DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 February 1924, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELEGRAPH—rER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] , RAILWAY DEPARTMENT APPOINTMENTS. THE MINISTER’S POLICY.

CHRISTCHURCH. Feb. 8. Regarding the reported retirement of Mr B. Mitchell, traffic manager of i Railways at Christchurch, the Hou J. C. Coates .stated to-day that Mr Miieliell was not on tile list of officers to bo retired. The position was that Mr Mitchell had sent in Ids resignation to take effect from March Hist. Init his resignation had not been accepted. “More than that i cannot *ay,'' add'd file Minister when speaking on the general 'piosiiou of retirements after forty teals' of service, I no .Minister -aid that was flic policy of the (Jowrnmont, and it would be adhered to won the provision that he, a, .Minister for Railways, reserved the right t.. retain such men as lie felt were uecessar;, io tin 1 Department on account of experience and knowledge. The appointments of the met to fill the positions vacated had been made without reference to seniorily. TCH-LKI) BY TABLET. PALMKR.STOX X., Fchniaiy ft. The adjourned iii(-[iiiry iiiLo the cirettmstnnees siirrounding the death of Robert Grant, victim of u railway fatality at Ualcoinhe. on January 1 Ith, ''as held by the Coroner this morning. Deceased was an immigrant, who only arrived in the Dominion a few days previously, and he was a passenger on the Main Trunk Express, eu route to the South Island to take up work at (lie KaiapoL Woollen Mills, when he •sustained fatal injuries as the train was passing through Ilaleomhe. ll v. as .stated that owing to the failure of a tablet to swing round, the (let eased was struck on the. head. The evidence showed the deceased and a companion, who was slightly injured must have been leaning out of a window which the companion denied, although the other witnesses .stated they raw them loaning out. Otherwise the tablet apparatus would Hot have .struck the deceased. The Coroner returned a verdict that dot eased died from injuries through being accidentally struck by the iron' work of a tablet. LAKE POL.ERI.DGE TCNNEL. WEUJ/XG’IOX, February 7. Dining rlie last few days, Mr ,). lieban. head of the contractors for the duplication of the tunnel at Lake Coleridge. has been ill Wellington urrniigi"g lor a suitable plant for the lug work his pariv intends to undeiiake. It is the policy of the Public Works Department to supply plant on terms to its contracting parties v hen this i.s available. and Air Behan is fortunate in tailing a contract when extensive electric Works at Mangah.uo are nearing completion, the whole job being expected to end about next June. This will release a large amount of tunnel!• ag Limit and concrete-making machinery, -i an of which is immediately available. The Lake Colei idge cunt factors ale

consult iuo lho Popa ri ujent’s efoctrical ( n r- in WoiiinoUin n 'pa idi iip this Plant. -■•■ iih ;i ■ ’-:" i u obtaining -tbiicteci ; i’ov;uircrneiiis. TIIK OT IRA Tf XXKL. fill? IS’VOHI.MU.Ifj Robntriry 8 lien. -Mi' Cbaic/. -md to-day that ho aas not aide to ..la to definitely when liio chanye in the control of the Olira Tunnel would lake place. hut he would consider I lie i cpoit s In'fore lie returned 1 .) Wellitipton on February ‘2B. Tlit l matter oi' a special tunnel rate r.a.s, tie -aid. ver\ difficult, and he would not say more than that there would he considerable redactions in the .Hood-’ cl i a ryes when the Railway Department took over Hie tunnel -action. No decision lias been reached regarding a special rate.

curr to n.z. M'HL-T.TXGTOX, Fob. 0. A handsome picture in water colour? measuring eleven-feet by four, of the port, of Liverpool, showing in detail tlio enormous (looking provisions ut that port, was unloailed from the C'orinthic ye.- i erday and taken to Parliament Buildings. The picture is a gift to New Zealand from tin Mersey Docks and Harbour Board. When a representative of that body (Colonel Hawkins) was here last year lie intimated that the- harbour authorities at Liverpool were d"S:rous of ]>roseutinc to New Zealand a paintin'; which was in their possession, if (lie Governrnent would accept if. Mr Massey intimated at the time that the Government would be willing to accept and during the Prime Minister's recent visit to Knglaml. arrangements "ere made to have the picture transmitted.