TELEGRAMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 February 1922, Page 3

TELEGRAMS.

I BY TELKGItAI’H—PER PRESS ASSOCIATION |

TUNNEL WORKERS’ STRIKE. ' WELLINGTON, Feb. 8

The Mangahao tunnel workers are at present on strike. The men refuse to accept reduced wages. Miners are advised to keep clear of the works. The direction is authentic.

Any workers interested should communicate with the Acting Secretary of the New Zealand Workers’ Union, Mr A. Cook, Wellington.

WRONGFUL USE OF LOAN. CHRISTCHURCH February 8

On the grounds that moneys raised by loan by the Waimariri County Council for special purposes were illegally used fo r other purposes the AuditorGenera] has issued a writ summons against the members of the Council who authorised the expenditure. The plaintiff claims defendants borrowed £IO,OOO by way of special loan for the purposes of. channelling and asphalting in the Papanui Riding of the county, and illegally expended £5,100 of the amount by paying it into the Commercial Bank in reduction of amounts owing to the bank by the Council on an overdrawn account. Plaintiff prays for judgment for a penalty of £IOO against each of the defendants, for costs of the action, and or such further or other relief as the Court may seem meet.

MOTOR BOAT R ACING. AUCKLAND, Feb. 7. The New Zealand speed championship, for 21ft class motor boats, over a four-foot course, was here. Pussyfoot, Miss Masport, and Miss Eileen completed the course. Pussyfoot led for about 400 yards, but was then overtaken by Miss Masport, which led till the finish, winning by 19 seconds from Pussyfoot, with Miss Eileen 2min 9sec astern. Miss Masport attained a speed of 28 knots. Dot was a non-starter through breaking a fuel pipe. MEAT PRICES RISE. . WELLINGTON, Feb. S. A phenomenal rise in the prices of mutton and lamb is reported. Lamb has advanced fourpence per lb, and mutton twopence farthing. These arc equal to 80 and 75 per cent rises respectively. The master butchers have passed a resolution asking the Government, in , the interests of the consumers, to com- j mandeer the necessary supplies for New I Zealand in connection with the meat ] scheme.

EXPORT OF APPLES. BIG SHIPMENTS TO BE MADE. NELSON, Feb. 0. The Fruitgrowers’ Federation advised the Nelson Fruitgrowers’ Council today that the Westmoreland, which will take the first of the season’s shipments of apples to England, is now timed to sail from Wellington on Sunday, the 19th inst, instead of the ■ 17th. Picking for the Westmoreland shipment is now in progress in Nelson orchards. The steamer is expected to take 15,000 cases. Very heavy crops of apples are in prospect in Hawke’s Bay, and that province will share in the export. The Wangarctta, which is timed to leave about March 7th, will take 16,000 cases from the whole Dominion. There will be another boat about March 24th, which also will take 16,000 cases from the whole of the Dominion. The quantity of fruit coming forward for export from Nelson is in excess of the space so far arranged for, and efforts will be made to secure an additional steamer in March. An important step forward in the means of shipping fruit from the new fruit land took place yesterday in the opening of the Mapun wharf. Large areas are rapidly ! coining into bearing, and it was pre- : dieted by Mr H. Everett, chairman of the Motueka Harbour Board, ' Mapun will soon be counting its cases in six figures. I

Speaking at the official function this afternoon in connexion with the opening of the new Mnpua wharf, Mr Austin, president of the Moutere Hills Fruitgrowers’ Union, said growers had endeavoured to induce the Government to bring in a definite and compulsory fruit standard. Failing this the Union be represented, which comprised five fruitgrowers’ associations of the district, had agreed among themselves to standardise their fruit, an arrangement be believed, which would have a powerful influence in the right direction.

PIPIROA tragedy inquest.

THAMES, February 9

An inquest touching the death of Gladys McGregor Hutchinson, at Piph roa on Tuesday, was opened before the coroner. Arthur William Page, who lias been charged with murder, was also present, represented by Counsel. The evidence of husband was taked. He spoke to his wife after the incident. She said that she was going home, and that Page shot her, because he did not want her to go. Deceased left him last July and had been living with Page. The inquest wais adjourned sine die, on the application of the police.

ILLEGAL RACE MEETING. TAUKANGA, Fob 9. In the Magistrate’s Court the po!i

proceeded against nine natives for holding an illegal race meeting a.t Matakann Island in Taurauga. Harbour on January 2nd. The police evidence showed the races were in full swing when they arrived but were stopped. Counsel for defence raised the point that the police had not produced a gazetted list of Racing Clubs holding licenses under the Act as required by the Race Meetings Act. The Magistrate ruled that the onus was on defendant to show the list existed, and if they failed to do so, they should produce their license. Defendants were each fined £1 and costs.