TELEGRAMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 January 1921, Page 4

TELEGRAMS.

VARIOUS DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION]

THE housing PROBLEM

POSITION IN INVERCARGILL

INVERCARGILL, January 18

For some weeks before the holidays there was a mild slump in the house __ agency business and “the man in the street’ would assure you that houses were bound to come down in price '/ci\ shirtly, hut this was a time when, with j the knowledge that most markets vere j shaky and that money was becoming j tight, the average prospective prrebus- j or was content to hold of! for a little. | Now the people in general seem to have , ; decided that an appreciable dr< p in most lines will be deferred for some , j time, and “business as usual ’ is the | • accepted slogan once again. A report.?r . j made enquiries from house agents ie- j ; garding the housing problem, and Me J ’ was assured that it was an acute as , ! ever. They stated that the demand for houses existed almost as strongly as during the boom of last year. The demand however, was not. by any n cans as “jerky” as during that period. It was steady and was concentrated more on the house costing £OO9 or Cioo than lon the dearer class. As to prices the ! pressman was assured that there were no indications .of a drop. It was pointed out that the amount of building being carried on locally is practically M * 1 finitesiilia 1, and until this is increased the law of supply and demand would operate toward keeping prices steady ■ \skbd alxuit the number of houses i available for letting if their owners did 1 not want to sell, the agents all stated that there was not a great number ol these. The position was that here were no sufficient houses to supply .ill those j wanting them, even if all the available ' places were rented. | AN INQUEST VERDICT. : HASTINGS Jan 20. j At. tlu l adjourned inquest to-day on Mrs Elifiabeth Resketh, drowned on January 3rd as the result of a motor car going over the bridge into the K a rani n creek, reviewing the testimony, ; the Coroner said the evidence was in 1 i the direction of showing that all due ' ! care was taken. Edna Hart, aged 11. had behaved very creditably in rescuing I a ha by and returning into the water j and rescuing two other children. She I was a brave girl, and was to he conij mended for her action. The native, I Phonmana who undressed and cure, off ! tho riyr to assist, was also to ho commended. A verdict that, death was due to drowning caused hv a Inis accidentally falling into the river, owing to the blocking of the steering gear, was returned. | STRUCK BY TRAIN. J HASTINGS, Jan 20. i A man named Maurice Begley was struck by a train while crossing the line on a bicycle. He is now in a private hospital in a critical condition, with injuries to the head. ' tennis championship. ! ' HASTINGS, Jan 20. Hawkes Bay tennis championship will j be played at Hastings on Jan. 29th., j 31st,, and Fell. Ist,

DUNEDIN WOOL SALES

DUNEDIN, January 20

The wool sale, which commenced yesterday afternoon, is considered satisfactory. At 11.30 p.m., "hen the sale stopped for tho day, about 75 per cent of the offerings, totalling 98C5 bales had been disposed of. Merinos were in a disappointing condition, cx<opt for a few supers, and prices were lower compared with Christchurch. There was a good demand for linlfbreds, but for thin-haired wools there was not a keen demand. A feature of the sale was the demand for showy cross-bred lots and pieces sold well.

The following prices were roalised for pieces:—Super 8d to 12d., Medium to good ojd to 7sd., Inferior 3pi to 5d., Bellies realised:—Super V-Jd to 9d., Medium to good sd. to 7d., Inferior 3d to Hd. Locks realised:—Half-bred 3d to Id., cross-bred Ipi to 3d. ’Hie wool sale was continued this morning, the offering consisting of stars lots only. The sale was dragging Many buyers were present.

An opinion is expressed in wool circles that the offering of large quantities in the present state of the market would not be justifiable, and tbe offering should be limited to quantities that the buyers were likely to lift, says 5000 to 6000 hales. The latter part of every sale so far has dragged.