MISCELLANEOUS.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 February 1928, Page 4

MISCELLANEOUS.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) FOODS RISING. SYDNEY, FeU. 18. Water continues to rise in all the Hood areas. The meteorologist predicts still further rain. The position is very serious. Constable Alpine while crossing Grady’s Creek in Kyoole district on a log slipped off and was drowned. The police have been instructed by the weather bureau to warn all residents along Clarence River of the possibility of more serious flooding. Mfist farmers removed their stock to the higher ground. DIGFITHOrSK STEAMERS. BRISBANE. Feb. 18. To circumvent that methods adopted by crews of vessels, which have completely dislocated the \voik of lighthouse services, it is reported that the Commonwealth Government intends to create a branch of the Aus--1 tralian Navy to take over its four j lighthouse steamers. The vessels will | be manned by ex-naval ratings, "ill j fly the White Ensign and strict naval | discipline will be enforced. I MORE IMMIGRANTS, j AY EDDINGTON, Feb. 17. ■ The nominated immigrants who arj rived at AVellington by the Mataroa j from London to-day totalled 121. there ! being 25' men. 70 women and 20 cliil--1 dren. The number included a party of I 21 domestic servants. The destinations of the newcomers are as follows:—Auckland 51, Gisborne 1. Napier 0, New Plymouth 2. AVangantii 5. AVellington 27. Picton 1. Nelson 1, Lyttelton 22, Oamaru. 3. Dunedin 8. Bluff 4. LONDON. Feb. 10. 'file Remuera sailed for New Zealand. carrying 122 assisted migrants. FRFEEZING WORKS DISPUTE AUCKLAND. Feb. 17. AYork was resumed at the AA r estfield Freezing Works to-day. under the usual conditions. The Labour Department, however, sprang a. surprise upon •the employers and employees alike when each of the men alleged to be concerned in the go-slow movement eventuating after the dispute over classification of a sheep last Friday, was served with two summonses, one charging him with a breach of the award in impeding the work of the employer by preventing work being carried out in the customary manner, and the other alleging a breach of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act by taking part in a strike. QUESTION OF “GO SLOW.” WELLINGTON, Feb. 18. As- it has apparently been stated in Auckland in connection with Westfield freezing dispute that the qttostion whether “go slow” is a strike has never been decided, the Labour Department points out that Justice Sim decided twenty-one years ago that “go slow’’ does not constitute a strike. 1> AND T. PROMOTION BOARD WELLINGTON. Feb. 17. The postal ballot held on 15th. February for the election of a member of the Post and Telegraph Promotion Board, in place of Air D. L. Hills, of AVellington. who did net seek re-elec-tion. resulted: 11. M. Patrick (Wellington) 2811 E. A. Thompson (Wellington) 2002 Informal 28 Mr Patrick is Acting Supervisor of the Public Servico Garage, and Mr Thompson is a clerk in the Telegraph - Offiee. The Promotion Board consists of the Secretary of the P. and T. Department (Air G. McNamara), the ( •• Telegraph Engineer (Air A. Gibbs), First Assistant Secretary (Mr -I. Robertson). Second Assistant Secretary (Air M. B. Kssnu) and an clcciive member (Air Patrick). SAAIOAN DEPORTATIONS. XEDSON’ S ALI.KG AT lONS. AUCKLAND, Fell. 17. Air O. F. Nelson, having been supplied with a copy of the evidence taken by the Royal Commission in Samoa, supplies for publication a statement in course of which lie says:— “] had eleven days on the witness stand, and came through this Star Chamber ordeal so well that the Government does not dare publish my evidence.” All- Nelson deals at length with miters preceding the appointment of t 1 Commission, stresses the refusal of Sir C. Skerrett to agree to an adjournment awaiting his (Nelson’s) arrival, and concludes: “He (the Chief Justice) muzzled the man by refusing counsel reasonable facilities to communicate with witnesses. Then when witnesses were called, he restricted their evidence to mere answers to questions of counsel, who had no chance beforehand of finding what evidence the witnesses could give, and knowing what questions to put. Contrast this with his treatment of the Administrator. The Administrator sat on the dins with the Commissioner, to face the ordeal of cross-examination by counsel, whom lie could deport if lie wanted to. The Administrator was not restricted to questions and answer.” <

17.5. POLITICS. WASHINGTON, Fell. 17. Recriminations marked the session of the House of Representatives of the Naval Affairs Committee when sitting ; as a “popular lobby.” It continued to hear arguments for and against the proposed naval programme. Mrs W. S. Walker, Vice-President of the General Daughters of American Revolution demanded the removal of Doctor W. T. Hull from the history of professorship of Swartzsmoro College on account of his refusal to meet committees whether he thought American colonies were justified in revolting from England. Hull at a previous sitting refused to answer before the committee but said that many believe conditions would have heeii better without a revolution. CHARGES AGAINST GROCER. HAMILTON. Feb. 17. The arrest was made to-day of Charles Henry liustin, 33, single, a well known grocer, who is charged with attempted indecent assault oi a four-teen-year-okl hoy. A remand was granted till February 22nd. The Magistrate refused hail, saying that he declined taking that course where evidence had not been heard in cases of that nature. Detective Cullottv stated that five other charges would' probably be preferred. TREATMENT OF GOITRE. CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 17. At a meeting of the Canterbury Education Board to-day, a letter was read from the Director of Schools (Health Department) regarding school treatment for goitre, to the effect that a statement would appear in the next issue of the Education Gazette, notifying the discontinuance of preventative and curative treatment for goitre, carried out in schools during the last four j j years. ! ' The letter stated that a report on the j result of this treatment, which litis been 1

generally beneficial, was being drawn up. The use of iodised salt was recommended, and individual sufferers from goitre were advised to seek medical opinion before beginning any form of treatment. The committee of the Board described the decision as a retrograde step, in its report, and the Board today added “very” before “retrograde,” and adopted the report. BAND CONTEST. CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 18. New Zealand Band Championship Tournament under the auspices of tho South Island Bands Association, began to-day in fine weather, when pipe and brass band military quickstep competition was held at tbe trotting grounds. To-night the Test section will commence at King Edward Barracks and Sir H. Rhodes will deliver the opening address. VITAL STATISTICS. WELLINGTON. Feb. 10. During January the total live births registered for urban areas amounted to 1123, as against 970 in December, an increase of 149. Deaths in January were 504, a decrease of 00 as compared with the previous month. Of the total deaths, males contributed 270 and females 234. Sixty-three of the deaths were of children under five years of age. being 12.50 per cent of the whole number. Thirty-nine of these were under one year of age.