TELEGRAMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 November 1920, Page 3

TELEGRAMS.

(Per Press Association.) A MISSING COFFIN, NAPIER', November 17. . It is not often that a coffin containing a corpse is reported missing, but such an incident has been brought under. the notice of the Napier police. A week ago a young man was drowned on a station property in Tolaga Bay. After the inquest the relatives, who reside in Dunedin, made arrangements to have the body buried there. Accordingly it was placed in a lead lined casket, and put aboard the Mararoa at Gisborne last Friday, but so far the relatives have not seen or heard anything more of the body or the coffin. The relatives naturally are greatly perturbed. ' Later.

The mystery in connexion with the body of a man in a ciffin, supposed to have gone astray between Napier, and Gisborne has been cleared up. Advice lias been received by the police that the coffin was carried over various stages of the journey by rail and sea, and duly delivered to the undertaker to whom it was consigned. Apparently the undertaker concerned failed to notify the relatives of the arrival of the coffin, and consequently, enquiries were instituted on Tuesday.

LIGHT-WEIGHT BREAD. AUCKLAND ( Nov. 19. At the police court, Samuel Harrison, a baker was fined £lO and costs for selling under weight bread. Eaton Bros grocers, for selling half a pound of tea half an ounce short were fined £lO and costs.

APPRECIATION. AUCKLAND Nov 19. Auckland Methodist Conference passed a resolution of very hearty approval of tlio sentiment of the Bishops at Lambeth Conference as regards church imity. STATE DENTAL SCHEME. DUNEDIN, November 16. Considerable interest has been taken in the latest proposals of the Government of the State dental scheme for the treatment of the teeth of children. The proposal to employ partially trained women has aroused considerable interest, and creased a widespread impression that the Government is acting along unsafe lines. Some of those keenly interested in the subject have obtained a legal opinion from Mr S. Solomon K. C. In the course of his opinion, Mr Solomon says: “I am asked to advise whether the appointment of women with only eighteen months’ tuition in dentistry, in the public schools is legal without special legislation. I must assume, for the purpose of my opinion, that the schools are institutions received financial aid from the Government, and that it is proposed that these ladies should be attached to the schools as other officers are. If that is so, although I cannot say that the matter is entirely free from doubt, I have to come to! the conclusion that the employing of them in that capacity will be a breach of section 20 of the Dentists Act, 1908. That section provides, inter alia, that no person other than a dentist shall hold any appointment as dental surgeon in any institution receiving financial aid from the Government. I am ass'ured that the duties which it is proposed to cast upon these ladies are described as the dental care and treatment of school children, and that these come within th regular duties of a dental surgeon. Under these circumstances I am forced to the conclusion that if they are attached to the schools, that will be anequivalent to holding an appointment, and that therefore it is a breach of the section.”

j FALSE PRETENCES.

I DUNEDIN. November 12, I In a case in which Alfred Stephen Archer, an undertaker, who held a Go- , vernment contract for military funerals j was chalrged with obtaining money •under 'false pretences, three separate he was committed for trial i£aF the sittings of the S u P rem e Court i charged with obtaining £9 17s od from l in February. Accused was further ’ charged with obtaining £9 17s 6d from Madeline Esther Maiten, and also £lO from Jane Rest, by means of false pretences. The Crown Prosecutor explained that the charge arose out of the death of a seamen named Harris from influenza. Accused reserved his defence and was committed for trial.

NEW ZEALAND MEAT. GISBORNE, November 19. Word has been received from the captain and chief engineer of the steamer Admiral Codrington ns to the condition of the vessel’s meat on arrival in England. It appears some of the m'utton on the top tiers in the square of the hatches had been found to be spotted, and to have white mould. It is expected SUch carcases eoidd be reconditioned. All the offal went bad. This was on account of using the trunk way when loading wheat in Australia. The offal was all condemned. None of the meat had to he rejected as unfit for sale.