DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 February 1924, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] FRiSCO-YAXCOUVKR MAIL CONTRACT. .CHANCE FOR OUTSIDE COMPANIES. WELLINGTON, Feb. 19. The present contract for the FriscoYiuicouver mail services expires about the enrl of the month, and in arranging for fresh contracts the opportunity will be given shipping companies outside New Zealand to tender. Under the terms of the new contract it is expected mails will reach London in 27 days, which is faster than has been the case for the last 30 years. THE STATE MINERS, I: XDER-S EC R KTA R Y RETURNS WELLINGTON. Feh. 19. Mr Kimhell. llie l~nder-Sceretary for Mines, has returned from 'Westland where he met representatives of the State Miners' Union at Runaiiga, and discussed with them the matter of bringing them into line with the new agreement in lorce at the other West Coast mines. The men asked for a reduction of the working hours and a fortnight's holiday annually on full pay, soil'd rales for cut ling pillars, and 7'. per cent, extra for men oil day wages at the Rewanni and Tamos mines. The agreed to the increase for wages men. and lie undertook to refer the other points to the Minister for favourable consideration. On Friday hist Mr Kimhell met officials <>| the State Miners’ Union for the purpose of discussing the working of the dames and Rowiinui mines on the co-operative principle. The miners asked for further information which will he supplied before they come to a decision. II necessary. Mr KimheU. will return to the West Coast for a renewal of the discussion. PRISONER HANGS HIMSELF. CHRISTCHURCH, Feh. 19. Sentenced io seven years’ imprisonment yo-terday and declared a habitual criminal for a safe explosion and burglary. Daniel Murray hanged himself in I’apiiruii prison, being discovered carle this morning. Murray used a strip of sheeting. FOUND DEAD. TIM ABU, Feh. 19. Tin- lifeless body of Douglas Edy-vi-an, aged 22. was found in his sister's house with a bullet wound in the right temple, lie was apparently dead some hours. The circumstances point to suicide. CLERK CHARGED AVI I’M THEFT. AUCKLAND, Feh. 19 Austin Cormick, aged 28, surrenderid himself to the police, stating that lie had defrauded the Northern Steamship Coy. bv which he was employed as a clerk, <>l £ 1011. It was stated in Court this morning tli.it the accu."d was helping the police lo '•!■ nr up i lie matter. Du the charge of of f2(l he was remanded. ( IBITTARY. BLENHEIM. February 19. Obituary Henry Joseph Stace Sour., ; ,.,od 88. from a ciiill, followed by pneumonia. He landed at Nelson in .Tiinuarv 1865, visited Oeeeiishind in 1806, returning to >, .shortly alter, tor many year.- lie managed the Stnrboreiigh Est.".id later carried on a l,ovs .school of I-'o’oiu Hood Bay. In ]!!)S he retired to IVton v. lie re he had lived ever since. HOSPITAL .••h'-.UFI AB V 81-ENH'i- L" I, i " " id .V : r.f Bal;;i: !'.ls.-.x;l:and.:e LWI'artment, "a: Sfc-iewry id W'airau Hospital Board. territorial camp. cnrHSTcnmcii. Feh. io. l!e|,i.ving to eomidiiints nrtbe quality of food at Burnham territorial camp. Colonel (Tm vtor says the ration is a lil.irai one and everything is now going smoothly, though lie believes local purchase Boards will he set up with power

to purchase camp supplies. He also hi 1 ievi's the hoys should he paid for Having to miss their work to attend earn]). IV ATT. I! SIDFII * SF. ARCHED. AUCKLAND. February 19. A search for pillaged cargo in the lookers in the waterside workers waiting room hv the police and customs nfli- <■: i . was completed yesterday, when a luriiier {ptantity of miscellaneous new geuus were seized. Seven hundred locker, were thoroughly searched. The goods ,:1 i-ame from thirteen of them. The waterside workers did not. on the whole resent tile raid. Many expresesd plea, sun at the action taken. SCULLING RACE. AFCKLAND. February 19. The race between Hannan and MeIkvitt. is to be lowed on March Ist., . , ;i | Hi he over the same course as the I’-rsl race, hut the course will be buoyed to avoid the possibility of an error. BAND CONTEST. CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 19. Euphonium Solo. —“I Capuktti. J, Simpson (IVoolston) 82, 1 ; C. Eluant (Hastings) 81, 2.