PERSONAL

Grey River Argus, 27 March 1948, Page 4

PERSONAL

Miss G. Broad left on Saturday for Invercargill.

Mr A. -R. Schultze, of Cobden, is spending the week-end on a hunting expedition at the Twelve Mile.

Mr. R. T. Smith, Engineer-in-Chief, Public Works Department, Jeft on Thursday on return to Wellington after a brief visit to Westland.

Mr. W. Waller, of the Public Works Department, Greymouth, left on Thursday on transfer to Lake Tekapo.

Messrs A. Mosley, T. Sotheran, J. Bruerton • and C. Richardson, of the Karoro Bowling Club, are competing in the Christchurch Easter bowling tournament.

Messrs G. Vend.t and W. Cropp, of Greymouth, are at present making a tour of the Southern Alps. They hope that, before their return, they will have obtained many shots of batties of the stags during mating season of the deer.

An afternoon was held recently by members of the Runanga Croquet Club to farewell one of their members who is leaving shortly on a holiday visit to England. The president Mrs J. Braithwaite on behalf of the members presented Mrs Dinsdale with a shoulder' spray and a gift. Afternoon tea was afterwards served.

Mr. H. L. P. Smith, inspecting engineer, New Zealand Railways, will retire on superannuation at the end of this month. He will be succeeded by Mr. W. T. Langbein, district engineer, Dunedin.

Mr. J. B. Kent, M.P., left yesterday for Wellington, where he will attend the Parliamentary Labour Party’s Caucus next week. He proceeds to Dunedin for the conference of South Island Members of Parliament and Local Bodies at Dunedin before returning to Greymouth.

The staff of the Greymouth Harbour Board made a presentation to the former secretary, Mr W. B. Gilbert. who held the office with the board for the long term of 37 years, resigning a few months ago on account of ill health. The present secretary, Mr R>. Steel, the engineerMr D. S. Kennedy, and the deputy harbour master. Captain W. Harle. eulogised Mr Gilbert’s very able and faithful service over th fi years, during which the port and the board had experienced not a few changes. After his successor had presented to him a fireside chair, Mr Gilbert suitably responded.

The total number of State houses let or re-let throughout New Zealand in February was 181 and oi these tenancies 99 were granted to applicants eligible for the preference extended to applicants eligible for the preference extended to certain classes of ex-servicemen. Applications on hand as at February 29 for State houses totalled 53,075, including 14,245 from ex-servicemen in that category. From the inception of the State housing scheme to February 29, a total of 24,902 new tenancies had been made available. These figures were announced by the Minister in charge, Hon F. Hackett.

The Union Steam Ship Company has ourchased from the United States Marine! Commission the motoi vessel Cape Alava, which will be renamed the Wairimu, and is likely co be employed in the New ZealandCalcutta trade. This was announced by the general manager of the company, Mr M. B. Miller. The Cape Alava, which was built at Tacoma Washington, in 1941, has an overall length of 417 feet, a deadweight tonnage of 9000 and a sea speed ol 14i knots, and it. at present at Baltimore. Captain G. B. Morgan will transfer next week from the Union Company’s Wairata at San Francisco to take command of the Cape Alava.

Gratification with the progress made in the prevention of forest fires during the past summer was expressed by the Commissioner of State Forests, the Hon. C. F. Skinner. The Minister said the freedom from major outbreaks had been largely the result of greater care by the public.

Following an axe wound to his right foot, received at home, Ronald Taylor, the six-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Taylor, Ward Street, Cobden, was admitted to the Grey Hospital. He is progressing satisfactorily.

During Easter, a Baptist Church Bible Class Camp is being held on the Hokitika Racecourse. The guest speaker is the Rev. P. Norrish of Christchurch.

A Copenhagen cable states: A Danish surgeon has fitted a woman, aged 63. with a new stomach taken from a live pig—the pig had to be alive if the operation was to succeed. Doctors sav that the woman will live without ill-effect, since a pig’s stomach functions like a human stomach.

It was recently announced that the five per cent., discount on with drawals from War Gratuity Savings Bank Accounts for payments specially approved by the Rehabilitation Department would not be continued after Wednesday next. Confusion seems to have arisen over the terms “discount” and “bonus.” It is emphasised that there is to be no change in the method of assessing the bonus of five per cent. -On the first, second and third anniversaries of the date of entitlement, the bonus will be calculated on the amount at credit and added to the balance. Servicemen and servicewomen who leave their war gratuity accounts open for three years from the date of entitlement will receive three bonuses in addition to interest at the rate of two and a half per cent., pei- annum.

Advice has been received that 18,166 parcels for the United Kingdom posted in the southern half of the North Island and South Island (except tho provinces of Otago and Southland) during the period January 24 to February 4. 1948, arrived at their destination on March 16. The weight of the parcel mail, which was shipped from Wellington by the Rimutaka, was 180,5181b5. Further advice is that 4919 parcels for the United Kingdom posted in the South Island (except the Nelson district) during the period January 5 to 20, 1948, "arrived at their destination on March 16. The total weight of the parcel mail, which was shipped from Lvttelton by the Waipawa, was 43,8431b5.