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Otago Witness, Issue 3595, 6 February 1923, Page 40

Our Wellington correspondent wires that it is possible that no Chairman of Committees of the House of Representatives will be elected during the forthcoming short session of Parliament. It is not likely that there will be any committee work to bo done. Mr C. E. Statham, who it Is expected will bo elected Speaker of the House, is at present in Wellington. A Christchurch Press Association telegram states that the Hon. J. G. Coates, after visiting the Otira tunnel, announces that it will be ready for urgent goods traffic in March, and for regular traffic some time in April, but that the work will not be completed in time for the Easier traffic, 'lhe tunnel and equipment, when complete, will have cost £1.300,000, and the longer it is delayed the greater the capital cost would become. The Superintendent of Police has been advised that Henry Thomas Bryant, a single man, 21 years of age, living with his father, Will iam Bryant, an Otokia farmer, was drowned in the Taieri River at Otokia on Thursday evening while bathing with three brothers. The body has been recovered. During his recent visit to Europe, Mr H. F. von Haast, of Wellington, went to St. Moritz for the alpine winter sports. “They are sports,’’ he says, “to which New Zealanders ought to take very kindly, and there should be facilities provided for such healthy recreation both at the Tongariro National Park and in the Southern Alps.” ‘‘Hullo, U.5.A.,” written across the sky in letters a mile long, caused a great craning of necks in New York on a recent morning, and the traffic was blocked for some time while drivers and chauffeurs gazed at the white scrawl. The writing was carried out by Captain Cyril Turner, of London, to demonstrate the possibilities of skywriting. A Press Association message from Nelson says that Mr Alfred Cotton, a well-known Takaka settler, had a narrow escape from being gored to death by a bull. The rope broke while the bull was being placed in a show pen, and Mr Cotton fell. The bull struck him on the chest, but fortunately the horns did not penetrate the body. Quick assistance saved a fatality. An Aucskland Press Association message says that picnickers by the ferry steamer Britannia had a novel experience on Saturday morning, being shipwrecked in smooth water as the vessel grounded on a reef near St. Helier’s. The vessel went on the reef at full speed. Fortunately the reef in flat sandstone. The passengers, numbering between 200 and 300, were transferred to another ferry boat, and the Britannia was refloated in the evening, apparently undamaged. The reef is marked by beacons at either end. A Wellington Press Association message states that the Athenic, due on Wednesday, brings 515 immigrants for the following centres: —Auckland 194, Napier and Gisborne 13, Wellington 155, Canterbury £9, Otago and Southland 56, Australia 8. There are 28 domestics. The loan of £340.000 required by the . ellington City Council to pay off antecedent liability has been issued in London (says a Press Association message). The interest is 5* per cent., and the price of issue £99 per cent. The loan has a currency of 20 years. It was oversubscribed in an hour. The application by the Hon. C. J. Parr for adjournment of the date fixed February 7) for hearing of the petition by John Poole —who prayed that it might be determined that Mr Parr was not duly elected or returned at the general election—was heard before Mr Justice Hosking in Chambers at the Supreme Court at Wellington on Friday (says a Press Association messaffc). Having heard legal argument, his Honor said that it had not been proved that the petition would be prejudiced by an adjournment, against which he could see no sufficient reasons. An adjournment was granted until February 26. A Grey mouth Press Association message states that the Blackball mine, which was sealed up some time ago, following an outbreak of fire, was unsealed on Friday, but was found still to be heated inside. Water is now being played on the eastern area, but developments remain uncertain. An Oamaru Press Association telegram states that Mr T. Buxton, lecturer and organiser for the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, has just completed a tour of North Otago, lecturing and enrolling members. TVe tour resulted in the addition of 170 new members, bringing North Otago up to provincial status. The membership of the branch is now over 500. In Chambers oil Saturday morning his Honor the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) gave judgment in the case of George Mondy, one of the executors and trustees of the late Walter Guthrie, versus the Trustees Executors and Agency Company as executor and trustee of the will of the late Agnes Nicholson Guthrie, Margaret White Guthrie, of Invercargill, and others, defendants. Mr J. C. Stejjhens appeared for the plaintiff, Mr F. B. Adams for Miss Guthrie, Mr W. G. Hay for the executor of the will of Mrs Brent, Mr F. S. Brent for the grandchildren of the late Mrs Brent, Mr A. B. Haggitt for the executors of Mrs Guthrie, tne widow ofj the testator. The case was one of interpretation of the will, of two subsequent agreements varying the will, and an award made under a judgment of the Supreme Court. Publication of the judgment was withheld pending settlement of certain details. A Christchurch deputation asked the lion. J. G. Coates on Friday for a new post office at New Brighton. In reply, the Minister saiil that a new post office was going to lie “a pretty hefty job.” On a previous occasion he had explained the post office buildings they had in - hand and the new ones they were undertaking. Three of them were unfortunately in the North Island. It so happened that it was impossible to carry on business in these offices, and tenders were let for the whole of them. They had a new schedule to consider, and he would be glad go into the whole question.