TELEGRAMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 January 1920, Page 3

TELEGRAMS.

fPBi. PMIiSS ABSOtfi ATION. —OOPYBIGHI.I “TWO-UP.” GiSBORNE, Jan. 28. At the Magistrate’s Court, Makaraka, Watene Peneba, Tawa Ruru, Tarepuhi, and Robert Henry Smith, were charged with playing “Two-up” at Whatatutu. Ruru was fined £3O, Peneba and Tarepuhi £25 each, and Smith £lO. - Frederick Hal Crookes and J. Irvine were charged with playing “Two-up” at Kaiteratalii. The accused pleaded not guilty on the ground that the game had not been played in a public place. The magistrate reserved his decision. SALE OF SEALSKINS. I DUNEDIN, Jan. 28. •’ A sale of confiscated sealskins this morning attracted considerable attention from local fur dealers. A total of 13 skins was auctioned, and the lot were secured for £lB3 12s 6d. This works out at £l4 2s 6d per skin, which is a very satisfactory figure. The skins wer,c seized by the Customs Boarding Inspector at Dunedin on the arrival of ; the Stella here on November ' 20th last from the Campbell Islands. : The price paid for the skins at auction ! was considerably more than was ex-, peeted, but at the same time it gives some indication of the high prices which are now being realised for all fur skins on the London and American markets, 1 This is believed to' be the first lot of sealskins ever seized in Dunedin and sold by auction.

STRIKE RUMOUR DENIED. TIMARU, Jan. 28. The following letter, which speaks for itself, was received to-day by Mr I- 1 . 15. Pearson, Timnru manager of the Canterbury Frozen Meat Company: “ My attention has been drawn to the paragraph in to-day’s paper regarding a strike at the Pareora works. So far as I am aware it is a foul and deliberate fabrication. Steps are being taken for a Dominion conference with the employers in the orthodox and constitutional manner, namely, through our officials, and both the Christchurch and local officials are dead against the strike as a weapon. Two telegrams have been sent away this week, included in which were the words: “We wish to avert a strike at Pareora at all costs,” one of the wires being signed by the slaughtermen’s delegate and myself, and the other by myself alone. You may make any use you like of this letter, and might inform the paper that the local officials decry the possibility of trouble unless, of course, something unforeseen happens. —> (Yours faithfully, John Adams, acting Branch secretary, Freezing Workers’ Union, Pareora.”

SUPREME COURT. WELLINGTON, Jan. 2r

Prisoners were sentenced in the Supreme Court bv Mr Justice Edwards as folows :—Louis. Harold Gill, forgery at Nelson) twelve mouths’ probation ; Alfred Treson, alias Harper, theft at Taihape, twelve months’ imprisonment with hard labour and .three years’ reformative treatment; Joseph Wilson and James Boyce, breaking, entering and theft at Palmerston North, three years’ reformative treatment; John Alfred Shirley, theft at Wanganui, two years’ reformative treatment; Arthur Doughty, theft at Pahiatua, one year’s imprisonment with hard labour and three years’ reformative treatment; Ernest Nieholls, forgery and littering at Wellington, one year’s imprisonment with hard labour and declared an habitual criminal.

NEW COAL SEAM. GREYMOUTH, This Day. The North. Brunner Collieries report finding a new seam of coal in the North Brunner mine, which is reached by a 500 feet drive put in during the last six months by the company, .who stopped coal getting for the purpose in the pit. - Fireclay, suitable for bricks, fis the stratum upon which the coal seam is super-imposed, so that the discovery is an important ouy. As tile coal seam is rich, the discovery is expected to help maintain a good coal output in this district.

MOTOR FATALITY. CHRISTCHURCH, Jap. 30. A motor accident, in which Eric Lyford, aged 28, was killed, and Walter Gibson suffered severe head wounds, occurred at Kaikoura this evening. The car was rounding a bend when the rear tyre burst, and the car swerved over the side of the- road into a deep depression. The right fore wheel collapsed and the car overturned, but righted itself again. The occupants were thrown through the wind-screen, They both got up, and after walking about fifteen yards, Lyford collapsed, and Gibson fed

unconscious. On the arrival of a doctor, Lyforcl was found to be dead. Deceased, who was manager of the Hapuka Dairy Factory, had.accepted a lift from Gibson. He leaves a widow and two children. PRICE OF WALES VISIT. WELLINGTON, Jan. 30.

The Prime Minister was asked to-day whether lie liail any'further information about the coming visit qf lie Prince of Wales.' Mr Massey said that ft could now he announced that the Prince would now come to Now Zealand befoio going to Australia, hut he had not yet had advice of the date of his arrival fieiV. FREEZING WORKERS' AWARD. WELLINGTON, Jan. 80. The Freezing Workers’ Federation have decided to ask the associated freezing companies to renew tin,* agreement reached in April, 1919, with a view to increases in wages being paid to all hagds. FREEZING WORKERS’ DISPUTE. CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 30. Although the freezing workers aye asking for increased wages, the men say a strike is not likely, and certainly not desired in those times of high prices. Conferences are now being held and it is possible that next week a few stop work meetings will he held, until a settlement is arrived at in Wellington between the parjfjet,. NEED FOR BETTER PAY, WELLINGTON, Jan. 30,

There is a dispute hepvp'yn the emapt( the, slaughtermen at the Ngahauj-anga meat works. As it has not yet been adjusted, the men have taken action. They ask for increased rates. Pending tho employers agreeing to come to settlement the men are restricting their output.