TELEGRAMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 July 1920, Page 4

TELEGRAMS.

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PROBABLE NEW JUDGE. WELLINGTON, July 20. Recent vacancies on the Supreme Court Bench have been filled by the appointment of the Hon. Mr Herdmau and Sir John Salmond, but.there is every likelihood that another appointment is pending, and it is generally thought in generally thought in legal circles here that Mr A. Gray, K.C., will bo offered the position. Mr Gray is a well-known, able, and very much respected member of the Wellington Bar. One or two other Judges will have to bo appointed before many years have passed. With tho appointment oi another Judge it is anticipated that his Honour Mr Justice Stringer will no longer remain -as the Arbitration Judge. A CAPSIZE. DU.NEDIN, July 20. Tho Rev. Dr. Cameron, Chancellor of Otago University, was unable to pre side at the meeting of the University Council this afternoon, having received minor but painful injuries in a motor accident yesterday near Waitai. The Chancellor was motoring with Dr McKellar, and the brakes failing on a, l up-grade, the car ran back and capsized. Dr Cameron was badly bruised and suffered a broken nose, and Dr McKellar was also eonsidera knockod about. Dr Cameron is likely to be incapacitated for some weeks. N.Z. INSURANCE COMPANY. . AUCKLAND, July 21. Directors of the New Zealand Insurance Company, Ltd., have decided m recommend to their shareholders at the half-yearly meeting, to lie hold on August lltli, payment of a dividend of bd per share for the half-year (equal to 65%). PRICES OF PETROL WELLINGTON, July 21. “It cannot be chmied that somebody is profiteering in petrol,” declared Mr Wilford in the House to-day, in the ooufse of a question calling the Government’s attention to the fact that when he was in America recently the retail price in California was 23 to 24 cents a gallon. “Something should be done to find out who is profiteering” he suggested, amid approving “hear hears” from members. Air Massey remarked that the President of the Board of Trade was absent from the House, but an answer was needed and would be given. Unfortunately New Zealand was short of petrol, and people in the trade were anticipating. the time when America would cease to export it. Mr Witty: America has bought our supplies ali the same. Mr Brown suggested that the Government should get a petrol shipment. Mr Massey replied that lie was quite willing to do so if possible, and the Government was encouraging importation as much as possible. He was wondering what would happen when the milking season came aiong and farmers wanted benzine for their macliines. SUGAR WORKERS DISPUTE. AUCKLAND, July 20. The sugar workers’ dispute was liefore the Conciliation Council to-day. Included in the Sugar Company’s proposal was a stipulation that forty-eight hours should be worked by the men, while the union insisted on a working week of forty-four hours. 'The rate of wages was aiso contested. No settlement was reached, but it is understood that there are excellent prospects of a settlement when the council resumes on Tuesday next. SALMON IN SOUTH ISLAND. WELLINGTON, July 20. High hopes were entertained by fishermen in 1917 when salmon commenced to run strongly into the Waitaki River, hut there was a serious falling off in subsequent years. Mr Ayson, Chief Inspector of Fisheries, states that salmon -have reappeared in large numbers, and there is some prospect of a record season this year. These fish, according to reports, have migrated north about 250 miles, having been caught in seine nets between Canterbury and Marlborough. They also have been caught in several estuaries to the south as far as Gatlin’s River, 140 miles from the Waitaki, indicating a total distribution of 390 miles. Fisheries inspectors are to investigate reports that salmon have been seen in large nmmbers in rivers flowing into Lake Wane kn and in the lake itself, also in the Clutba River near Cromwell.

IMMIGRANTS’ COMPLAINTS DUNEDIN, July 22. Some of the passengers who have just arrived in New Zealand by the Mahana do not subscribe to the statement circulated that the voyage was an uneventful one, and devoid of any outstanding incidents. As a matter of fact it is stated, that a party of the passengers have conferred, and have decided to forward a eaustic account of the conditions under which they say they lived on the voyage, to two of the leading English newspapers. If there is any truth in the story that the account of the voyage iB to be published at Home, and if the allegations that the living conditions on the vessel were far from what they should have been are correct, it is quite apparent that it will have a detrimental effect on future immigration to the Dominion. It is alleged that the Maliana was overcrowded. It is pointed out that some of the passengers took the opportunity, when she made her port of call in America, to go ashore and lay in a stock of provisions to help them over the remainder of the voyage. It is stated that the cooking of meat was carried on in a careless manner. It would not he safe to publish one of the allegations made unless it could ho proved to be correct beyond the shadow of a doubt. If, however, there is a scintilla of truth in this particular allegation, it should certainly be the basis of a searching inquiry by the authorities.

OBITUARY. CHRISTCHURCH, July 22. A cable advice was received to-day by the New Zealand Shipping Company of the death of Wm Charles Dawes, who up to a few months ago was Chairman of the London Board of Directors of tho Company, and was also director of the

Commercial Union Assu ranee Company, and besides his interests in shipping was interested in coal mining on the West Coast of the South Island. He visited Now Zealand a year or two before the war.

PUKEMI.IIO COAL MINE IDLE, AUCKLAND, July 22,

The 'Pukemiro coal mine at Huntly, has been idle since Tuesday. The secretary »f the Pukemiro Collieries Company this morning asserted the trouble has arisen through a demand for higher rates of pay. This demand had come through the Union, which controls the Pukemiro men. The official statement also indicates that the Directors have taken the matter in hand with a view to action. There is now some possibility of -the mine being closed indefinitely.