DOMINION NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 August 1927, Page 4

DOMINION NEWS.

(Hv Telegraph—Per Press Association.)

SEVERAL TREMORS AT WELLINGTON. WELLINGTON. Aug. 8.

Live earthquake shocks were experienced in Wellington during the weekend. The first occurred at 3.47 on Sunday morning and was a fairly sharp shock, lasting about four seconds. It was of intensity IV. on the 4iassi-Forel scale, and Tts origin was apparently near Wellington. The next shock came at ”.12 this morning and lasted about live seconds. It was also of the fourth intensity. At 4.10 another similar shock was felt, loutiuuing for a few seconds, and then at <1.213 and 4.30 two more extremely feeble shocks occurred. The stronger shocks this morning have been well recorded on the Observatory instruments, but the weaker ones were not noticed.

The Government Seismologist (Dr C. E. Adams) reported this morning that a shock originating a considerable distance away haci been recorded about !) a.in. on August 6tli, but its origin had not yet been identified, although it is possible that it may have been the Tokio earthquake.

A LUSTRA 1 JAN POTATOES. WELLINGTON, Aug. 8.

The Government hold-up of Australian potatoes at Auckland has censed, the Department of Agriculture issuing the necessary authority for the potatoes to be landed.

The Director of Agriculture (l)r C. ,1. Renkes) stated to-day that, in view of the special circumstances of the caso and after thorough investigation, t-lie Department had decided to take this course. The potatoes, however, must be marketed for immediate eonsumption and none used for seed purposes. The Department was commencing a campaign to free New Zealand potatoes from disease, and, while shipment of the Australian potatoes had been made before the new regulations had been issued, there had been ample warning of the Government’s intentions given the < nmmercial community in a speech which the Minister ol Agriculture had made some time ago.

SHOP ASSISTANTS’ HOURS. WELLINGTON, Aug. 9.

The Conciliation Council to-day discussed two points not included in the agreement reached last May. between the New Zealand Federated Shop Assistants’ Union and the employers. Ono of the clauses omitted from the agreement provided for an extension of the hour of ceasing work from nine ji.m. to ton on Christmas and New Year’s Eve without payment, at overtime rates. The employers also proposed to [int into operation Section 5 of the Shops and Oflices Act, which enables an assistant to he required to remain up to 15 minutes after the ordinary hour for ceasing work, for the purpose of completing work emnmciiccd prior to the hour for ceasing. ft was agreed to let the present agreement stand, but the employees’ assessors stated that they could not agree to two additional ilausc>. nor to the proposal that the following clati-o be deleted: ‘‘Seniors shall not be required to commence work before 8.30 a.in., and where the present practice is for seniors to toinmence at a later hour such practice shall he continued.” These three clauses were reierred t > the- Court.

WELLINGTON MEMORIAL. WELLINGTON, Aug. '•>.

The Wellington War Memorial Committee lias heen advised by the Premier that tile Government has no objection to the memorial to the men of the Wellington district who fell in tlio war, being erected on the triangular plot' in front of the Parliament grounds, provided the design of the memorial conformt so the geneiai' surroundings. This letter is confirmatory of the offer of a site by the late Mr Massey several years ago. ”We have no intention of going hack on Mr Massey’s offer,” said Mr Coates when questioned on the subject. RAN,WAV DEVIATION, i WELLINGTON, Aug. 0. Matters have commenced to move in connection with the Wellington Tawa Flat railway deviation. Tenders arc now being called by the Public Works Department for the contraction of the deviation, hut these will not dose until February 21st. 1928. Tlie deviation will lie approximately seven miles long and will include tbc construction of a tunnel about, fwo miles 53 chains long, and the completion of another tunnel approximately ten chains long, the bottom heading of which will lie driven under a separate contract. The tenders which closed to-day relate to the driving of the bottom heading of wliat is known as the first tunnel.

YOUTH’S DEPRAVITY. WELLINGTON, Aug. 9

A copy of the telegram from Auckland, in regard to the sentencing of Francis Allen Coburn, was submitted to the Minister of Education, who produced a report showing that the accused was first admitted to We-rn-roa at the ago of fourteen and -n-haif. at the request of his .parents, who complained ol the boy's filthy habits. He was in residence intermittently for two years, then in 1921 was committed to a mental hospital on account of thieving and generally depraved habits at Wcraroa. Tbo boy was not- fit to associate with other inmates. He bad to be witched night and day. and kept entirely apart. The statements of his counsel were not only contrary to fact, so far as Coburn was concerned, but showed an entire lack of knowledge of the system of classification and training is carried out at the farm. The Department assures the public that there is no cause for alarm as the welfare of the boys is amply safeguarded by a suitable competent, staff.