VARIOUS DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 January 1921, Page 3

VARIOUS DOMINION ITEMS.

[BY TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION]

AUCKLAND WOOL SALES. • AUCKLAND, Jan 6. It is evident that Auckland woolgrowers are waiting to see which way the “eat” jumps regarding the market before .sending their clips forward for sale. Enquiries made this morning go to show that consignments are coming forward very slowly, despite the fact that the catalogue for the sale to he held here on February 3rd close on the 25th inst. It is anticipated, however, that there will he a speeding-up in the rate of consignment before the closing dale. The prices that ruled at the Napier sales on Monday last were an improvement on those for the recent southern sales lint this fact does not indicate that better prices than were anticipated will rule lor Aucklandgrown wool at the February sale, for the Hawke’s Bay clip is of better quality all round than the Auckland-grown clip. The major portion of Aucklandgrown wool is coarse crossbred, which class of wool lias unfortunately not been commanding good prices.

RECORD CUSTOMS REVENUE

WELLINGTON, ,Jan 6

The Customs revenue figures greatly exceed the estimates, and constitute a record for the port of Wellington and the Dominion. The figures for nine months of the financial year, 1920, compared with th<,> whole of 1919, are:— Dominion, £6,250,336 and £3,240,702; Wellington, £2,050,055 and £1,026,131. For the month of December the figures are: Dominion, £610,500 and £328,277; Wellington, £156,612 and £107.-

CONDITIONS IN ENGLAND

CLERGY M AN'S DBSER V ATI()NS

WEILTNGTON, Jan 6

The Rev C .F. Askew, of St. Mark's Church, who has returned from a trip to England and the Continent, referring to the turmoil in England, states that owing to the high prices of everything, people were with-holding from buying anything save hare essentials, with a result that the warehouses were closing down. There was a good deal of unemployment, and ex-service men were finding it difficult to obtain work, yet demands for still higher wages were being made. lie supposed the upheaval was due to the war conditions, when every worker was able to make big wages, hut the altered conditions had to he faced, and to some extent that meant a resumption of normal working conditions. Whilst travelling from Cheltenham to Gloucester, lie happened to gather a conversation between two men, one of whom was evidently the proprietor of an iiotei. Tho latter was relating how three miners had dined at his place. They had champagne before dinner ,and After dinner, and the “blow out” had cost them twelve guineas. .

While in England, Mr Askew heard the New Zealand tenor, Mr Ernest Drake. Mr .Drake, who is known in Dunedin and Christchurch, went Home for further study, and his teacher has succeeded in changing and perfecting past all recognition his method of production. Coni] etc lit critics assert that tie may become the finest lyric tenor o| the day. Mis \oicc had all the finality of John McCormack’s, with more power. Mr Drake may make a brief visit to New Zealand. ARRIVAL OF CHAMPIONS. AUCKLAND, Jan (i. An arrival by the Makura from Vancomer to-day, was Miss Etheldrn Ifleiht i cy ,the champion lady swimmer in the 100 and 200 metres contests at. the recent Antwerp Olympiad. Miss Uleilitrey was also a member of the American relay team which won the first place in the contests. By these perforances slit* is the accredited world s champion, lady swimmer. Miss Bleihtn.y has conic to New Zealand and Australia to participate :lt . .swimming carnivals. Ihe New Zealand Swimming Association lias made airangements whereby the champion lady swimmer will take!part in local contests to he held to-morrow and ( on Saturday. Miss Bleihtrev will then go to Australia.

Two other famous swimmers also arrived by the.Makura to-day. These are Pua Konloha, who ranks next to “Duke Knhnnnmoku” as the world’s fastest swimmer, and Ludv I.anger, the 220, 440 and 880 yards champion. Miss Hleibtrcy tours the Dominion before going to Australia. POLICE CHANGES. WELLINGTON, January 7. The following police promotions and transfers were announced to-day: Inspector Hjendry, Wanganui, to Christchurch. Inspector Dew, Christchurch to Invercargill. , i Inspector Fouhy, Invercargill to Wanganui. Senior Sergeant Hill, Hamilton lo Wellington. Sergt. Matthew To Kuiti, promoted to Senior Sergeant to Hamilton. Sergt. Fitzpatrick, promoted Senior Sergeant to Wellington. .Sergt. Lopdell, Wellington, to To Kuiti. Sergt. King, Christchurch to Hokitika. Sergt. McLean, Mount Cook, Wellington to Napier. Sergt. Matthews, luVercargill to (lore. ‘ THE ONLY SOLUTION.” AUCKLAND, January (3. Among the passengers by the Makura were two Australian Roman Catholic Bishops, Dr Joseph Shell, of Rockhampton, and Dr McCarthy, of Sandhurst. Both have just come from Ireland. Discussing Ireland’s troubles they said the only solution the problem they could suggest that Great Britain should grant the Irish people complete Home Rule, or that they should clear right out of the country They contended that the Irish' could govern their country equally as well as tho New Zealanders governed theirs.