TELEGRAMS

Hokitika Guardian, 26 April 1921, Page 4

TELEGRAMS

VARIOUS DOMINION ITEMS.

BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSN'., COPYRIGHT. CONFERENCE OF FARMERS. WELLINGTON, April 24. The Standing Producers’ Committee representing the farmers, are in negotiations regarding the wool realisation. The freights were approved and the freight contract proposed between the shipping companies and freezing companies’ conference was approved, the contract being signed for this season at a rate representing a saving of £135,000 per year against the present rates. Since then a further reduction was secured, and will mean a saving of about £250,000 to the producers. The committee approved of the contract with the shipping companies being ratified. The committee discussed the proposed Mercantile Shipping Board and the serious delay experienced in oversea steamers in discharging and loading at the main ports of the Dominion.

The Executive of the Farmers’ Union met the Committee and discussed matters of mutual interest. The Committee considered a recommendation from the Producers’ Conference that all the wool sales be prohibited for two months pending negotiations with the British and Australian Wool Realisation Associatioli. It is expected that the suspension will he effected by agreement without compulsion, but it is evident intention in some instances to sell. The Committee decided that the resolution of the Conference should bo adhered to.

THE ZEEBRUOCE RATE. RECALLED BY LORD JELLICOE. THAMES, April 23 Lord .lellicoe arrived at Thames on St George’s Day. The weather was unfavourable, hut lie bad a great reception. In a brief speech the Governor referred to the fact that on Si George’s Day three years ago the tamous Zcehrugge raid took place. “Three years ago to-day.’’ he said, the Navy carried out an operation that appealed to it. There wore times when the people not behind the scenes asked what the Navy was doing. The Navy was only too glad to show what it could do when it had a task worth doing, and one such was the attack on Zoebrugge and Ostend. Tt was a task somewhat of the nature of a cutting-out expedition, such as our forefathers delighted in, but a more forlorn hope than any task ever placed before the Navy. And so it was all the more welcomed by bluejackets and officers. Those who volunteered were told plainly the risk and every officer and man who came forward knew the chances were strongly against returning. The Grand Meet looked down upon it as a privilege, to share the adventure with the Dover L’atrol. The Dover Patrol hated the Grand Elect with all their heart, and mind for coming in. The only difficulty was to prevent the Grand Elect from volunteering. The loss of life was heavy, hut

in a certain extent the object was achieved. We who planned it never expected more than a temporary success, hut that was worth while, and more than that was achieved by the officers and men three years ago.” MAN GORED TO DEATH. NELSON. April 25. A farmer, William Burton Smith, was gored to death by a bull at Stoke yesterday, lie went down to attend the hull which was on a chain. The hull charged and tossed him. The bill broke the man’s neck. The chain became wound round the man. who was badly gored. A verdict of accidental death was returned. MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE. WELLINGTON. April 25. At Hastings in the case of the woman found dead on a section about mid-night on Friday, when a letter addressed to Marion I). Baird, 55 Trafalgar Street, Nelson, was found on the body. Developments occurred, resulting in the arrest of Geirgc Dunne, a stable hand, aged 32, on a charge of manslaughter. An inquest on Marion Douglas Baird aged 71, found dead in a section in town at mid-night on Friday last, was held by Mr B. AY. Dvcr, S.M. this afternoon. A man. named George Dunne, under arrest, was in court and was identified by two witneses as the man seen leaving the section immediately before the body was found. The Coroner’s verdict was that death was due to great excitement, acting on the deceased’s heart and dilated stomach, and that the great excitement was cans ed by the fact that she had been raped by George Dunne. Subsequently Dunne was charged with manslaughter and remanded for a week. Bail was refused. OBITUARY. CHRISTCHURCH, April 2«. The death occurred early this morning after a very short illness, of Miss Leah Selig, elder daughter of Air P. Selig, Manager of the Christchurch Press Coy.