VARIOUS DOMINION ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 25 April 1921, Page 4

VARIOUS DOMINION ITEMS

' BY TELEGRAPH —I’REBH ASSN., COPYRIGHT. : NEW ZEALAND RUGS. I WELLINGTON, April 21. | New Zealand rugs became famous in I most parts of the world before the war. ! They were recognised to be of a quality ! scarcely procurable from any other I source, and the woollen companies of I the Dominion used to receive orders | from London, New York and many | other cities. To-day very few rugs are ! being produced by the factories, owing ; to the concentration of effort in other • directions and it seems that there is some danger of the reputation that I New Zealanders made beiiig used for the ! advantage of another country An Am- ! erican business man who was in the • Dominion recently, took away with him ; samples of the rugs and of the wools i used in their manufacture, and he stati ed that lie intended to see if an Ami erican factory could not produce the | same quality of goods. “I could sell 1100,000 of these rugs every year if I j could get them,'’ he said.

DIVORCE PETITIONS. i ! A NEW ZEALAND RECORD. j WELLINGTON, April 21. | During the year 1919 it became eviI dent, from the reports of .the Supreme I Court proceedings" that divorce cases had increased enormously in number I compared with pre-war years. It nob I appears, from the official .statistics published for the first time for that year, in the latest issue of the Neiv Zealand Year Book, that the number of petitions filled for divorce totalled 670, and constituted a record. The figures for last year will probably prove to he equally significant but they will not be available until another year has passed owing to the extraordinary delay which occurs in preparing matter for the official Year Book. Divorce have been steadily increasing in number for a decade, but the total in 1919 was only 2i]o, compared with 675 in 1919. Of the latter petitions, 326 were filed by husband!; and 349 by wives, and the bulk of the petitions related to marriages which had lasted between five and fifteen years. In 395 cases a decree nisi was granted, and during the year (including decrees nisi granted during trie preceding year), 264 decrees «<=,«- marie absolute. THE CENSUS. PRELIMINARY RESULTS. WELLINGTON, April 22. The results of the census taken last Sunday arc already being issued in prelimnary form to the Census and Stajtistics office. The earliest returns rc- ' late to certain boroughs and town districts and they have some general inter- ' est. j Two southern boroughs—Naseby and (Tapanui—show small decreases in population and Tara dale town district also, shows a decrease. Tvnwnkawn town district in North Auckland* has increased from 327 to 374 since the census of 1916, and Whakatano borough has grown from 900 to 1705. This is t' only big alteration recorded in the first half-a-dozen returns.

SHOT AT TARGET PRACTICE. INVERCARGILL, April 21. Alabin Smith, aged twenty one, was admitted to the hospital suffering from a bullet wound in the stomach. He was engaed with two others at target practice with a pea rifle when lie was accidentally shot. His condition' is critical. VICE-REGAL TOUR. TATTRANGA, April 21. Mis Excellency the Governor-General arrived here at 5.30 p.m. from Gisborne, having made the journey overland to-day via Opotiki, AVhakatane, and Te I’uke. There will be a public reception to-night, and His Excellency will leave by motor at noon to-morrow for Waibi. AVHAKATANE, April 21. Lord Jollieoo arrived at 1.30 and was welcomed by the Mayor. His Excellency addressed the school children, and expressed regret that he was unable to stay. He then loft for Tauranga. OPOTIKI, April 21. His Excellency the Governor-General and party arrived at Opotiki at 10 a.m. from Motu. They stopped at Toatoa on the journey. They were met by the Mayor (Mr Johnston), Hon J. B. Gow, M.L.C.. the chairman of tlio County Council, and the residents. There was a reception at the Post Office by the Returned Soldiers’ Association and the school children. His Excellency was greatly gratified by the welcome, and expressed delight at the magnificence of the scenery on the Motu Road. After light refreshments had been provided. His Excellency chatted with the residents, and returned soldiers, and the school children, and departed for Tauranga via Tuneautua and "Whakatano at 11.30.