DOMINION TELEGRAMS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 46, 22 February 1913, Page 5

DOMINION TELEGRAMS.

o MASTERTON RAM FAIR. (Per Press Association.) Masterton, February 21. The Masterton Ram Fair which was the most successful in the history of the Association concluded to-day with the sale of Romneys, Leicester's, and Shropshires. There was good competition for the former, the highest price obtained being 100 guineas for a Romney ram, bred by the Riddiford estate. A Hock of Romneys fetched up to 6J guineas. Leicestera and Shropahires were only in fair demand. SHORT OF FUNDS. Auckland, February 20. Newmarket Borough is face to face with a shortage of funds, owing to the tightness of the money market. Some months ago it borrowed £30,000 from the Government at 3f per cent. It has expended about £25,000, in pursuance of its policy,to improve the district under its control, paying particular attention to streets. Now- the council is in serious difficulties financially, through the Government’s inability to supply it with more money immediately, and nearly fifty men are threatened with enforced unemployment.

PURCHASE OF LAND FOR SETTLEMENT. Wellington, February 22. An area of 1280 acres has been divided inter 17 sections at Otanomonio, Otago, and will be opened for settlement on March 26th. The settlement has a total area of 3790 acres and the remaining six sections, comprising 500 acres will be opened next October. When possession is obtained by the Crown, the land will'he opened in renewal lease with right of purchase. OPERATION OF CIVIL SERVANTS’ GUARANTEE ACT. Auckland, February 22. Recently there were two large defalcations by officers in the Public Works service (not in Auckland) and then came the discovery that the total deficit was about £3OOO. This sum has by operation of the Civil Service Officers Guarantee Act,' to be refunded by a pro rata call on all civil servants receiving more than £IOO year, except those in State insurance and official assignees’ offices. The assistance, about one-fortieth, is given by a call of that amount oh the Consolidated Fund. The public servant who gets £2OO a .year will, next Friday, have to devote 8s to meet the deficiency,, and others contribute according to salary. This liability, however, frees the employees from the need of paying 10s or 15s yearly for a fidelity bond or guarantee fund. NO SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES Wellington, February 22. . At the adjourned inquest regarding the death of Jessie Hoult, who died in hospital on sth February, the Coroner found death was due to an injection of lysol. The Coroner remarked that the action of the hospital authorities in giving a certificate of deatn before the inquest was due to a misunderstanding ;• no suspicious circumstances were hinted at. STRIKE OF QUARRYMEN. Gisborne, February 22. The Borough Council employees at Patutahi quarry having intimated they would strike on Tuesday next if their demands were not considered, were paid' off last night, and the Council will meantime suspend quarrying stone, and use all its energies to get in gravel FIRE BRIGADES’ DEMONSTRA-; TION. Wanganui, February 22. The Fire Brigades’ demontration concluded to-day. In the Association Modern event, Timaru were Ist, Dunedin City 2nd, Spit 3rd, Taihape 4th, Dannevirke sth, Wanganui 6th. Time, lmin.l3 2-ssec. In the Consolation Event,. Masterton were Ist, with Lyttelton 2nd, Roslyn 3rd, and Hastings 4th. Time, 29 l-ssec New Zealand record. Points for the New Zealand Championship are:—Timaru 58, Dunedin City 54, and Hillside 28.