TELEGRAMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 April 1920, Page 3

TELEGRAMS.

! [PER PRESS ASBOCW'TION. COPYRIGHT.;

CEMENT SHORTAGE. CHRISTCHURCH, April 26 The shortage of cement in Canterbury is becoming exceedingly acute and many essential public and private works are being held up in consequence. The Organiser of the Canterbury position to the Secretary of the Board of Trade Wellington. ’FLU AT CHRISTCHURCH. CHRISTCHURCH, April 26 Taking it on the whole, the position seems to be easing, was the comment ( of the District Health Officer to a reporter when questioned this morning regarding the influenza epidemic. j For two days, that is the period from Saturday at noon until to-day at noon, the notifications have been practically the same as for on the day previously.

A DESPERATE RISK. A' PRISONER’S JUMP. AUCKLAND, April 23. The prisoner William Frederick Murfay, who achieved notoriety by escaping from Mt Eden gaol early in January, created a sensation on the Wellington express to Auckland, whither lie was being returned under escort, by escaping from the train as it was nearing Auckland this afternoon. He took a desperate risk by jumping from a carriage lavatory window when the train was at full speed, close to the Middlemore golf links at Mnngcre crossing, and while lucky in escaping serious injury, he was so knocked about and shaken by the fall that he was not able to get far from the line before one of tue escorting warders got back there and recaptured him.

MOTOR-CAR JOY RIDERS. PUNISHMENT TO FIT THE CRIME. AUCKLAND, April 23. A novel mode of making “the punishment fit the crime” was announced at the Dargaville Police Court by Mr I'. K. Hunt, S.M., in connexion with the illegal appropriation and use of motorcars and bicycles.

The Magistrate, in dealing with a Maori who had taken a “joy ride,” said that in future he would inflict imprisonment upon such offenders, the term to be calculated on the basis of one day per mile ridden, up to three months’ imprisonment. In that way lie hoped to put a stop to tile practice, which was far too common, of unauthorised persons using motor-cars and other vehicles.

ALICE PARKINSON CASE. AUCKLAND, April 23.

The Alice Parkinson Release Committee waited on the Prime Minister this morning to ask him whether anything could he done in the way of approaching the Prince of Wales for the release of the prisoner. Mr Massey told the deputation that it was not a matter in which the Prince of Wales could possibly interfere. Ho advised them to communicate with the Minister of Justiceor with the judge who sentenced the prisoner, or, as a third coui’se, to have the petition, which has already been •: :.v s gned, presented to Parliament. These, lie explained, were the only methods he could think of that were open to the committee and likely to produce any result.

The committee also waited upon the Goveinor-Gejieial and presented a petition with over 139,000 signatures, praying for the release of Alice Parkinson, and besought his consideration in the spirit of justice, mercy, and humanity.

ADVANCES TO soldiers. <s> AUCKLAND, This Day. Implying to a question, regarding Hon. Guthrie’s statement that the .und of the Advances for Soldiers Farms i and Homes was exhausted, Hon. W. F. j Massey said it is merely temporarily slowing down until further authority j j was given by Parliament. The Advances i Department had been so active in o’e | ministration to the needs of sol Tiers that existing authorities were pretty I well exhausted. They have provided , homos in town and country for ov«r a thousand soldiers. There is no inten- | tion to stop, hut they cannot continue j at the rate of a million pounds monthly. : We have purchased .stock, and farm j equipment and anything else required. . I can assure soldiers that there :s no j cause for anxiety as the Government , is doing its duty by them and will oon- | tinue to do it.

PRISONERS SENTENCED. CHRISTCHURCH, April 2?. At the Supreme Court to-day, before Mr Justice Herdman, prisoners committed from the Magistrate’s Court i.ar.ie up for sentence. John Andrews Dut ton, guilty of indecent assault, received three years’ imprisonment with hard labour, and Arthur John Patien-e for bigamy, was sentenced to eigli- i teen months’ imprisonment with • aid labour. DEATH OF A MAORI. ROTORUA, This Day. About five o’clock yesterday evening, | a Maori named Tengahihinui, aged 36 | from Kaitaia, was pushed off the foot- ! path in Arnwa Street, during a dispute ! among the crowd. The native knocked his head severely, fracturing his skull, I and died at four this morning. The hotels were closed immediately after the occurrence. They are open to-day,