DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 February 1924, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS.

[BY TBLEORAPII—FKK PRESS ASSOCIATION:] AX IMPORTANT POINT. CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 12. At tlie Arbitration Court the Inspector of Factories asked for an interpretation of clause -la in the Dominion Carpenters’ ami Joiners’ Award, whether overtime is to lie assessed upon the award rate of wage* or upon the wages being paid to each individual worker. Tt was stated that the matter effected the whole Do minion. Argument is proceeding. CODER IDGE AND WAIRORL DUNEDIN. Fch. 11. A deputation from the Otago Power Board asked Mr Coates if the Public Works Department would construct a northern transmission line from Waipori In supply North Otago and South Canterbury. Tt was suggested that, if not prepared to go on immediately, arrangement-. might be made for a light line from Port Chalmers to supply local needs to Palmerston. The Minister stated that the Department would have to conned V. a.ipori with Coleridge. Instructions would be given io get the agreement fixed at once. PAPA BOA'S TMMTGR A NTS. AUCKLAND. Feb. 11. The Pa pawn brought 2nA immigrants as follows: Auckland, Ilf) men. women and children : Wellington. -IS; Port Chalmer-. 2!) men. mostly artisans. All save a few farm labourers are going to nominated posit vans. Some arc weavers, a few l.i ioklayors. and a small number of carpenters and •.liners. The south-bound patty left to-night. LONG-DISTANT K WIRELESS. AUCKLAND. February 11. An Auckland wireless amateur. L. Spnekman. claims a long distance ir(iird in amateur wireless listening-in. At eight this morning lie intercepted the following message-: ‘'(LX. QRU. O. AAI which interpreted means ‘■Good-night. 1 have nothing more for you Great Britain Amateur Station. o.AU.” Mr Sparkman feels positive of idle identity of the station. The call letters are those of W. H. Goodman. 1)1. Addison l’oad. Holland Park, W.. LI. Air Sparkman is writing for eonlirmal ion. A single valve in conjunction with a Cockaday circuit wa.-. used.

I-ATA I. 11 KM LOCK SlfKl). WELLINGTON. Lebrun! \ 11. The death of a little girl. tt’. years id age, a.s the result of drinking tea at an infantile party in a vacant .section, was the subject of an iii< 111 e.-1 ami a grave warning to parents. The children used hemlock seed as sugar. The hemlock plant, which is a very dangerous need, lia.s .some resemblance to paisley. A marked <lm lacterist ie is purple blotches on the -talks. FIRST DIRECT STEAMER. DFX III»! V. Fchrmny 11. To-morrow is the fiftieth aimivclisiiiy of the uriival at Port Chalmer.s of the first direct steamship from Great Britain. She «ns the s>. .Mongol and the tiiip from l’lymoiuli took ID days. ‘"Light head winds prevailed dining the passage,” says the “Otago Daily Times"' rf pebruary Id. IS7I. ‘‘and for twenlyeiiie days the ship' was propelled Ip' steam indy.'’ Tile only land '-"L'liieti during the voyage was the Canary Islands. On arrival the steamer was cjuiiraut ined owing to an outbreak of measles and seailel fever, twelve young passengers having died during tin- voyage. Air IJenry Gore was a pas-enger >y the .Mongol and has since resided in Dunedin.

