DOMINION NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 May 1919, Page 5

DOMINION NEWS.

DELAY IN SOLDIERS' PAY. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Dunedin, Last Night. Delay in the payment of returned soldiers was alleged at a meeting of the Patriotic Association to-day, complaint being made that the Patriotic Association had to undertake the support of men in many eases, while they were prevented from making grants against the men's pay accounts. The meeting decided to write to the Minister for Defence urging that the men be paid regularly in order to avoid inconvenience caused by the delay in the receipt by them of the payments due. COAL FOR CHRISTCHURCH. Christchurch, Last Night. A proposal that the Christchurch City Council should go into the coal mining business by running its own mine on the West Coast and buying steamships to transport the cool was made to-day to the Mayor (Dr. Thacker) by Messrs W. J. Courtier and Wheeler, who are interested in the coal project at Forest Creek, half-way between Greymouth and Westport. Dr. Thacker stated that the deputation had informed him that there was a harbor available capable of the accommodation of ships drawing up to twenty feet of water, and the coal, samples of which they showed, was situated half a mile away, at a low elevation. Dr. Thacker will submit the proposition to the City Council at Monday's meeting. THE FLOATING DEATH. Wailii, May 17. A man named Samuel Middlebrook, while proceeding in his launch from Auckland to Tauranga on Tuesday, passed within a chain of a floating object which he suspected to be a floating mine. Owing to the high seas he was unable to make a closer examination. The matter was reported to the local police today.