DOMINION NEWS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLIV, Issue 14042, 27 April 1920, Page 3

DOMINION NEWS.

(Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, April 26. During the week ended noon to-day 341 cases of infectious disease were reported in the Wellington Public Health, district, an increase of 103 compared with the , previous week. The number of cases of influenza notified was 287, I which is' 80 more than during the week ended April 19. Twelve of the "cases were of the pneumonic type, bub the remainder were classified as mild. ' A case of lethargic encephalitis is reported from Palmerston North. There is considerable congestion and ; consequent delay in handling coal in Wellington, due, it is alleged, to the inability of the Railway Department to take delivery of the coal as quickly as it is. brought out of the holds of the ships in port. There is in port at the present time approximately 2000 • tons of coal, and all of it is for the Railway Department. The delay has been aa serious that some ships have lost a trip through inability to get rid . of their cargoes in a reasonable time. It is understood that'the difficulty in the Department is in getting men to handle the coal from the trucks, with the' result that trucks are not available for discharging operations at the ship's side. The Department claims that it needs all the coal, and will not 1 release any of it for dealers. WELLINGTON, April 27. The Wellington Licensed Victuallers' Association rejected 'a. demand by the Hotelworkers'. Union for, double pay or two days' holiday during the_ Prince'B visit. Members" of the Association intimated that they would do their best to allow the employees time off on the 'two days of the Royal visit. AUCKLAND, April 27. Replying to a, question in regard t/) the Hon. D. H. 'Guthrie'« statement that the fund for advances for soldiers' farms and homes is exhausted, Mr Massey said it'is' merely a temporary slowing down until further authority is given by Parliament. The Advances Department has been so active in its ministration to the needs ,of soldiers that the existing authorities are pretty well exhausted. They haveprovided homes in town' and country for over 14,000 soldiers. There is no intention to stop, but, "ivo cannot continue at the rate of £l,ooo,ooo..monthly. We have purchased stock, farm equipment, and anything ehe required, T and' I can assure soldier*, that tiieie "5 no cause for anxiety. The Government is doing its duty by them, and will continue to do it. CHRISTCHURCH, April 26. . "Taking it on the whole, the position seems to be easing.;" was the com-f-fm.fAk. of- f,ka District Health Officer to a reporter w}tHT;«,qu'?stioned this morning regarding the" influenza epidemic. For two days, that is, the period from Saturday at noon until to-day at noon, the notifications have been practically 'the 6ame as for the one.day previously. NELSON, April 25. C. E. Lowe's fruit packing shed and ' tobacco, kiln at Harakeko, Central Moutere, were destroyed by fire at 1 o'clock this morning. The shed contained tobacco leaf, apples, orchard implements, and a tractor fitted with gang plough and discs. Mr Lowe is a lieavy loser. The origin of the fire is unknown. NEW PLYMOUTH, April 26. Intense surprise is expressed by the returned soldiers in New Plymouth at •- the announcement by the Hon. D. H. Guthrie that advances for farms and. dwellings have been stopped. The question the men are asking is whether the stoppage is temporary or permanent, and it is felt that a definite and clear statement should be made by the Prime Minister. The men t resent tho action of the Government in stopping thes loans without warning. W. P. Miller, a garage proprietor irt Auckland, was fined the maximum of £lO by the magistrate here to-day for reckless driving. The case arose out of <i motor car trip from Auckland to Wellington' in 14 hours, which the police said was made as a speed test. The local complaint was that after leaving Awakino defendant met a drove of sheep, ca.using many to fall over the bank, some being killed and others injured. GISBORNE. April 27: Michael Dcnnhy was fined £6O, in default six months imprisonment, as the occupier of a house used for gaming. , Charles Croon was fined £IOO for keeping premises for betting, and was ordered to come up for sentence fin another , charge of frequenting a roadway for betting purposes. Arthur Owen, on ■ _ two charges' of gaming in the '• was fined £IOO, and has to come up for '( sentence on July 26th on other charges, ', ■ > ROTORUA, April 27. About four o'clock yesterday evening ' a Maori named Tengahihinui, aged 'B6 ,; years, from Kaitaia, was pushed offa,' , footpath in Ar.iwa street during a dispute among a crowd. of 'natives and. ' knocked his head-severely, fracturing ,. f the skull. He died at,four o'clock this> morning. The hotels" were closed iip- , mediately after the occurrence, but' were \ reopened to-day. < ,'j