TELEGRAMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 December 1920, Page 1

TELEGRAMS.

(Per I’ress Association.)

DEATty UNDJCR ANAESTHETIC. CHRiS.TCHpRCH, Dec. Ip. James Mcjnuys, living at 426 Montreal stiect, died, while under the effects of an anaesthetic at the Christchurch Hospital on Monday afternoon. An inquest was held yesterday at the Court- ! house Ijct'pre Air S. E. McCarthy, Coro-' ner.

A verdict was Returned to the effect that tiie deceased died at about 5.45' p.m. on Monday while under an anaesthetic preparatory to an operation for an abscess on t' o left side of the neck, which had caused acute oedema. The Coroner found further that the deceased’s heart was at the time of the operation in a weak state, and such was the condition of his health that death must have taken place- within a few hours unless relieved by an operation. The administration of the anaesthetic was necessary to pciqiiit of the operation and was skilfully administered. The deceased died before the operation commenced.

GROCERY PRICES. DUNEDIN, Dec 15. Household soap is easier in price, and Dunedin retailers are now selling oatmeal and some brands of.cocoa are at re duced figures. There is an idea amongst the well-in-formed that these easiiigs are the herald of a general reduction in household requirements. The obstacle to such a state of affairs is the firmness of goods that must be imported from British and American manufacturers, but it may be that these men will find it necessary before long to accept lower prices, for New Zealand merchants are how ordering very cautiously as to quantity, and in soiiio cases they are naming a price limit beyond which they will never go; and if the importers in other places are acting on tile same lines, the manufacturers are- likely to find their goods pressed downwards by the slackness of the demand.

It is somewhat early to come to a definite opinion as to when, and by how much, groceries and other' things will bo cheapened. The tendency, however, seems to be in that way. DOZEN YOUTHS SENTENCED. WELLINGTON, Dec. 16. Eleven youths associated with a gang which committed many thefts during the past two years were sentenced in the Supreme Court to-day. Cox, George Cadby, William Douglas, Alfred Frank Tyree, and Albert George Bennett were sentenced to three years’ reformative treatment at Invercargill; John Joseph Ash to two years’ reformative treatment, Ivenneth Wilton. Costello and Clifford Wilmot Ross were admitted to probation for two years, John William Compton and George Charles William Smith were committed to Weraroa, Leo Francis'AleLaughian and Tho|has McLaughlan wore admitted to probation for three years, FINANCING WOOL GROWERS. WELLINGTON, Dec. 16. Amending regulations under the Finance Act, 1916, published in the Gazette to-night, extend the limit of tl.e bank note issue of the hanks, by ndding to the total amount of all coin, bullion and public securities held by eacli bank (including the amount of all war loan advances as defined in the Act), the amount of all wool advances made by the bank and from time to time outstanding. The term '.‘wool advances” means such advances on wool as a bank may make on separate accounts: (1) To producers with or without Government guarantee, or (2) To approved mercantile houses whose ordinary business includes advancing against .wool.

COAT/ OUTPUT REDUCED. AUCKLAND, Dec. 16

A shortage of trucks has again reduced the output of the Waikato collieries and the Taupiri Coal Alines Ltd. during the past seven days, has lost over 1000 tons of coal through this enuse alone. • “It is particularly unfortuante that the coal supply should be reduced at the present time,” said a representatiy of one of the Companies to-day. It means that we will be unable to make provision for essential users for the holidays period. . Some of these peopß will be in dire straits.” ATTEAIPT TO DAMAGE PLANT. AUCKLAND, Dec. 16. \ detrimental attempt to seriously damage the plant at Pukemiro coal mine was recently made during the week-end, between noon on Saturday, November 27th, and tlie following Alonday morning. The vyeigh-bridgg house was broken into and the weigh-bridge greatly damaged. The door ot the houseVas forced and one of the bars and counterpoise weights of the machine were wrenched away with a cio?sbar. Apparently the intention was to nut the machine out of action, but this was not accomplished. The company w offering a reward of one hundred pounds for information that will lead to a conviction. THE RUNAWAY MOTOR. further particulars. WELLINGTON, Dec 16. The driver of the motor in last night’s accident, Charles Joseph Clark who runs a health sanatorium at Lyall Bay Wellington, was arrested to-day on a charge of causing actual bodily harm to Beck. . .. Beck and Miss Stubbs were at midday to-day in a critical condition. Both were operated upon last inght. Beck regained consciousness to-day.

