TELEGRAMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 May 1922, Page 4

TELEGRAMS.

nr telegraph—press assn., copyright. MAILS TO BRITAIN. REPLY TO CRITICISM. WELLINGTON, May 29. 11l r cply to criticisms the Postal Department explains that the mail contract between New Zealand and tile Pacific Coast provides for 24 dispatches either way, but that Now Zealand forwards its 'letter mails by every fast direct steamer due to arrive in London before the service via San Francisco or Vancouver. The dispatch of thesfc mails is announced to the public as soon as the final time of the departure of a direct steamer is known, but the dispatch of steamers is dependent on the completion of their loading and very often it is not possible to give more thaii two days’ notice of the ciispatch of a mail which will arrive in London before the dispatch via San Francisco or Vancouver. There is special provision for dispatching of invoices by 11 boat carrying goods. This lias been represented by the Post Office to those concerned time and again. Fast mail carrying steamers are raiely fully loaded at the present time. It is therefore hardly reasonable to suggest that more ships should be dispatched, when there is not enough work for the ships now running.

| BUILDING CONTRACT DISPUTE ; WELLINGTON, May 2D. j The Builders’ and Contractors’ Association published a statement resenting the allegation that it is attempting to boycott the Auckland University ; buildings and remarks attributed to | .Mr Ford, president ot the Architects’ institute. Briefly, they contend that the conditions were agreed oil in 1010, and have worked since fairly to both employer and contractor. The firm which are now calling tenders are j recent arrivals, and have attached to the contract quite different conditions. It is argued that it is not reasonable to expect that the contractors will, at the request of the new arrivals, set aside the conditions they had to fight hard for. Negotiations and arrangements have been entered into for holding a further conference.

NON-SUIT ACCEPTED. WELLINGTON, May 20

In the Supreme Court the case Jacob Henry Tory v. Frederick Si oncer Easton, respecting a purchase of farm lands Oban, came to a sudden termination. I’laintiff was claiming £IOOO damages, making an alternative claim for £17,000, based on the difference per acre between £2O paid and £8 which lie alleged was a proper i.ml fair valuation to-day.

Sir John Findlay, for plaintiff, said taut the latter after hearing the evidence prodm-ed had now e'ected t<> ,-ev reft a nonsuit. Defendant, lie said, had conceded that plaintiff had acted in good faith in the matter. I’laintiff was satisfied that defendant had not been guilty of any misrepresentation and acted in perfect, good faith

VISIT TO RARATONGA. WELLINGTON, May 27

•Mr J. D. Gray, Under-Secretary for External Affairs, has returned from a visit to Rarotonga. He states: “The general conditions ni-Q good, though tile Blunders are disappointed with the depressed condition of the market for tropical produce. The Union Coinp.uiy is giving them ns good a service as can be expected, a valuable rnnccs.sii.!i being the lining of fruit by the Sail Francisco ijiail steamers. The Tahiti brought 12,(100 eases of oranges to Wellington .but could just as easily have secured 1,000,000. cases without making an impression on the bountiful crop. Hardly a fraction of the banana crop is being exported. The lifting of fruit by the San Francisco steamcis is of great benefit to fruit growers. It enables the Smith Island to be efficiently supplied and avoids gluts, in Auckland and losses due to transhipment. Having been in touch with cosmopolitan travellers on the mail steamers, Mr (Lay declares that it is very gratifying to New Zealanders to find that their administration of the Pacific Islands is favourably regarded. GISBORNE If A 1! HOFR. A BIG UNDERTAKING. GISBORNE, May 20. Toe Harbour Board held an important meeting to-d:iy to discuss the proposal to proceed with Mr Leslie Reynolds’s scheme for an outer harbour. Mr Smith, the chairman, Rrst moved to proceed with the whole scheme, at a cost of £1,000,000. After discussion the motion was amended by the chairman to read that the Board proceed to take a poll of ratepayers for a loan of £OOO,OOO to construct the first instalment of the Reynolds scheme, subject to its rescinding the motion carried twelve months ago that the whole scheme bo adopted, and also the motion relating to the work being proceeded with subject to the successful termination of litigation. The chaiiman's amended motion was adopted. STEAMER AFIRE. CHRISTCHURCH, May 30. The Federal steamer Devon, which was held up by heated bunkers on Monday is now oil fire in the bunker, at Lyttelton. The Fire Brigade had three leads of wafer on it at 7.30 to-night, but little can bo done towards finding the seat of the fire until the coal is discharged. The work of discharging is very slow owing to the dense smoko and fumes.

The Devon is fully loaded and was on the point of sailing for Home when the fire was discovered in the bunker.

GIFT OF £SOOO. DUNEDIN, Ma v 30,

A prominent citizen of Dunedin and an admirer of the Otago University, whoso previous gifts have made possible the lectureship in ethnology and have done much to enrich the ethnological department of the museum, has added to those gifts by giving £SOOO, to be devoted to strengthening the ethnological department in the Otago University.