DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 October 1923, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELEGBArn—I>EH PRESS ASSOCIATION.j

A BUSY MINISTER. WELLINGTON. Sept. 28. A comprehensive tour of New Zealand railways is being made by the Hon J. (L Coates, who has just returned from a tour through part of the North Auckland and Waikato districts. Within a few days he will leave for Taranaki to make an inspection there. About the end of October and during November Mr Coates will go through the South Island, looking into requirements in various districts. When he returns there will be further parts of the North Island to inspect. When the Minister has made a complete survey he may make a statement dealing with questions of railway policy. While looking into railway matters, Mr Coates is taking the opportunity to examine questions relating to hvdroeleetrieity supply and Public Works matters generally. “To get things done is our main consideration.” remarked the Minister, when dismissing various rig railway, main highways and general public works problems which are engaging his attention. As a preliminary to complete revision of the railway tailf. he is having the present .scales (>f charges modified for easy reference. as they are difficult to understand at a glance, being contained in man v (luzet l e not ices.

AUCKLANDERS IN GERMANY

AUCKLAND. September 2.

The interesting experiences of an Aucklander in Germany, are described by Mr Wilford Lady in a letter to Mr A. J. Hutchinson, secretary of the Auckland Rotary Club,. “We were unlucky enough to strike Germany just when the mark was beginning to collapse,” wrote Mr Daily. “From a million to the pound, it reached five million in live days, at which it stopped until a dramatic drop to 20 million the day alter we left the country. One day wo would find the tram lares 2000 marks, next (lay 3000, two days, and then 50(10. Latterly we were paying 500.000 marks for a decent meal, and I t million lor our room. It is interesting to follow the daily changes of prices in stores, (if eonise. nolwithstauidug the higher prices we foreigners wore asked to pay. living was absurdly cheap for us on the sterling convulsion basis. Frequently we had to carry our paper marks made up in million packages in a brown paper parcel. It began to get so bulky.

“Rut. llewe was a very pathetic side to it all. For hours would be seen lomr cl* house I’m us waiting to v | >r>t nines, then almost unohtainalrio. How the average worker on his | to ].; million marks wages could exist we- a mvsiery. Feverish spending

was in evidence eveiywhere, but it "i' s the logical i.income ol Ihe rapidly depreciating paper. The longer you held paper money, the Ics.- its purchasing, power. We stayed a few days in Hamlung. Berlin. Leipzig, and Seitz. In Berlin we saw armoured ears being prepared to quell anticipated food li'JsOn the ol her hand, houses engaged in the export business are prospering exceedingly. being paid for their goods in sterling and disbursing in marks. On till sides tould he seen and heard the intensity of the feeling against France. 1 am afraid, if ever Germany regains some of her old virility. France will need all of her strength for defence. Nothing is more <erfnin.

OTIBA TUNNEL. HANDING OVER (,»FESTIO.N. WELLINGTON, Oct. 1. With In lhe <}U(.*siiou a* 1 whim tin* Oiira Tunnel will hr hamlril t.jo- Hiiilway IVp.irtnirni. it is sumoitmvd (hat Irosn the print ol view <>} t in’ Public Works Depart mrnl, the Position is that the tunnel vill be. handed when every detail ol the speeilieatious lias been t omplied wi I li. t plo the present, ihe tesls carried out have proved satisfactory, ami several sections have already been placid under the coni rol of the Working Railways Department. There are certain technical matters yet to Iw adjusted to the requirements of the Eithlie Works Department and tint it this i- done, the department cannot relinquish control. HICKSON MISSION. OPENING AT AUCKLAND. NECKBAND, Get. I. The spiritual healing mission of lieAnglican !. hureli was opened by Mr 11 irks ,it, when large numbers of pro. plo, firefly women at.d children (some grievously ill and others mu apparently suffering from other than affliction of age or eomparalivelv trivial disabilities}, received a laying on of hands and blessings of ihe rhurrll Nothing of a sensational nature occurred. and an erroneous preconceived impression, t.liai the mission would prod nee highly emotional scenes and ■spoelaeitltir headings, that would instantly be acclaimed as miracles was dispelled. On the other hand. !.hc>-g was a wonderful stirring of soul. 'Liny patients, questioned whether they tell; wonderfully bappy. and were convinced that physical healing would inflow. Some aflinued lluil benefit had resulted. The sight of two wheeled chairs, left by men who had been wheeled into t lie building and lofl it on fool, seemed to point to cures. facrcr :oitiuvaMESUSßseasusa%M