TELEGRAMS

Hokitika Guardian, 21 July 1922, Page 4

TELEGRAMS

I dY TEI.F.GKArn —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION]

A sudden death

WELLINGTON. July 19. A man namd Ludwig Seniborg, died suddenly at tlie Kiosk, Oriental Bay, this morning. The cause of .death is not yet known, hut a post-mortem examination of the body is being made. The deceased was about 10 years of age and a married man with one child. He had only taken up his residence at the Kiosk yesterday.

SHIPMASTERS’ DISAPPROVAL OF

COURT’S FINDING

AUCKLAND. July 19

A meeting of twenty to thirty shipmasters and officers unanimously carried the following resolution : —“That this meeting of shipmasters and ships’ officers resolves that its disapproval of the finding of the Court with regard to Captain Wallis is hereby expressed and placed on record, it being against t| u . weight of evidence and having the effect of throwing an absolutely unreasonable amount of responsibility on all masters; that the chief officer, whose watch it was and who took the bearing of Little Barrier at 5.15 p.m. knew exactly where the sliip was at 6.15 p.m./ and there was no occasion for the master to discuss the position with him further. As the chief officer had taken both the Bonn and the Fiona in side the light on many occasions and knew it was the custom to go inside ill dear weather, there was no occasion to instruct him oil which side to go, as he was a thoroughly intellectual gentleman, and the captain had seven /ears’ • observation of him, and proved him to be particularly reliable and trustworthy; that the words of the Court’s decision that lie (the captain) allowed the steward to engage his attention and draw him into forgetting all about the bridge*’were absolutely unwarranted,, it being impossible for a careful anil prudent shipmaster to forget his responsibilities when coasting: that the Court's contention that the chief officer did riot seriously accept the responsibility of navigating the ship is not In accord with bis own evidence, and is contrary to established custom, as it is an accepted axiom of the sea that upon the master leaving the bridge the officer assumes full charge with the knowledge that should the slightest doubt arise the master shall ho called.”

The resolution took exception to the attitude of counsel for the department. in this and the Wiltshire case, and objected to Captain Fleming being assessor on the ground that he had not been at sea for a period of 21 years. The resolution concluded:—“That after having carefully followed all the evidence adduced at the enquiry, this meeting considers Captain A\ r allis absolutely free from all blame attaching to the casualty.” A resolution was also adopted expressing appreciation of the manly way in which Afr Grantlev acted at the enquiry and took all the blame for the casualty.

A TERRIFIC HURRICANE. DEVASTATION IN NEW HEBRIDES. AUCKLAND. July 19. The Rev. R. Godfrey, who arrived by the mission steamer Southern Cross, described the hurricane of last April as one of the worst which visited the Islands for many years. It struck Banks Island and the Northern Hebrides with terrific force. Starting in the north-east and working right round to the- north-west it left a- tiail of utter desolation in its wake, demolishing houses and churches, sweeping whole villages out of existence anil destroying every vestige of the luxuriant vegetation with which the islands were covered.

“We spent several hours in a little hut,” said Air Godfrey, “fearing every moment that this last frail shelter would be swept away. They were ailments of great anxiety. A r et, with his sonny childlike nature, the Melanesian passed through the ordeal quite undaunted. I shall always remember how they laughed as they hung on to the roof, taking every terrifiic gust as a great joke, but it was no joke for tlie mission of tlie missionaries. AVlien we ventured out later in the day the whole scene in the valley of SeacifT Bay on the Island of Raga. whore I was stationed, looked just like a piece of New Zealand husli country after a tine had passed through it. Not a. stick or a tree was standing. The roof was carried clean oft tny house, the walls and" ceiling lay in crushed heaps on tlie ground, the floor was smashed in, and tlie house itsef pushed over several feet on its foundations. No fewer than forty-four native churches were destroyed in Raga, and eight in ,-\ohn. Of twenty new churches built last year only three were left standing.”

H.AI.S. CHATHAM. AV ELLINGTON,' July 18. The following is the programme of iI.AI.S. Chatham for a three months’ cruise:— Leaves Auckland August 15th., for Hauraki Gulf and visits to Russell, Wnangnroa and Mongonui. Leaves New Zealand, August 22nd. Arrives Suva 27th., leaving bn 31st for Lautoka and district, where she remains till September 28th, carrying out preliminary gunnery and torpedo exercises.

