NEWS BY MAIL

Hokitika Guardian, 7 October 1929, Page 1

NEWS BY MAIL

POISONED IN ROAD. I MONTREAL, August 21. The peculiar circumstances of the death of Mr Robert Bruce Reid, a book agent, who came to Montreal from Hampstead, London, 30 years ago, has so puzzled a coroner’s jury that they are unable to decide whether a crime has been committed or not. Mr Reid’s battered body was found early one morning in a street in a ' western suburb of Montreal. His head was lying in a pool of blood giving the impression that he had been 1 struck by a motor-car. Medical examination, however, disclosed the presence in the stomach of ‘ a quantity of poisonous cedar oil. An expert’s theory is that Mr Reid toolo the poison and wandered about the streets until he was struck by a car. The motorist probably picked him up with the intention of taking him to the hospital, but when his victim died, rid himself of the unwelcome burden by throwing the body into the street, where it was again run over. , The jury have directed the police to continue their investigation. 45,000 HOP-PICKERS. MAIDSTONE (Kent) Aug. 21. Preparations are being made here for the hop-picking season, which will begin on August 29 if the weather permits. Reports from the. plantations are very favourable, as recent rains have done much good. There is an absence of disease, and generally the hops are healthy and of excellent quality. In Kent there are 14,790 acres under hops, just ten acres less than last year. The National Farmers’ Union in cooperation with the Southern Railway has arranged for the transport from London in special trains of 30,000 pickers. It is estimated that 15,000 more will travel by road. All the pickers receive cards from the growers stating when picking begins The times and numbers of the trains by which they are to travel at special rates are filled in by the railway company. The county health authorities have been making strenuous efforts to better the camping conditions of the pickers, many of whom are children. Drink ing-water pipes have been laid to most camps. A movement is oil foot to standarise the camps oh military lines, and the exxcellent medical, and sanitary arrange ments of the Birkenhead Jamboree are pointed out as examples to follow. It is hoped to get the co-operation of all the growers in promoting healthier conditions. WHEAT CONGESTION. CONDITIONS IN CANADA. WINNIPEG, October 1. Restriction in railway car supply for prairie grain consigned eastward went into effect' in the railways to-day. Over seventy-two million bushels stoied in Lakehead elevators are dangerously near working capacity. Fiftyeight lake freighters from Montreal to j»ort Colborne were unable to unload. The congestion shows no sign of alleviation. Mr G. B. Ramsay, general manager of the wheat pool, stated the wheat sales to Europe could he effected at the present time but only at a cost of serious reductions in farm income. The restriction of Canadian business on the world situation justifies higher prices. Traders state that the purchase of wheat by the British Government will be dismissed by Mr J. H. Thomas an(l the wheat pool officials in London. It is believed here the hulk purchase plan is looked upon as a last means of > .solving the congestion situation. The > suggestion follows out the right expresi sions of disapproval of the plan of storage of grain in British elevators.