DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 August 1925, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

Bl' TELEGRAPH —PRESS AfISN., COPYRIGHT. CHEW’S PRIVATIONS. CUTTER .MISSING FOR SEVEN WEEKS. AUCKLAND, July 30. Details of ti.e privations suffered by tlie new) of the longaii cutter Maimkai Nui. which turned’up at Laima. New Hebrides, after all hope had been abandoned, are contained ill a lettei received in Auckland, from a resident of Tnnua.

The Manukai Nui, a ten-ton vessel, sailed from Vavau on March C> for ILutpai. a journey of only eight miles. There were ten native passengers in addition to the crew of three. No tidings were received, and it was eonc hided that the vos.-cl had been driven out of the Tongan group to lomnler in some little-known spot. On April 23. seven weeks after the cutter left Vavau. it sailed into the island ol I* utumi, m the New Hebrides, ltltlll miles from home, with a complement of emaciated and exhausted men. one of whom grasped the tiller in his wasted hand. The passengers and crew spent some time in recuperating at Fatima, and did not embark on the short trip of forty-six miles to Juana tor nearly a month. On May 21 the cutter anchored at Port Resolution. Tanua. The native captain said ills' vessel was blown out to sea by a hurricane immediately after leaving port. There

was no compass, as ii was customary to steer bv landmarks. Three successive hurricanes drove the cutter further away from familiar seas. The

small supply of provisions was mulsmented by three fish and a lew sea birds which were caught. Rain water Was caught in a dinghy. Although several of tin- natives were resigned to death long before tho seventh week, the captain stood by the tiller. On April 21. the helmsman became somieOHseious, On tlie following day he recovered and steered towards the sun. All on board were on the point of death when land was reached. Ihe Futuna natives treated the strangers kindly although their languages differed greatly. Rather than attempt the return journey, the captain has been trying to sell the cutter in the New Hebrides. TRAM FINANCE. WELLINGTON. Aug. I. The Mayor states that so far the reduction of long distance tram fares to 3d has resulted in a -light increaseill revenue, instead of the anticipated loss. RAILWAY CROSSINGS. WELLINGTON. Aug. 1. The Railway Department informed the Farmers’ Coiil.-renee that automatic “wig wags” would la- installed at all dangerous crossings. WIRELESS FOR I.IG I PITH USE. WELLINGTON, Aug. I. I’li.Vsegar Point lighthouse is now connected by wireless, obviating a long telephone' line through the bush which was const.-i-ntly breaking down. Stephens island lighthouse in Cook Strait: will he the next to receive- a wireless installation. FARM WORKERS. DIN LIMN. July 31. The Arbitration Court to-day refused lo malic an award, applied lew by tin- Union .to ceiver tbo e-ondit of employment of the farm labourers in Otago. The Judge' described the application as a farce. Previously the Court had declined to make any award, as ihe conditions el weirk varo-d in eidli-r----ciit districts, anil i: seemed almost impossible to roe.date tie.- work in :ii these districts. Nothing bad oee-urred to cause the Court to alter its mind on the matter.

DRY MONTH IN SOUTHLAND. INV ERCARGII.I.. July 31. .lull' in Southland ha.- probably been drier than in anv other part ol New Zealand, the total tain fall for the month being 1.3-2 im-hes. rnmpared with 2.93 incite- in the corresponding mouth of last year, and 2.23 in 1923. All the rainfall was experienced in a period of one week. CUSTOMS REVENUE. CHRISTCHURCH. July 31. ’The Custom- revenue lor July was L'|9 : x.9(lL compared with UN'S 393 in July of 192 f. The hear duty waC 3901, or CI SI 1 les- tli.au for the corresponding month last year. DUNEDIN. July 31. The Custom.- duty received at the Dunedin office for tin* iTfonlh ended today amounted to C9J.091 13s 3d, the amount for July ot last tear being £73.393 IS- fid. Beer duly for July. 1923, totalled CM. 127 is- 7d. The figures for the corresponding month ol last year were Cle,S97 1- 3d.

BANKRUPT’S OFFENCES. AUCKLAND. July 31

In tlie Supreme Court Herbert Adolphus Ladbronk was .sentenced to sixmonth’ imprisonment for obtaining a motor truck, valued at C-100. by means of false pretences, and to one month, concurrently, on each ol two charges of obtaining credit lor C-1110 and C-H without disclosing that he was undischarged from, bankruptcy.

SUDDEN DEATH. DUNEDIN. July 31. A man named Mr John l-ahey, a resident of Allaiiton. dropped dead in the eitv to-day.

DUNEDIN LABOUR DECISION DUNEDIN. July 31

A t the monthly meeting o! the Labour Representation Committee, the following resolution was passed unaniusl.v :—“Whereas ships of war and all forms of militarism arc instruments used by capitalists in destruction of human life in warfare between nations and on beliaif of the profiteer class against the working class in time ol industrial conflict, the Otago L.R.C . resolves that, without distinguishing between the naval power of 11 to 1 nited States of America, and that o!_ any other nation, and for the reasons advanced in this motion, the L.R.C. shall refrain from participating in I lie colelirations i\rr;iiio,t‘tl iti connection with the pending visit of the warships of the United States, and urges the affiliated unions of workers ol Dunedin to refrain in a similar manner.''