TELEGRAMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 April 1920, Page 3

TELEGRAMS.

[PER PEERS ASSOCIATION.—COPYRIGHT. J BENZINE SUPPLIES. WELLINGTON, April 13. The Prime Minister has stated to a reporter that lie had been advised by the Board of Trade that there was now in hand, and to arrive, sufficient benzine to satisfy normal requirements up to the end of July. The stock available for distribution would be evenly spread over all districts, so that it was not anticipated that any district would suffer a shortago while other districts had enough ami to spare. Consequently it had been de cided to suspend operations of the several sub-committee appointed in the various centres by the Board of Trade to deal with distrubtion to the consumers, and consumers would now be able to obtain their-supplies through the usual channels of business, as the necessity for rationing had ceased. This satisfactory position had been brought about by co-operation between the importing companies and the Board of Trade in securing supplies and arranging freights.

ELECTION ACT CHARGE. INVERCARGILL, April 13. At th Riverton Magistrate’s Court before Mr G. Cruickshanks, S.M., Adam Hamilton, M.P., was charged on the information of the Returning Officer of the Wallace electorate, with failing to furnish a return of election expenses within the specified time. The Grown Prosecutor said that the return had 'been supplied by defendant’s .secretary, ibut he contended that | it did not comply with the Act. | Defeiichant’s counsel said that Mr j Hamilton went to Samoa with the Parliamentary party and was in Welling ton when the declaration arrived. He instructed his secretary to forward the necessary particulars which was done He contended that it was unnecessary - to forward] receipted accounts. Decision was reserved .

I A POLICE TRANSFER. ! WELLINGTON, This Day. ! Police 'Sergeant Simpson of Greymouth is now at Oamaru. As two attempts were made to blow up his house the police authorities explain the transfer has nothing to do- with the attempts which was arranged for before the first attempt and when that occurred lie was kept at Grey,mouth to investigate. The transference took place just after the second attempt as he was ‘*equired) at- Oamaru because of other transfers.

CHARGE AGAINST MEDICALS. WELLINGTON, This Day. Action is to come before the Full Court to remove the names of two medical practitioners from the register in consequence of their alleged connection with a case of abduction and trespass that, occupied the courts some months ago. The charge against one is of conspiring with another to take a young girl who was In's patient, from the charge of h<y parents and deliver her over to his associate, and the charge against the other is of assisting in ‘lie removal of a girl from a private hospital.

THE BOTTLE LETTER. WELLINGTON, This Day, In connection with the letter tele-, graphed yesterday thrown from troopship 00 by three members of the loth reinforcements and picked up at New Hebrides, it is gratifying to know that all three soldiers who signed the letter came through safely and reached Now Zealand about a Year before the letter.

DROP IN HIDES. AUCKLAND, April 13. The prices of hides showed a great decline in price at the sales here today, compared with the record rates which ruled recently. There was ~n average offering, but a greater proportion of the lots were passed in. Subsequently buyers purchased privately at a decline of 30 per cent for calf, compared with March rates of 25 to 33 per cent for light hides, according to quality; and 25 per cent for medium and heavy.

Light hides made lod per lb. Heavy hides were passed in at 15d to 18d. Medium from 16d to 181-d.

APPEAL COURT. WELLINGTON, This Day. The Appeal Court is hearing the appeal of Dominion Picture Theatres Company Ltd. v. Whiting, (Inspector of Awards). The case was stated by Judge Stringer under tho provisions of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Act 1908 for the opinion of the Court of Appeal. The case, is tho result of the closing of picture theatres hv tho Health Authorities, during tho influenza epidemic. In an action in the S.M. Court Auckland for penalties for a breach of tho Auckland performing musicians" award, as no wages were paid to musicians for the time the theatres were closed, nor were they given notice of the termination of their engagements. It was contended in argument for tho Inspector, that the employment had never been determined; tiiat they were engaged on weekly luring and that their wage continued notwithstanding the closing of theatres. Defendants contended that the contract bad been rendered impossible by the operation of the law and they were there fore not. bound to make any payment during the time the theatres were closed. The magistrate inflicted a. penalty of £1 in each case, Tho Solicitor-General appeared for the Inspector of Awards and Mr Skeri rett and Air Fair for the Dominion i Picture Theatres.

