DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 January 1926, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

[I)Y TELEGS API! —PER PEEBB ASSOCIATION. I

CHESS CONGRESS. DUNEDIN, Jan. 6. The Chess Congress concluded today.

The final postion of the players is : CVakanthorp C, Barnes o), Dunlop 5, Moir 4, Stenhouse 3. Erskinp 1), Pihl If, Anderson IJ.

Mr S. Crakanthorp, the champion, is on the staff of tho Bank of New South Wales. He is 40 years of age. He has been champion of New South Wales on several occasions, since ho first won that title at the ago of 19. He won the New Zealand championship two years ago, but could nob come across to defend the title last year. Shortly before, the outbreak of the Great War he took a lengthy holiday and competed for the British Championship, securing exactly half his games. Air 1!. J. Barnes, the runner-up, has won the Dominion title five times, and now lie is runner-up for the ninth time. His eliess record is a brilliant one, and for many years he has been recognised as one of the strongest players in the Dominion. THE MAR AM A. A RECONDITIONED SHIP. DUNEDIN, Jan. 6. Tons of rivets and many tons of steel plates were used to convert the liner Marama into an up-to-date oil fuel burner. It lias been one of the biggest, if not tbe largest jobs of ship reconstruction ever carried out in Now Zealand. A large section of the ship was gutted amidships in order to substitute oil fuel fuel tanks for coal hunkers. Several new ’tinvart-ship and fore and aft bulkheads had to be fitted, besides the fitting'of hundreds of pipes for conveying tho fuel from the tanks to the furnaces. The double bottom tanking bad to be reconditioned for the carrying of oil also, for the Marama. carries 1400 tons of oil fuel. Half n ton of oil produces tho amount of steam that it took a ton of coal to generate. With the passing of coal fuel and its resulting ashes, the stokehold is now immensely improved. The sweating infernos below the water line give place to departments of comparative daintiness those days. The Marama, in addition to being converted to oil fuel, has had many other improvements carried out during her stay at Fort Chalmers. Those include additional passenger accommodation and reconstruction of the lavatory appointments, iln .addition to the enamelling of the passenger accommodation, the ship’s hull has been painted inside and outside. From truck to keelson tho Marama has boon renovated, and sfic was a picture of pleasure and leisure when she left Port Chalmers to-day for Wellington and Svdiicy.

GARLANDS DAY. AUCKLAND, Jan. 0

A time-honoured custom of the British Navy, the hoisting of a garland on the occasion of tho marriage of an officer. was observed with all its historic dignity on TT.M.S. Dunedin, to-day. The ceremony had one little difference, however, because two officers were married to two sisters, and two garlands were hoisted side hv side.

The bridegrooms were LieutenanlCominniider D. L. Tolleinache and Lieut. W. R. Marshall, and the brides Miss Violet Mary Adeline, daughters Miss Violet Adoaiie. and Miss Margaret Hamilton Aden lie. daughters of Mrs J. B. Adoaiie, of Asheolt, Taka pan. Hawke’s Bay. The wedding ceremony look place in St. Mark’s Church, Takapau. The garlands each had two hoops fixed crosswise, so that from whatever direction one might look at them the circle could he soon. They comprised evergreen hoops, and there fluttered from the ends of hoili garlands satin ribbons. The garlands were hoisted to the trialie stays between the masts at eight o’clock this morning. To-night they were illuminated, and were taken down at midnight. Most of the officers from, the warship were away attending Iho wedding. The satin ribbons will he sent to the brides, according to custom. Commander A. M. Peters stated that he did not know the origin of the custom. It probably dated back for hundreds of years. Passengers passing near the Dunedin on ferry boats were very curious about the garlands. They added a festive touch to the gray sombre lines of the warship.

NEW HOUSES FOR RAILWAYMEN. AUCKLAND, January 7. The Railway Department has had erected 44 new homes, tin’s being blit part of a larger scheme for the provision of residences for employees. Twenty-three houses have been erected behind the Newmarket Railway Workshops in a new road. tn design they arc the same, except that every other residence possesses a front verandah, done in trellis work, the others having a plain open verandah. Each house contains five rooms, a bathroom, kitchen, n porch and a back verandah. The rooms are comfortable. and, while not being large, provide ample room lor necessary furniture. Of flic twenty-three houses at Newmarket, all exce.pt four are occupied. The. general appearance of the houses is that of well constructed and solid homes. The remaining twentymo have been erected at Green Lane, near the railway station. These residences are similar to those at Newmarket. The tenants arc railway employees and are allocated the houses by the Department. They pay as rent one day’s salary, anti lOd per week for water rates. The rent is taken according to salary received, so that: there is no fixed scale.

Ti is the intention of the Department to continue with the erection of these lionsos in various parts of the cit\..

N.Z. WHEAT CONTROL. CHRISTCHURCH, January 8. The problem of the control of the wheat output is still engaging the attention of those interested and it is probable that the matter.will again.be discussed at a conference in Christchurch on January 20th between representatives of the growers, millers, brokers and wheat control officers. It is not intended that the conference will discuss basic prices, but rather the question of a monthly increment, which lias not yet been decided upon.