TELEGRAMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 August 1922, Page 4

TELEGRAMS.

[by TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON’S LIGHTING. WELLINGTON, Aug 11. The City Council has for some time been faced with the question of wliat voltage shall he used when the Govern ment electric supply is available. At present it is 100, but Christchurch an dother places use 230 volts. The difficulty i s that the change will scrap all the existing installations and involve a cast of £750,000. To get over this the council's electrical engineer proposed a voltage of 115, so designed as to be ultimately convertible to a 230 standard. Outside experts were called in, and were unanimous for 230 and this the council has adopted, leaving the financial question to be adjusted later.

A LOOSE SYSTEM. WELLINGTON, Aug 11. In very few of the Government Departments is the system of control over stores efficient, states the Auditor General in his annual report covering the public accounts. Investigations have proved the existence in many Departments of stores that have been purchased and never 'hrjouglit on charge, anti stores written off without 'the authority of Parliament. There has been insufficient check on deliveries .which opens the door to short deliveries and other frauds. Insufficiency of check and the ease with which articles can he written off open the door to theft. There has also been an absence of a proper costing system and stock-taking, rendering it impossible to ascertain if peculation is going on. Audit investigations have also proved that there have in some eases been free issues to Government officers, or issues at reduced cost. Officers of tlie Police Service a,re not entitled, to derive, either directly or indirectly, any such advantages from their status in the service.

MR SASTRTS VISIT. WELLINGTON, Aug 11. Following is a copy of a telegram from the Viceroy of India to the Go-vernor-General of New Zealand: — “On behalf of the Government and people of India 1 desire gratefully to acknowledge the cordial reception accorded l>.v the Government and people of New Zealand to our representative, the llight (lon S. Sastri. dining his recent visit to the Dominion. I feel assured that the visit will contribute to the satisfactory .solution "f the few questions that arc outstanding between India and New Zealand, and that it' will further strengthen the tics which already unite the two countries as members of the same commonwealth of nations.”

DISAI1I.EI) SOLDI KRS. CONCKSSIONS ON RAILWAYS. WELLINGTON. Aug 3. The secretary of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ A-socialion has received information from the Railway Department that it lias agreed to grant the following concessions to di--n filed returned soldiers: (l) Free first-class passes to all permanent pensioners with maximum disability, and (21 first-class accommodation at se-cond-class rates for men snli'ering from motor disabilities and drawing permanent pensions greater than 50 per rcut. maximum of the pension. It, is expected that these concessions will come into force shortly. Strict inks are being drawn up to prevent infringement. Any breach will lead to prosecution and forfeiture -of the right to make use of the concession. Motor disabilities are defined as ini hiding leg amputations, injuries to the hack, hip, leg, foot or ankle.

A RATI AC QI’KSTIOX. INTERESTING POINT IXVOLVKI). AI’C'KLAND. Aug 8. .Judgment in a case of interest to rating bodies and ratepayers was given by Mr Wilson in tln> Magistrate's Court to-day. The City Council sought to recover from- (lie Shaw, Savilt and Albion, Co. Co-1 7s (Id. rates alleged to be duo in respect pi a store for the period March Ist to May 31st., 1930. The facts were that when the valuation roll was made out in January, 1919, the defendant company was entered as owner and occupier of the land which had no building on it. A store was erected subsequently and plaintiff Council altered the roll by adding the annual value of the building. The defendant company contended that the rate for the year was assessable only on the valuation as appearing in the roll in force when the rate was struck.

The Magistrate held that the into was assessed on the fixed total rateable value, and that could only he ascertained by reference to the valuation as it stood when the rate was made, otherwise there cop Id be no certain basis of the Council’s finance. Mr Wilson held that Section -18 of the Rating Act had reference only to the valuation still in force at the time of making the rate, therefore the plaintiff Council could nof recover the amount claimed. The parties had agreed to waive the bar providing that rates cannot be recovered two years after becoming due, though he doubted whether such consent gave the Court jurisdiction As tin* question was of importance to local authorities and the parties desired a decision, lie assumed jurisdiction. Plaintiff's counsel asked that security for appeal ho fixed. AW Wilson said he would like the case taken to the Court of Appeal, and fixed security at ten guineas.

CHARGE SDISMISSED. AUCKLAND, August 4

Mr Poynton S.AL, Rave" a reserved judgment in an nation by the Inspector of Minos, against Andrew Rurt, Manager of T’nkeijiiro 'Coal Company' alleging defendant allowed naked limits, other than locked safety lamps, to he used in the colliery, in contravention of the law. After pointing out the danger of coal dust and firedamp Air Poynton said it was not sufficient that there was a probability of a dangerous accumulation of gas. It must be “likely” to occur, and this had not been established. Both cases were dismissed.