TELEGRAMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 December 1918, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

[PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.—COPYRIGHT.] ECHO OF MOTUIHI ESCAPADE. MOA OWNERS’ CLAIM. AUCKLAND December 19. The owners of tho scow “Mo a” the Leyland, O’Brien Timber Co., Ltd., are petitioning Parliament for relief for the loss they sustained through the forcible seizure of the. vessel by Count von iLuckncr and the otho German prisoners of war who escaped from Motuihi Island last December. Tlio petition states, that Von Luekner and his men jettisoned a portion of tho scow s cargo of timber, valued at £304/3/10, ; a coil of wire rope, valued at £53/2/5, . and 45 fathoms of cable, valued at 1 £SB/10/8. It is also claimed that, upon inspection in Auckland after recapture it was ascertained that the vessel had been severely strained, to rectify which the owners had to expend £285/16/5. A further sum of £405 is claimed being tlie amount lost by tlio owners as the result of the dislocation of tlieir business through the temporary loss of the Moa. The petitioners point out that the prisoners of war were interned by the Government and state that the Commandant of the Internment Camp allowed them, without reasonable excuse to escape . PICTURE SHOWS. WELLINGTON December xj. A deputation of picture show employees waited upon tlio Acting Prime Miiiister yesterday to complain that they are getting notice of discharge because of clause 25 in the amendment which provides that no picture theatres shall be opened before the hour of 2 p.m., or between the hours of 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. It was suggested that as this restriction is unreasonable the Government should not prosecute picture theatre propori'etors if they open or remain open at forbidden hours. Sir James Allen replied that lie would submit their representation to the Minister of Health, who at present is in Christchurch.

A STEAMER FBOM SYDNEY. WHAKATANE, Dec. 19. The Port of Sydney arrived this morning from Sydney direct, bringing 31 passengers. All landed here. The majority left for Rotorua in motor cars. The passengers include Mr Hislop, Un-der-Secretarv of Internal Affairs, and his wife, the loading of meat has commenced and is expected to take three days. ,

RUSSIAN PAPER MONEY. WELLINGTON, Dec. 19. An Ordcr-iii-Couneil prohibits the oxport of Russian rouble notes from the Dominion without tlio consent of the Minister of Customs.

SENTENCES DEFERRED. AUCKLAND, Dec. 19. Thomas William Gunn, and Alex R. Gunn, appeared at the Supreme Court here to-day, for sentence on charges arising out of city burglaries. Both prisoners are now serving sentences for military offences, expiring in June and July next. Tlie Court therefore deferred sentence until May sessions. Testimony as to their general good conduct was hoard to-day, and in May tlieir behaviour in gaol will be considered.

REVENUE (RETURNS. WELLINGTON December 19. Particulars are furnished by Hon. Mr Myers, Acting Minister of Finance of the revenue and expenditure for the eight months ended, November 30tli. These show that tlie principal items of revenue were: Customs £2,396,177 Stamp and death duties £1,241,105 Post and Telegraph £1,059,957 Land Tax £79,495 Income Tax £318,927 Beer duty £165,462 Railways £2,928,368

Total revenue £9,094,092 'Tlie revenue for the month of November was £900,979 a decrease of £209,352 on that for November of 1917. The total expenditure for the eight months ended November 30tli last was £11,147,433. Commenting On tho figures, Mr Myers stated 4hat the total revenue this year was £1,322,444 in excess of tho amount received last year. Nearly all the sources of revenue recorded should considerably increase. The expenditure out'of the ordinary revenue accounts for tho first eight months of 1918 ed an increase of £1,751,929 compared with tho same eight months of last year. This is, of course to.be accounted for by tho increased interest and sinking fund and pension charges.

WAR PENSIONS. OVER £1,300,000 YEARLY. WELLINGTON, December 17. A return prepared for tho Minister of Defence shows that the War Pensions Bill reached a total of £7^ 2 - during the first eight months of this financial year. Now Zealand already paid out in war pensions £1,453,3»J, and the actual annual cost at the present date in £1,352,612.

A COMPLAINT. AUCKLAND, This Day. Passengers by the Main Trunk express 'from Wellington this morning romnhin that consumptive soldius to or Cambridge Sanatorium travel in the ordinary sleeping compa-rt-T stead of in a hospital car and glasses and tow* » provided for the use of ordinal> passengers.

SEAMEN’S QUARTERS. WELLINGTON, This Day. With reference to the manning of the Moeraki and Manuka at Sydney, Mr W. Young, General-Secretary of the Federated Seamen’s Union has received a cablegram from the secretary of the New South Wales Branch to too effect that a meeting of - members on iMonday night passed-a resolution that they would man the Moeraki and Manuka on conditions acceptable to tho branch, namely that living quarters ■« given to the crew oil deck. The central executive of the New Zealand or- v —, ganisation resolved that the action of —'* the Sydney branch bo endorsed as being in confirmity with the demand made by tho Now Zealand Union for the past twenty years. WHITE PINE TIMBER. RESTRICTIONS UPON EXPORT. WELLINGTON, December 17. As soon as the Board of Trade can afford tho time, some attention will bo given to the regulations regarding the trade in white pine timber. There lias ( been an agitation recently for permission to export in larger quantities, but it is not at all likely that this permission will be given. The more urgent question is as to the prices for this timber. The “Gazette” prices were based on ruling rates for timber three months ago ; and it will be for the Board to consider whether the prices of white pine should not bo allowed ito rise m sympathiy with those for other timber. When the Board meets the sawmillers it is likely that the export question will be raised • but the restrictions have been imposed J as part of the Government policy, and I even although the restriciton of export may have seriously interfered with the business of certain millers, there is little probability of tho restrictions being withdrawn. AN ARCTIC TRAGEDY. VESSEL WITH A HISTORY. AUCKLAND December 18. An unusual history it attached to <m American brigantine named the Jeannette, which is at present in port. Over 37 years ago she was fitted up by a party of American scientists to circumnavigate the globe via tlie North-west - passage, entering the Arctic region at the Behring Sea and emerging into the Paciific OcCan. The expedition left America about 1880, and successfully navigated tlie ice region until reaching the sea to the north of Siberia. There the vessel was frozen in, and was lifted bodily on to the top of the ice floe, and food ran short and tlie members of the expedition decided to nia'ke tlieir way through Siberia to civilisation. The intense cold and lack of previsions and comforts proved too much for the explorers and only four of the ships company reached Petrograd alive. The Jeannette lay deserted on the ice for about three years, until she was found by an expedition which had been sent to search for the survivors of the ill— L fated expedition. The Jeaiiette was afterwards converted into a whaler and was used for that purpose until about five years ago, when she was acquired Dy a trading company for work in the 3 Pacfiic. , ? ? AN IMPORTANT POINT. ' AUCKLAND. This Day. Justice Stringer gave a decision of s importance ..under the Workers Comc pensation Act, as to what is a miner’s average weekly earnings. Plaintiff’s average weekly earnings were admitted to be £4 2s 4d, on which basis, compensation had been paid for accidental ini' juries. Plaintiff now contended that as lc miners did not- usually work full time, e asc he earned £4 2s 4d in four days of a week, his average earnings were £5 10s. Tlie defence contended that Sub-section 2 of the Act'directly aimed at meeting the unfairness of forcing an emplover to pay compensation at the maxi■t mum rate, where the workers delibers ately abstained from work becauso, by i- special exertion, they were able to ,r earn substantial pay on less than the d full number of days. The Court agreed 3 - with the defence and gave judgment 5. against plaintiff.