TELEGRAMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 February 1920, Page 3

TELEGRAMS.

(prb press association.— coprßinvT.; THE HOUSING PROBLEM. AVELLINGTON, Feb. 23. The erection of houses by the Labour Department under the Government’s scheme proceeds in various parts of New Zealand. Some good progress is reported as being made. Extensions are being planned in several centres. The portion of the scheme relating to the erection of houses by local bodies, on the other hand, is being held up by lack

of Government advances. The Housing Act provides that the Governnient may advance money to local bodies for the erection of homes. Many applications have been made under this portion of .the Act and most of them have been very large. The Christchurch City Council, for example, wants £200,000, and tlie AA r ellington authorities a sim lar

sum. It apears that the amount of money at the disposal of the Government will not permit advances to be made on this scale. The Prime Minister stated yesterday that the Government could not lend more than £IO,OOO at one time on a single application. He understood the larger local bodies had considered this sum too small to justify them in making a start. AN ESCAPED CRIMINAL. AVANGANUT, This Day. Oscar Strangeley escaped from gaol by scaling tlie wall this morning. A vigorous search was prosecuted, but was unsuccessful. Strangebye was under remand on a. charge of breaking and entering and theft at AA’nnganui. He was to appear at the Magistrate’s Court tomorrow. He was arrested at Auckland, where recently lie was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment and declared a habitual criminal for similar offences to those at AA'aiiganui. i A GOOD SEASON. , ! NELSON, Feb. 23. As the result of the good rains and favourable weather, the Nelson district is enjoying one of the best seasons ever known. | AERIAL MAIL SERVICES. \ AVELLINGTON, This Day. ' Tlie Postal Department has made arrangements with the New Zealand Fly- ( ing School at Auckland to perforin an experimental aerial mail service over a j limited period betwoen Auckland and : Thames, Auckland and Dnrgaville, and Auckland and AVhangarei. There will he probably two or three trips weekly over each of the routes mentioned. An aerial mail is being despatched from Auckland to Thames to-day, the plane | returning in the afternoon. If is pro- , posed to make a second trip'to and from Thames on Thursday.

' A NOBLE RECORD, PALMERSTON, N., This Day. The Conference of delegates of the District Council at a meeting of the Independent Order of Reehabites is sitting at Palmerston North. A public reception was accorded tlie delegates this morning. Replying S'ster Kennedy said of 2,500 male members of the Order in the Dominion, 700 answered the country’s call and 101 made the supreme sacrifice.