CALLING IN LOANS. DUNEDIN, This Day. Advices received in Dunedin state considerable financial difficulties are being experienced throughout United States, owing to the banks calling in loans from traders thus seriously ham perlng big operations. THE POSTAL BONUS. BLENHEIM, This Day.

The annual meeting of the Marlborough branch of the Post and Telo„raph Association resolutioned unanimously that owing to the intolerable time the war bonus question as hanging fire, this section emphatically motests against tho action of the Government and urges tho executive to demand an immediate decisive answer, land failing (same drastic action he promptly resorted to.

CONVICTION UPHELD. WELLINGTON, This Day. The ’ Appeal Court is hearing the case of Rex v. Farrow. Prisoner was convicted for bigamy and sentenced to two years imprisonment, but the question reserved was whether the evidence given that the first wife was alive at the date of the second marriage was sufficient. The evidence relied on, was that of a O nstable that prisoner admitted to him that his wife 'was alive. The Judge at the trial also directed the jury that they were entitled to take into consideration the fact that the wife, a young woman of 23, was admittedly alive in 1917. Mr Jackson for accused submitted that the prisoner’s admission was not, proof, as he was speaking twenty months after he had seen her, and that the judge’s direction was not proper under the circumstances. Without calling on Mr Macassey for the Crown, the Court unanimously affirmed the conviction.

THEFTS BY RAILWAYMAN. CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. Albert William Styles and Ernest Edward Ford, railway employees, appeared on remand at the Magistrate’s Court on a charge of theft of a roll of tweed from the goodsheds at Christchurch. Tlie Magistrate said in view of the responsible positions held by the defendants lie would not 'admit them to probation. Styles was fined £lO, in default two months and Ford £5 in default one month.

INDECENT EXPOSURE, WELLINGTON, This Day. Ernest Herbert Wilniot pleaded guilty at the Magistrate’s Court.to indecent exposure. The defence was that the accused yielded to an irresistible Jinpulse. The case was medical not criminal. Mr Riddell S.M., convicted accused and ordered him to come up for sentence when called on, on condition that he voluntarily entered a mental hospital for a period not exceeding one year.

A FIRE, EKETAHUNA, April 14. A fire in Hughes and Waterres’ stable at 11 last night bad a good hold before it was discovered. The stable and all contents were completely destroyed. Also, Herbert and Co’s bulk store and sheds and contents. Marenzi, tobacconist; Ellis, baker; and Polling, board house, were saved by strenuous efforts. Hughes and Waterres’ plant, including two lorries and a new motor car were practically uninsured and the loss is very heavy. Herbert and Co’s bulk store was insured' for £1509 and the contents were valued at £3OOO. Pellling, Marenzi and Ellis were damaged' by water. The total loss is about £12,000.

INQUEST VERDICT. WELLINGTON, This Day. Tlie inquest on Mrs Hcbberd was concluded this morning. Coroner Riddell said the evidence showed what caused death, but not the circumstances wherein it occurred. It appeared that during tl(e evening of 25th March, the deceased was about the boat harbour and from the fact a' man’s hat was found with her hag, it might he assumed that some man was in her company, as the wounds could not have been self-in-flicted. His conclusion was that deceased was attacked by a person or persons unknown, and gave a verdict accordingly.

A. 5.11.5. UNSATISFIED. WELLINGTON, This Day. Represen ttives of A.S.R.S. are not satisfied with the result of the conference with Air Massey. Tlieir principal objection is 'that Justce Stringer’s report proposed forty per cent, increase, for the lowest paid men diminishing upwards but they claim Mr Massey's own figures show 62 per cent is the increase in the cost of living. They commented that as the bonus is to be decreased as the cost of living falls, they should start from a fair basis. They state they have a'sked for a tribunal with three representatives from both sides and a ballot be taken as to the acceptance of the final award. The strike ballot is still going on but no drastic steps would bo taken till they hear the result of the request for a tribunal.

RABBIT SKINS. DUNEDIN, This IDay. New Zealand representatives of leading rabbit skin dealers are advised from London that a drop of fully 5 per cent is anticipated at this week’s sales.