TELEGRAMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 February 1920, Page 1

TELEGRAMS.

(PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.—COPYRIGHT.j FIJI STRIKE OUTLOOK. WELLINGTON, February 24. The following message, dated 2lst February, from the Governor of Fiji, lias been received by the Governor-Gen-eral of New Zealand:

“Tlie Indjia/n .strikers in Fiji all have returned to work at Suva, and Rawa, and [complete order prevails. There was no development as regards the northern and western districts.”

THE) CRIME WAVE. WELLINGTON, February 24. Several burglaries and attempted burglaries have been reported during the last fev? days. Thefts including goods to the value of £IOO from a tailor’s shop, goods to the value of £2OO from a millinery establishment have been recorded. In another case an unsuccessful attempt to dynmite a safe in a butchers shop was ma,de.

THE INFLUENZA. WELLINGTON, Februai? 24. Between noon on February 10th. and noon on February 23rd., 497 cases of influenza were notified, of which 9. were pneumonic and 7 severe. The corresponding four Rays of last ye«r gave a total of 833, of which 10 were'pneumonic and 10 severe.

AVAR, GRATUITIES. AVELLINGTON, February 24. In accordance with the arrangement with the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association, the Defence Department has decided to establish a special Committee to deal with cases of anomaly and hardships regarding payment of war gratuity. The Committee will consist of Colonel J. J. Esson, C. AI.G., Assistant Secretary, and Accountant to Treasury; Colonel J. Hutch en Officer in Charge of War Expenses ; and a representative to be appointed by the Returned Soldiers’ Association. All claims for consideration and discussion will be submitted to the Committee through the Return, ed Soldiers’ Association, which will decide whether the cases merit presentation.

SLAUGHTERMEN STRIKE. AUCKLAND, February 24. The slaughtermen employed at the Westfield, Southdown, Horotia and Wliangarei Heads works, held, a seoiet ballot on tho question of whether a legal strike should be declared The proposal to strike was carried by el votes to 14.

The Act, provides that the strike shall come into operation not sooner than seven days after the publication of the remit of the ballot. The publication will be made to-morrow, so that if the men carry out their intention to cease work, operations will continue foi at least- a week.

MINE FATALTTY. BLENHEIM, February 24. A Warden’s enquiry into an accident which occurred at the Dominion jMine at Wakamarino on December 14th, resulting in the death of L. J. Humphries, commenced at Blenheim .Court to-day. The Magistrate, Mr

Hollings, sat as Warden, the assessors being Messrs Thomas Sullivan, Mark Fagan and Downie (Mine Inspector). It was sought to show that the responsibility "lay with the mine manager, who should have instituted pioper timbering in a rise, where the fatality occurred, or should have barred Humphries from entering it. Counsel for the mine manager contended his client had no authority to control the action of Humphries', who was practically the owner of the mine. The Warden said that the question was as to whether there was sufficient evidence to justify cancellation of the mine manager’s certificate. The In quiry Board deferred its decision pending a visit to the mine.

price of newspapers. WELLINGTON, February 24. At the annual meeting of the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of New Zealand to-day, it was unanimously decided that in view of the ever-in-creasing cost of news-print paper,. and tlio cost generally of production, a uniform rate of 2d per copy should he charged for all daily newspapers.