LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Star, Issue 20312, 22 October 1929, Page 13

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The whaling vessels Sir James Clark Ross and C. A. Larsen left Stewart Island yesterday, accompanied by their chasers, for Ross Sea., A number of Bluff men wore recruited, and the vessels also loaded stores. The first regular motor service on the coastal road between Greymouth and Westport was started by Gibbs’s Motors, Ltd., to-day (says a P.rcss Association telegram from Greymouth). Another service by the White Star will also bo commenced very shortly. The old Llpokongaro Hotel, on the Wanganui River, about seven miles from the city, and a new hotel alongside, not quite completed, were swept by fire early yesterday afternoon. The old building’ which was a two-storied wooden structure and was recently conclemmed, made ready fuel, and burned fiercely before a south-east wind, which carried the flames across the intervening space of 50ft to the new singlestoried structure, the roof and other wooden portions of which were burned. The insurances on the old building are not available, but the new building was not insured, and the contractors, Messrs Walpole and Patterson, are losers to the extent of about £2,000. A largely-attended meeting of the Palmerston North branch of the New Zealand Post and Telegraph Employees’ Association was held last evening to consider the question of reclassification. After a full discussion the following motion was carried unanimously:— “ This meeting of Post and Telegraph employees respectfully begs to protest against the failure of the Government suitably to adjust the salaries of the service ; and desires to point out that in the opinion of . this largo and representative meeting the- maxima of the general and clerical divisions should be raised in conformity with the association’s schedules, and that juniors of twenty-one years of age should receive an adequate minimum wage in cantor-, mity with man’s estate.” Further evidence for the plaintiffs was hoard in the Supreme Court, Wellington, in .the case in which Harding Bros. of Mamgamahu, proceeded against Tyer Bros., of Featherston, claiming £IO,OOO damages for alleged fraudulent misrepresentation in regard to the “ Craigdean ” Farm property in Mangamahu Valley. Mr Stevenson said it might be that no would apply for a nonsuit later. “1 do not think I shall grant it,” said His Honour. “After all, this is a case where a great deal of evidence has been taken. lam not going to express any opinion as to the strength of the plaimtiffs’ case.” He did not feel disposed to deal with the case on a motion for a nonsuit, and would not grant it. The case was adjourned. A largely-attended meeting of the Napier section of the Post and Telegraph Employees’ Association last night resolved unanimously—“ That this section makes an emphatic protest against the prolonged delay in the appearance of quinquennial reclassification of the P, a.nd T service, which was due on April 1. The annual increments due to junior members in particular are now many months overdue, and the delay is causing considerable embarrassment to those officers Furthermore, we protest against the continued low maxima of the general and clerical divisions, which are the main factors underlying the seething discontent which exists. This section conveys to members of the Executive Committee its whole-hearted support in any action it may take to secure salary improvements and the appearance of the reclassification list.” A similar resolution was carried by the Hastings section.