TELEGRAMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 March 1917, Page 3

TELEGRAMS.

Per Pre§s Association.—.Copyright^ Maiiai Enquiry. AUCKLAND, March i2. The finding of the nautical enquiry into tire wreck of tho Maitai is that it was not due toll ho fouling of the cable, nor due to the neglect or act of the master or officers. The master adopted all available means to keep the vessel off the reef, and was jusified in attempting to i . anchor her. There is no evidence lead that the cable was faulty, and the master was justified in assuming it to bo in good order. The Court recommended a complete survey of the Avarua roadstead. Obituary. ... Westport, March 12 The death took place yesterday of one of the test known and highly esteemed citizens of Westport, in the person of Mr George Walter Martin, Deceased was a native of Nelson ; 55 years of age. He came to Westport with his parents, who were amongst the first white settlers here. A man of kindly disposition he made many friends, and one and ail will regret to hear of his demise. Deceased is survived by a widow and ten of a family —five eons (one serving with the Expeditionary Forces) and five daughters. H 3 also loaves two brothers— William, farmer, and Charles, carpen-■ter—-and Miss Martin, school teacher*

D.C-M. Returns. Westport, March 12 Private Allen Findlay, D.0.M.. son of Mr pnd Mrs Jame 3 Findlay, of Westport, returned yesterday, be having come r.n by special car from Greymouth. Private Findlay left New Zealand with the Main Body, ierved in the brush with the Turkish army at Suez Canal, and later was five months on Gallipoli, rendering good service there and on one occasion particularly distinguishing himself by pluckiiy succouring the wounded under fire. For this he was awarded the D.C.M. Private Findlay was later a riotim of enterio, being invalided to ; Bngland, where he spent some fourteen ,months in hospitals .and convalescent iinstitationa. He W6at over to France ito rejoin the forces, but was still suffering from the effects of enteric, and was invalided back to England and from there to New Zealand. Private Findlay is not yet free from the . cause of his illness. He becomes an out-patient of the hospital, Wool Works Destroyed. Feilding, March 9 Dame and Sportle’a wool-scouring ■works were destroyed by fire this morning. The building and machineiy, which were valued at £2,500,_ were insured for £1,200. Government wool valued at £IO,OOO was destroyed.

A Serious Charge-

Ddnedin, March 9

li went Home on a troopship as representative of the Y M.C.A., said :—“1 saw ‘graft ’ that must have robbed the State of hundreds of pounds. Stores on the ship, the property of the State, were sold to soldiers and the money taken by some employees of the ship who had accesfl to and handling of 1- provisions. Fresh water was one of “ the provisions sold. Fresh water X batbs actually sold at four shillings a bath, four buckets at one shilling a bucket. Fruit cakes were sold, and in oue case £4O was handed over by a man representing a group of men. I have furnished a statement of this to Sir James Alle , and have a written statement signed by twentyfour sergeants. Not only is the State robbed, but the m6n are charged more than the Btuff is worth. 1 suggested that a trial might be made of enlarging the canteens and selling afternoon tea, fresh cakes and supper, and tho Minister is considering the whole thing.”

The 27ths. Dunedin March IB Ninety-one meD, including Invercargill and Chmarn left for Trentbam t>day as supplements to the 27th Reinforcements. Convicted of Sedition Gkeymouih, March 13 Maurice Fitzgerald, hotelkeeper, was to-day convicted end fined £25 and £lO caste on a charge of ’edition and disloyal s'atementa maia in an hotel bar parlour. Hutchison, S.M., in giving iudgs’ ment, considered the case was aerioas, although not comparable with noted oases iD other parts of the Dominion where imprisonment had been ordered. In fixing the penalty he bore in mind that the conviction might poslibly involve other consequencos’for he defendant.