TELEGRAMS

Hokitika Guardian, 20 February 1922, Page 3

TELEGRAMS

[BY TELEGRAPH—PER PRESS ASSOCIATION

TENDERS TO BE CALLED,

WELLINGTON, Feb. 19

The Public Works Department, instead of making any concessions to the Mangahao tunnellers, is expected to call tenders for the completion of the tunnels under a co-operative contract system. The men who have been - on the jobs will bo able to present tenders if they wish to do so. The successful contractors will undertake to find the labour for the completion of the tunnels, the Department only finding plant and materials.

POPPY DAY. WELLINGTON, Feb. 20

The Dominion Executive of the R.S.A. approved of the Poppy Day scheme under which next Anzae Day, a replica of the Flanders poppy be sold all over the Dominion, when it is hoped to raise £20,000 for the relief of unemployed soldiers.

FISHING PARTY’S EXPERIENCE WELLINGTON, Feb. 20.

On Saturday afternoon three residents in Lyali Bay went out iii a boat on a fishing expedition and were not heard of again until Sunday when a telephone message came from Eric Riddiford’s station at Orongorongo, stating a boat had drifted ashore on the coast and the occupants, one of whom was a lad of 17, walked to the station where they fed and rested. On Sunday afternoon 3.30 they left the station intending to walk through Gol]ins Valley, fifteen miles to Eastbourne where they were to catch the ferry steamer for Wellington, but so far have not arrived. No details are available as to how the boat got out of hand.

KILLED BY TRATN.

PALMERSTON N., Feb. 20.

A fatal accident occurred at Bunnythorpe this morning, when the Auck-land-Wellingtoii express collided with a milk dray driven by Arthur Andrew, aged 24, a farmer. Deceased was badly injured about the head and chest and died shortly after being picked up.

DAIRY FARMERS,

KOVAL COMMISSION APPOINTED

WELLINGTON, Feb. 19

During the last few days of the session just closed members of Parliament drew the attention of the Prime Minister to the grave difficulties under which many dairy farmers arc labouring in consequence of the slump in dairy produce, coupled with the tact that they had bought their farms in boom times at high prices. Mr Massey stated that he was considering the advisability of appointing a Koval Commission to investigate fully the whole matter and suggestions for coping with the problem. Yesterday it was announced that Cabinet had decided that Mr F. W. F. Flanagan, ValuerGeneral, should he appointed a Royal commission to conduct the inquiry. At the Prime Minister’s request, Mr Flanagan recently made inquiries into the. conditions prevailing in the Waikato district, and was able to adjust a number of individual cases by inducing the mortgagees cither to postpone the payment of interest or to reduce tlm amounts of their mortgages, or both. The order of reference for the Commission lias not yet been completed.

A SWING BRIDGE COLLAPSES

CARTERTON, Mi. 2d

Recently settlers in Pa liana district rated themselves and raised a loan of £BO9O and erected four division suspension bridges. These structures of steel and concrete were completed and opened about October last. Yesterday, a small mob of about 100 sheep were being driven over a bridge at Ngaipu, when the structure collapsed and tell into the river below, about thirty ieel. Seven sheep were killed. H is reported the cables pulled out of the iron clamps at the top of the piers. Members of Fcathorstone Council are meeting on the site to-day.

SUPREME COURT. AUCKLAND, Feb. 20

At the Supreme Court James John Packer for attempted rape on a girl of eighteen years of age at Bay of Islands was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment. George Hamerton, for indecent assault on a girl under 16, was sentenced to three years’ hard labour.