TELEGRAMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 December 1917, Page 3

TELEGRAMS.

[piiß PRESS ASSOCIATION. —COPYRIGHT.] ATTITUDE TOWARDS CLERGY. AUCKLAND, Dec. 19. At the Military Service Board, the Chairman stated that a s the result of the recent Conference of Boards, it had boon . agreed hat all clergyman recognised as belonging to an established denomination were .to be exempted. The conference, it is understood, did not definitely decide in regard to theological studettts, who. would be treated as hitherto. The appeals of a largo number ol clergy and Marist Brothers were ad-, journed sine die .

MOTOR CAR FATALITY. MARTON December 19. \ fatal car accident occurred on the Bulls-Tuakina road this afternoon. A oar driven hv Kenneth Webster, of Palmerston North containing .lolm Skinner, an* elderly man, resident, at Now Plymouth, ran over a bank on the side of a road, turning several somersaults. Skinner received injuries to his head from which he died im mediately afterwards. Webster was severely'shaken, but was able to proceed home .

HEMP PRICES. WELLINGTON, December 19. The Prime Minister has been advise hv the High Commissioner in regard to New Zealand hemp an London. Prices as fixed in .September last remain unaltered. These prices are:— Good £B4. high point £B2, fair £Bl per ton. , The prices of tow are:—First- grade £59, second £SO, tird £54.

A RENTAL QUESTION. WELLINGTON, This Day. The Inspector of Factories has applied under the War Regulations Amendment Act to 9 have property m KuBirnie valued for rent purposes. Since 1914, a house was let at lo» weekly, hut recently the rental was advanced to 18s 6d weekly. Before the war the .Government valuation of the property was £395, and since then it was £534. Witness for the defence estimated the present value at between £ 650 ancl £6BO. The Magistrate fixed the capital value at £565, and reduced the rent aceor (lingly by Is weekly.

NATIONAL BANK DIVIDEND. WELLINGTON, Dec. 20. The General Manager of the National Bank of New Zealand to-day received a cable from London advising that the Board of Directors had declared an interim dividend for the half year ended Sept. 30th, at the rate of twelve per cent, per annum payable in the dominion on Tan. stli.

j A SAD END. HAMILTON Ths Day. ' The body of Charles Smith, a stockman at Te Uku was found in the Scrub with a gun beween his legs and the greater portion of his head blown off. 'lie left a note bidding his em- ' ployer “good-bye.” Deceased originally came from Hobart. He served at Gallipoli and was discharged about a year SIVO. ® * °