VARIOUS DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 January 1921, Page 4

VARIOUS DOMINION ITEMS.

BY TELEGIUFH—PEK PRESS ASSOCIATION]

FRUIT CROP DAMAGED

HASTINGS, Jan 17

Fruit growers of the district sullered severely by Saturday’s gale. Orchards arc well .sheltered in the direction of the prevailing wind, but this gale came in the opposite direction and the trees get ting the full force, were stripped of apples,'pears, plums and peaches, to a considerable extent. Trees were broken down and in some cases uprooted. Largo 'quantities of fruit are lying, in many cases not sufficiently matured to be anv good. The loss is considerable, especially on top of the shortage of the season’s crop.

A TRAIN FATALITY

TIMAIIIJ, Jan 17

Arthur Maseev, aged 33,. fell beneath the wheels of a carriage when attempt ing to board the Ooniaru train at Pare ora at 4.50 p.m. yesterday. Both legs were practically severed, and he succumbed at G p.m. At an inquest today a formal verdict was returned.

THE COAL TROUBLE

CONFERENCE AT WELLINGTON

WELLINGTON, Jan. 17

The Prime Minister, a.s Minister for Mines, presided to-day over a conference of mine-owners and representatives of the Miners’ Federation. Mr Massey afterwards said that the conference had arrived at no decision, but he.lmd made suggestions to the delegates with a view to a settlement. These suggestions had to bo referred by the •representatives of both sides to their principals; so it could not be known for some days whether they would he accepted. At the present .stage it would not be wise, be said, to indicate the nature of the suggestions.

KEENAN BEATS RUTHERFORD

DARGAYILLE, Jan. 15

J. Keenan (Auckland) beat M. Rutherford (Sydney) in 15 rounds. The bout was a well-contested one, and though Rutherford forced the fight, Keenan proved his superiority by responding and then carrying the light to Rutherford.' This is the third meeting of the pair, and up till then each had won the bouts.

As a result of Keenan’s win much interest will be evinced in the proposed meeting of Frank O’Neill and Keenan.

PAKEIIA ARRIVES

WELLINGTON, Jan. 15

The Piakeha from London and South ampton via Panama, arrived here at 5 a.m. and berthed at 2.45 p.m. to disembark 954 immigrants. It was a fine voyage all the way. The vessel left London on Dr-ember 7, picked up passengers at Southampton on December 9, sailed direct via Panama. Christmas Day was spent at Colon. The passengers went ashore for the day. The boat then sailed direct for Wellington. Christmas and New Year festivities were kept up and all aboard enjoyed themselves. The vessel brought 854 passengers, 590 for the North Island and the remainder for the South Island. With the exception of a boy aged 15, who died at sea from blood poisoning, the iliealth on board was good and there was no sickness.

RAIN IN CANTERBURY

CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 16

The heavy rain that, fell over Canterbury yesterday has completely changed the agricultural outlook. Most crops were showing the effects of the long succession of dry nor’ westers and warm days. To the farmer the rain is in the nature of a Godsend although the cutting and threshing of (Kits is well under way. It is not too late for many of the late crops bo receive the benefit. Barley, wheat and peas will also be stimulated, ibut .probably tbc main effect will result in the case of potatoes. There ihas been a danger that the yield ol honey would lie low, but the rain completely restored the position. MINISTERIAL VISIT. BLENHEIM, Jan. 17. l ion W. Noswortliy arrived last evening, and was accorded a civic welcome this evening. He received deputations re the seed farm in Marlborough a the necessity for surveys of the proposed provincial hydro-electric scheme.