Thoughts For The Times.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 February 1920, Page 2

Thoughts For The Times.

Co.Mi'OHiTE Efficiency. We must develop and increase our efficiency in all branches of trade and industry. There must be a better organisation of our resources as a nation so tlifc they may he utilised to the best advantage to further the welfare of all Who live under the British Flag.

Miss Marian Davies notifies she will resume teaching (pianal'orte and theory) on Monday next. The County authorities notify that Five Mile Creek bridge in the Okarito district is closed to traffic. All the members of one family in Westport are down with the mumps. The father has all the ordinary duties to attend to, he being the only one so far not attacked.

A telegram to the local Chairman of Committee from the Mayor of Waimate states.—“Chautaqua just finished here, great success. Eighty guarantors next year.” Last week (up to Monday at noon) 8 cases of influenza in Grey were notified. Other notifications were:—lnangalnta, 3; North Canterbury, 43; pneumonia, 4. At a committee meeting of the Hokitika Returned Soldiers’ Association held on last Tuesday evening, Sergt.-Major | F. Mclntosh, of the N.Z. Permanent j Staff was elected to the position of secretary of the Association to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr , Tulloch.

The Floral Fete which takes place on Cass Square on Wednesday of next week- is attracting much attention, and exhibitors are busy preparing for the function, .which promises to be on even larger lines than on previous years which have always been so successful. Included in the cut blooms section there will be exhibits from three of the leading nurserymen of Christchurch, while local entries are already coming to hand in satisfctory numbers. For the information of returned soldiers '■of Westland, Mr James Cruse, Organiser, R.S.A. asks us to state that a communication lias been received from Brig-General McGavin, D.G.M.S. stating that, in accordance with the reGent request of the Hokitika Returned Soldiers’ Association, it lias been arranged for the Travelling Medical Board to sit in Hokitika on its next visit to the Coast. Arrangements are also being made to provide a longer period of notice to men to appear before this board. This information ,coupled with the fact that the Pensions’ Board is to visit Hokitika on 23rd inst., is the direct result of resolutions passed' at recent meetings of the Hokitika R.S.A. A well-known Christchurch ownertrainer and* driver of trotters, in a letter to a contemporary, comments as follows on the attempts of Author Dillon and Cathedral Chimes to lower the Australasian grass mile record at Wellington last month : —“The Wellington T.C’s fixture was a great meeting, and the exhbition given by Author Dillon was a treat to witness—l should say easily -equal to 2min. 4sec. Cathedral Chimes was unlucky. He cut his quilter very badly when he was scoring up. I timed him to go the first quarter a tick better than Author, also the first half, but lie left his feet coming into the home straight, otherwise I am sure he would have gone 2.8. He seemed frightened to stretch himself out.”

A pretty wedding was solemnised yesterday afternoon at Holy Trinity Church, Greymouth, the contracting parties being Miss May Wylde, daughter of Mr R. Wylde, of Greymouth, and Mr Ronald Hooper, formerly of Nelson and Palmerston North. After the ceremony, (which was performed by the Rev. Cannon Carr), the wedding party motored to Rmianga, where they wore entertained at the residence of the bride’s uncle, Mr Wylde. The happy couple were the recipients of numerous presents testifying to the high esteem in which they are held by their friends, whose best wishes are extended to them for their future happiness and' prosperity-

/ The Consolidated Goldfields, Ltd., reports last month’s returns as follows: Progress, crushed 500 tons, value £507 ; working expenses £1278, development £152 (low tonnage due to main shaft aerial breaking, which is now repaired); Illackwajier, crushed 1700 tons, value £2,922, working expenses £2963; shaft £404, development £3ll (falling off in grade due to several stopes turn, ing poor, but this is considered only temporary); •Biackwater Aline, No. 6 level south, 204 feet of reef exposed, average width 33 inches, assaying 131' dwts; No. 8 level south, at 978 feet south of shaft reef appears to be making again, and shaft sunk during mouth 33J- feet, depth below No. 9 level 1371 feet.

As Constable Forsyth was out on patrol in Auckland about 2 o’clock on Thursday morning he heard cries for aid from the premises of the Farmers’ Ppioh Trading’ Company. The constable managed by means of a fire escape to enter the building, and was directed by the shouting to the lift. Here lie found that the caretaker had been imprisoned in the lift cage, which had conic tp fj standstill between two floors. Something find gony wrpjig with the works, and the trouble was to get the lift going again. Finally the constable went away in search of an electrical expert, returning at 3 a.m., but it was not until 5.15 a.m. that the man was released from the cage. As Thursday was a holiday, it would probably have meant' his remaining in solitary confinement without food or water until Friday morning had. his pries not attracted the constable.

The Ntional Mortgge and Agency Co. of N.Z., a firm well and favourably known throughout the Dominion, lias decided oil opening a branch of its business on the Coast- with headquarters in Greymmtlh. Mr G. R. Ritchie, General Manager of the Company has appoint ed Mr J. A. McKenzie, resident agent, i The latter has just recently returned to j New Zealand, holding the rank of Lieut.-Colonel, and is a. Main Body Ilian. I Before going to the war he was the

company’s representative at Waimate, ; and previous to that held a responsible 1 position with the company in Southland, Mr Mackenzie is at present in Greymouth, and is accompanied by Mr J. R. Brown, Manager of the Christchurch office and arrangements are being made to get the new agency underway. The ppmpany’s class of business is too well known to oal| for any comment. Mr Brown informs us that it is Mr Ritchie’s intention to pay a visit to the Coast as soon as circumstances will permit.

Schroder and Co. have much pleasure jn announcing their great clearing sale of surplus stock—in lints, costumes, boys’ clothing, remnants, etc. It will pay to visit this salo.—Advt.