Due New Hebrides, October Ist, sailing four days later for Noumea. Leaves Noumea for Jervis Bn - (Australia) October 11th, arriving on 16tli,

Leaving Jervis Bay on October 28th for gunnery and torpedo edercises with the Australian fleet, afterwards proceeding to Sydney, where she is due on October 29th. Leaves Sydney November 10th for New Zealand, where she is due on loth.

INVESTMENT STO'CKS. AUCKLAND, July 19.

That there is a good deal of money avniable for investment at present, is made evident by the tone of the Auckland Stock ‘Exchange. ‘Ever since the resumption of business by sharebrokers after the Easter holidays, during which period it will lie remembered an announcement of a fall in the London Rank rate was made, there has been a gradual improvement. Indications are that this is not diminishing. As a matter of fact, to-day’s business on the share market showed that conditions are, if anything, rather better. A gratifying feature is that for some time past enquiries from buyers have not been confined to. any particular shares or stocks. To-day’s stock list exethpli- ; fies tfiis. Demand was made for all kinds of shares, including Government bonds, local bodies debentures, insurance and banking shares, commercial and industrial lines and raining. This is soignificant in that it would seem to express a more optimistic feeling on 1 the part of all classes of investors. I The chairman of the Stock Exchange, Air G. O. C'reigh, commenting on the ‘position, cohfnmed the fact that there had been an improvement in business , on the share market since Easter. There j was, he said, obviously more money about. He expressed the opinion that the “better times” campaign organised some weeks ago by the Auckland merchants and business people had had a very good effect. The general public were certainly less pessimistic at present and more willing to release money There were buyers for all classes of investments, though, on the other hand there was not much available for mortgages. He did not attribute the improved conditions to the recent further fall in the London Bank rate, dating their commencement hack to Easter as indicated.

FLOUR 1> KICKS. WELLINGTON, July 19

It is reported here that the flour trade is considerably excited through a movement said to be due to over-grist-ing and the accumulation of stocks, 't lie price of flour fixed by the Government is £lB per ton, less 2.1 per cent, for payment within seven days, free on hoard at South Island ports of shipment. Quite recently, however, some millers decided to allow 5 per cent, discount to thirty days. Of this bust more no confirmation can he obtained. Yesterday's quotations were reported variously at £ls 18s (id. £ls 18s 3d and £lO Ids per ton, all net prices free <ui hoard at South Island ports. The distributing trade is reported as being much disturbed by these cuts. Auckland flour prices arc said to he unchanged. So far as can lu> learned no business of auv volume has been done at the above prices which are not expected to hold., as millers arc said to be losing heavily, the full £lB only allowing n margin of 10s per ton to the miller. Incidentally it may be stated that plain oatmeal (not the various forms of special breakfast foods) is reported as having been reduced bv £2 per ton. SUPREME COURT. AUCKLAND, July 19. Two prisoners appeared at the Supreme Court for sentence for olfemes committed at Tokuinaru Bay. Thomas Richard Porter was sentenced to two years’ reformative treatment for the theft of £ll7 Is (id Iroin the Tokomaru Bav Waterside Workers’ Union, of which be was secretary. A -Maori youth, llouili Poi, for breaking and entering a dwelling, was admitted to probation for two years, lie was ordered Li make restitution and pay Court costs.

COUNCIL OF AGRICULTURE. WELLINGTON. July 20

The annual meeting of the New Zoa land Council of Agriculture was eon tinned to-day.

It was resolved on the motion of Mr Stuckey (Dannevii ke) that an official list of judges lx 1 compiled so that the whole of the judges for the respective classes lie under one heading in lieu of tlie existing list which sets out the judges as recommended by each Association.

It was resolved that the compilation of the list of judges lie revised. Air Smith (Alasterton) moved and it was resolved that the conference draw the attention of the AHnister of Railways to the unfair action of the Railway Department regarding the excessive charges on dead meat as against live stock.