DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 November 1923, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

[BY TKL'ECKAPIt —PF.It PRESS ASSOCIATION.] 810 WA I RABAI’A FIBE. M'ASTERTON, November 21. The luxuriously furnished .modem homestead of 20 rooms, of Mr Charles Flgar (owner of Black ltouuld, the Derby winner) at Fcrnside, was totally destroyed by lire this evening. Mr and Mrs Flgar were both in Wellington and only the domestic staff were at home at tile time of the outbreak. The fire is believed to have started in a maid's sowing room, where a kerosene burner was used to beat irons. Both tlie Foathciston and Militate Camp Biigades were summoned but could only stand by the blazing structure, which burnt ii v elf out in two hours. Tt is understood the homestead ,ind furniture are covered, hut the insurances are not available. SUGAR SUFFLIKS. CMKTSTCHf RCII. Nov. 21 At present the retail grocers have not got great stocks ol sugar in hand, and a prominent ictailer to-day advised the public to get in supplies for preserving purposes. He said that during the last six years there had always been a shortage when fruit was most plentiful, and it was impossible to say the same thing would oeeur again this year. It people would take things (piietly and get sugar he said, there would he no need lor a iii-li and lationing when the preserving season came. lie regarded it. .is a .significant tact that the two biggest boats on the Hast Coast running had been token off bemuse there was not sufficient cargo offering, and it might easily happen at a critical time in the jam-making season, that the sugar supplies from the north might he held up. WATERING MILK. CHRISTCHURCH, November 21. In lining William Gleeson £2O on each of two charges ol soiling watered milk. Mr Wyvern Wilson, S.M., said the man had sold milk 31 per cent ol which was water, and this was a very shocking case. Jlis explanation referred to the morning milk, but his explanation could not he accepted, as the evening milk had contained 2b per ceiti of water. This was a pernicious practice, which was being made by a certain class of the milk trade, and the only way was to impose an exemplary line that every milk vendor would remember.