TELEGRAMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 January 1921, Page 1

TELEGRAMS.

(PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.—COPYRIGHT.

LIGHT-WEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP AUCKLAND, Dec. 30.

Tins Northern Boxing Association's Carnival was concluded to-night at the Town Hall.

In the middle-weight professional contest between J. Heeney of Gisborne, and L. (4let-son, of Sydney, tli former got the decision on points at the conclusion of fifteen rounds. Heeney proved much superior, to his opponent at close work, and was much the stronger at the conclusion of the bout.

The light-weight contest for the Pro fessional Championship of New Zealand, between G. Venn the holder, and J. Keenan, proved fast and exciting. Keenan forced the fighting, and had his opponent in a bad way at the end of the seventh round, when Venn’s seconds threw in the towel.

VITAL STATISTICS. WELLINGTON, Dec 31

The Wellington vital statistics • fo|r 1920 show the following figures: Births 2517, an increase of 429 over 1919; deaths 1124 ,a decrease of 6; marriage notices 1545, an increase of 260; marriages by register 281, an increase of 49.

SCHOOL JOURNAL. WELLINGTON, Dec 31. Many delegates to tho Women Teachers’ Conference, now sitting, complained of the quality of the matter contained in the junior numbers of the ftclioL Journal. Miss Mabel Smith, (Christchurch) wondered whether the Journal was published for parents or children. The articles were long, dreary, and uninteresting. Children wanted more life, romance, literature, etc'. Some issues were distinctly boring to children, who were asked to wade through long deary columns. After further uncomplimentary remarks tho Conference passed a resolution asking that the Journal should lie improved both iu quality and quantity of matter, with particular attention f o the )-e----quirements of Standard I and' IT.

WELLINGTON TRAMWAYS

WELLINGTON, December 31

A steady advance in working expenses is revealed by the latest return supplied by the Wellington- Municipal Tramway Department. The wages of motormon and conductors show a substantial increase and they will be added to still further by the payment of the additional 3s bonus. Q«e return shows the increase in the wages of motormon and conductors for 36 weeks from April Ist. till December Bth., to be £25,247 and in coal £11,779. The actual increase in working expense' .this year compared with last year is ’ £58,81J). Only in regard to minor v i,terns were decreases shown. These amounted to £2964. For the four weeks ended December Bth. the revenue showed an increase of £5539, but the working expenses increased by £7611. and the ‘balance for the month’s working showed a debit of £360. The percentage of working expenses to revenue has now reached the high figure of 87; a year ago it was 73.

One .pleading feature in the return is that showing an increase of 1.82,339 in the number of passengers carried. The number of car miles run increased by 2093. Power supply and track' lighting for the above-mentioned 36 -weeks also shows the expenditure to be increasing at a greater rale than the revenue. As compared with last \eai. the increase in revenue was £4559, but the working increased In £7PT3. Tilts account shows a debit balance this year of £2508, against a credit balance last year of £1426.

CHESS TOURNAMENT. DUNEDIN, January 1

The following is the result of play in the Dominion Chess Tournament: Coombs 1 wins, 4J losses; Dunlop 4-1.; Davies 4-1 ; Fouliy, .1-41 ; Gyles, 3-2, Kelling. 1-4; Mason, 4-0 (one game unfinished (Severn**, 2-2 (one game unfinished).

fatal motor ACCIDENT

NEW PLYMOUTH, Jan. 2

A. young woman named Ruby M. Coates, a school teacher of Omata, died in the hospital on Saturday morning as the result of injuries sustained in a collision on Friday night between a motor ear driven by John Burras (a mechanic) and a motor-cycle and sidecar, driven by Rupert Grey, of Omata. Miss Coates, the occupant of the sidecar, was thrown heavily, and the cycle was almost wrecked. Grey is also-an inmate of the hospital, suffering from injuries and shock. The inquest was hold to-day and adjourned till Friday next, to enable the attendance of Grey. FATAL RAILWAY ACCIDENT. INVERCARGILL, Jan. 1. The pleasure of the Bluff Regatta was marred by a. very distressing fatality, John Cringle, 22 years of age, a married farm labourer, residing at Grove Busli, being run over by a train. Apparently Cringle, who had been warned by a porter, tried to board a passenger truck on tho 5.45 p.m. train from tho Bluff after the regatta on Saturday evening. He sliped between the train and was run over by the trucks, and killed instantly. bookies arrested. DUNHDIN, January 2. Detectives on Saturday arrested Thomas Potter pud James Arthur Froston a charge of acting as bookmakers between New Year’s Day and September 1, 1920. Ajccused were brought before a- Justice of tlie Peace and remanded to Monday, bail which was forthcoming, being allowed in one surety of £SOO and a personal security of a similar amount in each case.

MOTOR ACCIDENT. DUNEDIN, January I. A motor car containing seven ladies overturned on Saturday and fell down ,an embankment at Signal Hill. Miss Allen and Mrs Heid, of Highgate and Roslyn were the only two injured, and wore taken to a private hospital, one suffering from shock and the other trom a fracture of the arm in two places. CUSTOMS RETURNS. WELLINGTON, January 1. The Customs returns here for the year totalled £2,493,697, compared with £1,393,440 the previous year. Excise duty received was £37,174, compared with £35.448. The Customs collected at Christchurch totalled £1,248,604, compared with £701,651 in 1919.

A MINER SUICIDES. WESTPORT,'This Day. •A miner named Denis McLeeley at Burnett’s Face was found dead in bed this morning with his throat cut. He was a single man, aged 35.