TELEGRAMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 August 1919, Page 4

TELEGRAMS.

[PJER PRESS ASSOCIATION.—COPYRIGHT.]

PRISONERS FROM GERMANY.

AUCKLAND, Aug. 23. I

By the new steamer Wairuna, there have arrived from San Francisco, Captain Saunders, the chief engineer, Mr. McOaughey, and twelve members of the crew of the vessel, formerly bearing the name Wairuna, sunk by the raider Wolf on June 2nd., 1917.

After they had been fourteen days in Germany, they were sent in squads to \vork at repairing railway lines. Their food consisted mostly of dried swede turnips, and one small loaf every three days, and a mixture called soup. They were allowed 6d per day to buy tobacco, etc.

LAND VALUES IN SOUTH TARANAKI. HAWERA, Aug. 23. As an indication of the rapid rise of land values in South Taranaki, the Government valuations of the Hawera riding of the Hawera County Council show interesting figures. The capital value has been increased from £1,056,946, (191)2-13 valuation) to £1,937,336.

THEFTS FROM CHINESE. FOXTON, Aug. 23. At the local Court yesterday Mr Stout S.M., convicted and fined a man £lO for theft of vegetables from a Chinese garden, and two young men £lO each for stealing vegetables, and £5 each for assaulting “a Chinaman. Five boys were convicted and fined 15s each for stealing from a Chinese shop window.

SMUGGLING BY FIREMAN. NAPIER, Aug. 23. A fireman named David Ilird, from the Camana, was noticed in the street by the Collector of Customs yesterday carrying a bulky parcel under his arm. He was stopped, and was found in the possession of articles of .the value of £l, which had not passed the Customs and which he was endeavouring to sell. Hird appeared at the Police Court today, and was fined £25, the minimum penalty, in default two months’ imprisonment.

POLICE FORCE. PROMOTIONS AND TRANSFERS WELLINGTON, Aug. 25.

The following promotions and transfers in the police force are announced: Inspector McGrath of Napier, is promoted to Superintendent, and will take charge of the Dunedin district in place of Superintendent Wright, who takes the place vacated by Superintendent Kiely, (retired) at Auckland. Inspector Mar sack, Wellington, will be transferred to Napier.

Sub-Inspectors Brobcrg and Mellveney have been promoted to Inspectors, and will remain in Wellington at present. A new district lias been created at Timaru, surrounding stations, and it will be conducted by SubInspector Hastiej who is promoted to the rank of Inspector. Senior-Sergeant Emerson, Wellington, has been promoted to Sub-Inspec-tor, and will fill the position vacated by Inspector takes the position vacated by Inspector Marsaek.

A SUICIDE. NAPIER, Aug. 21. At Orualiu, yesterday morning, a man named Alfred Powdrell, who bad been acting in a strange manner lately, blew oil the top of bis bead with a shot gun. As the result of complaints received concerning Powdrell’s behaviour the Natives being afraid that be would shoot somebody, Constable Murray went out, and when within 30 yards of Powdrell, the latter put bis iiead over the muzzle of the gun, which bad been standing nearby, and pushed the trigger with a stick. Death was instantaneous.

NOT LOAD POTATOES. WELLINGTON, August 26. The waterside workers to-dsiy refused to load, potatoes that were to he shipped to Australia by the Manuka. It is understood that the men refuse to aid in the exportation of potatoes owing to the high prices that are being charged for potatoes in this country at the present time. RAILWAY IMPROVEMENT. WELLINGTON, August 26.

Mr R. \V. Smith, ALP., for Waimarina, has received the following telegram from the General Manager of Railways, in reply to his recent request that a definite statement should be made regarding the carrying of timber on the railways :—“You telegram received, re timber. Improvements which are now being made in the railway services will enable the sawmills to be carried on as usual. '