TELEGRAMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 December 1922, Page 3

TELEGRAMS.

'BY TYLEGBAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCI AT lON LOOSENING MOORING LINES. AUCKLAND, Dec 29. At nine o’Block last night the nine thousand ton steamer Token- alongside tho wharf was found with stern mooring lines adrift. They were made fast and investigations led to the arrest of. a. greaser named George Woods. Though apparently asleep in his bunk, his hand* were covered with grease of a kind used on the mooring lines. His statement itliat lie touched a rope coming aboard was not accepted as satisfactory. liv the police court Woods was charged'with having attempted to destroy the Tekoa. This was withdrawn' and replaced by a charge or having don© an act tending directly to cause, serious damage to the vessel. The captain of the Tekoa stated that Wood had given much trouble on tho iS hip lie had. under the influence ol 'drink, railed against the shipowners and threatened to get oven with them. The Magistrate said tho evidence ua* not vcirv strong, but lie regarded it as sufficient. Accused was fined .£■•>() o> three months gaol, which was the maximum penalty.

DAIRY PRODUCTS. WELLINGTON. Dec. 28. The National Dairy Association of New Zealand has received the fallowing cablegram from their London office dated Dee. 23rd— . . “Butter—There is a fair demand. New Zealand salted 180 s to 182 s, anvilfed 184 s, Australian salted 168 s to | V is. misalted 166 s to 178 s, Argentine salted 161 s, Danish salted 2125.

•‘Cheese The market is firm owing to small supplies. White and coloured 120 s to 1225.”-

A SUICIDE. DUNEDIN, Dee. 28. \ married man named James William Klsom, aged sixty-one, committed suicide bv means of a rifle at Mansford. Hear Port Chalmers, this morning. He was formerly an enginedriver in the Union Company’s employ, but lmd ho an in failing health lately. SWIMMING RECORDS. NAPIER, Dee. 28. IV. Harris, Honolulu, swimming at a carnival bore to-night, improved his Gisborne record times for 100yds and 50 yards. The Gisborne times were 57 I.r,'secs and 25 2-5 sees, and to-night the vwere 55 3-5 sees and 25sces. WOOL TRANSPORT. WELLINGTON, Wee. 29. Tfio New Zealand Meat "Producers’ Board's representative in London has again been in communication with the port oT London authorities with a to obtaining a further reduction ill charges. A cable has now been received by the Board advising that all rates have been reduced toil points, wh'ch is equivalent to about 6 pel ■M-i'.t. This will also mean a corresponding reduction ill wool handling charges by ! he warehouse*. NEW PARLIAMENT. TIME OF MEETING.

AUCKLAND, December 29. It is certain that the new Parliament will be summoned to meet at Wellington m February. I lie date lias not yet been fixed. Mr Massey stated (outlay however, that Parliament would fie called together not later than the middle of February, and possibly a little earlier.

“It will be a very short session.” raid Mr Alassey. “}>rohahly not longer tlr'u ten days at most.” MARAMA DELAYED. WELLINGTON. December 29. The Union Company's steamer Mz- • atna. which lms been recommissioned, was to leave AYellington at no: n today fur Sydney, but when the sailing lie,ur arri>ed. the vessel was two firemen short. She left the wharf at 215 p.m. for the stream, where she is awaiting the remainder of her crew. She hag woolly 200 passengers. A ALAN’S DEATH. CHRISTCHURCH, December 20. Alick Tirrnbnll Clark, aged 48 a mar■li'ed man, died in tho Hospital to-day as the result of taking poison nine days ago. Deceased was formerly liglit-kce’'-er at Portobello, but of late had been farming at Bnrwood. He had suffered

A AID,RICAN CONSUL. WELLINGTON, Deo. 36. D. E. Wilber, American Consul General, lias resigned and will leave in April after two years service in New Zealand. He intend* to re-enter .business in Oneqjita, New York-. CHEQUE FRAUD.

WELLINGTON, December 30. In connection with an alleged attempt to defraud by means of cheques, purporting to emanate from the Pay-master-General Department, a third arrest was affected in ’Wellington, in addition to the men arested at, Masterlon and Now Plymouth.

KU KT-TJX ELAN. ORGANISATION IN SYDNEY SYDNEY, Dee 1

A highly-coloured report in one -f t!u> Sydney morning papers the other • lay startled its readers by definitely announcing that a. movement was well advanced for the formation of a local organisation similar to the notorious Ku Klux Khm of America. The society will be known as the Lodge of Vigilantes and its object is to deal with persons whom its members consider to ho preying on the community. A numbe-r of ,persons. whose names are not disclosed, r.u\ it is said, marked down, but one oi its first

activities will he the cleaning up of the Centennial Park night prowlers. The Lodge, if appears was first, decided upon because- of the alleged failure of the present Government to deal -\ith rackrenting landlords, and tl.oie are the people whom it first proposes to deal with. The, organisation will he run -nl quasi-military linca, with stringent oaths and rigid discipline. At present 1 here are about fifty lnonib-rs enrolled, and it is claimed that there are an--über two or three hmidred waiting to be sworn in. So long as it confines its activities strictly within the scope of the law, the existence, of the bodge is not likely to lie seriously objected to. Hut should it endeavour to no beyond the law it will receive short shift from the Government.