TELEGRAMS

Hokitika Guardian, 1 March 1920, Page 4

TELEGRAMS

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LIQUOR ON ELECTION DAY. DUNEDIN, Feb. 26

Charles Little licensee of the Strath Taieri Hotel, Thos Quirk, licensee of the Railway Hotel, Middlemarch, and their barmen were charged in the Magistrate’s Court at Middlemarch to-day with selling liquor on election day afternoon, contrary to Section 123 of the Legislature Act. The defence was that they were supplying boarders as provided by Section 191 of the Licensing Act. The Magistrate, Mr Bartholmew, upheld the defence and dismissed the charges holding that the Legislature Act was passed with full knowledge of the provisions of the Licensing Act, and no penalty having been provided for a breach of Section 128, it must be regard ed merely as a declaratory statute calling attention to the state of the law at the time.

STATE MEDICAL SERVICE. - DUNEDIN, Feb. 27. At the annual meeting of the New Zealand branch of the British Medical TVssociation to-day a lengthy report of the committee on the question of a State Medical Service was adopted. It was decided to communicate the report direct to the Minister, who will decide as to its publication. The report contains nothing of A drastic nature.

DROP IN PRICE OF RABBIT SKINS. DUNEDIN, February 27. Advie has been received that at the rabbit skin sales at St Louis oil February 12th., best sorts dropped to 100 d; for medium winter 50d; for summer skins 28d per lb. It is a, curious fact that at the London sales a week later prices remained firm. The reason assigned is the fact that new skins are only now arriving on the London market* while there are large Parisian order to execute. The American slump means a serious loss to local merchants, who bought skins a few months ago at 240 d per lb. These were sold at 217 d per lb at the St Lotus re cent sales. Dunedin is not affected by tihte (American situation, but is rather influenced by the London market prices for the last sales.

HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY. GISBORNE, February 27. The minimum subscription necessary to secure the flotation of the Wnikoliu Hydro-electric Company, a local enterprise which is prepared to supply Gisborne and district with 8000 horse-pow-er of electrical energy lias been secured. Immediate steps will be taken to secure the license promised by the Minister of Public Works.

HIGH PRICES FOR WOOL. WELLINGTON, February 27. Regarding the record price received for wool sent from Feilding, the manager of the ’Hawke’s Bay Farmers Meat Works says he bought three bales of halfbredj lambs’ wool in New Zealand for 241 d per lb., which sold in London last November 62jd. He also bought four bales of half-bred isheep’s wool which sold in London on the same date at 59M.

HONEY STORE FOR TIMARU

TIMARU, February 27

The Timaru Harbour Board, at its meeting to-day decided to erect a honey store for the New Zealand Cooperative Honey Producers'’ 'Association, the Association agreeing to pay a rental equal to 6 per cent per annum on the capital cost, and to take a lease for 21 years, if a building mjitalile ,to 'their requirements were erepted. The Association promised not only to bring South Canterbury, North Canterbury and North Otago honey in to it, but also to make the Timaru centre the main depot for the whole of the 'South Island trade in bee-keepers’ supplies, and honey required throughout the South Island and perhaps to some of the North Island ports.

THE TAINUI DISASTER. CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 28. The case brought by the Marine Department in connection with the Tainui disaster was continued at the Magistrate’s Court. The evidence is still being heard in support of the charge.

TIMARU GAS CO. TIMARU, February 27. The annual meeting of the Timaru Gas- Company was held to-night when a dividend of 10 per cent for the year was declared .

TIMARU HARBOUR BOARD AND COOL STORES.

TIMARU, February 27

At a meeting of the Timaru Harbour Board held to-day, tenders were received for the erection of cool stores, and the installation of machinery. The completed building is estimated to cost £15,500, which price is considered too high, and no tender was accepted. The Chairman, Mr F. J. Roileston) quoted figures to show that the stores would result in a. loss to the Board of £2OOO a year, and it was contended that it was the business of interested dairy companies to erect the stores.

PURCHASE BOARD FOR GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS. WELLINGTON, Feb. 20. A conference of representatives from various Government Departments has been sitting here for some time discussing the proposal to form a Central. Purchaso Board for New Zealand. Tt is probable that such a Board would save the country hundreds of thousands. At present purchases are made in a rather haphazard way, and accounts show that often one Department pays a good deal more than another Department for an exactly similar article. Recently bho case was mentioned as one Department having scrapped a considerable quantity of material regarded as useless, yet it was bought by another Department at quite a good price. A similar innovation in London by means of which the buying would ho in expert hands would, it is stated, also save the Dominion large sums of money. Incidentally, it may ho mentioned that experts think that a considerable saving might be made in loan flotations in London. The recent war borrowing in New Zealand has revealed tlie fact that the cost of floating a loan here is much less than in England.

TRENCH MOUTH. WELLINGTON, Feb. 26. It is alleged that there has been a recurrence of Vincent’s disease, known as Trench Mouth during the war, among returned soldiers. If this is so, the recurrence of tlie disease must be due to neglect of the teeth. The Defence Department therefore does not consider the Government liable for the treatment of ex-soldiers who may he now suffering from Trench Mouth. It can be inexpensively treated by any dentist or doctor.

EXPORT TO AMERICA. WANGANti, Feb. 27. During a public discussion of the meat glut, Mr W .J. Poison suggested that a probable market might be found in the United States for New Zealand’s surplus meat. The Prime Minister dissented, expressing the view that every pound of meat sent to America would be so much more amunition for the trusts to fight the colonial producers. It now transpires that freezing companies of the Dominion have been advised to ship meat, principally lamb, by the Northumberland, to New York or Boston. Space for the various freezing companies has been allotted by the New Zealand Shipping Committee. GISBORNE, Feb. 27.

The steamer Armagh is due at Gisborno on Tuesday next from Brisbane to load 35,000 carcases of lamb for New York. The cargo will l-e the Imperial Government commandeered lamb, which evidently has been disposed of to America.

AMERICAN GOODS AND THE RATE OF EXCHANGE. WELLINGTON, Feb. 26. Imports from America will soon begin to show a considerable falling off, in consequence of the adverse rate of exr change. A IVellington firm spent some £2O the other day in cabling to the United States to cancel a number of large orders for goods.