DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 December 1923, Page 2

DOMINION ITEMS.

[nr TELEGRAPH —PUt PRESS ASSOCIATION.) TICK AND BLACKLEG. AUCKLAND. Nov. 27. There is conclusive evidence that tlio cattle tick lias made its appearance in tile Waikato district as well as tlio cattle disease known as blackleg. -■ — Speaking at a meeting of the To Awamutu branch of tlie Dairy Farmers Union, the president (.Air F. Quin) urged all farmers to assist the Stock Inspector to their utmost in liis efforts to check tlie spread of the tick pest. He said it was not previously known in the district, hut within the two or three days cattle al Mangapiko, live miles from Te Awamutu, had Iteeu found infested. Air Quin said that some of the Department’s regulations might seem harsh, hut they were well worth observing as otherwise the pest would spread and be very costly to combat. Prompt united action would probably bo effective, and the regulations would then not lie necessary for more than a few weeks. Tlie meeting approved the chairman’s remarks, and decided to telegraph the .Minister ol Agriculture asking that the loeal inspector be given an assistant in emergency. QFIXNAT SALMON. AI'CKLAND, Nov. 27 How firmly established is the quinnat salmon in New Zealand waters was indicated to-day hv the Chief Inspector of Fisheries, Air L. F. Ayson. For several years, he said, tliis species had been running up the rivers in North Otago and Canterbury in very large numbers. Last season it was no exaggeration to say in the Clutha, Wnitaki, llangitata, ltakaia, AYaimakairri, ami Waiau rivers they ran up in tens of thousands. Marine Department officers collected about 1,500.000 eggs of quinnat salmon during the early part of tlie spawning season, Hut the heavy Hoods which prevailed later rendered it impossible to continue iho work of collecting. The Department had had in hand the stocking of the W'airau river. A large number of eggs collected last season were hatched out and the young lisli liberated in the tributaries of that river. As a result of the stocking of the Wairnu, salmon were showing up in other rivers in Marlborough. Tlie fish had crossed Conk Strait and were to he found in the rivers (lowing into Palliser Bay, and also in the Rangitikei river.

The quinnat salmon, said Air Ayson, was not in his opinion equal to tlie Atlantic salmon as a sporting fish, nevertheless anglers in Otago and Canterbury spoke enthusiastically in regard to tile quinnat as a sporting fish, am! they recognised, ton. that it was of considerable food value. Without doubt, the quinnat would prove to he of great commercial value. As to tlio

possibility of a canning industry being created. Air Ayson said he did not think there would lie any nccesity for the Department to take any steps for some time to conic, simply because ill the cities of Australia there existed now a practically unlimited market for fresh and mild-cured salmon. FATALITY ON WHARF. WELLINGTON. Nov. tit). A fatality occurred at the Queen's A\ liarl shortly alter II o’clock tliis morning, an employee of tlie pal Alilk Department, named Andrew Craig being killed outright. A motor tractor collided with tlie lorry in Craig’s charge, and lie was thrown heavily to the ground, landing on his head. Death was practically instantaneous. Craig was married with several children, AIOTORISrS’ CONFERENCE.

CHRISTCHURCH. Nov. 30. The New Zealand Alotorists" Conference opened to-day. Delegations wore present from rle- North and South Island associations. Air Hawkss (Canterbury), was elected chairman. Resolutions were passed urging the Government to introduce the Alotor \’ehicie Rill next session: that tlie ‘‘keep tj > the left" rule for pedestrians should he made universal throughout the Dominion ; and a suitable regulation included in the Notice Offences .Act ; that the Education Department lie asked to institute an essay oompeitiuii on the rule of the road, with special reference to keep to the left on footpaths. SUICIDE REPORTED. . DUNEDIN, Nov. 30. The police are advised that Walter Cockburn, of Roxburgh, farmer, committed suicide yesterday bv taking poison. ALA KL BO ROUGH COUNTY COUNCIL BLENHEIM, Dee. 1. At the first meeting of the newly constituted Marlborough County Council Air Chas. Noes was elected chair-

TO remain entombed. NAPIER, November 30. Two men still remain entombed at Kaiwaka Tunnel. Rescue work continues. Tito chances of releasing the men ate considered remote. Rimond is progressing satisfactorily, hut is not ‘■ i : of danger. MATAFR.V PAPER MILLS. GORE, Deeeumer 1. The water was turned oil at the new power plant, of the Mataura paper mills to-day. The plant is the largest in New Xeahnul and the machinery is being traiisferied Horn the Riverhend mills. .~ind. The Company is making Mataura the headquarters of the industry.