TELEGRAMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 May 1921, Page 4

TELEGRAMS.

VARIOUS DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION]' A BODY EXHUMED. HAMILTON, May 14. Recently Mr C. R. Smallfield, a wellknown stock agent and racehorse owner disappeared whilst bathing. His body was subsequently recovered. At the inquest a verdict that death was due to heart failure whilst bathing was returned. Some weeks later it is understood his body was exhumed, and parts forwarded to Wellington for analysis. As a result of the expert’s report the inquest will be re-opened next Friday. FIRE AT PICTON. BLENHEIM, May 14. A fire at Picton freezing works destoryed the felhnongery building and contents. Details are unavailable, but the freezing chafhbers, engine rooms and slaughtering department, were not touched. THE BONUS. WELLINGTON, May 14

The anticipated pronouncement of the Arbitration Court on the question of the cost of living was made to-day. The total additional bonus is 5s per week. But, as it has been decided to introduce a system of stabilisation of wages, this amount is to be set off against a probable increase in bonus in May, followed by-an inevitable decrease in September. This arrangement, says the Court, will have the effect of stabilising wages till April 30, 1922. The Court has adhered to the principle adopted in the past of working on a six-monthly moving average. On this basis, the sum of 3s per week is required to meet the increase shown in prices. To this is added the 2s, which was deducted from the amount of the last bonus to discharge past over-payment.

TWO COLLIERY FATALITIES. WESTPORT, May 14 Inquests were concluded here to-day, touching the deaths of Janies McDonald, who died in the -Westport Hospital on Friday, May 6, as the result of a fall of stone in the Stockton mine; and Percy Reveis, who also died at Westport Hospital on Thursday, May 12, following an accident in the Stockten mine. McDonald was a miner out from the Old Country, working his first shift in the mine, laying rails to the working face, and in consequence of a creep, some distance away, was ordered, with two men of the face and a companion laying rail, to withdraw from that section of the mine McDonald and his mate were just about to conic away, when a fall of stone occurred, burying McDonald and also striking his companion. McDonald was rescued, but subsequently died in the hospital. The Coroner’s verdict was that death was accidental, and he made a recommendation in view of the allegation that some of the timber where the fall occurred showed signs of decay, that owing to the extraction of pillars a special examination should he made of the timber in the locality. Reveis was a trucker, ami apparently got jammed between tubs whilst he was driving a horse attached to a rake of tubs in tiie mine. A verdict was returned that death was accidental, no blame being attachable to nnvone.

SOUTHLAND WAR- MEMORIAL. INVERCARGILL, May 13. The Southland War Memorial Committee last month set out to raise £15,000 for a. soldiers’ memorial. Indications of country support were not promising, and the financial position was swell as. to incline some of the townsfolk to leave the appeal in obeyance until conditions improved. However, it was decided to push on, and in view of all the circumstances the response was surprising. The effort took the form of a silent appeal and by this means close on £10,(100 has been raised to date, the country contributing only a small proportion of this amount. The committee _ has decided to leave the fund open in the meantime. The moneys collected will be invested for short terms, and the appeal for the other £SOOO made when circumstances are more favourable.

H.M.S. CHATHAM’S CRUISE. WELLINGTON, May 12. A few days ago the itinerary of H.M.S. Chatham during the next few weeks, when paying official visits to various ports in the South Island, was published. Since then the Minister of Defence has received appeals from some ports for an extension of the cruiser’s visit. The Minister has consulted Commodore Holtham, and has replied regretting that the present itinerary cannot be changed, as apart from other considerations, all arrangements for the supply of fuel, etc., have been completed, and cannot be rearranged at tin’s late date.

A FIRE. CHRISTCHURCH, May 14. Shortly after 7 p.m. yesterday an outbreak of fire occurred at West End, Kaikoura, totally destroying a building comprising two shops and dwelling. The front portion of one shop was occupied by Mrs S. C. Winterburn, carrying on business as a dressmaker and unilinear, and the rear portion was used as a residence by Mr E. Korneys. The other sliop was occupied by Mr G. C. Wallace, dentist

THE BLENHEIM AERODROME. BLENHEIM, May 13. Tt was reported to the Borough Council that the lessees of the Omaka domain, a reserve belonging to the Cotincial, had agreeda to allow the use of forty acres for the erection of an aerodrome, in consideration of a rebate of rent, a matter of £B, in respect to such area, the arrangement to hold good for six months. The Council instructed its solicitor to prepare the the necessary agreement. Earlier in the week Captain Ewan Dickson addressed a meeting of citizens on behalf of the Canterbury Aviation Company, and a committee was appointed to carry on the movement to erect an aerodrome, which is estimated to cost £BBS,