TELEGRAMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 June 1920, Page 3

TELEGRAMS.

[per press association copyright.] FOG AT LYTTELTON. CHRISTCHURCH, June 15. >: The ferry steamer Wahine is again hung up at 'Lyttelton to-night by a heavy fog. She was ready fo sail for Wellington at 8.25 p.m., But it was impossible to got her outside the moles. At midnight the Wahine was still at the wharf with no immediate prospect of her sailing. The fog was •still very dense. Captain Edwin, of the Wahine, and Captain Marcell, the Government Marine Superintendent, state to-night’s fog is the heaviest experienced at Lyttelton for very many years. The Wahine has a number of passen-. gers to connect with the Pacific liner Marama at Wellington.

SUPREME COURT. ' NAPIER June 15

At the Supreme Court, T.. J. Levett was acquitted on a charge of assaulting a Maori by alleged stabbing. Alfred Coleman was found not guilty' ofcommi];ting ail indecent act in a railway carriage. ACCIDENT TO MOTOR-CYCLIST. WANGANUI, June 15.- ; A young man named Gohns son of tlie local Inspector of Factories, while making a trial run on a motor-cycfe, tonight, overtook a, cart with such' force that his machine was smashed, and the rider was severely hurt. He was taken to the hospital with a fractured skull and other injuries. AUCKLAND GAS WORKERS. AUCKLAND, .June 15. A secret ballot of the Auckland Gas Company’s employees was held to-day and it favoured the adoption of extreme measures to enforce their demands for increased wages. The voting was:—l77 votes to 79. 1 The Secretary of the Union lias advised the. Gas Company of-tlie result of the ballot ,and lias asked that, in view of the Union’s decision, it will give immediate reconsideration- to the Union’s demands. \ WOMEN’S PROTEST. CHRISTCHURCH, June 15. " At to-day’s meeting of women, re tlie high cost of living, Miss Henderson (President of the Christchurch Branch of the National Council of Women) said that the Government Statistician had stated that clothing had advanced only 'in proportion with foodstuffs, but she considered that he did not know what lie was talking about. The cost of New Zealand woollen goods was enormous, and yet this was the time when they were most uyuited, as there must be thousands of people in the country whose vitality has been lowered by influenza. ■ It wns the general opinion among the women, she said, that they are being exploited. Nor did the Board of Trade inspire our confidence. To-day the Christ church people were being electrified at tlie profiteering. But the women would be reassured if they heard of a prosecution for tlie alleged excessive charges on children’s woollen underwear.. The meting decided that tlio Christchurch women form a League for the Suppression of Profiteering. PORT OF CHRISTCHURCH; CHRISTCHURCH, June 15 At the conference of local bodies called at the request of tV Lyttelton Harbour Board to discuss communications between Christchurch and the sea, a motion was carried that Port Lyttelton should remain the port of Christchurch, SUGAR. SHORTAGE. NELSON, June 15. One of the most serious, aspects of Nelson’s acute sugar shortage is tlie effect on the Kirkpatrick’s jam factory and Gi-iffiin’s biscuit / factory. i Both have had to reduce hands including mar ried men. Oqly the chocolate department is working at Griffin’s and a further ' curtailment at Kirkpatrick’s is threatened. THEFT OF COOKED HAM. CHRISTCHURCH, June 15 At the Magistrate’s Co\»'D Lyttel- . ton, to-day., Peter Morrisfjn was charged with stealing ten pounds of cooked ham valued at £1 ss, The property of tlio Union Company. Accused was a member of- the ere"' of the s.s. Koromiko, and lmd been specially, selected to act as watchman, which was a position of trust. The galley of the ship had been broken into and the ham stolen, Eventually Morrison admitted stealing it. The Bench sent him to gaoi for one month .

THE SCHOOL AGE. ' WELLINGTON, June'ls. In an address to the Council of Education to-day, tlno Director of Education (Dr Anderson) spoke .on the question of School age from 1,4 to 15 years, which, lie said, would sooner or later hafe to be faced. By this, he meant an extension,of full time tuition, and yot continuing classes, which lie iiidic.aty.d, were, not altogether satisfactory. The adoption of any such proposal would involve a reconstructs of many of the, activities both of the primary schools and of continuation work. Then there was the speedier progress of pupils from standarej to standard, pi order tliqt they might cpinpjete a course more quickly. Tn England, the average age ;\t which pupils cqtercd Standard 1 was six' ye,ays and pine m(piths, hut in Npw Zealand they hqd pot yet attained at t|p)t rate. This wqulii necessitate, no doubt, in New Zeeland a dophle promotion scheme for pupils, by which some scholars would pass through a standard in six montlm and the remainder in twelve. Anothpr question was the centralisation ot sepondary education in the country, particularly in reference to district high schools. Li the State of Massachusetts, in America, the number of schools had been largely reduced hy this means. The difficulty in New Zealand was the transportation of children to and from tlio schools,

