TELEGRAMS.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 13 January 1913, Page 3

TELEGRAMS.

[FIR I'RKBB ABSOOIATiexB FIRE AT ELTHAM.

ELTHAM, This Day. A residence owned and occupied by W. Clarry caught fir© last ovening, but the fire brigade was given timely warning and their efforts confined tho fire to tho roar portion of the premises. Tho insurances were: house £475, furniture nil. NATIVE LAND LEGISLATION. AUCKLAND, Tin's Day. The Hon. Mr Homes, Minister of Railways, received several deputations at Opotiki on the subject of opening up native lands for settlement. Ho said the great object for coming legislation would be to mingle the two races; to put them ou the same footing in relation to dealings with their lands, instead of separating them as in former times. Tho whole root of tho native land business was the title. What J«e proposed to do would be to try to simplify procedure and lesson tho expense of getting native lands fixed up. Succession orders and partition orders must be brought up to date. He intended that if the natives themselves would not apply for succession orders the native land judges should adjudicate and issue orders. When this was done and surveys made enabling the land to be individualised, or referred to ownership of hapus, they would have solved the crux of the native land question. The legislation ho intended to introduce next session would bo directed to that end. With roference to tho purchase of landl in the Urewora country, the titles were not yet defined, but as soon as the Court finished dealng with the matter, aid the onens of different blocks were known, ho would bo quite prepared to buy the land of any native who wished to sell—subject to the necessary loans having been raised. The policy of the Government was to open up natvo lands for settlement to tho benefit of both races; he was en tirely opposed to any confiscation In the disposal of native lands; what ho aimed at was to place Maori and pakeha on the same footing, and to facilitate the exchange of native lands for pakeha cash. MISSING. GREYMOUTH, This Day. No trace can be foupnd of John McGeady, aged about 35, who came to town from near Reefton on Christmas Eve. FOUND DROWNED. NEW PLYMOUTH, This Day. Tho body of Harold Hirst, drowned at Makau on Wednesday, was found this morning on the beach, about eighty niles north of the Awakino river. A HATH FATALITY. HASTINGS, This Day. Yesterday morning, "Mary Boosey, 0001, sinble, aged 52, was found dead in a bath at Flynu's hotel, at which bhe was a boarder. Deceased was seen outeriug the bath room at about U a.m., and shortly after 11 a.m. uu employee at tho hotel found tho door still locked. The licensee waj informed, and tho door forced open. The body was found lying in tho bath, which was three parts full of water. Life was extinct. Deceased was a native of Scotland, and' sho arrived here from Wellington a few days ago to take up a situation An inquest will be held to-day. FARMERS AND SLAUGHTERMEN. WAiNGAN.UI, This Day. A well-known local farmer, into ,- - viewed, says that the farmers of this district are by no means unamimous on the uestion of manning tho boards in tho event of a strike of slaughtermen. He says that not only would such an action provoke n needless quarrel with the men, but farmers cannot dress sheep sufficiently wel 1 to satisfy the London market. Further, to refuse tho increase asked for, which only amounts to a little over a half-penny per head, means that farmers loso all they stood to make, while to givo it will still leave them a fair profit. Apart from the business aspect, he continued, "you can take from me that the majority of the farmers sympathise with tho mon. Slaughtering is a 'rotten' job, and should be well paid for. The companies that stand between the farmers and the slaughtermen take it out of both; the real grievance of both s against the companies, and £he majority of fflpmers aro not going to answer tho call to man the hoards."

A hurglarq at Amamoho railway station bookstall occurred on Friday night. A box of cigarettes ■and 10s in silver were taken. There is no clue to the robber.

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