited certaih plans with the printer but hothing further had been done owing to the difficulty of obtaming certain supplies of paper. "I beiieve the.y are cutting pieces off old plans to carry them over the' Shortage,"" commented Cr. Aitchison. Already Oecupied3 What appeared to be at least an elfective method of dealing With squatters Was revealed in Abel Smith Street, Wellington, yesterday. The ptemises were old and small, but appeared to be fairly well presefved. The frOnt gate was securely locked. The space in front of the house was occupied by a heavy boiler. A glance through a window revealed that the froht room was filled with scrap metai. A resident next door said there was no chance of anyone getting the house. it belonged to a firm which wanted the property in order to extend its premises.,

. Tea Supplies "The trip was completely sucOessful," said Mr. L. M. Wright, of Dunedin, tea advisor to the Food Controller during the war, commeriing on his mission to india and Ceylon o 'n behalf of the Government to arrange for the purchase of tea. "i shali naturaiiy make my report to'the Minister of Supply, but I can say that suffiCient tea haS been bought to fensure that New Zeaiand is not short of supplies for the pext eight months," said Mr. Wright. "This assurance is, of eourse, sub^ jeet to shipping being available to bring tea from india and Ceylon tof New Zeaiand." Makiiig Rapid Prdgress In an air-mail letter, to the Mayor of Palmerston North^ Mr. A. E. Mansford, Mr. Ra-ndolph Rose eonveys the. latest news Of the progress of Marie SteWart for Whom the people of Palmerston North and district contributed £1750 in order that the small girl friight be taken to United States fOr a special heart operation to rolieve a condition which threatened a'h early end to her life. Mr Rose writes:— "It is a fortnight today (Jtine 4) since she was opOrated on and she haS' showii a remarkable improyemeht, She hag lost all traces of bliiOness and her face has lost an traees- of th& pinched loofk she once had. The clubbing at the tips O'f h6r fingers is eveii going a'way in this. shoff time so We feel exdeedingly • happy at the. resulfcs so faf. We thihk that they will discharge her near the end of this Week. They will give her a final dheck up about twp weeks after she is diSchatged.