VARIOUS DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 January 1921, Page 4

VARIOUS DOMINION ITEMS.

TELEGRAMS.

[BY TELEGRAPH—I’BR TRESS ASSOCIATION]

SATURDAY ADOPTED

CARTERTON, Jan 29.

The Carterton Borough Council last night decided to proclaim Saturday the statutory weekly half-holiday. A petition .was presented by the Tradesmen s Association supporting the proposal.

COOK’S BODY FOUND

WELLINGTON, This Day

The body of Marlow, cook of the Oma- 1 ka, was recovered last evening on the Petone beach. There is sonic doubt at present whether six or seven were on board. All those aboard were lost. The Wellington residents are Captain Purvis, who leaves a widow and two children; Weeks (engineer) had a wife and four children, and Marlow had a wife and three children. The Va i rail s people sav the Omaka passed them when the gale sprang up, and they never saw her again. The sea was the heaviest they had encountered, and they had an anxious time themselves. IN PANTILE PARALYSIS.

DUNEDIN, Jan. 28

Dr. McKihhon, Health Officer for Otago and Southland, said this morning that there were cases of infantile paralysis here. About four years ago there was an epidemic here, over 100 cases being recorded, and it left paralysed limbs in a small percentage of the cases, tlie effects of which still remain, the 01 thopa'die staff of the hospital are dealing with them, correcting deformities by orthopicdic surgery. It is a disease ' which, in the ordinary train of events, usually appears in the summer and autumn months, and it is declining just now throughout New Zealand. Kix cases have been notified in Dunedin, one at Port Chalmers, and one at Waikmiaiti. The Health Department is taking active steps in the homes to do what is possible to combat a very difhcult trouble.

WELLINGTON’ SKIN SALES

WELLINGTON, Jan. 28

There was a small attendance of buyers at the skin and hide sales to-day, and for most lines bidding was spiiitIcss. One of the main reasons for the decline in prices is attributed to the fact that tlie sales in Australia were deferred, while the difficulty in securing shipping space also had ail effect on the market. Cowhides from country butchers receded )d to Id per lb, and ox hi compared with the previous sale. Super freezing hides declined Id to 2d, and calf-skins Jd *<» Id. The. price for yeaiv ling skins was on a par with that of the last sale, as were salted skins. Dry skins were ]d cheaper. I allow showed an all-round drop approximately of £3 per ton, casks 21s, and tins os to 20s per cwt.

OTAGO REPATRIATION HOARD

WELLINGTON. Jan. 28.

The latest report from the Otago Repatriation Board is particularly satisfactory. His evident that a great deal of valuable work is being done and that ex-soldiers are taking full advantage of it. Tlie Alinister in charge (the lion. D. H. Guthrie) says tlie work of the Repatriation officer is of a very high order indeed. In appreciation the Ministerial Repatriation 15oa nl has passed the following resolution!: “ Aoiir report was laid before this Board this morning, and the-Minister lias requested me to convey to the members of the Otago Hoard the highest appreeiatiin of the excellent manner in which they have carried out their duties."

The report from Otago shows that up to tlu* present- six per cent of the men have paid off till their loans, and this percentage "'ill lie greatly increased during this year. Already 28 per rent of the money advanced to ex-soldiers by the Dunedin Board has been repaid.

BUTTER REDUCTION SCOUTED

NEW PLYMOUTH, Jan. 28

A Press Association telegram received from Gisborne to-day states: —“ Tt ij reported in business circles here that a reduction in the price of butter of probably 4d per lb will take place in a few days.” “It must be a mistake,” said Mr Arthur Morton (chairman of the National Dairy Association), when the telegram was referred to him by a Daily News ” reporter. “ The Government has fixed the local price of butter, and there cannot be any change until Match 31st.” Mr Morton mentioned that the English retail price, which is 3s 4d, is, going to be reduced to 3s on February 7th, and he suggested that the reduction of Id at Home had been confused to apply to New Zealand.

A DISTRESSING FATALITY

MASTERTON, January 30

What is feared to be a most distressing fatality occurred to-day at Castlejoint. a seaside resort 4/5 miles from Mnsterton. Four well known residents of Master ton, set out early this morning on a fishing expedition near the lighthouse in a flat-bottomed boat. They were: Ivon O’Connor, Clarence, Hopkins, 1L Biggs, and 11. Wooding, all married men. A heavy sea was experienced outside and the boat was swamped and upset. The boat was subsequently seen drifting out to sea with three men clinging to the bottom. It was last seen enveloped in the mist going north in the direction of Matorkona. Jt is feared that all hands are lost and search parties from Mnsterton and district are learching the beach for the bodies.