TELEGRAMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 December 1920, Page 4

TELEGRAMS.

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POLICE FORCE. Wellington, nov 29.

The Minister of Justice announces that the following changes aM promotions in the Police Force are proposed. The Superintendent at Christchurch is to have his jurisdiction extended to include also the Timaru and Greymouth districts.

It is proposed to make the followm promotions Sub-Inspector Dew, Christchurch, to be promoted to the rank of Inspector in charge of the Christchurch district, under the immediate supervision of the Superintendent. Sub-Inspector Mathcson, now Sub-In-spector at Dunedin to bo promoted to the rank of Inspector, and to take charge of the Greymouth district on January Ist, in succession to Inspector Cruickshank, who is taking his leave prior to retirement on superannuation.

Detective-Sergeant Rawle ; of Greymouth, to be promoted Senior-Sergeant (uniform branch), and transferred to the Chief Police Station at Auckland, to take over the duties of Seriior-Sergt. Eales.

LOCAL BODIES’ LOANS. THAMES, Dec. 1. TliQ Thames Borough sewerage proposals of £98,000 were carried yesterday by 464 votes to 283. A loan providing for tarring the chief streets in the town and improvements to other streets was carried by 416 votes to 218. This is. the heaviest poll yet held. NEW PLYMOUTH, Dec. 1. A poll to raise £60,000 for extensions to tlie electric light service was carried by a majority of 500 votes. ELECTRIC POWER SUPPLY. TIMARU, Dec. 1. Representatives of all parts of South Canterbury, with one delegate from North Otago, met here to-day, and after descussion resolved to take steps to have the whole of South Canterbury de_ elared an electric power board district, and an executive committee, composed of the Mayors arid chairmen of local bodies, was appointed to forward the matter

WELLINGTON MUNICIPAL LOAN.

WELLINGTON, Dec. 1

It is now quite evident that the Wellington City Council will not be able float the big loan projected for public works, but in view of the high cost of both material and labour, this may prove a blessing in disguise. Financiers from the first were of opinion that the city could not float the big loan in the present state of the money market; indeed it has not been altogether an easy matter to get the money for the renewal loan of £89,000.

The Mayor, however, states that he hopes to secure the balance still unsubscribed at an early date. The most pressing work is an extension of the water supply scheme, which will bo a costly ‘undertaking. Already certain commitments-in connexion with this undertaking have been made. There is every indication at present that the progress of the work may bo somewhat delayed for want of money. It will at least bo difficult to get the money at per cent.

A LAD DROWNED. TAUMARANOI, Dec 2,

Tom Pearce, aged 17 years, of Karori, Wellington ,was drowned this morning while crossing Wanganui River at Piraka. His horse stumbled on a stone and' Pearce was thrown into the stream. His twih brother tried in vain to save him, but the unfortunate youth was washed down stream. The body has not been recovered.

EMPIRE ESSAY COMPETITION OAMARU, Nov 30.

Tho cable message appearing in the Press of New Zealand notifying the results of the senior Empire essay competition for the Earl of Meath Cnp suffered such serious mutilation in transmission that it was made to appear that the cup is offered for rifle shooting, whereas tha competition, which is open to all schools of the Empire, is an intellectual test ip essay writing of Em-pire-wide interest. The competition was instituted with the object of fostering Empire spirit by the Earl of Meath, who offered a silver challenge cup, to be held, for a year by the school represented by the winning essayist, with five guineas as a personal prize, added by the League of Empire. This year the winner is R. A. Lochore, of the Waitaki Boys’ High Sohool, son of the Rev J. A. Lochore, of Auckland, who selected the second of the alternative subjects set by the authorities, writing on “In Praise of the Empire,” being a literary valuation of pathiotic prose and verse from the Elizabethan age till the present day. Previously the cup lias been won by competitors in India, Canada, and Australia. The first winner was an Eton College boy, and last yertr the successful essayist represented a school in England. . On a previous occasion, namely in 1913, the cup was won by a Waitakian.

THE NEW BONUS. WELLINGTON, Dec. 2. Mr McVilly stated that the railway servants would expect any bonus awarded by the Court. The granting of a 9s bonus would mean an additional Departmental expenditure of £1,000,000 per annum, which would necessitate a further increase in the rates of passenger fares, making these 50 per cent over the pre-war rates. The granting of a 9s bonus would be a serious matter for the Department and would increase the rates. Traffic would fall over and the service would be reduced and hands dismissed. Mr A. T. Markmann, Acting-Secre-tary of the Post Office, said that all postal employees would .expect the bonus. Assuming that a bonus of 9s were granted the increased expenditure would be between £230,000 and £250,000. There was already a serious falling off in business as a result of the increase in rates. A further increase in rates would mean retrenchment. The Department was hot in a position ,to ( pay a further bonus without results.