NEWS IN BRIEF.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 29, Issue 48, 22 June 1917, Page 4

NEWS IN BRIEF.

Workers in freezing chambers and slaughter-houses have been granted, by their employers, a war bonus of 10 per cent; on the ordinary rate of wages.

A groat bush fire is raging in Sweden. Fourteen 'miles of forest are aflame, and already millions of pounds of damage has been done.

The committees of the Otago and Southland racing clubs have decided to considerably reduce the number of racing days during the coming season.

Major General Russell, general officer commanding the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces in France has been slightly wounded, but is remaining with his unit.

Owing to the excessive moisture the outlook for the lambing season, in the Hawkes Bay district is bad. As high as 50 per cent. mortality has been recorded by some flock owners.

Replying to a deputation at Hastings urging 6 o ’clock closing of hotels Sir John Findlay M.P. promised to give his strongest support to the curtailment of the hours for the selling of liquor.

Mr C. H. Smith, the new member for Pahiatua, will move the Address-in-Eeply in the House of Representatives at the opening of the approaching session. The motion will probably, be seconded by the Hon. D. Buddo. Peter Bowling, well known in New Zealand Labour circles a few years ago, is now energetically assisting the recruiting campaign in New South Wales. He has sons on active service in France! Throughout New Zealand there are 1 estimated to be fifty-one freezing works with a total “killing capacity” of 130,000 sheep and 3590 cattle. The storage space is equal to 4,647,000 freight carcases of 601 b each. Lamentable loss of life has accompanied the recent floods in Victoria., A terrible tragedy, involving gix lives, occurred at Wangaratta, where a mother and her two daughters and three men wore drowned.'

The Christchurch City Council has decided to extend the Lake Coleridge hydro-electric system at a cost of several thousand pounds in order to cope with the increased demands for electricity.

The consignment of Australian wheat which has been landed at Dunedin is being retailed to millers by the Government at 65,,3d a bushel. This is 5d per bushel more than the present gazetted price for the best variety.

A message from the Captain of the Waitotara states that ho hopes that the vessel will nqt be a total loss. All the crew have been rescued by a French steamer. Most of the valuable cargo, including printing paper, was for Australia.

A sad effect of a severe thunderstorm, which occurred at Wellington during the week end was the death of a man who was submerged beneath a falling wall and slowly crashed to death before the eyes of his agonised wife.