TELEGRAMS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 128, 1 June 1914, Page 3

TELEGRAMS

(PRESS ASSOCIATION.) DEMURRAGE ON TRUCKS I DUNEDIN, 31st May. A deputation representing the - contractors and builders of Dunedin waited on the Prime Minister yesterday, and asked that they be placed on the same footing as coal merchants in respect of demurrage. At present, it appears, coal merchants are allowed two days in which to clear coal from trucks, while building contractors handling sand and gravel have to clear their goods in one day, or pay a charge of 10s a day, or, in the further alternative, pay the cost of discharge if the railway authorities undertake it. A further and more serious grievance was that,, at present coal merchants pay a fixed rate on the actual coal brought for them, while contractors, who may bring in four tons of sand and gravel on a six-ton truck, have to pay rates on six tons, the condition obtaining only in Dunedin. The Prime Minister expressed his sympathy | and his belief that Dunedin contractors would be put on the same footing as j those in other parts of New Zealand. TUG-O'-WAR CHAMPIONSHIP DUNEDIN, 31st May. The all-comers' tug-of-war championship commenced on Saturday night in the presence of a large attendance. The contests throughout the evening were interesting. The results are : — A Section — Ofcakou Maoris beat Stevenson and Cook No. 1. After a dead-heat Dunedin Police beat Taieri. B Section — Nightcaps beat Dunedin Waterside Workers No. 1. Port Chalmers 1 Citizens (beat Speight and Co. No. 2. Auckland Police beat Stevenson and Cook No. 2. Beban's West Coast team beat Telegraph Linesmen No. 2. CAPTAIN SCOTT MEMORIAL UNVEILED D.UNEDIN, 31st May. ■ On Saturday afternoon at Port Chalmers, the Prime Minister unveiled a cairn erected to the memory of Captain Scott and his companions. Prior to the ceremony, Mr. Massey was enterlaiued at lunch by the Mayor and Borough Council. ' In unveiling the cairn the Prime Miniter made a brief but eloquent speech. The effort of Captain Scott and his companions had not, he said, been in vain, for although they had not attained the goal which they sought, yet their heroic deaths were a reminder of the heritago of courage- and heroism which the British people possessed. The Mayor of Port Chalmers (Mr. T. Scollay) and the Hon. James Allen also spoke, the latter, ak representative of lund defence, with special reference to Captain Oates. The function took, to some extent, the form of a religious service, prayers being delivered and hymns sung, and was most impressive. There was a very large attendance. SIX-ROOMED HOUSE GUTTED DUNEDIN, 31st May. A six-roomed house in Queenstown was completely gutted by fire last night. The dwelling was owned by Mr. Thomas Farra, and was occupied by Mr. Steven Wharton. The insurances are : — £300 on the house, (office pdt ascertainable), and £200 on the furniture id the South British office, AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS CHRISTCHURCH, 31st May. Replying to a deputation from agricultur4l implement makers and importers, the Hon. A. L. Herdman said that no alteration iii the law would be made without the question being considered carefully. Certainly, no alteration wduld be made in the next Parliamentary session. He had received no recommendation from the Crown Law Officers as yet, and,_ in practice, had never heard any special complaint made that the law was working unfairly. A great deal of weight must be attachled to the representations made by the deputation, and it would require much evidence to convince the Government that any alteration should be made. The system must be of very great advantage to the man who wanted to commenco farming operations. 'Ke could assure tho deputation that the Government would not disturb the practice without giving both sides an opportunity of expressing their opinions. WESTPORT COAL OUTPUT . WESTPORT, 31st May. The. coal output for last week for the Westport Coal Company was 14,671 tons 14 cwt ; coke, 16 tons 14 cwt. s The Westport-JStockton Company's output was 3649 tons at Denniston. PARADE OF VETERANS CHRISTCHURCH, 30th May. A parade of veterans was held this afternoon, and addresses were delivered by the Mayor and others. BOXING TOURNAMENT WESTPORT, 31st May. At the boxing tournament last night, W. Senior, the local welter-weight, defeated Cadman, the ex-Auckland champion, the latter taking count in the sixth round.