VARIOUS DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 February 1921, Page 3

VARIOUS DOMINION ITEMS.

f BY TELEGRAM!—PER PRESS ASSOCIATION] THE POSITION AT AUCKLAND, j AUCKLAND, Feb. C, I Conditions on the Auckland watei front have shown considerable impro.fnient to-da.v. A good number of men agreed, while others refused to continue after -3 o’clock, and it would appear that members of the union are divided in this issue. Overtime was worked on the Clarnma, Waiwera, and Omana ov g.'.gs engaged on these ships, hut watered rs working the Northumber'a id tei used to continue after 5 o’clock. The men engaged on the small l.avli s on the Rimutaka also agreed to work overtime, hut those on the large hatches declined. Consequently no overtime was worked on this vessel. SUICIDE. WELLINGTON, Keb. 13. A gruesome discovery was made on the Tinakori Hills by a member of the wireless staff, when lie came upon the body of an elderly man lying near the track with bis throat cut. It was identified ns that of Thomas Bernard Slieehy, a married man, aged 68 years, who left home at Hawthorne Crescent yesterday. There was no'int imation that deceased had any intention of taking his life. REFORM’S LABOUR \ OTE.‘ CHRISTCHURCH, Feh. 13. Replying to the toast of the Reform Party, Sir Heaton Rluloes briefly sketched the rise of the Reform Party, and said that all present members received votes from Labour—not extremists, whom they could do without—but they had the support ol all Honest Labour, and .Mr Massey now bad the confidence of Moderate Labour. Touching on Defence, Sir Heaton Rhodes said that though economy was needed, they were going to have .efficiency. Particular attention would lupoid to officers and non-commissioned officers. The war had proved fat men could soon he trained, with competent officers and n.c.o.’s. They could do without camps and territorial training for a year or two ; but he imped to see these established on a sounder and more efficient, footing than before. Cadets,* too, would not he forgotten. They must he trained, made physically fit and efficient, and drafted into the Territorials. lie had unwillingly been compolled to retire many officers for retrenchment purposes, but lie believed the efficiency ol the forces was still unimpaired, and if ever it Income- neces sary to send another forte to he 1 ]) the Empire, the machinery was there. II •: 1 incidentally remarked that he did not j 1 wish to disband any regiment, t ome j ‘ might, for the time being, have to tie * made squadrons, or companies, hut tne.v would retain their traditions and badg- > . and if they were again extended into | r giments, they would not have lost i their identity. | The meeting decided that a cable be ; 1 sent to General Smuts congratulating ' him on the result of the recent elec- f tion and the success ol the Imperial Party in South Africa under his leader- > ship.

MR JUSTICE CHAPMAN’S GIFT. DUNEDIN, Feh. 13. Mr Justice Chapman has presented bis extensive and valuable ethnographic collection to the Otago Univ.-isity. 'fliis is one of the most important private collection.' in New Zealand and will place the Maori section ol the Otago University Museum among tin* four most important .Maori collections in existence.

A BOOKMAKER CHARGED. WELLINGTON, Eel;. 13. When the case against James Patter son, charged with carrying on the business or occupation of a bookmaker, was called in the Supreme Court to-day. the Crown Prosecutor appealed for an adjournment until Monday next loi a fresh jury to he empanneled. “ | propose to stand down, said the counsel, “the whole 21 jurors who served oif the Mart indale apd Livingstone cases and this would only leave 18 jurors on the panel. I can make application, your Honour, in view ol the fact that the evidence in the case against Martindale and Livingstone was practically uiicontradictod. 1 ieel that it should come before a fresh jury. Mr O’Leary, for Patterson, strongly protested, but Judge Chapman said: - •' I shall grant tlm application. 1 think il is only right, seeing what happened yesterday. 1 think that the matte. should eotne before a Irosh jury panel. The trial was postponed till

the masterton show. MASTERTON, Feb. 15. The Masterton Show was opened today in beautiful weather, and there was a large attendance. The Minister of Lauds (the Hon D. Guthrie) was among the visitors. Results: Champioiisihp Lincoln Ram and Ewe, Bland Raynor. Romany Marsh Ram, W. Perry and Son. Ewe, W. Howard Booth, Southdown Ram and Ewe, .lames Knight (Feilding). Corriedale Rome and Ewe, T, D. Haycock. Shorthorn Bull and Cow, Sir Walter Buchanan. Hereford Bull, Donald McKenzie ; Cow, G. E. Moore, Kai-iwi). Polled Angus Bull and Cow, Burling Bros. Ayrshire Bull, A. H. Harris; Cow, W. Moore. Jersey Bull and Cow, W. 11. Booth. Frisian Bull and Cow, Bloomfield Farm Co. .Milking Shorthorn Bull and Cow, Mr J. Wails. Maiden Jumping Competition, Mrs A Nunn’s Aldtio. Hunters’ Jumping Mrs D. 0. Riddiford’s Dugnltf 1, F. Laird’s Hailstorm 2. FREIGHT ON CHEESE. DUNEDIN, Feb. 15. The South Island Dairy Association has just received advice by cable from London of an agreement to reduce the cheese freights to lid per lb, plus 10 per cent, this reduction being retrospective to and including the November shipment. This has been accepted and represents a reduction on tins season s cheese freights to London from the Dominion bv at least £200,000. What cheese freights mean to shipping communes may be gauged from the Inet that d per lb represents £250,000.