MAD'.* TO ENGLAND. WELLINGTON. l-'cbriinry I!. “New /C-alaml i' always open tu nmsidor piojusaL from Canada for tr.iiff rei iprovily,'' i >*yilir-<l l!ie Prime Minis-u-r when )10 was: linked if the Dominion is hiking tn-iive steps in the fume way ns Australia to commercially develop relations. lie explained in reply to further (|iiestions lltttt tvlteit lie recently Passed through Canada he 'v,-s mote particularly concerned over itnproveliirnt of coniiminieittinns, so as to I’acilil;ite the transit of mails between Xetv Zealand and England. He found that the Canard Company intends during t.hf coming northern summer, to place laster vessels in its Canadian trade, so that oar mails would receive greater dispatch on the Atlantic. “A faster service on the Pacific is," added Mr Massey, “already in view, and in due course we should he able to pain at least two days on this part of the rtmte." ICUMVAV RETIREMENTS. TilK IXSTNTTK'S VIEW. DENKRIX, h’ehruitry H. A local member of the Kailway fdfi-t.r-rs’ Institute .stated this morning that ’.la- Minister's announcement about retaining Mr Mitchell's services would nit received with dissatisfaction in the service. It was regrettable that the Minister should depart from the genera] policy hy retaining a traffic manager, when there were so many young officers capable of filling the position with credit.. Xow that* they had the Miuistn prepared to enforce the principle of retirement after forty years" service. the institute considered he should plough a straight furrow unless an officer was without dotthl essential. PROGRESS LEA fir K RKSOI.PTIOX. CHKISTCHPKCH, Feb. 12. Gratification was expressed at yesterday's meeting of the Railway Committee of the Canterbury Progress League at the, non-aeeeptanee by the Minister of Railways of the resignation oi Aft- ,f. B. Mitchell, District Railway Traffic Manager at Christchurch. Mill. Holland, in introducing the subject, said it was very pleasing to note that the Minister had evidently decided that Mr Mitchell was not to lie retired. Every member of the eommunity Would he gratified at the news. A resolution was passed expressing the pleasure of the committee at the decision ot the Minister that Mr Mitchell should not be retired. In acknowledging the resolution Mr Mitchell said lie was somewhat in the air. and ho was not at liberty to say at the present time that he was staying on. Certain policy matters appeared to he under consideration, and lie had not- sufficient information to enable him to say d< finitely what the position was. SHORT DAYS IX SCHOOL. WELLINGTON. Feb. 11. The proposal of the Auckland Education Board regarding shorter school hour 'in February has received the approval of the Minister, the Hon. C. J. Parr. No objection, he states, will be taken to the school assembling earlier in the morning, working for two hours, having a break of half an hour and then reassembling for a further two hours. It is emphasised that such a procedure is entirely at the discretion of the headmaster and chairman of the sc-liol committee, which method the board lias approved.

THE DUNEDIN EXHIBITION

£28,000 WANTED. DUNEDIN, .February 10. A strong effort is now being made to raise the balance of capital required by the New Zealand ami South Seas Exhibition Company. Tiffs is £28,000. THE BAND CONTEST. PALMERSTON N.. Feb. 12. The North Island Association’s band contest commenced to-day, the visitors bein gweloemed by the Mayor. Eight bands are taking part—Auckland Artillery, Sixth ll.turaki Regimental. W bangrei Muiia ipal Sliver. Palmerston Xot'th Municipal, l’etonc Central. Queen Alexandra's Own (Wanganui). Martrm and Fielding. Tim results "I this erenitig's competitions are: i;. ’| mmbone < solo) "" I lie I.*i ver C. lii-u l]i! i rev (Queen .A lexaiidra' s Own. Wanganui) ,d ’mint'. I ; A. i inii'iley (First Taranaki Regimental t. 7-1 points, •_>: C. Aldridge (Auckland Artillery). 78 points. 8. -Abo <ompejed- Blaekert (ilastings Citizens) 00: 15. Wanslgirough (Queen .Alexandra's, Wanganui) Or!; S. White ( bedding') Oil. Tii iid'ione IH c"A Sum-i :'x Day. _ l.i. Battalion Taranaki Regimental. Xev, I'lvmoitth. 7U points, !, Auckland Artillery. 77 points, 2: Qu-mu Alexandra's Own. tWanganui 1 . 7t points. 8. Also i ompeted.- ,S null O.interbury Ilattaluiii. Tiniaru (it), and Fciiding Brass Band 08. In the hand contest. K. 11. Horn (solo saxonin) and L. .lacobs, Wanganui, received 71) points; A. Ramsay, Wanganui, 78: and .1. Beattie, Palmerston, 77. METHYLATED SPIRITS. UNSYMPATHETIC MAGISTRATE. WELLINGTON, Fell. 11. . \ somewhat, unsympathetic hearing was accorded t-o two men, .lolin Fairley and William Robertson, who were charged before Mr W. S. Riddell. S.AL oil Saturday morning with being idle and disorderly persons in that they lin cl no visible means of support. Acting-Siib-luspc'ctor Lander: These men. Yuur AA’orsliip, have been drinking methylated spirits, and wandering abiuit Kiwnrra. Robertson: I was discharged from llie Terrace Gaol on Jaiitinry 17t!i. and at Hit time there was a eln.><|iie for £l7 wailing there for me. bin the police did not 101 lme about it. 1 met Fairley and burrowed £8 off him. and I admit that we were drinking a lot. Thai £l7 cheque is still waiting for me. so I fail ro see how I can be accused of having no means ol support. 1 would ask you to give lis a i bailee. s U that we can gel out of the town and back to our work. His Worship: Accord ing' c- your record you do not, seem to have ehas’ed work in the past. Accused: Give us a chance, and we will go! out of the town. Ilis Worship: Well, if will be alter an interval. Sentenced to two months" imprisonment.