TELEGRAMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 February 1922, Page 3

TELEGRAMS.

LbY TELEGRAPH—PER PRESS ASSOCIATION

RAILWAYMANS DEATH. ASHBURTON February 22

The portion of a man’s leg with a boot attached, found on the Waterton Beach on February 16th., lias been identified as that of William Henry Miller, a railway employee, who has been missing from this home in Royal Street Timaru, since January 25th.

SUPREME COURT,

AUCKLAND, Feb. 22.

At the (Supreme Court Peter Colombo, on two charges of false pretence* was sentenced to 12 months gaol, and again declared an habitual criminal. The prisoner had previously been twice declared an habitual criminal, and was released on a probationary license. Henry G. Arnold, for breaking, entering and theft, got six months. Ronald Watts, who Admitted selling his employer’s stock and makng away with the proceeds while employed as a farm manager was admitted to probation for two years and ordered to make such restitution as the Probation Officer directs.

Chares Gumby Pearce, a former post and telegraph employee, was sentenced to six months’ Imprisonment for false pretences by presenting bogus accounts for telephone repairs. A year’s imprisonment was imposed on Rae Solomon for theft of a horso saddle and bridle at Kawakawa.

ANOTHER FIRE AT FOXTON. FOXTON, Feb. 23. Between midnight and one o’clock this morning, a. firte broke out in Levin rind 1 Coy’s wool and hemp store at the wharf, completely destroying the huge building and contents, the latter including wool and hemp. An easterly breeze carried the fiamtes away from the adjacent railway and Harbour Board buildings and although the heat was terrific, these were saved. The value of wool and hemp destroyed and insurances are not yet available. This is the second fire within a week at the wharf. A shed owned by the Harbour Board was previously destroyed. The cause of the outbreaks arc a mystery. Incendiarism is susplected. The total loss will run into thousands of pounds.

NEW ZEALAND PRESS

MR SKERRETT’S TRIBUTE

WELLINGTON, Fob

Speaking at the first annual dinner of the Newspaper Proprietors Association, Mr Skorrett, K.C., in thanking members for the help given by the press to. the efforts of the Welfare League, read a letter which he wrote to the Secretary when in England, in which he compared the press of New Zealand in a most favourable light with that of England. During the course of the letter, lie said “Press conditions here and in New Zealand arc widely different. It would he impossible to obtain in this country, t,he assistance which have been given by the New Zealand press. My opinion, always a high one of the editorial staff of our press, has been greatly enhanced since 1 have been here. They have a sense of the obligations which are due to their'profession, it not to their own individual eonscieue.s. and a sense of responsibility, and all tldey write is at least leavened by the feeling that tliev are guides for the public good and public betterment.”

At the annual meeting of the Newspaper Proprietors Association last night Mr Katie (President) took occasion to congratulate Mr P. Sclig of the “Press,” upon his approaching jubilee in journalism. Specially eulogistic references were made to Hr Solig’s services during his thirteen years as President of ’ the Newspaper Proprietors Association.

At the annual meeting of Hi ■ Master Printers’ Association, Mr N. McEobie (Auckland) was elected President.

ATTACK ON WORKERS. WELLINGTON, Feb. 21. The annual meeting of the New Zealand Newspapers Proprietors’ Association was opened to-day. In moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet. Mr Charles Earle (the Chairman) said the future outlook for newsprint supplies was regarded as uncertain, while business was in a depressed condition. Referring to the industrial situation, Mr Earle remarked on the conference of the printing trgde employees held at Christchurch.

He said it was not likely that t-ie Arbitration Court would be influenced by the transparent propaganda of that conference but he would not allow it to pass unchallenged. It might be thought that under existing conditions, the talk of increased wages would be abandoned as too foolis.i for sensible men to waste their time over, and that the trade unions would centre their attention on the more pressing problem of devising means to ensure a continuity of employment for their members. Apparently regardless of the changed conditions. the unions were following along the old lines in concentrating thefr energies on an endeavour to holster up the present abnormally high rate of wages. Their latest procedure could only be regarded as a blatant attempt to bluff the Arbitration Court into a continuance of existing awards hv demanding more than the awards now gave them. Mr Justice Frazer’es recent pronouncement conveyed the impression that this sort- of humbug carried little weight. Tt was a, reflection on the Court that such claims should be advanced in the face) of a, fall in the cost of living and the prevailing depression of the newspaper business and of trade and industry generally. Mr Earle was re-elected President. INCENDIARISM. DANNEVIRKE, Feb. 23.

A series of fires have occurred at Ormondville. At daybreak yesterday morning AY. H. Editin's bakery and dwelling wor ( > totally destroyed. Early this morning a building known as Groome’s old shop, which wap- unoccupied was also burned, having apparently been set fire to in two places. About 1 a.m. a fire was also discovered in the. Public Library, hut was extinguished by a bucket brigade after considerable d a mage. This morning the police arrested Gertrnm Alexander Ttegh on a charge of setting fire to Groome’s shop. It is probable there will he further developments concerning the fire in the library,