PRIVATE SCHOOLS

THE SCHOLARSHIP QUESTION

AUCKLAND, Dec 15,

Candid criticism of tho amendment to the, Education Act, whereby holders of national scholarships must avail themselves of the privileges of them at State secondary district high schools, was made at the annual prize giving of King’s College to-night. The vice-chair-man’ of. the Board of Governors (Mr V. J. Earner), in deprecating the fact that the conditions 'did not now allow scholarships to bo utilised at private schools, said that Christ’s College, Wanganui College, and King’s College wote surely .serving a. useful purpose and more than justified their existence. He thought the Government would have looked upon them with favour, as they were relieving the Government of a deal of expenditure. That State scholarships must all be taken up at State schools oy State subsidised schopls was ungenerous, unjust, and impolitic. He knew that many of the largo private schools were 'disliked for their religious foundation, but, in his opinion, any school that did not make provision for religion in its curriculum would never appeal to the great body of the public, however alluring the financial aspect.

Professor H. Dettman spoke in a similar strain, and characterised the legislation as an attack on the private school system. To some people the existence of these schools was in itself an attack on tho State schools, ‘‘they wish to see a system of standardisation which can only bft typified as Prussian,” ho protested.

. OBITUARY. OAMARU, Dec. 15. The death of Hon Geo. Jones, M.L.C. took place at the age of 76. He was ALP. for Waitakl from 1880 to 1886, and entered the; Upper House in 1895. He was a leasehold advocate and a musician of repute. ATHLETICS. AUCKLAND, Dec. 16. Speaking at a reception by the Olympic Council to returning athletes, Air D. Hnlfield i(the sculler of the team) made an interesting suggestion in emphasising the necessity for a longer period of training than that afforded New Zealand representatives. He urged the Council to seriously consider the question of getting the next Olympic team nominees together vvell in advance of the selection of flip team. In order to facilitate this he suggested a tax of one penny on every ticket of admittance issued at all the various amateur sports meetings. The suggextior was endorsed by several representative:of various sports bodies present. TENNIS. WELLINGTON, Dec. 15. The draw for the New Zealand Topnis Cbqmpipnshjp took place this evening. The entries arc excellent, including the best New Zealand players. The American and Australian Davis Cup players have entered freely for the championships, and several of them have partners in the combined doubles.

FIRE BLIGHT. AUCLANRK ,Dee 15

Mr Partridge president of the Auckland General File Blight Committee, made a strong appeal to a. meeting of tlio executive of the Farmers’ Union for co-operation to secure legislation giving power to deal with hawthorn, in which the canker of fire blight is found. Air Partridge said: “I am really afraid it is too late so far Auckland is concerned. It is a matter affecting the the whole of the Dominion. Even if- we Auckland people have to go out of business there is time to save orchards in the .south.” Replying to a question, Mr Partridge said that the Agricultural Department thought that, if hawthorn© hedges were cut to about four feet it would suffice. Mr Izard, secretary of the committee, said that they now had about two hundred people acting as inspectors. The meeting passed the following resolution: “That the Government be urgently asked to pass the legislation necessary to combat fire blight at the earliest possible moment. ’ A ROUGH PASSAGE. WELLINGTON, Dee 15. Immediately on leaving Sydney, the Moeraki/ which arrived early tin’s morning, encountered the full force of an exceptionally heavy south-easterly'gale and heavy seas which necessitated the reduction of speed by half for thirty-six hours. 'Tlio vessel, which is nearly two days behind time, is not damaged, and the trip was uneventful. A GALE. THAAIES, Dec. 1.7. A heavy galo ,almost of a cyclonic nature .raged 0 n Wednesday night and completely interrupted telephone anil telegraph communication, which were restored to-day. Though the wind is still very violent, it has abated considerably. Orchnrdists suffered severely :