TELEGRAMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 January 1920, Page 3

TELEGRAMS.

fPKU. TRUSS ASSOCIATION.—CnPVMIUm.* j HARDWARE SUPPLIES. DUNEDIN, Jan. 5. Hardware merchants say that the difficulty of procuring supplies from overseas is greater now that even during the war . British manufacturers are surfeited with orders for months ahead and whilst booking, they expressly notify that they cannot promise to ship by fixed dates, also that tlnj prices must be as at the date of shipping. There does not seem to be much prospect of relief from America, since the steel companies of the United States of America and Canada have cancelled orders for wire and nails and other goods, owing to the strike. In the circumstances prides all round have a firming tendency, and stocks are running short, and Dunedin importers cannot see any sign of anything happening to ease the position. British corrugated iron, 26 gauge, is to-day quoted at £56 to £57 per ton in Duniedin, and it will probably be dearer in the course of the next two or three months .

OTAGO COAL MINES. DUNEDIN, Jan. 5. Work was resumed this morning at the Kaitangata, Green Island, 'I aratu, and other Otago coal mines. j Fifty-seven Taratu coal-miners are to be charged with a breach of the award bv absenting themselves without leave from the 24th to the 29th October last. The clause of the award which it is alleged was broken provides that no miner or other worker shall absent himself from work during his proper working hours while the mine is .at work, without the sanction of the manager or sub-manager, or deputy, except through sickness, or accident, or other satisfactory reason. It appears that the men took a stand to endeavour to secure, the reinstatement of a hand who had been dismissed.

DR TRUBY KING’S MISSION

WELLINGTON,,Jan. 5

Dr Truby King, referring to his work in England, states that the London Institution for the Care of Mothers and Children proved as great a success as the Knritnne Hospital. This result Dr King attributed mainly Ho the devoted work of Miss Patrick, who for many years was matron in charge of the Karitnne Hospital before leaving New Zealand on military duties, and who was in charge of the London Institution from the outset. Miss Patrick got together an admirable staff from the leading hospitals of London and the provinces, as well as representatives from Canada, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand, the idea being to make the work as widely representative as possible. There was an intimate relationship with St Thomas’s Hospital, where Dr King lectured to students and nurses, and where he did work in the ha by clinic and maternity wards. The institution is now affiliated with St Thomas’s, and the physician in charge is a child specialist from there. The matron who succeeds Miss Patrick is also from St Thomas’s. Miss Patrick intended to leave London for New Zealand about the New Year,' travelling by way of America. Efforts were made to induce Miss Patrick to remain in London, but she refused, as she wished to resume hr connexion with the Plunket Society in New Zealand.

MOTOR CYCLISTS COLLIDE

AUCKLAND, Jan. 6

A serious accident occurred to-night at Alexandria Park when a motor cycle ridden by William Charles Mackloir. collided with a motor cycle ridden by Selwyn C'raig. Both cyclists wore thrown heavily, and Mackloir, w - is 25 years- old, was taken to the hospital suffering from a serious internal injury, from which he died shortly after admission and Craig sustained a broken arm. Both men were practising for motor cycle sports.

DISASTROUS FIRE. AUCKLAND, Jan. 6. A disatrous fire occurred at Herne Bay this afternoon, when a timber mill owned by Cashmere Bros., Ltd., was completely destroyed. The flames spread rapidly and, hampered by a lack of water, the Brigade had no hope of affecting a save. N The estimated value of the mill and plant was between ; £4OOO and £SOOO, and that of the timber stocks £4OOO. The insurances a r<‘ understood to he £SOOO.

About forty men are temporarily thrown out of work.