DOMINION NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 June 1919, Page 5

DOMINION NEWS.

WAR GRATUITIES. By*Telfegraph.—Press Association, Wellington, Last Night. Referring to the matter of war gratuities, Sir James Allen stated that no final decision had yet been arrived at. He had met the officers of the Returned Soldiers' Association on the matter, and he hoped, as soon as a full meeting of the Cabinet could be obtained, to have something definite done. He was anxious to have the question Bettled. LIQUOR TO RETURNED SOLDIERS. Wellington, Last Night. In reply to a question by a reporter, the Minister of Defence said to-day that he had received a report as to the experiment made recently in allowing hotels to remain open when troopships arrived. The report was not very definite. In some places the result was said to be good and in others bad. He had decided to leave things as they were for the present. He added that one point which requires to be made clear is with respect to the regulations forbidding the supply of liquor to soldiers travelling on troop trains. The regulations apply also to soldiers who alight from a train at a railway station. If they get off the train and go across the road to a hotel they .cannot be served with liquor, as they are still soldiers travelling on a troop train. OFFICERS FAREWELLED. Wellington, June 11. Colonel Gibbon, who has been Chief of General Staff for the whole war period, and is now returning to England, was the guest of honor at a private dinner given by the Minister of Defence laßt night. Opportunity was also taken to say farewell to Colonel Hiley, late General Manager of Railways, who acted as Director of Works for the Defence Department.

Tho work of the officers was eulogised by Sir Jamea Allen,, the Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald, and General Robin. Sir James Allen said that Colonel Gibbon had been the mainstay of the Department in spurring them on to maintain reinforcements so that the Division might be kept up to full strength. General Robin said the coat of camp construction in New Zealand compared more than favorably with other countries, and this was laigely due to Colonel Hiloy's work. Both officers expressed appreciation of the work of the Minister of Defence and the loyal support of their staffs. SALE OF HANNAH'S ESTATES. Palmerston N, Last Night. At the auction sale of Hannah's Estates, conducted by Abraham and Williams, to-day, 1100 farmers were present. There was spirited bidding, and every section was sold, high prices being realised, totalling £159,032 The Raukawa, Estate, 601 acres, averaged £SB 16s, the highest price being £Bl. The Tararua Estate, 76>> acres, averaged £ll 15s, the highest price bc'ng £l3 6s. Cliffside Estate, 1014 acres, averaged £49 18s, the highest price being £6O. Siberia Estate, 227S acres, averaged £24 6s 6d, the highest price being £7O. The pin-chasers came mainly from other districts.

LOCOMOTIVE' MEN AND DEPARTMENT. Wellington, Last Night. The conference between the locomotive men's representatives and the Minister met again to-day. It is hoped that the business will be concluded on Thursday. AUCKLAND TRAMWAYS. Auckland, Last Night. The proposal that the City Council should purchase the tramways was carried at a poll of ratepayers to-day by 2265 votes to 593. Little interest was shown in the matter, only about 20 per cent, of the ratepayers exercising their vote. The proposal to establish a crematorium wag also carried by 1718 votes to 1071.

P. AND T. SERVICE. Christchnrch, Last Night. At a largely attended meeting of the North Canterbury section of the Post and Telegraph • Officers' Association tonight the following resolution was carried unanimously: That, in tho opinion of this section, the new classification of the service is far from satisfactory, and there are anomalies disclosed under which experienced and tried officers are receiving £1 to £25 increments, while other officers are receiving £BO to £100; but the main ground of the objection lies in the fact that the Department has disregarded the increase in the cost of living. It wap also decided: That this meeting requests that the war bonus for the year ending September 30, 1910, be paid at once.

SOLDIERS' CLUBS AND HOSTELS. Auckland, June 11. The Hon. G. W. Russell, after a conference with the Mayor, said he hoped a scheme would be evolved by which the funds of the Women's Patriotic League might be legally used for erecting a soldiers' club and hostel. Tho money might be transferred to (he Auckland Patriotic Association which, being an incorporated society, possessed all the powers of trustees with regard to the investment of moneys, and could advance a sum to the soldiers' club, the committee accepting the building as security. If necessary any legal difficulty could be removed by a validating clause in a local Bill. He was greatly impressed with the excellent work done by the present soldiers' club and annex in Auckland. A SHIPWRECKED CREW. Auckland, June 11. Captain R, Anderson and part of the crew of the schooner Awanui, which was wrecked on Niue Island in January 11, returned here by the Talunc. When the cable snapped the crew, already in the lifeboat rdwed ashore. TJie boat was thrown on her beam ends on the rocks, but all scrambled ashore.

NEW RAILWAY SURVEY. Walroa, June 11. The Public Works Department hai made the necessary! arrangements to commence an immediate survey of the proposed railway line from Wairoa 10 Waikokopu. A survey party arrived yesterday and, given favorable weather conditions, the survey should be completed under three months. FOOD SHORTAGE AT TONGA. Auckland, June 11, When the Talune arrived at Tonga on the outwaTd voyage there was a serious shortage of food, flour, sugar, and tea. Also the tobacco was completely sold out and business was practically at a standstill. The natives had been subsisting for a considerable time on yams and taro. The Talune'a arrival relieved a vary atiiaua situation.