LOCAL NEWS

Grey River Argus, 6 October 1948, Page 4

LOCAL NEWS

During September, the Arahura dredge won 693 ounces of gold from 195,000 yards in 423 hours, and the Kanieri dredge 866 ounce from 186,000 yards in 493 hours. For the week ended October 2, the Atarau dredge recovered 35 ounces of gold from 22,930 yards in 901 dredging hours.

On Saturday evening the Minister of Mines, the Hon. A. McLagan, will be present at the Labour Party’s social at Blackball. He will unveil the Hon. P. C. Webb’s portrait in the Miners’ Hall, where the function will be held. The Black Diamond Frolics Revue will provide entertainment. This will be followed by a dance and supper will be provided.

The Wellington Housewives’ Association has decided to forward a resolution to the Government asking for the reinstatement of capital punishment and is opening a list of signatures to a petition in support of the resolution. Requests are also to be made to the Government that ceiling prices for fruit and vegetables be abolished, that steps be taken to relieve the domestic help problem, and that age beneficiaries be allowed to earn more than £1 a week.—P.A.

Millions of tiny flying insects 'are attacking Queensland to-day from Maryborough to the southern border. Ih Brisbane homes, women had to leave their washtubs to do battle with the insects. The insects clung to clothing and blinded motorists’ eyes, causing traffic delavs. Stores are ranffiiv being emntied of supplies of methylal ed spirits. The insects, wh’ch look I'kn frir’t flies, are hplieved to be a variety of flyrng ant.

Hava •••nil cnon .Tpff'cr n(i«’ bar 9 Fmnire Kn'«l —-Advt.

Six air freighters are expected to be in service with National Airways Corporation bv the new year. One Dakota, ZK-AOF, which is being converted to a freighter in Australia, will be delivered within a few weeks. Some night-flying has been done. Recently a cargo of 25 calves was flown from Hamilton to Christchurch, a landing being made at Harewood about 8 o’clock. A National Airways Corporation official said this week that, the corporation was now ready to introduce night passenger flights. Pilots had received the necessary checks, but no service could be started until New Zealand aerodromes were licensed for night flights. Between now and the end of the year some thirty concrete piles are to be driven at the No. 2 coal berth at the Greymouth wharf to take the place of wooden piles.

At a reported cost of £4OOO, the purchase of a single storeyed brick building on Mawhera Quay is to be recommended by management committee of the Working Men’s Club, at a general meeting on Sunday, as being suitable for conversion into club rooms, and as capable of having another flooi' built upon it.

Fresh Whitebait and Fresh Local Fish at Preston’s, Tainui and Marlborough Streets.—Advt.

Last month 8.24 inches of rain was recorded at Totara Flat, while 6.74 inches fell in Greymouth, and Hokitika recorded 6.66 inches. The temperatures were milder here than in the more southern areas.

Last week two cases of tuberculosis and one case of poliomyelitis were reported to the Health Department from the West Coast. Cases of notifiable diseases reported in Canterbury were: Scarlet fever, four cases; tuberculosis, one; paratyphoid, one; and emoebic dysentery, two.

Six children from Blaketown, Brunnerton, Greymouth, Cobden, anJ Westport, under the care of Mrs L. Becker, of Greymouth, left yesterday morning for the Glenelg Health Camp in Canterbury, where they will remain for seven weeks. Five children returned to the West Coast yesterday afternoon from the camp.

Coal production at the Blackball State mine has been mounting steadily, and last week a new record of 409 tons for one day’s production was reached. The average production is now in the vicinity .of 380 tons per day.

Weather Report: Further rain we predict a long wet spell, and it is false economy to take chances with youi- health by doing your washing at home. Dashing from the hot washhouse to the yard to hang out the clothes. The Westland Laundry takes out all the worry from washday. ’Phone 136, Depot Sam McAra.— Advt.

Last week was another big investment week in National Savings on the West Coast, the quota of £lOB5 being exceeded nearly five _ times. Most notable were Reefton investments of £lOl7, on a quota of £9O, and Hokitika's £2872 against a quota of £lB5. Only four offices failed to reach their quotas. The investments with quotas in parentheses were:— Greymouth (£525) £1024, Blackball (£5O) £4, Brunnerton ' (£5O) £194, Hokitika (£185) £2872, Kumara (£25) £25. Otira (£10) £l3, Reefton (£9O) £lOl7, Ross (£25) £l2, Runanga (£100) £23. Waiuta (£25), £7; total (£1085) £5191.

After inspecting the Bluff harbour and suggested site for a seaplane base. Sir Frederick Tymms, leader’ of the British mission inquiring into civil aviation, said that Bluff had “distinct possibilities,” and that he was very impressed with what he had seen. Sir Frederick, accompanied by Messrs G. J. Warcup and T. A. Barrow, was given a bird’s eye view of the harbour, and examined plans of the proposed base prepared by the harbour board’s engineer (Mr D. Mason).

In the House of Representatives last night the Old Vic Theatre Coy. was mentioned. Mr. M. H. Oram (Nat., Manawatu), discussing the vote for the Broadcasting Account, asked if the Old Vic Company was subsidised by the Government in any way. He asked if an arrangement could not be made for the broadcasting of the performance fo r the benefit of those who were unable to attend oi’ to secure tickets. Hon F. Jones, replying, said that the company had received no grant or assistance from the Government. It would be a difficult task to broadcast a three-hour performance from a theatre, but he had not lost sight of the possibility. He would like to arrange for a broadcast before the company left New Zealand.—P.A.

A Chinese fruiterer, of Greymouth Stanley Lay, who was charged before Mr Rex C. Abernethy, S.M., in the Police Court yesterday, with a price control breach, was fined 10s, and costs £2 12s. Lay had failed to place price tickets on certain vegetables displayed for sale.

The appointment by the Scientific and Industrial Research Department of an expert committee to make an investigation (into alleged scientific discoveries and mechanical inventions of his, in the field of magnetic energy, was sought by Henry Osmond Lee, of Hastings, in a petition presented in the House of Representatives yesterday. The petitioner, who stated that, he was totally blind, described himself as an amateur scientific investigator, retired electrician, and mechanic. —Press Assn.