THOUGHTS FOR THE TIMES.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 August 1928, Page 2

THOUGHTS FOR THE TIMES.

The Railways. Last year £489,568 was paid out of the Consolidated Fund to meet the deficiencies on the so-called developmental railway lin'es, and, even then, there w'as a further loss of £291,452 on the entire servioe.i That heavy drain on the national revenue must l>e included among the barriers to any reduction of the burden of taxation, and the new General Manager will be judged largely by the measure of improvement he can effect in railway finance.

Mr aml Mrs 0. Hahn, Ross, insert a notice of thanks in this issue.

The latest in men’s double-breasted sports coats. See them!—W. H. Stopforth’s.—Advt.

The order of Masses and Devotions in St. Mary’s Parish on Sunday, September 2nd, will be as follows:—Ariiliura 10 a.m., Hokitika S a.m., 10 a.m., and 7 p.m.

Messrs Wi Jeffries and Co. notify the sale by auction at Kokatahi yards on Wednesday next at noon by instructions of the Public Trustee, under distress warrant, of dairy stock, gelding, mare and a quantity of farm implements.

At the Greymouth Competitions yesterday the result of the final of the pianoforte solo, “ Das Des Amphores,” 14 to 16 years, was: Misses Gwen Jacobs (Hokitika) 82pts, 1 ; Sheila 11cSlierry 79pts, 2; Hazel Restieaux, 7o points, 3. The judge remarked that the three contestants lind each given very creditable performances. There had, however, been an inclination In all three to hurry the tempo. The winner had actually gained three points on her afternoon performance, but the second and third place-getters had gone hack a little. The winner bad the additional honour of receiving the highest marks so far awarded in the Competitions by the judge.

An accident befel a Reefton boy cyclist yesterday evening whereby he sustained a compound fracture of the leg. Th hoy, named Evans, the seventeen-vear-okl son of Ill's W, P. Patterson, of Puller Road, was riding on the road near the end of the Inangahua -bridge, while another boy, a son of Mr Jack Osborne, of Reefton, was walking alongside him, having a hold on the bicycle. Mr Scople. Inspector of Gold Mines, was at the time motoring into Reefton on his return from Greymouth, and when near the boys, they suddenly separated on either side of the road. The car was going slowly, but a wheel passed over the leg of the boy Evans, causing the injury. Only that the motorist was careful to drive slowly, the consequences would have been more serious, as the car was pulled up just as a wheel was coining in contact with the boy’s neck.

The concert in the Princess Theatre last evening presented by the Gieymoutli Municipal Band proved a very enjoyable one. The heavy gale that visited the town last evening interrupted considerably with the attendance, but in spite of this there was a very fair audience present. The programme submitted proved a most enjoyable one. The Band tendered the hymn “Nearer My God to 'lliee,” the sacred selection “Sacred Souvenir,” contest selection “Classical,’ humoresque “A Trip to Blackpool,” a descriptive fantasia “In a Persian Market,” and the march “Punchinello.” li, each item the Band was heard to distinct advantage. In addition solos were rendered by Mr Arnold Periv, “A Dream Picture,” Miss Adkins, “0 Divine Redeemer.” and Miss Bald, “How Lovely Are Thy Dwellings. A soprano cornet solo was given by Mi A. Smith. The vocalists were in goou voice and were well received throughout encores being demanded. The National Anthem concluded a very fine entertainment.