VARIOUS DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 January 1921, Page 4

VARIOUS DOMINION ITEMS.

TELEGRAMS.

[by TELEGRAPH—'PER PRESS ASSOCIATION]

N.Z. AND RIVER- PLATE LAND CO

AUCKLAND, January 12

Cable advice has been received by the attorneys for the New Zealand and River Elate Land Mortgage Co., that at the annual meeting of the company held in London on January 11th., the recommendations of the directcirs were adopted. The dividend of 7 per cent, per annum, less English income tax foi t|ie half year ended October 31st. last, will therefore he payable on January 21st to shareholders on the Colonial Register of the company.

HOLIDAY RAILWAY TRAFFIC

WELLINGTON, January 11

The Prime Minister (Mr Massey) stated to-day that the Christmas and New Year holiday traffic for 1920-1921 constituted a record. The number ol passengers carried on the North Island lines was 182,000 and on the South Island and Westland sections 407,000, a total of 889,000.

Long-distance traffic has been a feature of the business, and it is pleasing to report that all the demands on the Department were satisfactorily met. Generally speaking, the trains maintained punctuality, and the only accident recorded occuirrod to a passenger who attempted to board a moving train at Bluff with fatal results. The heaviest passenger traffic was in the Wellington district, Auckland coming next, and Christchurch and Dunedin districts billowing. A large number of special passenger trains were run on all the lines in the North and South Islands. Ho congratulated all ranks of the railway service for the satisfactory manner in which the Christmas and Now Year business was dealt with.

A SINN FEIN ENVOY. NOT ALLOWED TO LAND IN NEW ZEALAND. (Press Correspondent) WELLINGTON January 11. So far New Zealand has not been troubled with Sinn Fein propaganda but recently some circulars regarding the cause have been received through th" Post Office. One cireuln|r urges the owners of the New Zealand dairy factories to contribute to the re-build-ing of the dairy factories destroyed in Ireland bv fire during the retiellion. When the R.M.S. Makura arrived in Auckland from Vancouver on Thursday last, the police bounded the boat and served a notice under Section 5 of the Undesirable Immigrants Exclusion Act, 1919, nil a saloon passenger, Mr Osmond Grattan Esmowle, who was bound for Sydney, prohibiting his landing in New Zealand. Under ordinary c ire urn stances lie would have lieon permitted to land, but enquries elicited the information that during the voyage of the Makura from Vancouver ho exhibited papers which showed him to Ve connected with the Irish diplomatic mission. It is understood that several of the passengers of the steamer complained to the police about the attitude of Mr Esmonde concerning his mission.

THE KEA

A PRICK ON HIS HEAD. WELLINGTON, January 11. Last session Parliament voted sums of money on tho estimates for the destruction of keas. Reports from the hack country runs indicate that for some considerable time past the kea has been on the increase, and that on some stations considerable numbers of sheep have been killed and others injured, as the result either of his curiosity or his liking for the kidney .fat of the sheep. A price of five shillings is now upon bis head, and the money is being paid out bv two departments, viz.', Bands and Agriculture, as both are interested. Hitherto the beaks of the killed birds have been collected by the County Councils in the effected districts, and now stock inspectors as well will pay for beaks sent to the Stock Department.

In the Mount Cook district there was some objection by the Tourist Department to indiscriminate shooting on account of the presence of the tliar and chamois in that region, so it has boon arranged that officers of the Tourist Department should put on special men to keep the birds within bounds there. Tt seems a pity that a price has to be put upon the head of this interesting and beautiful bird, but his recent depredations amongst the flocks in die high country have made it a matter of aiecofcsity. There are, however, fastnesses whore the kea can still breed unmolested, so there rail be no danger of wiping the species out altogether. INTENTION to STRIKE ALLEGED WELLINGTON, January 1,3. Information received by the Ne-.v Zealand “Times” to-night was to tho effect that there is a threat of another coal mine strike. The information •«?- ceived is that there has been some trouble in tho Blackball mine. It is alleged that two men have been victimised. The men want the two to le reinstated in their jobs. It is understood the other side m-c willing to reinstate oue of the men, but not the other. Tho decision of the men at the mines is to strike, subject to the approval by the Federation of Labour, but hopes of the trouble being avoided are ueld out. ' BUENOS AIRES DAIRY EXHIBITION. WELLINGTON, Jan. 11. Mr E. S. Baldwin, Argentine ViceConsul, has received official intimation that an international dairy exhibition will be held at Palermo (Buenos Aires) from May Bth to 27tli next. He has received the programme and rules of tho exhibition, and forms for intending exhibitors.