TELEGRAMS

Hokitika Guardian, 24 June 1920, Page 4

TELEGRAMS

I.PEIt PRESS ASSOCIATION.- COPYRIGHT.] PARLIAMENT’S LIQUOR POLL. WELLINGTON, June 23. In a few days both Houses of Parliament will have, their own special licensing poll over whether Bellamy’s shall be open. There seems a slow growing development towards prohibition. Lob-4 by prophets believe the “dry” time fias not yet arrived. Last Parliament there was a majority of 1(5 for liquor, 10 of the majority coming from the Lower House, and six from the Council. THE DEFENCE PORTFOLIO. . WELLINGTON, June 23. Senior officers of the Defence Forces regard with some anxiety the continued delay in the production of Hie defence policy. The portfolio of Defence is at present in the hands of the Hon. W. G. Coates, who is also Minister of Public Works and Postmaster-General. No Minister could be expected to handle such a group of departments under existing conditions, and Mr Coates evidently is not attempting to give time to defence problems. Presumably the new Minister, shortly to bo appointed, will take Defence. One rumour is that the Minister will be Sir Robert Rhodes, M.P for Ellesmere. FOUND DROWNED. CARTERTON, June 23. Tile body of Mrs Holland was found, at (5 o'clock to-night in a creek at Clareville. She had been missing since Sunday, and was a well-known resident of Carterton. , DARING BURGLARY. WELLINGTON, JUNE 23. One of the most daring burglaries that have occurred in Wellington for some time occurred on Saturday night at’ the premises of McPliee and Co., woollen mere,bants, Cuba Street, when a large quantity of material used in the manufacture of suitings was stolen. The valpe of the stolen goods is about £3OO. A MOTOR MYSTERY. DUNEDIN, June 23. There is something of a mystery attaching to the visit of a motorist to a painter in Glasgow street, South Dunedin, on Friday, morning last. The motorist was in a hurry, and be asked that his number plate be changed from “T.tT. 804” to “ D. 3777.” . The former letters represent the Tuapeka County Council registration, and the latter the Dunedin City Council. While this was being done, the motorist went away. During the car-owner’s absence, the painter looked into the car. What ho found amazed hitn. Looking into a box, he discovered a loaded revolver, which bore the appearance of having been recently discharged. He also found a shirt, deeply stained with blood, and also two or' three bloodstained towels. Tile man later returned and secured bis freshly-numbered car, and then lie drove off. Subsequently the painter communicated with the police. The police, however, have so far receiv. ed no information that would point to a tragedy. The ear w ; as a tliree-seater, four-cylinder Buick. An enquiry at Tuapeka has the fact that there is no such number as 804 on the . Tuapeka motor register. It turns out that the Dunedin number appropriated by the stranger i g that of a well-known professional man.

SCHOONER’S CALL FOR HELP. WELLINGTON, This Day. Last night, Captain Yeo, Intelligence Office at Wellington, received u call for help by a repeated wireless message from the new schooner Vigilant, of 1439 tons, bound from Gray’s Harbour, Washington, to Sydney. The schooner reported she was m heavy weather, and as her deck cargo was shifting, she may need assistance. The Vigilant gave her position at 8.30 last evening as 150 miles north, west of Lord Howe Island, which lies to the north-east of Sydney, in longitude about two-thirds of the distance along the coarse from Cape Maria to Sydney. Captain Yeo promptly cabled tlie message from the Vigilant to Sydney naval authorities. Probably, however, the message had already been picked up by New South Wales wireless stations. The Vigilant was first spoken to yesterday evening by a vessel which was about two hundred miles north of her, but both vessels were moving away from each other. Tlie Vigilant left Cray’s Harbour on 11th April,, witli a cargo of timber for Sydney. She is Am er ican-owned.