ALICE PARKINSON CASE. WELLINGTON, June 15,

The case of Alice Parkinson, wlio, some years ago, was sentenced to life imprisonment lor manslaughter at Napier, Ims again been receiving the consideration of the Government. From time to time numerous, petitions and resolutions have been presented to the Government, asking for the circumstances of tlie ease to be considered with'a view to her release being granted. ■ The Minister of Justice stated to-day that Cabinet lmd decided upon the introduction of legislation which.! would allow of Alice Parkinson’s case and similar cases to be placed under the jurisdiction of the Prisons’ Board. Should Parliament pass the legislation proposed it would enable these cases la he considered by the Prisons’ Board, which Would have power to make a recommendation to the Governor-General ■ for release, upon probation, of prisoners situated ns Alice Parkinson is, if the Board deems such action advisable.

NO CHANGE. WELLINGTON, This Day

A short time ago, a cable report was circulated to the effect that the office of Lord President of the Council, (Privy Council Office), would take Over the departmental work in connection with the Overseas dominions. The Secretary of State for tlie Colonies has now sent a cable informing the Prime Minister that', Hon Lloyd George, who was asked im the House of Commons on Juno 3rd whether such n departure was intended, stated that the reply was in the negative. . * - PARLIAMENTARY APPOINTMENT. WELLINGTON, June 15. Mr lE. W. Kane has been appointed clerk of the House of Representatives in succession to Mr Lowe. Mr Kane joined the Parliamentary staff in 1886 ( and has since filled various offices in connection with Parliamentary work! SUPREME COURT. AUCKLAND, June 15. In the'Supreme Court to-day, George Kelly, guilty of an indecent assault on a child, was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment with hard labour. Alfred Hill, for an assault on a male, was sentenced to twelve months’ imprisonment with hard labour, to n- followed by four years’ reformative treatment. Joseph Varela, for an indecent act, committed on a lWttlc girl, was ordered to undergo' four years’ reformative treatment. John Alfred Murdoch' was sentenced to 12 months’ hard labour and three .years’ reformative treatment, and Charles Niven to four years’ reformative treatment, for breaking and entering and assault'with intent to commit a theft. INFLUX OF ASIATICS. AUCKLAND, June 12. Replying to a protest by shopkeepers against Asiatic competition, Mr Massey says the question of amending the Immigration Restriction Act will have consideration in the legislation br the coming session. Re asks for further particulars in regard to a suggestion that tlie Government should legislate to'buy out the Asiatie shops A HARBOUR SCHEME. WHAKATANE, June 10.

The Harbour Board lias approved of a report by Engineer Adams containing 'reference to a deep sea harbour scheme. Mr Adams advised the Board to determine their future intentions in order that 1 the present operations may form part of a larger scheme, as lie considers there is a possibility of- the eonstsuc-. tiori of an inside, harbour to accommodate overseas vessels. The Board re sotved to promote an Empowering'Bib to borrow £175,000.' A STABBING AS'FRAT. !-WHAKATANE, June 16. At the flaxcutters and drainers camp at Thorston on Sunday, Alexander Cameron was slabbed in the loin with a sheath ‘ knife. The wound penetrated two and a half inches just missing a fatal wound in the kidneys. Patrick Larry lias been arrested charged with the offence and yesterday was remanded for a week. VISIT OF M’s.P. , GREYMOUTH, June 16. The party of 'Sogth Island members of .Parliament to-day visited the State and Rewnui coal mines and Twelve Mile Creek, This afternoon they visit Rrunned, Dobson, Kokjri and. the site for the erection of a new, Old People s Home, which is urgently needed, as the old building has been condemned. The party are favoured with ideal weather.

RAILWAY COMMISSION. WELLINGTON, June 16. The Boiira which has. been considering the E.F.C.A. section of the Railway dispute concluded its deliberations to-day, and as soon as the final draft of the report has been prepared,’ it will bo handed to the Minister of Railways. The members of the Board were unanimous in their * recommendations. The Department is now ready to proceed with the first division, and it wijll be eoqi-mem-ed almost immediately..

AN ARREST. AUCKLAND June 15. A policemap arrested Louis von Eim cm at (5,25 this’ yiprpiyg whop allegedly ge.ttiug tint of a. show easy on the premises pf Whitcombe. apd Tombs.. He found in, his pocket four fountain pans yiilued at £? IPs which hy. admitted ■ he had sfoleq. A search of accused’s j lodgings discovered an assortment of j goods- much of which is alleged to have been stolen, They were conveyed to the station ip two motor vehicles. Eipepy was remapded for a week. At flip Supreme Court Charles J. i Stone in'tlio ease referred back from the Appeal Court was charged with hav in«r received a gold watch stolen from Thames Hotel and was sentenced to J months hard labour.